Ethics in Forensic Science
To describe ethics in forensic science, let me first give a definition of ethics. According to
Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary, ethics is defined as: 1. A principle of right or
good behavior. 2. A system of moral principles or values. 3. The study of the general nature of
morals and the specific choices an individual makes in relating to others. With that being said, is
ethics practiced when it comes to forensic science? I am pretty sure it is in most cases, but I am
not here to write about most cases; I am writing about one particular cases where clearly ethical
practices were not used.
On May 1995, Allen Coco was arrested for aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated
burglary, and one count of simple burglary. One count of aggravated burglary and the simple
burglary charge were dropped prior to his trial, along with several other charges in other cases in
which he had become a suspect. Mr. Coco’s alleged victim stated she had been raped by a man
who broke into her home after she fell asleep watching television. The attacker held a knife to
her throat during the rape and at some point she was able take the knife from the attacker, who
tried to escape through a broken window, but somehow became tangled in the blinds. Even
though the victim was able to stab him in the buttocks, the attacker subsequently escaped.
Police actually constructed a sketch of the attacker, but even though the victim found it
unsatisfactory, she continued to view it. About a month after the rape the victim was shown two
photo arrays containing both another suspect and Mr. Coco. Using the faulty sketch for
reference, the victim identified Mr. Coco as her attacker.
There was evidence in this case that should have helped Mr. Coco, but some was not
available at the time. There was a DNA sample that was taken from the victim that was too
small for testing in 1997. In 2006, the
Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary, ethics is defined as: 1. A principle of right or
good behavior. 2. A system of moral principles or values. 3. The study of the general nature of
morals and the specific choices an individual makes in relating to others. With that being said, is
ethics practiced when it comes to forensic science? I am pretty sure it is in most cases, but I am
not here to write about most cases; I am writing about one particular cases where clearly ethical
practices were not used.
On May 1995, Allen Coco was arrested for aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated
burglary, and one count of simple burglary. One count of aggravated burglary and the simple
burglary charge were dropped prior to his trial, along with several other charges in other cases in
which he had become a suspect. Mr. Coco’s alleged victim stated she had been raped by a man
who broke into her home after she fell asleep watching television. The attacker held a knife to
her throat during the rape and at some point she was able take the knife from the attacker, who
tried to escape through a broken window, but somehow became tangled in the blinds. Even
though the victim was able to stab him in the buttocks, the attacker subsequently escaped.
Police actually constructed a sketch of the attacker, but even though the victim found it
unsatisfactory, she continued to view it. About a month after the rape the victim was shown two
photo arrays containing both another suspect and Mr. Coco. Using the faulty sketch for
reference, the victim identified Mr. Coco as her attacker.
There was evidence in this case that should have helped Mr. Coco, but some was not
available at the time. There was a DNA sample that was taken from the victim that was too
small for testing in 1997. In 2006, the
References: Saferstein, Richard (2007). Criminalistics: an introduction to forensic science, 9th Ed, page 11 http://www.chem.vt.edu/chem-ed/ethics/garrison/index.html http://www.inocenceproject.org/content/42.php http://www.lifeshare.org/facts/bloodtypes.htm http:/msmbc.msn.com/id/15264399