PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Professional Ethics of Forensic Scientists

Professional ethics includes an organization’s predetermined code of behavior expected of an individual as they carry out their occupational roles. All the persons acknowledged as professionals normally exercise a set of specialized skills and knowledge. Governing the use of these specialized knowledge and skills in the provision of service to the public while considering the aspects of morality is what is called professional ethics (Saferstein, 2011). The code of ethics stipulates how professionals are supposed to pursue their common ideal such that at their individual capacities, they can give their best at minimal costs (Barnett, 2001). This implies that the code protects the professional from certain pressures they meet in the line of duty. Forensic science, by its meaning, is applied science in the court of law, where the professionals put in their efforts to resolve civil and criminal cases. The profession deals with the scientific analysis and explication of evidence material, making opinions and conclusions and reporting/ testifying these in the law courts (Bowen, 2009).

Forensic scientists can reveal important information about the person(s) that committed a crime, whether the crime was actually committed or not and the exact events that took place at the crime scene (Saferstein, 2011). It is on the part of the forensic scientists to understand that a misinterpretation of an observation, mishandling or manipulation of evidence can possibly mess up a case and the life/ lives of the individuals involved or let an offender walk away free, and therefore, justice will not be served. The physical evidence presented by the forensic scientists is very much valued in the courts of law because the judge’s decisions is usually profoundly influenced and determined by the testimonies, and for these reasons, unethical conduct in the profession is unacceptable (Barnett, 2001). The evidence ought to be given priority in speaking for itself free of error or manipulation.

It is common belief by most people that a scientific analysis carried by the forensic scientists is the proof of evidence and the truth of the matter. Their belief goes to the extent of failing to consider that the evidence is handled by humans and therefore subject to human error, which could be a deliberate interpretation of the evidence for personal reasons (Downs & Swienton, 2012). This is the part where the professional ethical conduct sets in and demands that the forensic scientist should be of sound moral and ethical conduct, while offering trustworthy forensic services right from the scene of crime, to the laboratory and to the courtroom. It is the obligation of a forensic scientist to uphold and serve justice at all times while being guided by the occupation’s code of ethics. The code only acts as a guide for ethical behavior expected of the forensic scientists as they carry out their roles. However, it is not to be interpreted that these values are immutable laws or all-inclusive principles; instead they ought to be taken as a representation of the general standards, which each forensic scientist should endeavor to meet (Barnett, 2001; Bowen, 2009). Therefore, the failure of a forensic scientist in meeting or maintaining some aspects of these predetermined standards will understandably strike uncertainty on the individual’s fitness for this profession.

When it comes to rules that bring immense value to forensic roles, there are certain policies and procedures that forensic scientists must abide by to enable them to document effectively and collect evidence (Downs & Swienton, 2012). If the forensic scientists fail to abide by these policies and procedures, they can be accused of unethical conduct and also be reminded that their behavior is also risking the state of the case. In order to minimize instances that might lead to the mishandling of evidence, chain of custody is in place and must be upheld by the forensic scientists from the start to the stop of the inquiry. This is because the chances for manipulation of evidence usually start at the scene of crime, where it can be deliberately or accidentally ignored, fixed or damaged (Holmgren-Richards, 2002). The code comes in handy because the results produced by the physical evidence at the crime scene will have a tremendous effect on the existence of some people.

After gathering evidence from the scene of crime, the next important role of the forensic scientist in the investigation is to analyze the material. Effective analysis of the evidence material can change the course and the ending of a criminal inquiry (Hopwood et al., 2006). Analysis is one of the areas where the role of the forensic scientist can be subject to misuse either because the personnel do not possess the appropriate knowledge and skills to effectively execute their roles or one that is deliberately willing to distort evidence for their personal reasons. The evidence can be deliberately or unwillingly contaminated, subjected to poor testing, mislabeled, carelessly disposed of, or the results be distorted by the forensic personnel. In order to avoid chances of such situations arising in the profession of forensic science, most laboratories have placed a mandatory requirement for the forensic scientists to undergo periodical refresher training and possess current certification (Downs & Swienton, 2012).

References

Barnett, P. D. (2001). Ethics in Forensic Science: Professional Standards for the Practice of Criminalistics. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Bowen, R. T. (2009). Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science. CRC Press.

Downs, J. C. U., & Swienton, A. R. (2012). Ethics in forensic science. Oxford: Academic.

Holmgren-Richards, J. (2002). Ethics in Forensic Science: Professional Standards for the Practice of Criminalistion. Criminal Justice Review (Georgia State University), 27(2), 390-391. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Hopwood, A., Fox, R., Round, C., Tsang, C., Watson, S., Rowlands, E., & Kimpton, C. (2006). Forensic response vehicle: Rapid analysis of evidence at the scene of a crime. International Congress Series, 1288639-641. doi:10.1016/j.ics.2005.09.080

Saferstein, R. (2011). Criminalistics: an introduction to forensic science (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.