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Forensic science chapters 1
Forensic science chapters 1
Forensic science chapters 1
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Forensic science plays a vital role in the criminal justice system by aiding an investigator’s case with scientific information based on the analysis of the evidence. Each crime scene is unique in its own way and using the evidence collected, forensic experts try to piece it together. An expert is someone who has had enough education, training, and experience to testify to the matter at hand (Harmon 2010). Unlike other witnesses in a case who testify based on first hand knowledge, the expert witness is not required to have firsthand knowledge of a particular case, and in fact, often does not. Rather, the expert witness testifies to the meaning of the facts (Whitcomb et al. 2005). Each forensic expert typically has a background in another scientific discipline, such as biology, physics, chemistry, etc. An expert with a biology background may work with DNA; chemistry may work in toxicology; and physics in blood spatter trajectories. Working separately on their own respected evidence, an investigator is able to collect all their data and set up a case (National Institute of Justice 2013). Usually, these experts will be hired by either the prosecution or defense in a criminal trial, or by a plaintiff or defendant in a civil litigation. The role of the expert witness exists in variants: between criminal and civil courts as well as the prosecution and defense. The overall goal of a forensic scientist is to determine the facts using all the available resources they were given. They give their expert opinion to the attorneys, judge, and jury, and depending on how well prepared they are, can sway the jury to either a guilty or innocent verdict (Thinkquest 2014). In general, a forensic expert must keep impeccable records of all that has b... ... middle of paper ... ...e and opposing sides. There can also be multiple experts hired by either side, some of whom won’t have to write a report or testify, but can be brought in for consultation purposes. Experts hired for criminal law purposes must follow the policies set by the courts and law. If hired by the prosecution, the expert must disclose all notes taken on the case, lab reports, results, and chain of custody documentation to the defense. The expert hired by the defense isn’t required to disclose any information about the case and it is up to the defense if they want to allow the prosecution any information. The expert there is to give testimony in order to, basically, sway the jury one way or another. Though there may be differences among the various sides an expert can be hired as, the goal in the end is same: for the facts to be accurate and presented in a professional manner.
Jurors have unrealistic ideas of evidence processing. ”Such programs give the impression that forensic laboratories are fully staffed with highly trained personnel, stocked with a full complement of state-of-the-art instrumentation and rolling in the resources to close every case in a timely fashion.” (Houck 85) Forensic laboratories face funding deficits, not enough suitably trained staff and the consistent advancement of technology. University of Maryland forensic scientist Thomas Mauriello estimates that about 40 percent of the forensic science shown on CSI does not exist. Carol Henderson, director of the National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law at Stetson University College of Law, told a publication of that institution that jurors are “sometimes disappointed if some of the new technologies that they think exist are not used.” (Houck 87) Investigators often have to explain to victims that it is not possible to collect a sample of...
Therefore, the criminal justice system relies on other nonscientific means that are not accepted or clear. Many of forensic methods have implemented in research when looking for evidence, but the methods that are not scientific and have little or anything to do with science. The result of false evidence by other means leads to false testimony by a forensic analyst. Another issue with forensic errors is that it is a challenge to find a defense expert (Giannelli, 2011). Defense experts are required to help the defense attorneys defend and breakdown all of the doubts in the prosecutors scientific findings in criminal cases. Scientific information is integral in a criminal prosecution, and a defense attorney needs to have an expert to assist he/she in discrediting the prosecution (Giannelli,
...t is reported that the results are produced by the CSI effect, not only in the United States, also in Australia, the United Kingdom and Germany. Although forensic courses have become more popular, which means more people will choose to enter the crime room to work, some people worry that these programs did not let the students fully prepared to work on actual evidence (Police). After graduation, these students often cannot firmly grasp the basic scientific principles. Many forensic science students saw the simplified procedure in learning and came to a too clear conclusion, which could lead to their biased perception of forensic science (Bergslien). Some police tried to improve the science literacy of these future forensic and jurors and trained them into "CSI citizens" by letting local citizens become familiar with the "real forensic capabilities and limitations".
Authors use symbols to give insight on characters’ inner lives or foreshadow events to come. Colors are often used as symbols to describe situations and characters’ moods, for example colors such as red and orange can be used to show anger, danger, or to give caution. In “Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta”, Kate Braverman uses colors to describe the female protagonist’s feelings and to foreshadow her next decision. Braverman especially likes to use the color blue. Blue is mentioned about thirty times in this thirteen page story.
Have you seen CSI: Crime Scene Investigation or Bones? It is a Hollywood TV show that is mainly about forensic science where forensic scientists apply science to criminal and civil laws. It does wonders like spreading science and educating people about the technology that is available in the real world. But those TV shows do not accurately represents the responsibility of forensic scientist in terms of procedures, life-style and technological abilities in the real world; some differences are trivial but some are significant.
“Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him” (Newton). This quote summarizes what the branch of forensic science does, collecting evidence and solving who committed the crime. A crime scene investigator and a forensic scientist are common jobs in the forensic science field (Franklin, “Crime Scene Investigation vs. Forensic Science”). Although both crime scene investigators and forensic scientists act when someone commits a crime, many differences and some similarities exist between the two careers.
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 science of statistics refers to two distinct areas of knowledge. One area refers to the analysis of uncertainty and the other area refers to the listing of events, counts of entities for various economic, social, and scientific purposes. It is for these reasons that statistics can be of great value within the area of forensic science. Evidence that is used within a legal setting, contains doubt, which means that this evidence requires some statistical and problematic reasoning which plays an imperative role in the criminal investigation, prosecution and trial. Statistical and problematic reasoning also plays a major part in relation to forensic scientific evidence, such as DNA, which is produced by an expert witness.
Studying everyday and finally finishing your post-secondary education, majoring in Criminal Justice or another major in that field, you can finally land your career. As a Forensic Scientist, you’re most likely going to work for the Federal Law Enforcement, to examine & collect evidence from crime scenes such as hair, nails, fingerprints, and/or fibers. The goal in this field is to convict an alleged perpetrator of an underlying crime. As a result of this goal, it is essential for those involved in the investigation process to preserve the evidence collected.
National Research Council (U.S.). (2009). Strengthening forensic science in the United States: A path forward. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.
Forensic scientists work in labs where they examine, identify, and interpret evidence collected in crime scenes. Crime scene investigators collect evidence and pass it to a forensic scientist who uses the items in numerous ways to help catch criminals. Forensic scientists must also record the evidence and any tests ran on it in detail to prove the truth in court. A forensic scientist also has to be able to present his or her physical evidence verbally in court, so a strong communication background is important.
"Unreliable or Improper Forensic Science." The Innocence Project. The Innocence Project, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Physical evidence is additionally important in every criminal investigation because too often witness accounts are sometimes biased or unreliable. Physical evidence such as trace evidence, DNA, and fingerprints may objectively attach one or more persons to a victim or suspect to a crime. Favorably, physical evidence can also demonstrate inestimable for exonerating an innocent suspect. Laboratory members and criminal investigators should perform together to resolve the biggest portion of evidence to institute the right suspect for a strong prosecution. Willingly, investigation officers should aggressively contact laboratory personnel when questions arise about the cases because DNA evidence is sensitive.
“The word ‘forensics’ means “connected with the courtroom”; so forensic science is, therefore, concerned with gathering hard evidence that can be presented in a trial” (Innes 9). Forensic science is a science that is applied specifically to legal matters, whether criminal or civil. “Few areas in the realm of science are as widespread and important as forensic science” (Hunter 12). Forensics is the one science that is most commonly used in everyday life. It is also a branch of science that incorporates other branches of science such as biology, chemistry, and etc. Since it is used almost every day “No one can dispute the importance of the contributions to society made by forensic science; the ability to solve crime is undeniably important” (Hunter 13). Forensic science has given criminal investigation a new edge. “Advances in science have opened the door for more effective evidence discovery, howev...
Criminal scene investigations is the purposeful use of science, rationale and law. It is a long, monotonous process that includes deliberate documentation of the conditions at the scene and the gathering of any physical proof that could conceivably explain what happened and indicate who did it. There is no common criminal scene, there is no average group of proof and there is no common investigative approach. Each crime scene is a unique situation (Layton, 2005). The evidence assembled from a scene is looked at, reviewed, written up, and then collected. Once the evidence is acquired it is packed away and sent to a research center where testing and examinations will be directed. Once at the lab, a group of researchers