Examining systemic sources of bias in interaction and communication within organisational cultures

• In Event: Clarus: Culture, Bias, Language and Communicaiton in Digital Evidence Investigations

Abstract

The second work package of the Clarus project examined patterns of interaction and communication across organisational, professional, and national boundaries through a hypothetical scenario. This enabled an in-depth analysis of misunderstandings, errors, and biases in a digital forensic environment. Building on the system and mental maps developed in Work Package 1, Work Package 2 implemented a case study involving focus groups in each Clarus partner country composed of practitioners from their law enforcement agencies and forensic institutes. Participants engaged with a scenario featuring an alleged crime where a smartphone serves as a key piece of evidence, containing digital, DNA, and fingerprint data. Representing distinct legal and professional systems, the participants outlined their typical procedures for handling digital evidence, detailing their reporting methods and interactions with other actors. This shed light on how forensic and law enforcement professionals collaborate within and across different jurisdictions and organisational frameworks. The focus groups also provided a platform for assessing organisational cultures in action and identifying potential sources of systemic bias. The findings, resulting from a comparative assessment of these biases and their impact on impartiality and objectivity, will be presented at this conference.

Author

• Nina Sunde, The Norwegian Police University College