You may possibly have come across in the news many circumstances of murder, burglary, and comparable other occurrences of crime, which are solved by the Police Department. The Police personnel use Forensic Science in their investigation, to analyze clues and discover the truth to book the culprits behind those crimes. Forensic Science is a branch of Science and Technologies – including and not limited – to pathology, psychology, criminology, toxicology, entomology, molecular biology and so on.

Instances where Forensic Science is utilised:

For example, the body of a young girl is discovered inside a bush in a remote area. Police suspect it may be a case of rape and murder. The body is taken to the hospital for postmortem. In the course of postmortem, it is found out that the girl has been raped and murdered and a fight must have taken location among the girl and the culprit (s). Forensic professionals collect tissues from the finger nails of the girl and traces of semen found in her productive organ.

The Forensic Lab researches the tissues and particles of semen and records the details of DNA (a nucleic acid that contains the genetic directions of molecules) in cells. These details are matched with the body cells of the suspected-accused, to establish regardless of whether that person is involved in that crime or not.

Similarly a burglary takes place in a jewelry mart at dead of night. Forensic experts collect the finger prints obtainable at the scene of occurrence and match them with those suspected in that case. The investigation report along with that of the Forensic Lab is submitted in the Court as evidence to prove the guilt of the accused.

Ethics in Forensic Science:

You are conscious that Ethics indicates following the principles of natural justice, in all the activities without having fear or favor in a neutral way. In other words, ethics is self-disciplined behavior in a society and up-keeping moral values in one’s enterprise or profession. As Forensic Science is utilised to put the clues of a certain occurrence into discovering the truth, and professionals render testimony in Courts of Law, it is most essential that the evidence really should be on Ethical Standards, not to be misleading or false.

Significance of Ethics in Forensic Science:

In all countries normally Forensic Labs are component of the Law Enforcing Machinery under the Government. Much more particularly, the Forensic Specialists are working for the Police and chances are, they are influenced by the Police force to win the circumstances in Courts. They are also obligated to the Public Prosecutor in supplying evidence in favor of the Police Department in the Court.

Consequently the significance of Ethics require not be stressed in supplying reports and testimony in such instances, as it entails life or death for the accused, apart from loss of funds and social prestige, in the event of unethical and biased evidence by Forensic specialists.

Expert Standards of Ethics in Forensic Science Departments

Although some ethical codes are defined for Criminalists and Forensic Scientists of their respective departments in all the countries, a universally-acceptable Expert Standards of Ethics is elusive and yet to be arrived at and implemented. The will need for such standards is felt immensely, as the awareness of the essential role of Forensic Scientists in criminal cases is enlarging on a variety of fields.

 

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