Forensic Pathology This is a vast branch of pathology that exploits cause of deaths by examination of dead bodies. This is a common practice is common in examination of most criminal cases and some civil cases. At the mention of the word forensic, a forensic specialist come the word autopsy. This word can be basically be broken down to mean ‘see for yourself’(Burton, 2005) Investigation should answer some basic questions in order to be valid. These questions may include: Who is deceased? Where? When? What injuries are present? Why and how? And eventually what actually caused the death? Forensic Nursing Field According to International Association of Forensic Nursing, forensic nursing is the application of nursing science to public and legal proceedings investigating potential and real morbidity and mortality cases in different human settings. Forensic nurses investigate sexual and physical assaults together with accidental deaths. This has been instrumental in administration of justice. This field is detail oriented involving crucial data and sample collection as well as analysis of the data collected .They take blood samples and tissues. It can also involve taking photographs and measuring wounds as well as collecting other vital evidence from the body. This may include hair or even semen in cases of sexual assault. They also serve to protect, encourage and offer moral support to assault victims. Forensic nursing is a dynamic job characterized with various traits. The characteristics are fast-pace, structured, patient-facing and research-oriented. These qualities call for competent personalities who can testify in court after proper analysis. Forensic nurses can too offer immediate medical attention to pat... ... middle of paper ... ...scence, 2001 16:251 – 253 Marquette, CA and Blum, LJ 2006, Applications of the luminol chemiluminescent reaction in analytical chemistry. Anal Bioanal Chem, 385(3):546 - 54. Quickenden, TI and Creamer JI 2001 A study of common interferences with the forensic luminol test for blood. Luminescence, 16:295 – 298 Quickenden, T. I., Ennis, C.P. and Creamer, J.I., The forensic use of luminol chemiluminescence to detect traces of blood inside motor vehicles. Luminescence, 2001 19: 271 – 277 Schiro, G 1995, Collection and Preservation of Evidence. What We Do - Law Enforcement Series. Compiled by Captain Merril L. Boling, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Webb, JL, Creamer, JI and Quickenden, T. I 2006, A comparison of the presumptive luminol test for blood with four non-chemiluminescent forensic techniques. Luminescence, 2006 10.1002/bio.908 (epub ahead of print)
A psychological autopsy is an investigative technique, usually employed by psychologists, which is used to determine how death had occurred in equivocal death cases (Fulero & Wrightsman, 2009). This technique is used to try and understand the mindset of the deceased person to help answer certain questions like why did the individual do what they did and why did it occur at that time? The investigator will collect data about the individual, like written correspondence and journ...
Forensic pathologists are the people who determine the cause and time of death if the deceased person died under suspicious circumstances, whether they be violent or not. They determine if the death was accidental, a homicide, natural, a suicide, or even if the cause of death was unknown. They do this by studying said victim’s medical history, evaluating the crime scene for evidence, studying the body for any clues, and performing an autopsy. After determining the cause, time, and the manner in which the victim died, forensic pathologists make a written report on the victim and sometimes testify in court to report their findings.
The term autopsy also referred to as “Post-mortem examination”, “necropsy”, “obduction” and “ autopsia cadaverum” originates from the Latin language and denotes to “open, cut/dissect”. Another origin is from two Greek terms “aut” (self) and “opsie” (to see, to conduct a personal inspection) hence, autopsy refers to the opening/dissection of a cadaver to see for oneself, through observation, the cause of death or the nature of disease contrary to what has been reported by another party. Autopsy practice has been in existence since over 3000 years ago. It was however, not until the Renaissance in Europe that autopsy became standard practice (1,2). The link between clinical syndromes and postmortem findings is credited to the Dutch physician Herman Boerhaave (3).
Forensic anthropology is the study of bones in relation to a criminal investigation. Some have probably seen it used on television, but this is not an accurate portrayal of what this truly is. Many times, this area of forensic science is hidden from the public eye; people only get to see all of the glamorous parts. What they do not see is all of the hard work and effort that is put in to get the job correctly done. This career is a rare decision for someone to choose, because of the lack of opportunity for employment positions as well as the low income per year; however, it is an extremely fascinating occupation. Forensic anthropology has been known to help many organizations, including museums, and law enforcement agencies.
thought that I was an easy target. I'm 17 now and it has changed me life completely.” (Dancing in the Darkness, “Survivors”).” Forensic Nursing is one of the most promising occupations in the United States, the emergence for the need of nurses in the community benefits the place to make lives better. While a judge and jurors are putting the criminal away, forensic nurses are the ones who approach the victim in a more personal manor. Forensic Nurses in the community make the alleviation of pain and trauma better for patients.
In order to understand Forensic Anthropology we must break it down into the components. According to Oxford American Dictionary the term Forensic is significant to the use of scientific methods to investigate a crime. Anthropology is defined by Oxford American Dictionary as the study of societies, cultures, and human origins. The combination of both, Forensic and Anthropology, consists of applying the principles which are introduced by Anthropologists to solving a crime. Forensic Anthropology is currently a small field but is expected to grow in the upcoming years due how it is being portrayed in books, television shows, classes, and many other resources. The usage of this field is becoming crucial because of how gruesome the crimes being committed by criminals are becoming. Although Forensic Anthropology is currently a small field it requires a lot of education, carries plenty of job responsibilities, and continues to aid in the solving of crimes.
Forensic nursing has not always been recognized although practiced by nurses every day. In reality, all nurses no matter the specialty have developed some investigative techniques. A forensic nurse is a nurse who deals with violence, sexual abuse victims, and abusers. “In 1995 forensic nursing gained specialty recognition by the American Nurses Association. It is an emerging global nursing specialty, with subspecialties that focus on nursing practice at the clinical legal interface of tending to victims and offender, living and deceased” (Kent-Wilkinson, 2010, p.425). Today there is a great potential for professional growth and promotion in the forensic field of nursing. With many pros and cons to this field of nursing, it is the nurse’s personal desire to pursue this career that would make this career rewarding.
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
Forensics Anthropology is the study that goes beyond the human skeleton. A forensics anthropologist can find out. How a person lived, the food that person ate, and the overall make-up of a human. The use of forensics has grown in recent years, it is used to solve crimes and locate missing persons. Snow, (1982) Forensics anthropology is not a new science. The first case forensics anthropology was used on was the Jezebel case, dating back to the nineteenth century. This case involved a person, who was thrown from a window. Snow, (1982) The remains found in this case were the skull, feet, and the palm of the victim’s hands.
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 ...
“Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)”. Explore Health Careers.Org. 18 March 2014. Web. 14 March 2014. .
A forensic scientist analyzes different types of evidence from scenes or incidents, writes reports, and testifies in court as an expert witness. Being a forensic scientist is a very detailed oriented profession and they usually work some sort of a lab setting. Occasionally they may visit crime scenes or numerous accidents to help revamp the crime, gather evidence, or preserve data, but this is a very small part of their duties and is usually saved for a crime scene examiner. Forensic scientist may work for the federal or local government, forensic labs, police departments, hospitals, universities or as an independent forensic science consultant. Some specialist in Forensics Sciences are; Forensic Scientist, Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Anthropologist, Forensic Entomologist,
This is where the crime scene unit (CSU) comes in to play as well as the detectives. Once the detectives arrive on the scene they will be looking for a suspicious individual or individuals and speak to witnesses and take their testimonials or story, they basically tell the investigator what they observed. On a crime scene investigation packet it states "when seeking for witnesses and taking their testimonials it is best to separate them so no individuals have identical stories." Once this has been done and the investigator takes the testimonials they must determine if a crime took place. For example if a person was stabbed in the abdomen and first responders arrived and trying to help the victim and he dies then the crime that took place was a aggravated battery but turned into a homicide. If a person was sexually molested and beaten while being molested then the crime that occurred is a sexual battery and rape. Once this is completed then the investigator will determine the nature of the crime. What this means is that if it is a violent crime, a website
We do have known what forensics is. Forensics that we know is an application of various sciences to answer questions that are important to legal system in which it may be related to a crime. Forensics generallu covering something or methods of a scientific nature and also the rules established from the facts of the event, to do an introduction to physical evidence. This is just a usual forensics. Nowadays, forensics is not just like that, digital devices are everywhere today, helping people to communicate with other people globally, not just between town. We can use that to do some forensics thing too, and find the evidence. It is called Digital Forensics.
“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...