Duties and Difficulties of Investigating and Prosecuting Biocrimes
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Lisa Danley
Abstract
Biological warfare has been used longer than most conventional weapons, yet international and domestic response protocol and regulations designed to effectively manage, investigate, and prosecute biocrimes have only recently been implemented. Even with such protocol and regulations, significant difficulties arise in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators. This article will identify and describe many of these challenges, beginning with the scope of biocrimes, which can generally be defined as a malevolent use of pathogens or toxins to harm others. Other challenges surrounding the investigation of biocrimes which will be addressed within this article include: identifying what biological agent caused an illness or disease outbreak; characterizing the event as a deliberate attack or a naturally occurring outbreak; and balancing an infected person’s civil liberties with conducting a thorough and accurate investigation. The final significant challenge of investigation and prosecuting biocrimes is the extremely high cost of mistakes. Ultimately, this article recommends ways to remove some the challenges to investigating and prosecuting biocrimes through greater information sharing and standardized investigative and prosecutorial training.
©2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Legal
- Introduction: Volume 3 of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety & Biodefense Law
- Whistleblower and Liability Protections for Scientific Laboratory Employees
- WHO’S IN CHARGE OF BIOSECURITY? JURISDICTIONAL MATTERS
- Who has Jurisdiction of The Air During an International Health Crisis?
- WHO's Got Yellow Rain: An Analysis of the Yellow Rain Incident and the Possible Involvement of the World Health Organization
- BIOCRIMINOLOGY
- Duties and Difficulties of Investigating and Prosecuting Biocrimes
- A Legal Analysis of the Search Warrants of the Amerithrax Investigation
- BIOTHREATS AT THE BORDER
- The Role of Regulations in Minimizing the Bioterrorism Threat to Food Imports
- UNREGULATED POTENTIAL BIOSECURITY THREATS?
- The Mad (and not so Mad) Scientist Next Door: A Holistic Approach to Addressing Do-it-Yourself Biology
- Death Disguised as Life: Blood and Biosecurity
- SCOURGES, PLAGUES AND PLANS: WILL WE GET IT RIGHT?
- Foot and Mouth Disease: Then and Now
- Preparing for Another Round of Swine Flu: Will the WHO's Plan Prove to be a Success for the Global Community and Will the U.S. Lead the Way?
Articles in the same Issue
- Legal
- Introduction: Volume 3 of the Journal of Biosecurity, Biosafety & Biodefense Law
- Whistleblower and Liability Protections for Scientific Laboratory Employees
- WHO’S IN CHARGE OF BIOSECURITY? JURISDICTIONAL MATTERS
- Who has Jurisdiction of The Air During an International Health Crisis?
- WHO's Got Yellow Rain: An Analysis of the Yellow Rain Incident and the Possible Involvement of the World Health Organization
- BIOCRIMINOLOGY
- Duties and Difficulties of Investigating and Prosecuting Biocrimes
- A Legal Analysis of the Search Warrants of the Amerithrax Investigation
- BIOTHREATS AT THE BORDER
- The Role of Regulations in Minimizing the Bioterrorism Threat to Food Imports
- UNREGULATED POTENTIAL BIOSECURITY THREATS?
- The Mad (and not so Mad) Scientist Next Door: A Holistic Approach to Addressing Do-it-Yourself Biology
- Death Disguised as Life: Blood and Biosecurity
- SCOURGES, PLAGUES AND PLANS: WILL WE GET IT RIGHT?
- Foot and Mouth Disease: Then and Now
- Preparing for Another Round of Swine Flu: Will the WHO's Plan Prove to be a Success for the Global Community and Will the U.S. Lead the Way?
