Chapter 3 - Crime Reconstruction: Ethos and Ethics

Abstract

This chapter elaborates why it is important to follow ethos and ethical principles in forensic crime reconstruction. Ethos refers to the moral, ideal, or universal element in something, as opposed to that which is subjective or emotional in its appeal. The crime scene has a certain character, a certain essence. It has been given form and has been shaped by the laws of nature and by the vagaries of human conduct. The crime scene is an entity of sorts. It has its own ethos, as do the processes by means of which the scene is reconstructed. Ethics is a moral obligation to maintain the integrity of the processes by means of which the reconstruction is accomplished. An ethical obligation exists to ensure that the professional responsibilities attendant in forensic practice in general, and crime reconstruction in particular, are honored. Getting a crime reconstruction in a right way needs a systematic process and precise application of logic, both inductive and deductive. This chapter explains that apart from lapses in logic, the process of crime reconstruction may go awry due to different reasons including bias, deliberate but legally ordained deception on the part of police investigators, the outright fraud, and a reconstructionist who is hurried, inexperienced, and under pressure.