Scientific Method Essay

916 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Forensic science institutions and criminal investigation

The scientific method in criminal justice field is valuable information from physical evidence that investigators take from the crime scene. With scientific methods it helps investigators to produce a probable explanation for the crime event in which they are investigating. For experts they use the scientific method for things such as DNA samples from hair and body fluids, fingerprint analyses and weapons or clothing fibers. They use the scientific method in systematic way to observe, think and resolve problems. With the scientific method you have four steps to follow which include defining the problem, formation of hypothesis, data collections by observing and experimenting. At all stages of the investigation you have to constantly …show more content…

They must always make sure the evidence supports the hypothesis, if not they must start back over.
For me I feel that if there was no scientific method it would make the job of criminal investigators and even forensic examiners jobs a lot harder. What would happen if we had no scientific methods? Many crimes and cases in the world would go unsolved. If forensic experts had no scientific methods when examining crimes scenes or looking at evidences in labs then many cases would be lost in court. They wouldn’t have the evidence to back their case up. Experts in the criminal justice field wouldn’t have answers or have leads to criminal cases if they didn’t have ways to figure it out. The scientific method is a search of knowledge for the experts of the crime. With the scientific method they can follow the steps to examine the evidence and prove the guilt of the suspect. With have the scientific method it also helps support and back up there observations as to what they are saying happened. So without the scientific method in the criminal justice field a lot of crime would go unsolved and criminals would be walking the streets

Show More
Related

  • Forensic Science: Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...me scene, by recreating the scene using the blood direction a bloodstain patterns. Bloodstain pattern analysis use biology, chemistry, math, and physics to solve a crime. In doing research on this topic there is a lot of detail to go into this topic, so in suggestion this paper need to explain the other different investigators that process any crime scene.

    Read More

  • Forensic Science: Blood Spatter Analyst

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    The pattern that the blood gives off gives forensic scientists the tools that they need to help solve cases. Investigators can find clues to a murder in a number of different ways. Typically they find out how many times someone has been stabbed or how many blows they received. Through the count of the times the action had been performed, they can come to an understanding of whatever hand the suspect was using. Other information can tell how the suspect was standing over their victim during the time of death.

    Read More

  • Eyewitness Error Essay

    1206 Words  | 3 Pages

    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,

    Read More

  • The 18 Year-Old Cold Case Of Krystal Lynn Beslanowitch

    1334 Words  | 3 Pages

    Forensic science has paved the way to a new world of technological advancements in solving crime, through DNA analysis, new technology such as M-Vac, improving systems such as CODIS and other investigative methods. As forensic science technology advances, the chance of an individual being able to commit a crime and walk away free without leaving any trace of evidence will lessen. While forensic science has its limitations, it can be the only way to provide an accurate account of what actually occurred at some crime scenes.

    Read More

  • Criminals: Gaining Cleverness Through Crime Television

    1683 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hundreds across the nation watch forensic shows every day. From fictional shows similar to Criminal Minds and CSI, to nonfictional shows such as The First 48 and Forensic Files. However, these shows have something in common. Criminological programs continuously show how the crime happened, what it takes to crack the case, how investigators accumulate evidence, a...

    Read More

  • Advantages And Disadvantages Of Forensic Anthropology

    1594 Words  | 4 Pages

    results of the forensic anthropology. For instance, if a crime is committed at a certain scene,

    Read More

  • Forensics in the Criminal Justice System

    334 Words  | 1 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Forensic Science

    758 Words  | 2 Pages

    Forensic Science has contributed to our world a great deal. People often misunderstand Forensic Science and believe it is much more capable than it really is. As a matter of fact what you see on T.V. is around 80% false or over exaggerated in some way. To Start of, Criminal Investigation is the largest and most known form of Forensic Science. Some of the more known areas include; Fingerprinting, Ballistics, DNA Identification, Fiber Samples, Computer Animation, Documentation analysis, etc. To get this out of the way in the beginning, what you saw on last night’s law and order is far from the truth. Things they do in a matter of hours take months at a time, and most of the time aren’t even plausible concepts.

    Read More

  • Crime Scene Investigator Research Paper

    977 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Forensic Science: Stopping the Crime

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • History of Fingerprinting

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    Crime investigators have the job to solve crime and find the suspect responsible. Sometimes the offense is very difficult to solve, but with the right pieces of evidence and tools, the investigation can be answered a little more easily. The use of fingerprints is a main tool used at crime scenes. Investigators find these at the actual crime scene and analyze them at the lab to determine whom the prints belong to. Each person has an individual print which is why this is a very useful piece of evidence. Sir Francis Galton found that the prints could be categorized into different types as well as different groups. The research of fingerprints from decades before has shaped the way detectives identify suspects and victims.

    Read More

  • Forensic Science History Essay

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Physical Evidence In Criminal Investigation

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    Physical evidence is additionally important in every criminal investigation because too often witness accounts are sometimes biased or unreliable. Physical evidence such as trace evidence, DNA, and fingerprints may objectively attach one or more persons to a victim or suspect to a crime. Favorably, physical evidence can also demonstrate inestimable for exonerating an innocent suspect. Laboratory members and criminal investigators should perform together to resolve the biggest portion of evidence to institute the right suspect for a strong prosecution. Willingly, investigation officers should aggressively contact laboratory personnel when questions arise about the cases because DNA evidence is sensitive.

    Read More

  • Blood Spatter Analysis

    598 Words  | 2 Pages

    Originally, the source used to discuss the research methodologies and the application to evaluate blood spatter evidence is the Bloodstain Pattern Analysis with an Introduction to Crime Scene Reconstruction by Tom Bevel. In a short explanation, the expert describe the involvement of criminal and forensic investigations. In addition, The Blood Pattern Analysis explains a proven methodology that engages the scientific method and provides focus and structure to the analyst as they conduct the analysis (Bevel, 2008). The scientific method is a form of quantitative data according to Peter B. Kraska, author of the textbook Criminal Justice and Criminology Research Methods. Quantitative data includes experiments, surveys/interviews, and nonreactive methods; each reviewed in detail, along with real-life examples of research to both theory and criminal justice practice (Kraska, 2008). A step further with the scientific method, the bloodstain pattern analysis helps establish a key to find the event...

    Read More

  • Polygraph Test Essay

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyday psychologists, chemist, biologists, and other professionals use the scientific method to guide us through the research being conducted. In this case, I would use the scientific method to help guide me in running a successful research study to help determine the accuracy of a polygraph exam when knowing the exam can exhibit false results. Professionals would make observations, gather information, form theories, test predictions and interpret results all which is the standardized way of the scientific

    Read More

More about Scientific Method Essay

Open Document