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Hair introduction forensics essay
Forensic chapter 3 study of hair
Forensic chapter 3 study of hair
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On August 3, 1979, a female was assaulted and raped in her apartment. Victor Burnette, 19 years old, was brought in as a suspect and the female said that he was the perpetrator. Burnette was convicted based on pubic hairs found at the scene. He spent seven years in prison and was released on parole in ’87. Two decades later, Burnette asked to have his case reworked using DNA analysis and was found to be not guilty. The serologist who worked his case was Mary Jane Burton. By the time Burnette cleared his name, at least five other people had been exonerated from their convictions due to Burton’s evidence. (“Victor”) Hair analysis has been a part of forensic science since the beginning. However, some have begun to question the reliability of …show more content…
Just because a hair is found at the scene doesn’t mean that it belongs to the perpetrator. It is important to take Locard’s Principle into account, “The microscopic debris that cover our bodies are the mute witnesses... of all our movements and all our encounters.” (Robertson, 7.2) When you come into contact with something or someone, there is always a transfer, even if it isn’t noticeable. There are different types of transferring, primary and secondary. Primary transfer is when something transfers from you to another source. When someone comes into contact with that source, there is a chance that your hair or fiber transfers onto the other person. This is secondary transfer. Because humans shed hair frequently, it is easy for hair to go through secondary transfer and end up somewhere that the individual had never been. Hair can remain on a source for a couple hours without being transferred and it does not break down very easily, so this can remain in place for a long time. (Robertson,
Analysis: This was a cold case. Wright was believed to be the murder but at the time the lab could not identify the hair to wright. Later in 2010 the hair that was found clenched in the victim's hand and sent into the lab. It matched to Wright.
... any of the DNA provided by the Vaninced victim support one report showed a piece of genetic material the penis of Steven branch but could not be linked to any victim.The penis of Steven branch that could not be linked to any victim or any defendant in the meantime our investigators were obtain DNA samples in the air cigarette butts world swabs from people who had some connection to the events is included samples from several people including Steven branches stepfather Terry Hobbs.The result of that analysis in May 2007 show that rope used to tie up Michael Moore could be associated with very hot provided a result the prosecution right after learning of it much more recent analysis by Mr. Fedora show that hair found on a tree root through Tree Stump at the crime scene could be associated with the DNA samples provided by Terry Hobbs.
Nowadays, DNA is a crucial component of a crime scene investigation, used to both to identify perpetrators from crime scenes and to determine a suspect’s guilt or innocence (Butler, 2005). The method of constructing a distinctive “fingerprint” from an individual’s DNA was first described by Alec Jeffreys in 1985. He discovered regions of repetitions of nucleotides inherent in DNA strands that differed from person to person (now known as variable number of tandem repeats, or VNTRs), and developed a technique to adjust the length variation into a definitive identity marker (Butler, 2005). Since then, DNA fingerprinting has been refined to be an indispensible source of evidence, expanded into multiple methods befitting different types of DNA samples. One of the more controversial practices of DNA forensics is familial DNA searching, which takes partial, rather than exact, matches between crime scene DNA and DNA stored in a public database as possible leads for further examination and information about the suspect. Using familial DNA searching for investigative purposes is a reliable and advantageous method to convict criminals.
Some existing Literature on Natural Hair The existing literature on ethnic and racial studies among African-Americans has focused on issues pertaining to beauty and body politics especially on natural hair. Spellers and Moffitt assert that the body politics that one assumes, guides how one relates to a particular political ideology in a particular society. Black natural hair is considered as a way by which the true identity of African women can be understood (Jacobs-Huey). It is a symbol of power among black women; it influences how people are treated by others.
Summary:In 1997 the body of a 14-year old girl was found in a Racine County(Wisconsin) marsh.Her name was Amber Gail Creek.Racine County identified the suspect as 36-year old James P. Eaton. For seventeen years investigators analyzed all evidence in the death of Amber, but they finally got a break in the case when investigators found fingerprints on the black plastic bag used to suffocate Amber. Investigators were able to track Eaton and pull one of his prints off one of his cigarettes. The fingerprints matched those found on the plastic bag and on the victim’s body.
African American hair looks gorgeous, attractive and beautiful. Your hair is extremely fragile and needs proper care and gentle touch so that it doesn’t break or get loose. Here are the top African American hair cares FAQs.
These hairs may be of evidentiary value to show contact between two people. With an adequate hair standard, a trace chemist will be able to microscopically compare an unknown hair to a standard collection and determine if the unknown hair could have come from the individual under investigation. Hair comparisons can not identify hair as coming from one individual to the exclusion of anyone else. DNA testing can strengthen any possible association with the hairs." - Locard.... ... middle of paper ... ...
A woman in the Oklahoma jail nearby claimed to have eavesdropped on a conversation pertaining to the case. In this conversation it was speculated that both Williamson and Fritz had admitted to committing the heinous crimes and were promptly sentenced to death (Williamson) and a life sentence (Fritz). This type of snitch evidence accounts for 21% of the innocent project cases where no legitimate DNA evidence is founded. The only proof used in the case against these men was their hair, each being fairly “consistent” with the hair found at the scene of the crime. Updated testing for DNA later on had shown that none of the hairs found at the scene of the crime bore any resemblance to either Robert Williamson or Dennis Fritz dubbing the previously approved match a 100% error
Jealousy has a huge impact on all the characters in “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”. Bernice shows the first signs of jealousy when she overhears Marjorie talking to her mom about how all of her friends think Bernice is incredibly dull. Marjorie basically has to beg boys to cut in on Bernice while they are dancing. Even Warren, one of Marjorie’s most beloved beaus tries to flirt with Bernice and cannot do so because she does not know how to effectively communicate with boys. Warren is infatuated with Marjorie and would do anything for her, including dancing with Bernice. Warren wanted to get along with Bernice just to impress Marjorie but he realizes Bernice is just plain “dopeless” (Fitzgerald 358). Warren thinks that if he can effectively flirt with
An analyst for the Oklahoma City Police Department Crime Lab, known as Joyce Gilchrist, testified that hairs found on the victim’s body matched Bryson’s head and pubic hair samples (David). Semen swabs were collected from the victim’s body and on a bathrobe that the victim received soon after the crime occurred (David). Additionally, Gilchrist testified that the blood type in the sperm cells matched Bryson’s blood types (David). The victim reported that her attacker ejaculated which Gilchrist argued meant Bryson could have been the attacker (David). In addition to Gilchrist’s forensic testimony, the victim testified that he was the man who attacked and viciously raped her as well as the other witness who testified that Bryson was the man hitchhiking (David). These testimonies lead to Bryson being falsely sentenced to 85 years in prison
Whereas the real picture of forensic evidence is unlike what is represented in movies and television shows where a fingerprint or a trace of hair is found, then it’s game over for the criminal. Reality is not as straightforward. As more people are exposed to the unreal forensic world through television and media the likeliness for a wrong conviction increases with juries assuming the evidence involves more science than what it really does, this is known as the CSI Effect. Further education and training is needed for the people of the court, the forensic specialists, and so called experts. The people in courts do not question any of the ‘professionals’ and just trust in their expertise. The court could overcome this perception by requiring explanation of error rates in a forensic field. To do this, testing examiner error rates will be necessary which means further research. Forensic science has such a large effect on the prosecution of suspects, experts have been known to provide questionable and at times incorrect evidence. When a false conviction occurs the true perpetrator is set free. Once realized, the public doubts the justice system and the reliability of the forensic evidence even more. At this point in time, forensic is an inexact
This case started on July 25, 1984, with the death of a nine year old girl by the name of Dawn Hamilton. The story plays out as follows: Dawn approached two boys and an adult male that were fishing at a pond in a wooded area near Golden Ring Mall in eastern Baltimore, Maryland. Dawn asked the boys to help her find her cousin, they declined the adult male however agreed to help her look. This was the last time anyone saw Hamilton alive. Hamilton’s body was found to have been raped, strangled and beaten with a rock. The police collected a boot print at the scene and DNA that was found in Hamilton’s underwear. The police also relied on the witness testimonies and line-ups, which in this case was the photo array. With the five eye witness testimonies and a tip the believed to be suspect was found. Kirk Noble Bloodsworth a prior U.S. Marine with no prior criminal record was taken into custody and charged with intentional first degree murder, sexual assault and rape. Bloodsworth was basically convicted on the eye witness testimonies. The state requested the death penalty. Bloodsworth was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. (BLOODSWORTH v. STATE, 1988)
Although the reputation of redheads went back for centuries, redheads are still seen as unfaithful, rude, and witch-like in today’s age. A manuscript from the 14th century states that redheads are hardly faithful in their friendship, the “Proverbs of Alfred” warns not to choose a red haired person as friend, and the "Secretum Secretorum" warns to not use redheads as advisors. All of these warning were issued due to the horrid reputation and stereotype that red hair people were betrayers who will stab you in the back, as seen with Judas. During the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, many women with red hair were burned at the stake.” Approximately 45,000 women were tortured and murdered usually by burning at the stake or by drowning” (dfghj). From 1483-1784, thousands of so-called “witches” were stripped and searched for “marks of the devil”, which
In crime scene investigations, hair is one of the most common types of evidence encountered. Hair evidence is picked up at the scene, and usually collected from several different areas on the body. Through hair analysis, we can determine if the source is human or animal, and what race the source is a member of. When analyzing hair, the color and structure is the main view of focus and is determined through microscopic magnification. Today hair evidence has played a significant role in criminal investigations and has helped solved many cases.
"The use of DNA by law enforcement in recent years has proven it's extraordinary value in identifying criminals who, in the absence of this technology, would go free." This statement made by Governor of New York, George E. Pataki says all it needs to say. While it's true that the old-fashioned way of fighting crime is still necessary (policemen on the beat, investigations, etc.), we now have advanced methods of finding the worst criminals using forensic science. A crime can occur in the middle of the night or in an isolated area where no witnesses are present. It's only the evidence left behind that is the true witness to their crime. Forensic science converts these clues, using the latest technology into evidence to be used in a court of law.When criminals are given their right to a fair trial, the prosecutor must bear the burden of proof that the person is guilty. Without this proof, a clearly guilty party may be set free. Thank...