Picture this. You are abducted by someone you do not know and the suspect takes you to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. He makes you do things. A detective located where you were taken after days of research. You are no longer there, so he requests an expert fingerprint specialist to come to the scene and lift the prints to try and find out your captives next move. The fingerprint specialist then asks himself where and what are we trying to find. It is then determined what substance they may use to do the lifting. “If I use Iodine fuming will it disrupt any of the biologicals that helped in leaving the print?” A lot of thought goes into the choices and/or types of material that will be used in the lifting of the print. Can a print actually …show more content…
The new breakthrough technique that has been catching attention is the use of conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation (CEFR). This approach looks at the geometry rather than the chemistry of each fingerprint. “Latent, sebaceous fingerprints were deposited on forensically relevant substrates, and then CTFs were deposited on these latent fingerprints using the conformal-evaporated-film-by-rotation (CEFR) technique. The specific objective of this basic research was to investigate the fundamental scientific and physical characteristics required to use CTFs to capture and visualize latent, sebaceous fingerprints by identifying the necessary CTF materials and deposition conditions required to develop fingerprints on selected forensically relevant substrates” (Shaler & Lakhtakia, The Acquisition of Sebaceous Fingerprint Topology Using Columnar Thin Films (CTF) on Forensically Relevant Substrates, 2013). For this research to even become helpful they had to test it out. “The research design included a comparison of CTF-developed prints with traditionally developed fingerprints on the same substrates, with minimum variability of …show more content…
I previously stated some of the advantages of using CEFR. For a recap: Double the work, half the time; does not alter the chemistry of the print; the columnar thin films help bring out the textural detail of the print itself. “Another benefit of this approach would be the ability to retrieve fingerprints off fragments from incendiary or explosive devices and still be able to analyze the chemicals used in the device” (Penn State, 2010). Like most things, disadvantages can either be an insane amount or very minimal. There are a few pitfalls of this technique, including the size of the chamber that is used. The chamber that is used is only used in the lab as of right now. They are trying to make a portable one to take to the crime scene. The size of the chamber in the lab has only been used for smaller items of evidence. The other big pitfall for this technique is that we do not know what the shelf life of the residue is because this technique is so new. They would have to do additional tests on the residue for the effects of aging and issues with different environments. Also, this can only be used on non-porous surfaces. Lakhtakia and Shaler’s research showed that in some cases traditional fingerprint techniques have a better print outcome than the columnar thin films but in others the CTF came out more
From the early days, with little literary reference material, to the current day, with substantially more, but still insufficient formation, the science of fingerprint identification has managed to maintain its credibility and usefulness. Although, academic institutions have yet to recognize the field as an applied science and include it in the curricula, which would provide directed research and literary reference, in libraries. Without this academic recognition, progress in the field of fingerprint is destined to be sluggish. Description of fingerprint identification as a forensic science’ or an ~app1ied science’ in no way implies that is not a reliable science. Fingerprint identification, correctly understood and applied, is just as scientifically valid and reliable as any other science and, indeed, more accurate than many. The fingerprint expert applies knowledge gained through training and experience to reach a conclusion. The many uses of fingerprint identification range from criminal investigation to non-criminal matters such as deceased, missing persons and disaster victim identification. Fingerprint identification has been used in the court systems for many years. Yet there are those who that still try to challenge fingerprint science and the experts in the court of law by a Daubert Hearing. In this paper, Daubert Hearing is define and detail outing background of the cases, the Government preparation, the Testimony from both sides, the judge’s verdict and finally, Mitchell’s second trial on this case.
Another discrepancy between actual forensics and how it is portrayed in the media is the availability of information in databases. There is only a small percentage of the entire population’s fingerprints or DNA samples stored within databases such as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). This makes finding a match between a DNA sample or fingerprint difficult, as a match would only be found if the person’s information was already stored within the database. If there is no match previously stored in a database, the fingerprint or DNA sample could be potentially rendered useless within a trial. Typically, in order to perform an analysis, investigators must already have a suspect in mind and request a DNA or fingerprint sample from him or her. If the suspect does not want to provide one however, the sample collected as evidence may not count as valid. The CSI effect creates an idealized image that all crimes can be solved with a hair or drop of blood, but this is not always the case in real life.
The acceptance of fingerprint identification in the judicial system as scientific evidence has become like expert testimony. Advances in image processing have impacted how fingerprints can be lifted without being destroyed, which has led to fingerprint evidence becoming the silent testimony leading to more conventions. In the case of the United States v. Byron C. Mitchell Criminal Action No. 96-00407, fingerprints found in the car were the scientific evidence which identified Mitchell as a participant in an armored car robbery (Appellant Counsel for Appellee, 2003).
Any new technology being introduced into the scientific community is ususally received with great skepticism. Billings states " The use of fingerprinting for identification purposes was developed early in this century and has gained widespread acceptance. After its introduction, 20 years passed before the technique had been widely studied and validated, at least enough to gain general judicial acceptance (2)." DNA like fingerprinting was not initially widely excepted in either the judicial or scientific communities. The Frye standard though has been used to effectively introduce "novel" scientific evidence like DNA evidence into the trial courts.
one may assume that a detailed investigation of William’s bedroom began before a search warrant was obtained or consent to search was given. Therefore, when crime scene investigators began to process William’s bedroom, any evidence found, including the bloody fingerprint that was not in plain sight but developed using an amino acid stain and an argon laser, would not be admissible in court.
Having the ability to identify types of prints and surfaces, and the corresponding techniques to develop the prints, has helped crime scene investigators identify criminals and victims of scenes, and aided in the prosecution of defendants in the criminal justice system. Although the history and techniques go far beyond what was discussed in these few pages, it is important as a law enforcement officer or investigator to understand the very basics of how fingerprint identification began, and the simple techniques used to develop them today.
Trace evidence was first discovered by Edmond Locard. Edmond Locard was born in 1877, and founded the Institute of Lyon’s Institute of Criminalistics. He is also known for advancing the science of fingerprints. In 1910 he was authorized to start a small forensic laboratory in the Palais de Justice which he directed until 1951.While there he worked on criminal identification methods including poroscopy- the microscopic examination of fingerprints; analyses of body fluids, hair and skin; and graphometry or handwriting analysis. He is the man responsible for coming up with the theory that when two objects come in contact with each other they leave some kind of material matter behind. This theory was later called Locard’s Exchange Principle. The idea is that the evidence can be used to associate objects, individuals or locations with one another." A person typically loses about 100 hairs a day. These hairs may be of evidentiary value to show contact between two people. With an adequate hair standard, a trace chemist will be able to microscopically compare a...
The criminal justice system has changed a lot since the good old days of the Wild West when pretty much anything was legal. Criminals were dealt with in any fashion the law enforcement saw fit. The science of catching criminals has evolved since these days. We are better at catching criminals than ever and we owe this advancement to forensic science. The development of forensic science has given us the important techniques of fingerprinting and DNA analysis. We can use these techniques to catch criminals, prove people's innocence, and keep track of inmates after they have been paroled. There are many different ways of solving crimes using forensic evidence. One of these ways is using blood spatter analysis; this is where the distribution and pattern of bloodstains is studied to find the nature of the event that caused the blood spatter. Many things go into the determination of the cause including: the effects of various types of physical forces on blood, the interaction between blood and the surfaces on which it falls, the location of the person shedding the blood, the location and actions of the assailant, and the movement of them both during the incident. Another common type of forensic evidence is trace evidence. This is commonly recovered from any number of items at a crime scene. These items can include carpet fibers, clothing fibers, or hair found in or around the crime scene. Hairs recovered from crime scenes can be used as an important source of DNA. Examination of material recovered from a victim's or suspect's clothing can allow association to be made between the victim and other people, places, or things involved in the investigation. DNA analysis is the most important part of forensic science. DNA evidence can come in many forms at the crime scene. Some of these forms include hair; bodily fluids recovered at the crime scene or on the victim's body, skin under the victim's fingernails, blood, and many others. This DNA can be the basis of someone's guilt or innocence; it has decided many cases in the twentieth century. As the times continue to change and the criminals get smarter we will always need to find new ways to catch them. Forensic science is the most advanced method yet, but is only the beginning. As the field of science grows so will the abilities of the
Fingerprinting information varies in numerous ways. Each person’s fingerprints are different in someway (Unique). The technical term is actually “DNA fingerprinting” because us as a person obviously cant just take a look at a fingerprint and see the difference; we must analyze the actual DNA behind it. Sometimes a miss concept of most people is, that fingerprints stay perfectly fresh for extended periods of time. Partial fingerprints and even degraded full fingerprints can turn up to be useless sometimes. Fingerprints are not admissible if they are 99.9% sure, they must be 100% or a Forensics lab will not support them. DNA Fingerprinting, and the fingerprints that are at the tips of your actual fingers are two different things. The ones we a...
Forensic genetics has other applications . The " fingerprint " DNA represents a valuable tool for forensic science . As is the case with an ordinary fingerprint genetic fingerprint is unique to each individual (except identical twins ) . The determination involves the observation of specific DNA sequences which can be obtained from extremely small tissue samples , hair, blood or eventually left at the scene . As Fifty microliters of blood, semen or five microliters of ten roots of hairs are enough , and nozzles secretions and cells from the fetus . In addition to its use in the capture of criminals , especially rapists , the genetic fingerprints can be used to establish family relationships . People involved in the conservation of species use them to be sure that captive breeding is among individuals who do not belong to the same family .
The three different main types of fingerprints are Loops, Arches, and Whorls (Jackson 1). Henry Faulds is known as the Father of Fingerprints and developing fingerprints (Jackson 1). His discovery of fingerprints has made a huge impact not only in his time but, in Modern Crime Scene Investigation (Jackson 1). Without fingerprinting, it would be very difficult to convict criminals of crimes and very hard to try to process information. Crime Scene Investigators make a huge impact in Forensic Science. We need CSI workers, without them people could only imagine what crime would be like not only in our community, but in our
Whereas the real picture of forensic evidence is unlike what is represented in movies and television shows where a fingerprint or a trace of hair is found, then it’s game over for the criminal. Reality is not as straightforward. As more people are exposed to the unreal forensic world through television and media the likeliness for a wrong conviction increases with juries assuming the evidence involves more science than what it really does, this is known as the CSI Effect. Further education and training is needed for the people of the court, the forensic specialists, and so called experts. The people in courts do not question any of the ‘professionals’ and just trust in their expertise. The court could overcome this perception by requiring explanation of error rates in a forensic field. To do this, testing examiner error rates will be necessary which means further research. Forensic science has such a large effect on the prosecution of suspects, experts have been known to provide questionable and at times incorrect evidence. When a false conviction occurs the true perpetrator is set free. Once realized, the public doubts the justice system and the reliability of the forensic evidence even more. At this point in time, forensic is an inexact
...A. Maria, Ruth M. Robin. (2009). Latent prints: a perspective on the state of the science. Forensic Science Communications. 11.4.
Bath bombs are very popular items today with kids, teens, and adults. Bath bombs come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and scents. People enjoy using bath bombs because they make bath time relaxing and enjoyable. A bath bomb is made of many chemicals, one is a base and the other is an acid. When a bath bomb comes in contact with water a neutralization reaction occurs (Khan, 2017). The author states, when the bath bomb come into contact with water the solid particles holding the shape of the bath bomb are dissolved and the acidic ions and basic ions then disperse. Collision of the ions produces the “fizzing” reaction. People buy bath bombs to use while bathing to experience the chemical reaction that occurs.
Forensic scientists use vibrational spectroscopy for the judicial system. They use the techniques in various cases to cumulate evidence and bring justice. Some of these are for trace evidence, ink analysis, forensic biology and anthropology, gunshot residue and controlled drugs. In each instance, vibrational spectroscopy can be used to provide finger-print like signatures of the samples (Muro. et al., 2015). According to E.G. Bartick, information gained through the use of vibrational spectroscopy is typically of classes of materials. In several cases, due to an uncommon characteristic, a specific component can be identified. For example, if there is a contaminant on materials which were gathered as evidence and it is identified as an atypical substance specific to the scene of the crime, then that evidence would show a great likelihood of originating from that scene. Thus, vibrational spectroscopy can be used to distinguish chemical properties that present inconsistent data to the evidence in the