Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science: (International Forensic Science and Investigation)

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.

Table of Contents:
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

About the Author :
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.

Review :
! a welcome addition to the small list of books that are already available on this topic and goes a long way in filling up the existing gap. --Anil Aggrawal's Internet Journal of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Vol. 12, No. 1, January - June 2011