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Forensic scientists role in criminal investigations
Forensic scientists role in criminal investigations
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Forensics are believe it or not very different in reality that they show on some of our favorite crime shows and movies. Since the shows CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, Bones, Dexter, NSIC and other crime shows have come out there has been a fair increase in civilians wanting to be a Forensic scientist. There are many differences between the TV/Movie world and reality. These jobs are a lot harder than the shows and movies let on for us to believe. The CSI, CSI Miami, CSI New York, Bones, Dexter, NSIC shows and other crime solving shows show that Forensic Science is a fast paced, exact and easy job to have. In reality this job is just like any other job or career, it is hard work and not allows an easy job. These shows have a creative license that allows them to exaggerate the truth on this job. …show more content…
Other myths are that everyone is in the DNA database, or that crime scene investigators can get DNA and figure out if it is a tear, saliva, sweat or ash from someone being burned. As well as crime scene investigators participating in the raids or arrests, also crime scene investigators can not pull DNA from anywhere. And one of the most seen TV crime scene myth is investigators doing DNA tests while eating and joking with their coworkers. Actually it is rare to find a Forensic scientist that is certified in law enforcements, it is a waste to send someone to the police academy and then just put them in a crime lab to conduct tests and study
Released in 1989, Crimes and Misdemeanors outlines the lives of two men; Cliff Stern and Judah Rosenthal. Cliff Stern, a small time film-maker, struggles to succeed in both his career and marriage. While Judah Rosenthal, a wealthy ophthalmologist, faces moral dilemmas after having an affair with a young mistress. Judah's mistress expects him to leave his wife and when he doesn't she threatens to expose the secret relationship. Unsure Judah contemplates whether or not killing the mistress, to protect his comfortable lifestyle, is morally comprehensible. Ultimately, Judah decides to pay for the murder and gets away with it. Surrounding Judah's decision and Cliff's struggles, minor characters emerge within the plot embodying specific philosophical viewpoints. One of these characters is a professor and philosopher named Louis Levy who voices the importance of love. Shortly before committing suicide Levy says something rather ambiguous about love; "it is only we, with our capacity to love, that give meaning to an indifferent universe; and yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to...
With producing reality shows comes producing inaccuracies in portrayals in order to reach as many viewers and gain as high ratings as possible every week with each new episode. Every day life is boring, yet people tend to be attracted to the relatable shows that portray real life in eccentric ways – ways that they believe could be imitated by the average person. In many cases, these shows could remain harmless, as it is entertainment. No matter how crude or erroneous, it is just television. However, what happens when these sources of amusement actually start being damaging? Research has shown that crime shows like the ever popular CSI: Crime Scene Investigation have started becoming significantly detrimental to criminal cases, influencing a juror's perception of what should realistically be going on with acquittal rates and wrongful convictions, but researchers have also started to find a rising fault in the prosecution, using this false perception to their advantage.
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.
I began this year considering a career in forensics. After delving into the field in detail however, I see that it is a very delicate science and easily open to misinterpretation. There are many variables within forensics, the first and foremost being that of the CSI effect and how it influences our expectations of the capabilities of forensic science. While it's true that great advances have been made in the area of forensic science, it's unrealistic to expect a crime scene to be processed, evidence analyzed and a conclusive forensics report to be completed in a short time and be completely accurate 100% of the time. Forensic science has a lot of room for improvement, and understanding if, how, and why shows like CSI affect the field is of high priority. After all, this is real life and not a TV show.
In recent years, however, such programs as CSI that follows detectives at the Las Vegas Police Department Crime Scene Investigations Bureau as they solve puzzles and catch criminals. Perhaps one of the most well known shows with a forensic psychology theme, CSI has a large impact on viewers perceptions of forensic psychology. On one hand, the increased popularity of forensic psychology because of the show is good and more people are taking an interest in forensic psychology as a career. On the other hand, the forensic psychology that viewers see every week on television may not be exactly the same as forensic psychology in reality. Particularly programs such as CSI also overstate the ability of “hard” evidence (also known as forensic evidence), such as fingerprints and DNA, to provide evidence of definite innocence or guilt (Trask, 2007). They often disregard other components of the investigative process, such as police questioning, despite these being equally valid to establishing guilt (Nolan, 2006). This over-reliance on forensic evidence, due to the importance of forensic science being dramatized by television crime dramas, is also known as the CSI
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.
Crime scene investigators, also known as CSIs, have played an essential role in protecting citizens, by proving who is guilty, and who is innocent. CSIs use a large amount of Science and Math skills to solve crimes, resulting in a decent income. They are specialized in forensic science in order to examine crime scenes and recover important evidence (Career Cruising).
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.
There are several things that CSI shows get wrong. A few of them are that blood doesn’t always splatter everywhere whenever someone is hurt or killed. When you are watching the CSI television shows, they are always able to find some kind of amount of splatter blood at the crime scenes. Also, blood doesn’t glow under the ultraviolet light, but it does turn dark black. You can make blood glow to try to see it, by using a chemical call luminol. In the shows, they make it seem like the crime investigators are always doing something exciting. In reality, they spend a lot of time in an office. They have to bring all the evidence back to their office and document it. They also have to submit the photos they take to evidence on CD. They have to take
Each laboratory has its own standard and guidelines rather than having uniformity across the industry. This allows one forensic labs results to be different to another’s based on their own individual practices. The standards and guidelines for the checking of forensic laboratories varies from state to state and the inspection is peer assessed. This is a problem as the auditing of the labs may be subject to bias rather than using an independent authority. Lab test guidelines might not result in all evidence having to be reported. For example, the Waring case in Western Australia, where a young man was charged with rape because the lab failed to report that more than Waring’s DNA was found in the victim’s rape kit. According to this lab’s approved guidelines – low levels of DNA below a certain point found, do not have to be reported (7). The issue of what standard was being used was not evident in this case. If the guidelines had required the forensic scientist to reveal even the very low samples of a second male’s DNA, the jury may not have convicted an innocent person (8). When the professionals get it wrong, and they do, their authority and their power alters the lives of innocent people. Pressure can be placed on forensic scientists and technicians. So when something doesn’t fit with what has been predicted, it has been known that tampering of evidence can occur. Forensic science requires
My initial decision to study forensic science was based upon my interest in the different skills and methods that are used to solve a crime, specifically the way that forensic analysts examine blood stains and finger prints. I am also looking forward to studying genetics as I find it fascinating how the genes are built up and how forensic analysts use the different samples that they find on the crime scenes to help the police find the criminal. I understand that studying forensics will be a lot different on what is shown on TV as they do not show as much of the science that is actually needed to solve crimes My aim in terms of my career is to work with the Staffordshire Forensic Unit. This will help me to accomplish one of my life ambitions, to reduce crime rates in my local community and make it a safer environment to live in.
According to the American academy of forensic science, the forensic sciences form a vital part if the entire justice and regulatory system. Forensic science is an enticing career having to do with science and criminal justice, a large variety of schooling is needed to start this job Despite the fact that it can be a dangerous environment it can be an exciting profession to pursue. There are many different fields in forensic science that you can study or major in but they all have the same objectives.
“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...
Why do true crime television dramas such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law and Order garner such a cult following? To put it simply, these shows reveal provocative, firsthand stories that give audiences privileged glimpses into a criminal justice system that is often difficult to comprehend. Viewers are drawn to the idea of being at home jurors, personally being able to solve and dissect cases along with the investigators on TV. But how well do these mini investigators translate into an actual judicial proceeding? Though the entertainment value of these crime dramas may be viewed as harmless, the effects of these programs transmit undo biases and vast misinterpretations of the legal system onto juries and individual jurors of court proceedings.
Forensic science includes all types of different science such as: physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering to matter of law. A forensic scientist is a specialist in a field of science who applies their knowledge to the purposes of law. The job as a Forensic Scientist not only has many details and facts you have to remember but you also need items of evidence that are relevant in order to examine the scene correctly.