Chapter 2 – Law and Evidence1

Forensic investigators must accept that they work in service of the law and the courts. This requires understanding the structure and function of the various components of the adversarial system. It also means accepting how, working together, they are intended to create the balance that justice requires. They must acknowledge and respect the value inherent in the roles of Academia, Law Enforcement, the Courts, Corrections, and Forensic Services. Their responsibility is to follow the mandates of court-related rulings, and prepare evidence with such providence that it can meet requirements of courtroom reliability and admissibility. This includes a working understanding of the United States Constitution; the individual rights that it guarantees (which they must protect); and related case law. It comes down to being capable of proving integrity of both character and evidence; and accepting that forensic facts help the courts to negotiate justice within the confines of the law.