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The Role of Forensic Sciences in Criminal and civil cases
Usefulness of forensic scientists in criminal investigations
The Role of Forensic Sciences in Criminal and civil cases
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The difference between the innocent and the guilty can hang on a single strand of DNA—a smudged fingerprint, a drop of blood, or even saliva left in chewing gum. A crime scene is fragile and it is difficult to find, collect, and interpret evidence. High profile cases and television shows such as Bones and CSI have played an instrumental role in raising public awareness to the importance of forensic science and its role in criminal investigations. From its first appearance in a United States courtroom in 1987, DNA analysis has made monumental strides in the conviction or acquittal of suspects, as well as exonerating prisoners wrongfully convicted of crimes. Truman Capote, author of In Cold Blood, reconstructs the murder of four members of the Clutter family in 1959 and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers. Due to basic technology and a lack of tools at that time, the investigation Capote documents is limited and with such few clues, seemingly impossible to solve. The evolution of forensic science has been an immense influence in criminal investigations: with its sheer power to convict or exonerate, it has shaped and forever changed the justice system.
DNA profiling or testing is a main component of forensic science; originally known as DNA fingerprinting, this type of analysis has helped to acquit or convict suspects in many violent crimes. In its early days, DNA profiling was developed as a method to determine paternity; it first appeared in the courtroom in 1986 in England for a rape-murder case which used DNA to verify a confession. DNA profiling reached the U.S. courtrooms shortly after in 1987. (Calandro, Cormier, Reeder). The first years following these groundbreaking cases, DNA evid...
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...ancements regarding human decomposition were almost nonexistent. Only recently has a method been developed to determine time of death. This method analyzes tissue samples from a victim's organs and measures the amount of various "time dependent decay chemicals"; the sample is then compared to a standard tissue sample for a particular postmortem time. This method has the ability to pinpoint time of death "plus or minus twelve hours" (Roach 62).
No matter what the case, forensic science has monumentally changed criminal investigation. From computer technology to fingerprint analysis, forensic science has played a key role in thousands of cases. The partnership between the law and forensic sciences has changed the justice system like no other investigative tool: the intelligence provided by this technology is instrumental for both exonerations and convictions alike.
In 1989 the National Research Council Committee on DNA Technology in Forensic Science was developed due to numerous scientific and legal issues (The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence). The National Research Council’s key role was to analyze statistical and population genetic issues in the use of DNA evidence and review major alternative approaches to statistical evaluation of DNA evidence (The Evaluation of Forensic DNA, 50). Over the past fifteen years DNA profiling has made tremendous advancements and continuous improvements in the fight against violent
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.
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.
“The ‘CSI Effect’; Forensic Science.” The Economist. 24 April 2010: 77 (US). Student Resources In
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,
At the University of Tennessee, they leave bodies to decay in different situations and circumstances. This helps them study time of death and possibly the cause as well. The main things to look for when you are determining the time of death is the severity of insect infestation and physical decaying of the body.
Since DNA technology has been used there has been a high number of individuals convicted, linked or found innocent of a crimes. This technology has helped law enforcement catch suspects that may have never been found without the use of this technology. However, the research reflected that there is a need for clearer interpretations of the DNA results, better equality provided for all regardless of race or class and that errors should be reduced to prevent having cases that need to be exonerated.
the Use of DNA Evidence to Establish Innocence After Trial. National Institute of Justice, 10, 15. Retrieved from, https://www.ncjrs.gov/
The collection of DNA in an investigation is used most often to determine who the perpetrator(s) might be in a crime. There has been a rapid growth since its inception and legal and ethical issues have arisen. In the Double –Helix Double-Edged ...
"Using DNA to Solve Crimes." U.S. Department of Justice: National Institute of Justice. (September 9, 2014). Web. 29 May 2015.
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.
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 ...
As far back as 1832, James Marsh was the first to use forensics at trial to give evidence as a chemist in 1832. Since that time forensic science and evidence has come a long way in various ways and technology to help in determine if the suspect is guilt or not, through such things as DNA testing, blood, and fingerprints. The first forensic police crime lab was created in 1910. The contributions of Dr. Edmond Locard, a French scientist and criminologist, proposed that “everything leaves a trace”. This principle is still valid today as it was so many years ago. No matter how small, the specialized trained technicians and investigators can take these methods and go to a crime scene to get evidence. “Forensic science is the application of sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matters of law.” (Office of Justice, 2017) These different sciences can help achieve and assist in solving a case. Forensic science has also the ability to prove that a crime was committed, it can find the elements of the crime, it can help place the suspect at the scene and whether the suspect had any contact with the victim. However, in the last several years the techniques and with the use of technology the evidence that forensic science uncovers can also exonerate an innocent individual who has been falsely accused of the
Recognized as the greatest breakthrough in forensic science since fingerprinting, DNA analysis has made a dramatically positive impact on criminal investigations. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the basic genetic code within each cell that determines a person's phenotype and genotype. Since the early 1980s, DNA testing has been used in genetic disease research, finding matches for transplants, and in anthropological investigations.1 Typically in forensics, DNA analysis is used on specimen samples such as blood, hair, or semen that are left at a crime scene. This new technology has opened many doors to new methods and techniques in forensic genetics. Using techniques such as PCR and STR, analysts are able to create DNA profiles and easily compare
“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...