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essays about forensic science
essays about forensic science
essays about forensic science
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Trace analysis is the examination of any evidence that can be transferred between objects when they touch, which could include glass, fibers/fabrics, and hair (forensicsciencesimplified.org). As science and technology have evolved over the past seventy years, how has the way trace evidence is analyzed changed and evolved to meet the new standards as well? Have these new advancements changed the way that the evidence is collected? These are all questions that have been dancing around in my head since I read David Owen’s book, Hidden Evidence: Forty true crimes and how forensic evidence helped solve them. With a goal of being a trace analyst in the future, this was an opportunity that I could not pass up. Through my research, I have found multiple …show more content…
Later on in my research, I had the pleasure of being able to interview Daniel Davison, a trace analyst that has worked in the field for the past twenty years. As a student of the forensic science class that is offered at Southview, I have had access to a multitude of different textbooks and informative websites pertaining to anything that is grouped under the broad term of forensic science. One of these sources was the website, forensicsciencesimplified.org, which contains information on the broad realm of forensic science and its subcategories and includes my main interest: trace analysis. As I discovered more information about new discoveries, I wanted to know more about the processes needed to utilize these techniques. To do this, I searched for videos that could teach me more about the specific topics I was curious about. One video was created by Khan Academy, and discussed the process used to break up gas composition in the form of gas chromatography. Throughout the years of Forensic Science, the technology and techniques people exercise when utilizing the technology and analyzing the evidence are continuously …show more content…
In H. A. Laitinen’s thesis, he detailed new processes used for analyzing new evidence with electroanalytical chemistry: “Electroanalytical chemistry since 1950 has moved in several directions, including (a) ion selective electrodes, (b) other electrochemical sensors, and (c) combinations of electrochemical and optical techniques.” Electroanalytical chemistry is a form of chemistry involving electrical current, which can be measured using two different ways, potential (volts) and current (amps) (Chapter 22-Introduction to Electroanalytical Chemistry). This was a major breakthrough in the field as it made the process more reliable and the analysis was completed in a faster time. As the 1960s approached, ion selective electrodes were starting to be utilized. Ion selective electrodes selectively respond to different ions in the presence of different ions, these measure the gases and ions that are in a solution. The pH probe is the most common of all of the ion electrodes. Some other ion electrodes can include fluoride, cadmium, and bromide. These electrodes are used to determine different substances that are dissolved in solution. While gas chromatography was discovered in the early 1940s, it was not published until 1948, after World War II. The discovery was not widely accepted or acknowledged until the
During this time, it could only be used in a lab with semi-intense supervision. Now, fast forward a few decades and there are D.I.Y. at home kits. The process of Electrophoresis starts with an electric current being run through a gel containing the molecules of interest. The molecules will then travel through the gel in different directions and speeds, based on their size and charge, allowing them to be separated from each other. Dyes, fluorescent tags, and radioactive labels can all enable the molecules on the gel to be seen after they have been separated. Because of these identification markers, they appear as a band across the top of the gel. Electrophoresis can be used for many different things. It is used to identify and study DNA or DNA fragments, and helps us to better understand the molecular components of both living and deceased organisms. Electrophoresis can also be used to test for genes related to specific diseases and life altering diagnoses such as Multiple Sclerosis, Down’s Syndrome, kidney disease, and some types of cancer. Electrophoresis also plays a major role in the testing of antibiotics. It can be used to determine the purity and concentration of one specific type of antibiotic or several general antibiotics at a time. Electrophoresis is also extremely useful in the creation and testing of
Forensic science is a fascinating subject and one that offers a broad range of careers, including evidence custodians, criminalists, document examiners, firearms/toolmark examiners, forensic laboratory technicians, latent print examiners, and photo technicians—just to name a few (Genge 276). Some jobs require extensive college classes, while others offer the opportunity to learn on the job. N. E. Genge’s book kept me mesmerized, and I read the entire book at one sitting. It was so interesting that if I were just beginning my college journey, I would be sorely tempted (based upon what I read in this particular book) to pursue a career in forensic science—even if it meant that I had to take Pre-Calculus--and I dislike Math!
Evidence analysis and ranging is the most crucial stage of investigation. The success of the case exposure lies in the gradual evidence research and collecting prior to the laboratory analysis. The CSI systematically makes his way through the crime scene collects all potential evidence, tagging, logging and packaging so it remains intact on its way to the lab. Depending on the task breakdown of the CSI unit he may or may not analyze the evidence in the lab.
Forensic science has changed dramatically over the years in a number of different ways, both positive and negative; new discoveries have altered the ways in which scientific experiments are carried out; how evidence is collected from a crime scene and overall how a criminal is caught as a result of the findings and conclusions made by forensic scientists. Crime has existed for millions of years; however the way in which a crime is detected hasn’t been around for the same length of time. Forensic science has gone through many changes for the better and has become a lot more accurate and reliable since it was first established. The arrival of modern forensic science made apprehending the criminal a lot faster and a lot simpler. The police records are full of anonymous corpses that have been so badly mutilated that they are unable to be recognised by the human eye. This gives forensic scientists a very difficult job; it requires precise medical expertise in order to identify that person and figure out what happened. The
So much has been invented techniques such as (10): Autopsies(a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death ), Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)(When broken glass is involved in a crime, putting together even tiny pieces can be key to finding important clues like the direction of bullets, the force of impact or the type of weapon used in a crime.),Video Spectral Comparator 2000( For crime scene investigators and forensic scientists, this is one of the most valuable forensic technologies available anywhere.),Magnetic Fingerprinting and Automated Fingerprint Identification (AFIS) (crime scene investigators, forensic scientists and police officers can quickly and easily compare a fingerprint at a crime scene with an extensive virtual database). Technology has improved so much since the Jack the ripper case, I do think Jack the ripper had a massive impact on the forensic science police investigating because they learnt so many things and ways to better themselves in investigative policing that without the Jack the Ripper case they might not have come
Brief history of Forensic, it surfaced in the state of San Francisco in the 1850’s systematic photography was being used to obtain criminal identification. Later on in the 1920’s “Los Angeles Police Department established the first police department crime laboratory in the United States (Forensic science timeline (n.d). Forensic continued to progress over the years to became one of the most innovating fields in the criminal justice system. Forensic help in the prosecution of many cases as well as exclusion of the wrongfully accused (Forensic science timeline (n.d). Forensic tech work primarily for local governments and state in police departments, coroner offices, and crime laboratories. This field is a combination of lab and field work the best of both worlds (Career guide for forensic science technician (n.d). This is what makes Forensic Science Technician the field of interest; the customary duties of a forensic science technician consist of gathering evidence, investigation of evidence collected, and reporting their discoveries in writing and may also be called into a court of law (criminal or civil laws) to present their finding before a judge (Career guide for forensic science technician (n.d).. There are several different areas of expertise in the field of a forensic technicians are often responsible or specialize in particular types of evidence such as biochemistry, ballistics, fingerprinting, and handwriting analysis. It has been said that forensic science technicians are mostly call upon to assist in two places on crime scenes and in crime labs (Dillon .H, 1999). Crime scenes contains that valuable evident that must be careful collected and preserved to help with the reconstruction of crimes by theorizing the events ...
The topic I find such fascinating is Forensic Science and how forensic science has significantly changed over the years. “The area of forensic science has grown considerably over the last 150 years and more so since the mid 1980’s.” (Lyman, 2016) Forensic science has gone from taking basic information, and fingerprints to DNA and blood splatter. During a crime scene investigation evidence is collected, analyzed in a crime laboratory and then if needed are presented to the court. However, today the crime laboratory is becoming mobile and can go to the scene to analyze the evidence. Each crime scene and investigation is unique and distinctive, with the help of forensics it can help solve a case.
Crime scenes are known to have many clues left behind. The obvious would be a the body or bodies, clothing, and sometimes even the murder weapon. While these are great way to solve a case there's another kind of evidence; trace evidence. Trace evidence are small pieces of evidence that are laying around a crime scene. There are many types of trace evidence some of them include metal filings, plastic fragments, gunshot residue, glass fragments, feathers, food stains, building materials, lubricants, fingernail scrapings, pollens and spores, cosmetics, chemicals, paper fibers and sawdust, human and animal hairs, plant and vegetable fibers, blood and other body fluids, asphalt or tar, vegetable fats and oils, dusts and other airborne particles, insulation, textile fibers, soot, soils and mineral grains, and explosive residues. Although these are the most common found elements, they are not the only ones. The Trace Evidence Unit is known to examine the largest variety of evidence types and used the biggest range of analytical methods of any unit. materials are compared with standards or knowns samples to determine whether or not they share any common characteristics. In this paper I will discuss the different kinds of trace evidence and how crime scene investigaros use it to solve cases and convict criminal.
“Advance in Forensics Provide Creative Tools for Solving Crimes.” www.ctcase.org. Np. n.d. Web. 17 March 2014.
The criminal justice system has changed a lot since the good old days of the Wild West when pretty much anything was legal. Criminals were dealt with in any fashion the law enforcement saw fit. The science of catching criminals has evolved since these days. We are better at catching criminals than ever and we owe this advancement to forensic science. The development of forensic science has given us the important techniques of fingerprinting and DNA analysis. We can use these techniques to catch criminals, prove people's innocence, and keep track of inmates after they have been paroled. There are many different ways of solving crimes using forensic evidence. One of these ways is using blood spatter analysis; this is where the distribution and pattern of bloodstains is studied to find the nature of the event that caused the blood spatter. Many things go into the determination of the cause including: the effects of various types of physical forces on blood, the interaction between blood and the surfaces on which it falls, the location of the person shedding the blood, the location and actions of the assailant, and the movement of them both during the incident. Another common type of forensic evidence is trace evidence. This is commonly recovered from any number of items at a crime scene. These items can include carpet fibers, clothing fibers, or hair found in or around the crime scene. Hairs recovered from crime scenes can be used as an important source of DNA. Examination of material recovered from a victim's or suspect's clothing can allow association to be made between the victim and other people, places, or things involved in the investigation. DNA analysis is the most important part of forensic science. DNA evidence can come in many forms at the crime scene. Some of these forms include hair; bodily fluids recovered at the crime scene or on the victim's body, skin under the victim's fingernails, blood, and many others. This DNA can be the basis of someone's guilt or innocence; it has decided many cases in the twentieth century. As the times continue to change and the criminals get smarter we will always need to find new ways to catch them. Forensic science is the most advanced method yet, but is only the beginning. As the field of science grows so will the abilities of the
Forensic Science, recognized as Forensics, is the solicitation of science to law to understand evidences for crime investigation. Forensic scientists are investigators that collect evidences at the crime scene and analyse it uses technology to reveal scientific evidence in a range of fields. Physical evidence are included things that can be seen, whether with the naked eye or through the use of magnification or other analytical tools. Some of this evidence is categorized as impression evidence2.In this report I’ll determine the areas of forensic science that are relevant to particular investigation and setting out in what method the forensic science procedures I have recognized that would be useful for the particular crime scene.
In today’s time, modern Crime Scene Investigation has increased rapidly. From throughout the late 1900’s and in the early 2000’s (Taylor 1). For all of the evidence that they find, a solid foundation has formed over the thousands of years of Crime Scene
The transitional growth in the forensic science sector has not been without challenges. Though the world has experienced increased capabilities and scientific knowledge, which has led to faster investigations and results, many forensic experts have argued that forensic laboratory testing, in the light of 21st century technological advancements, is yet to meet the expected rate in quick available testing and analysis (Mennell & Shaw, 2006). This is with respect to the growing rate of crime and the high demand of quick crime scene testing and analysis. In the science of crime scene, analysis and interpretation of evidence is majorly dependent on forensic science, highlighting the change in the role of forensic sciences (Tjin-A-Tsoi, 2013). In the business of forensic science, time is beginning to play important role in the evidence testing and analysis which is becoming crucial in reducing ...
Forensic science has paved the way to a new world of technological advancements in solving crime, through DNA analysis, new technology such as M-Vac, improving systems such as CODIS and other investigative methods. As forensic science technology advances, the chance of an individual being able to commit a crime and walk away free without leaving any trace of evidence will lessen. While forensic science has its limitations, it can be the only way to provide an accurate account of what actually occurred at some crime scenes.
Electrophoresis is an analytical technique for the analysis of macromolecules like proteins and nucleic acids. This technique was discovered and first used in 1937 by a Swedish biochemist Arne Tiselius . The electrophoretic effect is based on the theory of Debye - Huckel - Onsager where this theory of electrolytic dissociation accept the fact that charged particles move up under the influence of electrostatic forces to an electrode of opposite charge is applied when a potential difference in a solution containing electrolytes.