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C.
Ethics
The third and final defining characteristic of a profession is a written 
 
code of
ethics
. It is incumbent upon the forensic science community as a whole to
monitor its members. As a group, those involved in forensic science on a
daily basis are the best qualified to set analytical and ethical standards, and
to judge the veracity of an opinion; they also have the most to lose if an
analyst commits abuses that reflect on the forensic community as a whole.
Peer pressure is often the most effective method of ensuring ethical conduct;
however, peers must be willing to challenge each other for this to work.
 
1.
Codes of Ethics
One definition of 
 
ethics
is:
The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human
actions or a particular group, culture, etc.: medical ethics; Christian ethics
(
 
Webster’s Unabridged,
1996).
In other words, individuals that choose to associate themselves with a par-
ticular group make a personal decision to abide by the rules of conduct
espoused by that community. These rules of conduct are, by definition,
codified into a written code of ethics along with instructions for enforcement.
Specifications for determining whether a member has committed an ethical
violation, and specific direction regarding the consequences of that violation,
must accompany the code. The community must have both the means and
the courage to enforce its code of ethics.
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Principles and Practice of Criminalistics
 
a.
Morals and Ethics
People frequently confuse morals and ethics. Both describe codes of behavior.
However, they differ in their origin and application. Each of us defines our
own moral code, the rules by which we choose to live. A personal moral code
encompasses each individual’s understanding of “right” and “wrong.” Indi-
viduals may choose a set of morals that have been codified as part of orga-
nized religion, or they may create their own set of morals or lack thereof.
 
Webster’s
(1996) distinguishes morals from ethics in this way:
Morals refers to generally accepted customs of conduct and right living in
a society, and to the individual’s practice in relation to these: the morals of
our civilization. Ethics now implies high standards of honest and honorable
dealing, and of methods used, especially in the professions or in business:
ethics of the medical profession.
Ethics and morals do not necessarily intersect. An individual might be highly
moral, according to her own personal code, and still violate some particular
rule of ethics. Conversely, someone might act immorally, by his own stan-
dards or someone else’s, and remain in compliance with a specific ethical
code.