Week 2 The forensic Laboratory and Ethics

what are the two types of forensic Laboratories

Private and Public

who operates Private labs

universities, and companies

who operates public labs

police, local and federal government

who can use private labs

who ever is willing to pay

who can use public labs

police, prosecutors, detectives

what type of forensics do public labs do

all kinds

what type of forensics do private labs do

specific to one type

what are parts on evidence intake

securing evidence, Chain of custody, assigned number

Chain of custody

documentation of the location of evidence from the time it is obtained to the time it is presented in court

analytical sections

Photography, DNA/biology, Chemistry/illicit drugs, Trace evidence, friction ridge analysis, questioned documents, toxicology, firearms toolmarks footwear and tire tracks

what are some issues with Forensic labs

No real Accountability, no public access to the accused

what are the issues with Forensic science educational programs

they do not directly prepare graduates for immediate case work

what two types of training do forensic scientist have after graduation

formal training and on the job training

what are the two levels of ethics and what do they mean

Basic- non negotiable, aspirational ethics - strive to meet best practices

Bias

preferences for or against a person, thing, group, idea or behavior

what are teh type of bias

Cognitive bias, Contextual Bias, Confirmation Bias

Cognitive bias

tend to think a certain way which leads to judgment and decision making

contextual bias

influenced by clues surrounding the topic but not the content itself

confirmation bias

search for and use only info that supports a belief or hypothesis

Quality control

a set of procedures and processes put in place in a lab to be followed by personnel so that a desired level of quality can be achieved

quality Assurance

a set of processes that can evaluate a lab and its personnel to determine if they are achieving or maintaining a given level of quality

examples of quality control

quality manuals, written procedures, quality control officer

examples of quality assurance

accreditation of labs, certification of scientist

ASCLD meanings

American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors

What does ASCLD do

a nonprofit professional society of crime laboratory directors and forensic science managers

ANAB meaning

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board

what does ANAB do

Accredits forensic science laboratories

ASTM meaning

American Society for Testing and Materials

what does ASTM do

Develops technical standards for a range of materials, products, systems and services

ISO meaning

International Organization for Standardization

what does do ISO

Develop standards that make sure things work; ensure quality, safety and efficiency

AAFS meaning

American academy for Forensic Scientist

what does AAFS do

Developed a code of ethics followed by most forensic science laboratories and scientists

ABC meaning

American board of Criminalist

what does ABC do

Accredits forensic scientists

FEPAC meaning

Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission

what does FEPAC do

develops and to maintains standards and to administer an accreditation program that recognizes and distinguishes high quality undergraduate and graduate forensic science programs

OSAC meaning

Organization of Scientific Area Committees

what does OSAC do

develops and endorses a forensic science consensus documentary standards and guidelines, and to ensure that a sufficient scientific basis exists for each discipline.