Question 1

A subpoena duces tecum is a court order to:

Accepted Answer

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 C

Question 2

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

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:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of With the development of the National Code...

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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 9

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given the large number of wrongfully convicted...

Question 11

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Can housing a public crime laboratory (or...

Question 12

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:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

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:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

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 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

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:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 18

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.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the various forms of forensic misconduct...

Question 19

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 12: Ethics and Forensic Science

A subpoena duces tecum is a court order to:

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.

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

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.

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

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:

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.

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

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

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.

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:

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

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:

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

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

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:

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.

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.

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