Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science

While we would like to believe that forensic science professionals are intrinsically ethical by nature, the reality is that these individuals have moral compasses as varied as those of any individual you may know. They confront ethical dilemmas every day, some with clear-cut protocols and others that frequently have no definitive answers. Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science explores the range of ethical issues facing those who work in the field and highlights the complicated nature of ethical decision-making in this complex arena.
Ethics in the courtroom and the lab

Written by one of the leading researchers in forensic ethics, the book provides data-driven examples of the behaviors – both good and bad – that shape the forensic profession. It provides real examples of ethical behavior combined with research to demonstrate how ethics works (and sometimes does not) in this richly interesting scientific field. The book begins by exploring philosophical approaches related to ethical decision-making. It examines the ethics of the criminal justice culture, ethical issues in the courtroom, and ethics in science and research. Next, the book shifts to a discussion of unethical behavior, and provides actual case studies spotlighting ethical breaches, including the O.J. Simpson case and other reported examples.
Ethics codes in various organizations
The book concludes with a discussion of the code of ethics. Appendices discuss research data on ethics in forensic science and provide ethics codes from various forensic science organizations. Offering a lively source of debate for professionals and academics, this volume provides a window on a topic that is frequently fraught with uncertainty.

Robin T. Bowen was interviewed recently for Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

Robin Bowen is assistant director for the Forensic Science Initiative, a program that develops research, scientific resources, and professional training and continuing education for forensic scientists and related professionals. Her primary responsibilities include coordination of continuing education programs, management of research projects, and correspondence of progress to the National Institute of Justice. Bowen is the primary developer of the Forensic Educational Alliance, an initiative to offer a variety of forensic science continuing education courses online. She has an undergraduate degree in forensic and investigative sciences and a graduate degree in secondary science education. Bowen is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Science, International Association for Identification, and National Science Teachers Association. Over the last four years, ethics as it relates to forensic science has been her primary research topic and has culminated in a successful web-based continuing education course as well as workshops provided to the forensic community.

What Is Ethics?
Introduction
Ethical Theories
The Study of Ethics
Utilitarianism: The Greater Good
Deontological Ethics: Obligation and Intention
Comparing Approaches for Forensic Science
Ethical Decision Making
Framework for Ethical Decisions
Rule 1: Inherent Good Surpasses Noninherent Good
Rule 2: Noninherent Evil Surpasses Inherent Evil
Rule 3: When Selecting between Levels of Good or Evil,
Select the Highest Good or the Lowest Evil
Result of Decisions
The Ethics of the Criminal Justice Culture
Introduction
Recruitment
Culture
Ethics of Criminal Justice
Ethics Training
Unethical Behavior
Sources of Pressure for the Forensic Scientist
Ethics in the Courtroom: The Scientist’s Perspective
Introduction
Role of Attorneys
Attorney–Expert Relationship
Misconduct
Examples of Misconduct
Duke Lacrosse Case, 2006
Federal Prosecutors, 2007
Research Ethics in Science
Introduction
Science, Technology, and Society
Research and Publication
Ethics in Science and Research
Misconduct
Ethics in Forensic Science
Introduction
Crime Scene
Laboratory
Role of the Scientific Expert Witness
Qualification
Admissibility of Scientific Evidence
The Frye Case
The Daubert Case
Parameters
Misconduct
Unethical Behavior: The Fork in the Road
Introduction
Unethical Behavior
Motivation
Justification
Consequences
Whistle-Blowing
Good Examples of Bad Behavior
O. J. Simpson Case
Case Studies
False Credentials (Associated Press 2007a)
Misleading Degree (Moran 2006)
Abuse of Power (North 2001)
Supporting a Habit (Huicochea 2008)
"Errors" (Armstrong 2007)
Prosecutor Pressure (Moxley 2008)
Detroit (Clickondetroit.com 2008)
Procedure (Johnson 2008)
Fingerprints (Associated Press 2008)
Personal Gain (Bone 2007)
Research (Associated Press 2006)
FBI Whistle-Blower
Notorious Examples Every Forensic Scientist Should Know
Fred Zain
Michael West
Kathleen Lundy
Allison Lancaster
David Petersen
Joyce Gilcrist
Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory
Codes of Ethics
Introduction
National Forensic Center
Developing Codes of Ethics
Purpose
Council of Scientific Society Presidents Study of Codes of Ethics
Familiarity with Codes of Ethics
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS)
Article II. Code of Ethics and Conduct
The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC)
Rules of Professional Conduct
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
The International Association for Identification (IAI)
An Ethical Approach to Forensic Professionalism
Introduction
Education
Competence
Professions and Professionalism
Awareness
National Academy of Sciences Report
Bibliography

Appendices

Index