Use of forensics in criminal cases PDF

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Pe-writing assignment with topic...

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Pre-write: Use of forensic science in the criminal investigation

Topic: The role of forensic science in criminal cases

Brainstorming: •

Forensic science in the criminal investigation

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Criminal investigation in the past

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Technological advancements in the world

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Use of those technologies in the science department

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Cases solved using biological evidence left behind

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DNA profiling using a small drop of blood

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A strand of hair leading towards the assailant

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Finding out the travel history and diet using hair and other tissues

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Solving cases that may have gone cold due to less biological evidence

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Preventing further crimes by catching the guilty

Outline:

Introduction- Processing a crime scene is an inherent task that requires skill. It was impossible to trace the killer as quickly as today in earlier days. In ancient times, the manner of death was assumed by how the crime scene was presented. Officers created a theory about how the crime occurred, and witnesses were used as evidence. Torture was readily available to procure a

confession.( as cited in Forensic Evidence and Crime Scene Investigation, 2013) But with new advancements, we have strong evidence which can be used in the court of law. Forensic sciencea scientific infusion using techniques to create a link between the police force and the judicial system.

Body- Forensic can be regarded as a discussion that can be used in a judicial setting. Although it is uncertain where the concept of forensics arose, Historical experts believe it was likely in China around the 6th Century (as cited in Forensic Evidence and Crime Scene Investigation, 2013, p 45) According to the Urban institute's studies, the justice policy finds DNA twice as effective in making arrests than traditional eyewitness and fingerprint cases. Compared to the fingerprint evidence alone, it was found that DNA yields a suspect nine times more likely.

Conclusion- Experts say that the forensic fiction shown in entertainment programs creates an unrealistic expectation of what forensic science can do. It still needs a lot of work, and the viewers expect the technology to move faster with precision. Many areas still need further research to be used precisely as evidence such as handwriting, fingerprints, bullets, etc. Forensic science can be regarded as a scientific infusion using techniques that establish a link between the police force and the judicial system.

Research question: 1)How has technology played an essential role in developing forensic science? 2)What techniques are used to create a human profile from the physical evidence? 3)How accurate are the results that can potentially lead to the arrest of the guilty? 4)What are the drawbacks of forensic science which create a hurdle?

Thesis statement: Implementing forensic science techniques to criminal investigation potentially leads to the suspect's arrest.

Technology has played a vital role in human civilization in the past decade. So much so that most of our day-to-day life is dependent on machines. This technological advancement has increased the quality of life and progressed societies. If you look from a broad and generic perspective, it is fascinating to tap into the relationship between the use of forensics with technology in solving crimes. The term "forensic science" implies the use of a scientific based discipline as it intersects with and provides evidence for legal proceedings. Ideally, the new advancements are made 'fit for forensic purpose' to evidentially use the forensic laboratory for incorporating the criminalistic interpretation. Contemporary DNA profiling is a striking example of this scientific discovery used in forensic application of criminal intent. In the forensic setting, the time from when the crime scene sample is secured to when the results are reported in the forensic testimony is defined as the turnaround time. ( as cited in The interface between forensic science and technology, 2009, p 5). The first few minutes of the investigating officers arriving at the crime scene and processing it is of utmost value. That is the closest they will ever be to when the assault occurred. The first few minutes are valuable at the crime scene as the officers will never have the area more pristine and not contaminated. And yet no other time where there is a higher possibility of mistakes being made, potentially jeopardizing the evidence left behind.

Violent crimes leave several biological evidence behind, like shoe marks, fingerprints, blood, hair, etc. which can help create a perpetrator profile. The crime scene processing involves

examination and evaluation to collect physical evidence and send it to the laboratory for further analysis (as cited in Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation, 2021. Ethics in forensic science: Renewed commitments and a call for papers across the Forensic Science International family. 37, p.301207). This is when forensic science comes into play. The evidence gathered probes the events and identify the participants of the crime. The blood contains the DNA, which is matched with the suspect and proves whether the suspect was present or not at the crime scene. This is crucial evidence that can be presented in the court of law. The bloodstain splatter analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to determine whether the crime happened the way it was said. Interpreting the bloodstain involves physical measurements of the droplets, trigonometry, pattern of the blood spatter, and knowledge of the physics of motion. Collectively this can determine the sequence of events that took place. It gives the following information- the direction of the blow, the victim's position when the bloody wound was inflicted, the minimal number of blows attempted, the position of the assailant.

In addition to finding human hair at the crime scene, it is also possible to determine a person's characteristics, diet, and travel history. By just using a strand of hair, examiners can identify the person's characteristics, places they have visited, diet, etc. The method used is isotope analysis which has a long history in ecological and geological applications ( as cited in Journal of Forensic Investigation, 2016. DNA Microarray Analysis of Hypothermic Murine Myocardium to Study Pathophysiology and Identify Forensic Biomarkers. 4(1), p.450).The number of electrons distinguishes isotopes of the same compound. This happens due to the chemical reactions when bonds are broken and reformed. Water is an example of this mass isotropic fractionation. Because the water values vary geographically, the water consumed by an individual in the different areas gets accumulated in the tissues. It makes it possible to measure the isotopic

composition of that tissue. This helps to generate a prediction of the region of origin of an individual. When that hair is sent for analysis, it reveals the buildup of these isotopes, which is later used as evidence. It also shows the injection of various metals. For example, a case was identified where a strand of hair was analyzed, showing the buildup of lead in lethal doses. Later it was used to identify that the victim was being poisoned. The use of forensics in cases helps not only to identify the assailant but also prevent further crimes. The DNA profile of a person can be made using the hair follicle. When the hair strand is presented with its root, the follicle contains the person's characteristic, which is then used to create an entire human profile.

The most crucial evidence the forensics use is fingerprints used to identify the individual. The pattern of friction ridge arrangement on the tip is left behind as the person touches an object. This pattern is unique to every individual in the world. This permits the evidence to identify a person in the court. This evidence is also used for elimination purposes to rule out the person whose fingerprints don't match. Fingerprints are visible or latent. The latent prints are seen using ultraviolet lights. A fingerprint powder is sprayed, and an adhesive is used to lift the prints for analysis. Similarly, the footprint tracks left behind are also of critical value. But due to the poor quality and wide availability of similarly marked outsoles makes it challenging to present this as a piece of evidence in the courtroom. The collection of footprints follows various processes. Suppose it's in snow or sand; most likely, casting is used. The lifting method is used for a twodimensional print, then cast on a medium for further analysis. The distance between the crime scene and laboratory is always an issue. When the evidence travels from one place to another, it increases contamination risks. There can be tampering of the physical evidence, which changes the investigation routes and threatens the justice system. Wireless sensors networks that can read

the scientific data and send it to the lab are being developed. This is useful to build network design, communication protocol, and evidence security.

We live in a hybrid world where we leave physical and digital prints everywhere. There is hardly any criminal investigation where physical or digital prints are not present. But the success of this forensic science has come at a price. The increasing demand for these services has resulted in many instances with severe backlogs and consequently long turnaround times. The main issue is that most forensic science institutes are budget-oriented with limited resources that are insufficient to keep up with the increasing demand. The government is working towards providing these institutes with proper equipment for the country's welfare. With further advancements in forensics and the introduction of new technology and methods, it is safe to say that it will cause a paradigm shift in the judicial system

References- Alternative Resources for Bloodstain Pattern Analysis by Kenn Meneely and Donald Schuessler ,p 9

-Baden, Michael; Roach, Marion. Dead Reckoning: The New Science of Catching Killers, Simon & Schuster, 2001 - Forensic Science Communications, an open access journal of the FBI, p 7 -Houck, M., 2007. Forensic science. 9th ed. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers, p.50. - Madea, Burkhard (4 March 2014). Handbook of Forensic Medicine. Sussex: Wiley Blackwell. p. 10. - "Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016)" p 10 - Parker, RJ (2015). Forensic Analysis and DNA in Criminal Investigations: Including Cold -Ruffell, A; McKinley, J (2014). "Forensic geomorphology". Geomorphology. 206: p 14

- Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward. Nap.edu. 2009 Cases Solved. RJ Parker Publishing. p. 66 - The interface between forensic science and technology: 2009, p 87

Vocabulary: Prognosticate- make a prediction about Embed- securely fixed Provenance- origin of something or someone Amok- wild, without any self-control Leery- distrustful Indenture- a formal agreement as to terms of debt Quaff- swallow hurriedly or greedily Libation- the act of pouring liquid as a religious offering Eschew- to mindfully stay away Prod- push against something gently Dwindle- become small in size or loose interest...