Forensics Does Not Lie

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Recommended: The Role of Forensic Sciences in Criminal and civil cases

In 1964 Marcy Sullivan moved into Cape Cod, only to be found dead within days. Several years later Alberto DeSalvo confessed to the rape and murder of Marcy Sullivan and ten other women, only to recant his confession leaving the world in doubt as to whom the real Boston Strangler was. Despite the fact that Albert DeSalvo was not convicted of the murders of the Boston Strangler he was sentenced to life in prison for other rape charges. Later on, whilst in prison he was stabbed to death, taking the truth of his actions to the grave. Fifty years later forensic scientists were able to use seminal fluid found at the crime scene to prove that DeSalvo was in fact the perpetrator that raped and murdered Marcy Sullivan as well as the other ten women. As technology advances, so do the techniques available to prosecute criminals, such techniques include DNA fingerprinting and carpet analysis.
For the forensic evidence found at a crime scene to even matter in a legal court of law a Forensic Experts must be employed through federal, state, or local laboratories. When Forensic Experts are hired they may be called upon to give expert advice, give a third opinion on the evidence presented or serve as an expert witness. Regardless of whoever hires a forensic expert, the expert must be made available to make a testimony in court over their findings. This is due to the fact that in 2009 the U.S Supreme Court ruled that forensic scientists who test evidence must make a testimony in court. Nonetheless, whatever the purpose that the Forensic Expert is hired to serve they must go through a specific process which involves testing the evidence, but while doing so they must follow lab protocol. Once they have done so they must turn their findings into a r...

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...issing Persons and Unidentified Remains: The Nation's Silent Mass Disaster." NIJ Journal Issue No. 256, January 2007. Office of Justice Programs, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. .
Ritter, Nancy. "Untested Evidence: Not Just a Crime Lab Issue." NIJ Home Page NIJ Home. Office of Justice Programs, 26 May 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
Ritter, Nancy. "Solving Sexual Assaults: Finding Answers Through Research." NIJ Home Page NIJ Home. Office of Justice Programs, 18 June 2012. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. .
Willis, Doris. "In Brief: Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert." NIJ Home Page NIJ Home. Office of Justice Programs, 26 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. .

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