Doyle Sean, Doyle Dianne
Linked Forensic Consultants Ltd., New Zealand.
Sci Justice. 2012 Mar;52(1):17-9. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2011.07.004. Epub 2011 Sep 8.
Compliance with the AFSP (Association of Forensic Science Providers) Standard [1] which concerns the formulation of an evaluative opinion requires consideration of the defence case. This can be problematic for forensic scientists working with or for law enforcement agencies. Among the aims of law enforcement agencies is to secure a conviction while in many jurisdictions the forensic scientist owes an overriding duty to the Court. This casework report demonstrates that early consideration of the defence case by a forensic scientist complying with the AFSP Standard may help rather than hinder the prosecution. The dichotomy as to a conflict of interest for the scientist between supporting the police/prosecutors and being scientifically objective is shown to be a false dichotomy. Compliance with the Standard ensures that science is a better servant of justice.
遵守与形成评估性意见相关的法医科学提供者协会（AFSP）标准[1]需要考虑辩方的情况。这对于为执法机构工作或与执法机构合作的法医科学家来说可能是个问题。执法机构的目标之一是确保定罪，而在许多司法管辖区，法医科学家对法庭负有首要责任。这份案例工作报告表明，遵守AFSP标准的法医科学家尽早考虑辩方情况可能有助于而非阻碍检方。科学家在支持警方/检方与保持科学客观性之间存在利益冲突这种二分法被证明是错误的二分法。遵守该标准可确保科学更好地服务于正义。
