Comparative Analysis of Standardized Protocols for First Responders: Ensuring the Legal Admissibility of CrimeScene Evidence in the USA and Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64060/Keywords:
Crime Scene, First responders, Crime scene investigation, Crime scene evidence, First responder protocols, Crime scene protocols, Evidence admissibility, Comparative criminal justice, Forensic integrity, Police training, Judicial reliabilityAbstract
This article discusses the impact of first responder protocols in the U.S. and Pakistan on the legal admissibility of crime scene evidence. In the U.S., a standardized system exists that is supported by the certain legal frameworks and protocols. These include the Daubert Standard, OSHA regulations, the Federal Rules of Evidence and OSAC guidelines This maintains an unambiguous and continuous record of evidence handling according to the strict judicial requirements. The review also discusses the Pakistan’s legal frameworks and protocols. The system in place in Pakistan is based on FIR which is placed in the hands of undertrained and inexperienced ASIs. Even though there are legal safeguards such as the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order, the evidence is frequently rejected due to procedural inadequacies such as failure to provide forensic evidence in time, the risk of contamination, and the disparity between the resources available to urban and rural areas. The paper also provides illustrations of how evidence was mishandled resulting in the acquittal of suspects, as an example of systemic flaws. Moreover, it also covers the UN protocols for first responders in evidence handling which are more stringent in the U.S. than in Pakistan. The U.S. model is based on institutional accountability, but the informal practices in Pakistan highlight the need for reform, such as standardizing training, modernizing forensics, and implementing anti-corruption measures, to meet the standards of evidence that are accepted in the courts globally.
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