Deck 12: Ethics and Forensic Science

Question 1

Confirmation bias occurs when a second analyst is given the results of a colleague's work and is asked to replicate the analysis conducted by the first examiner.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Dry-labbing occurs when the forensic analyst doesn't have a plan for conducting sufficient analysis, and instead uses every possible test for which the laboratory has resources.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Confirmatory testing occurs when a forensic technician fails to conduct the proper tests and fabricates results instead.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Analyzing to fit the law occurs when a potential outcome of an analysis is preselected, via choice or manipulation, to conform the results to one or more conditions of the law.

Question 5

A court order received by a forensic laboratory to produce evidence in a particular case is known as a subpoena pro bono.

Question 6

In law, unlike in science, communication is open.

Question 7

Misrepresenting one's credentials can occur by claiming educational attainment that was either not earned or earned from a different institution than what is stated.

Question 8

Contextual bias occurs when forensic scientists or technicians become vulnerable to erroneous conclusions due to extraneous influences affecting their judgment.

Question 9

Forensic science has been plagued by practitioners using imprecise terms when testifying.

Question 10

During the past 10-15 years, there has been a decrease in the privatization of forensic-based services in this country and elsewhere.

Question 11

Subpoena duces tecum is an order to produce evidence in a case.

Question 12

A subpoena duces tecum is a court order to:

A) Conduct confirmatory tests on forensic evidence
B) Secure a crime scene to avoid contamination
C) Produce forensic evidence in a case that is received by a crime lab
D) None of the above

Question 13

These are individuals who secure, collect, and preserve evidence at a crime scene

A) Rule enforcers
B) Hard liners
C) Forensic technicians
D) Forensic scientists

Question 14

The explicit, standard operating procedures and tacit knowledge used day-to-day by forensic practitioners are known as [the]:

A) Casework approach
B) Confirmatory tests
C) Presumptive tests
D) Forensic science

Question 15

An instrumental analysis performed on forensic evidence to positively identify the contents of the submitted material is known as a:

A) Casework
B) Confirmatory test
C) Presumptive test
D) Forensic test

Question 16

Which of the following is an ethical issue associated with privatizing forensic-based services?

A) Practitioners working in public labs who are permitted to accept private consulting opportunities
B) Contextual bias
C) Confirmation bias
D) All of the above

Question 17

An ethical issue associated with maintaining the competence of forensics practitioners includes which of the following?

A) Frequency and substance of in-service training
B) (Lack of) scientific background of new recruits into the practice of forensic science
C) Keeping up with a changing field
D) Variety and condition of instruments and equipment found in forensic laboratories

Question 18

This mechanism for enhancing quality control in forensic science involves determining if an analyst is capable of satisfactorily engaging in routine examination of the type(s) of evidence for which the analyst has been trained:

A) In-service training
B) Licensing
C) Proficiency testing
D) Certification

Question 19

This mechanism for enhancing quality control in forensic science establishes that an analyst has acquired, currently possesses, and can demonstrate specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities in the standard practices:

A) Proficiency testing
B) Competency testing
C) Licensing
D) Certification

Question 20

A credentialing process by which a nationally recognized external entity confirms a forensic science practitioner as having attained the professional competency necessary to practice in one or more forensic disciplines is called:

A) Certification
B) Licensing
C) Proficiency testing
D) Competency testing

Question 21

Forensic practitioners who uncover illegal and unethical behavior occurring in forensic labs and come forward to detail the questionable behavior of one or more of their colleagues are known as:

A) Agents provocateurs
B) Principled technicians
C) Whistleblowers
D) None of the above

Question 22

With the development of the National Code of Professional Responsibility for Forensic Science and Forensic Medicine, can it now be said that forensic science has a national "code of ethics?" Explain why or why not.

Question 23

Can housing a public crime laboratory (or having it affiliated with) a law enforcement agency like a local police department or the FBI be ethically justified? Explain why or why not.

Question 24

Given the large number of wrongfully convicted defendants-particularly those convicted and sentenced to death-who have had their convictions overturned via DNA evidence, can it be ethically justified to establish new procedures such that, as part of the appeal in certain kinds of cases, the convicted offender is automatically entitled to have a new DNA analysis completed? Explain.

Question 25

Given its importance in many types of criminal cases, should annual training in the basics of forensics-especially DNA and digital forensics-be required of judges and prosecutors? Explain.

Question 26

Discuss the various forms of forensic misconduct that occur at crime labs around the nation and the steps that can be taken to prevent them from happening and/or mitigate their impact.