Crime Scene Ethics: Souvenirs, Teaching Material, and Artifacts

• NCJ Number: 205140
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2004 Pages: 307-311
• Author(s): Tracy L. Rogers Ph.D.
• Date Published: March 2004
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article discusses the lack of official rules governing crime scene ethics in terms of removing objects from crime scenes and proposes guidelines to clarify the appropriate retention of objects from crime scenes.

Abstract

Materials allegedly from crime scenes show up frequently on commercial Web sites and are offered for sale. While it is widely considered unethical to remove items from a crime scene for personal profit, neither the American Academy of Forensic Sciences nor the Canadian Society of Forensic Science offer guidelines for crime scene ethics. In some cases, ethical rules are moot when the items in question are personal property and removing them for personal use would be considered theft. However, there are many cases in which removing items from a crime scene are not governed by criminal law. In these cases, such as when a forensic anthropologist wishes to retain an interesting animal bone fragment for teaching purposes, guidelines and protocols are needed to both protect the credibility of the investigators and the integrity of the crime scene. The author presents several scenarios illustrating cases in which forensic investigators may wish to remove objects from crime scenes. It is asserted that the work of forensic anthropologists is similar enough to that of archeologists that the ethical rules governing archeology should also govern the work of forensic anthropology. In response to the lack of guidance offered by the forensic sciences professional societies, the author alternately proposes a blanket rule that disallows the removal of any item at a crime scene for any purpose and, alternatively, a rule that allows the removal of items for educational purposes only and only after the crime scene has been released, the items have been deemed of no value for the investigation, and permission to retain the items has been granted by the property owner and the police investigator. It is hoped that this article will stir discussion toward a resolution of the issue of crime scene ethics. Figures, references