The article explains that there is a serious problem associated with crime lab ethics, which has been heightened in recent years. The article asserts that many crime labs have been cited for sloppy procedures and producing erroneous evidence (Morrison and Roane, 2005). The fact that crime labs are not required to be accredited adds to the problem because there are not any standard procedures that govern the management of the labs. Under new laws all federally funded crime labs will have to be accredited by 2006 but currently 30% of the federally funded crime labs do not have any accredidation (Morrison and Roane, 2005).
The article also reports that many experts such as crime lab technicians, coroners, forensic anthropologists and police chemists have been fired for presenting erroneous evidence in recent years (Morrison and Roane, 2005). The article asserts that It's hard to find anyone in law enforcement who can't recite a story of quackery on the stand or in the lab. Forensic practitioners say the popularity of the field may make things even worse, noting that new forensics-degree programs are cropping up all over the place, some turning out questionable candidates...Because of the weight the analysis is now given, professional ethics and certification of labs has never been more important (Morrison and Roane, 2005)."
Another article explains that there is a trend underway in the United States to hold expert witnesses accountable in civil court for supplying erroneous information during a trial. Botluk & Mitchell (2005) assert that such witnesses were, at one time granted absolute immunity, some jurisdictions are now allowed for civil liability if the expert has been negligent (Botluk & Mitchell (2005). In some cases the article reports that experts have falsified lab results and planted evidence (Botluk & Mitchell (2005). These actions can be costly because they put into question the integrity of the entire forensic system and the previous cases that may have resulted in conviction (Botluk & Mitchell (2005).
Indeed many have conceded that the way to address issues related to ethics and evidence tampering is to increase funding for crime labs in addition to creating and making mandatory accreditation of the labs. Some experts have even asserted that crime labs are the most neglected area of public safety throughout the nation. Experts have also argued that crime labs should be accredited much in the same way that hospitals are accredited.
Morrison & Sloane (2005) also concede that even if a crime lab is certified there are still mistakes made. The authors explain that accredited crime labs are usually required to gauge their tactics through declarative tests (Morrison & Sloane 2005). However in most cases the lab workers are aware that they are being tested. In most cases the labs pass these tests, however some forensic experts argue that these planned tests do nothing to evaluate the everyday performance of the lab (Morrison & Sloane 2005). Not knowing the way that a crime lab operates in general can be detrimental to ensuring that the evidence gathered at a crime scene is correctly and thoroughly tested.
Moreover there are often discrepancies in the manner in which evidence taken from a crime scene is sampled. This often means that forensic evidence cannot always be believed (Morrison & Sloane 2005). For instance, although DNA testing is the most accurate type of forensic science, there are often differences in the interpretation of DNA evidence (Morrison & Sloane 2005).
In addition on the television shows there is a belief that the tactics being utilized are exact. However, the authors point out that many test are open for interpretation. For instance, everything from fingerprint identification to fiber analysis is now coming under fire. And rightfully so. The science is inexact, the experts are of no uniform opinion, and defense lawyers are increasingly skeptical...many of these techniques and theories have never been tested to ensure they are valid (Morrison and Roane, 2005)."
Indeed the pressure placed on prosecutors can be enormous especially when there is an enormous backlog of evidence at labs needing to be tested. According to an article on BBC News there are between 200,000 and 300,000 DNA samples in U.S. labs waiting to be tested (Rincon 2005).
The article also contends that families of victims are also influenced by the CSI effect. For instance, on the television shows toxicology reports are often available rapidly and when families discover that such reports can actually take months to get they are dissatisfied (Rincon 2005).
Defense attorneys also take advantage...
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