Forensic science is specialized in finding proof and evidence to analyze and search for clues. When crimes are done, criminals frequently leave behind evidence at the crime scene. Crime Investigators (AKA- CSIs) and Medical Examiners (MEs) the inspect the evidence left at the crime scene for leads to who did what. They try and rebuild the scene using the evidence and proof that they have. Forensic science has played a great role in finding evidence for crimes in history because it helps find the person who did wrong, the perpetrator, and it helps bring justice to the case. Forensics now are better than before because technological advances like DNA testing has been made, which takes forensics to a whole new level.
Crime scene investigation is the use of physical evidence at the scene of the crime committed, also reasonable and unreasonable reasoning to gain knowledge of the events surrounding the crime. Criminal investigators pursues to establish the methods. Motives, and identities of criminal. This paper will go into great depths of how to conduct an investigation and the proper way to obtain the information. After reading this paper you should be able to know step by step how to keep notes, take accurate photos and a variety of other things that will allow you to conduct a successful investigation.
In order to understand how to compile evidence for criminal cases, we must understand the most effective types of evidence. This topic is interesting because there are ample amounts of cases where defendants have gotten off because of the lack of forensic evidence. If we believe forensic evidence is so important and it affects our decisions, then maybe we need to be educated on the reality of forensic evidence. If we can be educated, then we may have a more successful justice system. If we have a more successful justice system than the public could gain more confidence that justice will be served. In order to do this, we must find what type of evidence is most effective, this can be done by examining different types of evidence.
Forensic investigations require skills of specially trained scientists, police, engineers, doctors and others. “These investigators observe all types of evidence, from weapons to bloodstains and from computers to bugs” (Erzinclioglu 5). The greater the evidence against a person, the greater the chance of conviction.
Some cases cannot be solved without this evidence. “Physical evidence refers to any item that comes from a nonliving origin, such as fingerprints, tire marks, footprints, fibers, paint, and building materials” (“PE”). There is also another group called biological evidence. Biological evidence branches from a living thing, including bloodstains and DNA. Forensic scientists place their evidence into categories including these. “Forensic science is the use of scientific principles and methods to analyze material connected with a crime” (Funkhouser). When a crime is committed, law enforcement officers tape off the scene as quickly as possible (Funkhouser). They then search the area for evidence (Funkhouser). Forensic scientists rarely actually go to the crime scene (Funkhouser). Once all the evidence is gathered from the site, it is then cautiously transported to the crime lab to be analyzed (Funkhouser). Everything about a crime scene is taken very seriously. It is a very tedious process, which takes patience and
Rape, murder, theft, and other crimes almost always leave a devastating mark on the victim. More often than not, it would be impossible to identify the perpetrator a crime without forensic science and the technology it uses. Forensic science allows investigators to unmask the secrets of the crime scene. Evidence gathered at the crime scene helps to identify the guilty party, murder weapon, and even the identity of the victim (Harkawy, 1991: 276). The new technologies enables the forensic experts to have better and faster access to accumulated information, to be more accurate in the identification of victims or delinquents, and minimizes the possibility of wrongful accusations. New technology has improved the methods and techniques that forensic scientists and law enforcement investigators use, in order to provide a safer environment for other people. Information technology is one of the most important aspects in forensic science. It is very important for the forensic experts to receive the undisturbed evidence, such as fingerprints left at the crime scene, as quickly as possible, for more accurate readings. Thus using space technology, such as satellite communication, enables the forensic experts to "gather and digitize evidence at the crime scene, enter it into an on-site computer, and beam the data to a crime lab for swift analysis" (Paula, 1998: 12). Therefore, due to the use of this technology, forensic experts in laboratories can examine the evidence in short time, and the possibility of damage or unlawful manipulation of the evidence before the trial is minimal (Paula, 1998: 12). More often than not, "criminals" wear gloves at the time of the crime, thus to obtain a fingerprint...
Geberth, Vernon J. (1983). Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic Technics. Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc.
Forensic science is the employment of science to solve crimes. Forensic scientists use evidence from the crime scene to track the criminal down or determine the guilt or innocence of a suspect on trial. Some evidence examples that forensic scientists use for their job include fingerprints, footprints, teeth marks, blood, semen, hair fibers, bullets, broken glass, knives, and guns. Other useful pieces of evidence criminals are less likely to think about are descriptions, provided by the coroner, of incisions and bruises on the victim’s body. These descriptions can provide clues to the scientists on what kind of weapon was used for the crime. Before anyone can begin doing all this, however, they must receive an education.
The purpose of criminal justice system is to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt and for this purpose forensic evidence has apparently played a major role. But looking at the present scenario, it can be observed that the basic purpose or rather the advantage of forensic evidence over other evidences seem to have been rendered as defeated. As the certainty, which was offered by such evidence is not fully reliable and has been construed wrongly by the courts. Hence it can be observed from above mention points that forensic science has failed in providing a better administration of criminal justice system.
Investigators must ensure the integrity of all evidence collected, analyzed, processed and presented to a courtroom and jury. The reason that this is important is because the improper collection and analysis of evidence can lead to compromised data and potential damage to a prosecution. The seizure and analysis of digital evidence can be particularly challenging but is just as critical to a case as physical evidence. There are specific procedures that must be met to ensure the successful collection and analysis of digital media and guidelines or best practices for collection of all evidence, both physical and digital that must be followed. Conducting the proper steps in an investigation regarding the collection and processing of evidence and the proper chain of custody requirements can ensure a successful outcome in solving a case and a successful prosecution.
Processing firearms especially for a crime scene is really important. Making sure none of the evidence on the firearm is tampered with or changed can make or break a case. That’s why forensics take collecting firearm evidence very carefully from the scene at an upmost careful priority.
Crime is a common public issue for people living in the inner city, but is not limited to only urban or highly populated cities as it can undoubtedly happen in small community and rural areas as well. In The Real CSI, the documentary exemplified many way in which experts used forensic science as evidence in trial cases to argue and to prove whether a person is innocent or guilty. In this paper, I explained the difference in fingerprinting technology depicted between television shows and in reality, how DNA technology change the way forensics evidence is used in the court proceedings, and how forensic evidence can be misused in the United States adversarial legal system.
In Maldonado’s study she focuses on both the frequency and percentage of print recovery on firearm evidence at the Denver Police Department over a two year period. A total of 1,316 case reports ranging from involvement in handguns, magazines, live ammunition, and spent cartridge casings were examined to interpret the process and outcome of each type of examination. Since the most common way the Denver Police Department analyzes prints in relation to firearms is cyanoacrylate ester fuming and fingerprint powders, in Maldonado’s study approximately 480 items were processed with orange magnetic powder the rest of the items were processed either cyanoacrylate ester fuming (super fuming) or RUVIS. The benefit of using RUVIS or super fuming is that they allow one to
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.
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 ...