Question

There are some specific ethical guidelines and standards for the forensic scientists to follow. But it was not always so. Investigate how the standards and ethics code came to be established over the years. Also, discuss whether they have helped as much as they should have.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

In 1904, Scotland Yard officials introduced fingerprint matching to US law enforcement officials at the World’s Fair. The fact that forensic science was not born from the scientific community meant that forensic scientists were not always bound to the quest for knowledge, but instead for the purpose of solving crimes. This difference led to misaligned incentives. Expert witnesses were often paid per conviction in many states.

In the late 1980s, DNA evidence, which was born in the scientific community, has helped identify the guilty and exonerate the innocent. Many other forensic techniques, such as hair microscopy, ballistics analysis, and arson investigations, have not been subjected to the rigorous scientific evaluation that DNA analysis has. Other techniques, such as blood typing, have been properly validated.

These invalidated techniques have led to the Innocence Project, which holds that forensic science techniques should be shown to be valid and reliable through research and assessment of validity and reliability, and subject to accreditation and certification to assure quality. States are eligible to receive grant money if they do so. This change has resulted in the growth of many organizations, such as the ASCLD/LAB, that accredit forensic scientists.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

The field of forensic science is important to the criminal justice system. Forensic personnel must pay close attention to detail during the collection, preservation, and analysis of physical evidence. If evidence is mishandled, manipulated, or misinterpreted it can potentially destroy a case and/or the lives of all individuals involved