RESOURCES
Current content surveys of the ethics documents listed below can be found at:
“Ethics” tab drop-down menu.
An extensive listing of links related to forensic science ethics can be found on Reddy’s Forensic Page: Ethics, Mistakes & Errors In Forensic Science, Forensic Labs: .
ETHICS DOCUMENTS
AAFSAmerican Academy of Forensic Sciences (Article II: Code of Ethics and Conduct)
ABCAmerican Board of Criminalistics (Rules of Professional Conduct)
ABFDEAmerican Board of Forensic Document Examiners (Code of Ethics and Standard Practices)
(Code of Conduct for Officers, Directors, Committee Members and Others Acting in an Official Capacity)
ABFTAmerican Board of Forensic Toxicology
ACSRAssociation for Crime Scene Reconstruction (Bylaws, Article 8, Code of Ethics)
AFTEAssociation of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners (Code of Ethics, Enforcement of the Code of Ethics)
ANZFSSAustralian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society (The Code of Ethics)
ASCLD CAmerican Society of Crime Lab Directors (Code of Ethics)
ASCLD GAmerican Society of Crime Lab Directors (Guidelines for Forensic Laboratory Management Practices) – not found on website
ASCLD/LABASCLD/Laboratory Accreditation Board (Guiding Principles of Professional Responsibility for Crime Laboratories and Forensic Scientists)
ASQDEAmerican Society of Questioned Document Examiners, Inc. (Code of Ethics)
> Article IX
CAC California Association of Criminalists (Code of Ethics, Code of Ethics Enforcement)
CISCanadian Identification Society
> By-Laws > Rules of Professional Conduct
CSDIAICalifornia State Division of the IAI
CSFSCanadian Society of Forensic Sciences (Code of Conduct)
ENFSIEuropean Network of Forensic Science Institutes (Code of Conduct)
FSRegOffice of the Regulator, UK
Apparently not finalized as of 01-02-14
FSS-UKForensic Science Society (United Kingdom) (The Code of Conduct)
IAAIInternational Association of Arson Investigators
IABPAInt’l Assoc. of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (Article III: Code of Ethics)
IAIInternational Association for Identification (Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct)
MAAFSMid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists (Code of Ethics) – no link found
MAFS Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists(Code of Ethics)
NAMENational Association of Medical Examiners
NEAFSNortheastern Association of Forensic Scientists (Code of Ethics)
NJAFSNew Jersey Association of Forensic Scientists
Forms > Bylaws > Article XVII
NWAFSNorthwest Association of Forensic Scientists (proposed Code of Ethics)
RMABPARocky Mountain Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (membership application, p. 2)
SAFSSouthern Association of Forensic Scientists (Bylaws: Ch. I, Section 5.c; Ch. IV, Section 2.a)
was not found on the website.
SCAFOSouthern California Association of Fingerprint Officers
Code is not readily accessible.
SMANZFLSenior Managers of Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Laboratories
Code was not found on the website
SOFTSociety of Forensic Toxicologists
Code of Ethics: slide 7
Guiding Principles of Professional Responsibility: slides 8-11.
SWAFDESouthwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners
Accessible on line only by members.
SWAFSSouthwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (Article 13: Code of Professional Conduct)
SWFSSociety for Wildlife Forensic Science
TIAFTThe International Association of Forensic Toxicologists
LAWYERS’ RULES OF CONDUCT
ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct:
CA Rules of Professional Conduct
CLASSES
“Ethics in Forensic Science,” Carolyn Gannett, California DOJ California Criminalistics Institute,
“Professional Ethics in Forensic Science,” Robin Bowen, West Virginia University on-linesemester class:
“To Hell and Back: The Ethics of Stewardship and the Stewardship of Ethics,” and “Answering the NAS: The Ethics of Leadership and the Leadership of Ethics,” Paul Voss, RTI Forensic Science Education, short (60-90 minutes) on-line courses
WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS
(Please contact Carolyn at if you know of any upcoming workshops or presentations on forensic science ethics.)
BOOKS
“Ethics in Forensic Science,” Downs and Swienton, ed.,Waltham, MA, Academic, 2012
“Ethics for the Public Service Professional,” Dutelle, CRC Press
“Ethics in Forensic Science, Professional Standards for the Practice of Criminalistics,” Pete Barnett, CRC Press, 2001
“Ethics and the Practice of Forensic Science,” Robin Bowen, CRC Press, 2010
“Scientific and Legal Applications of Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation,” Stuart James, ed., CRC Press, 1999; Chapter 6: “Legal and Ethical Aspects of Bloodstain Pattern Evidence,” Carol Henderson
“Handbook of Frauds, Scams, and Swindles: Failures of Ethics in Leadership,” Matulich S, Currie DM, CRC Press, 2008
“Ethics in Forensic Science, 1st Ed.” Ed. Downs & Swienton, Academic Press, 2012
OTHER
The Institute for Criminal Justice Ethics—Forensic Science Ethics,
FRAUDS
Corpus-Delicti Frauds:
Truth in Justice:
SHOWS
Dateline’s “In the Dead of Night” on David Kofoed:
60 Minutes on FBI’s bullet lead technique, “Evidence of Injustice,” Sept. 15, 2008,
20/20, Episode 18, “Fire Scientist Questions Arson Finding” (no longer available on line)
LAWYER SEARCH
Martindale Hubbell Ratings, Martindale.com
State Bar of California Lawyer Search
RESPONSE TO THE NAS REPORT
DOJ & NIST National Commission on Forensic Science, estab. 02-15-13.
White House Subcommittee on Forensic Science:disbanded by mid 2013.
WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT
California Whistleblower Protection Act, (800) 952-5665:
01-03-14