There may be fingerprints, pools or spatters of blood, footprints, bullet fragments, pertinent documents, insects, and trace evidence such as hair or glass chips. Forensic chemists and trace evidence examiners perform lab tests on evidence of all kinds- stained clothing, unidentified substances, fibers, suspected drugs, body fluids, and much more. Latent print examiners analyze fingerprints, palm prints, and foot prints and can identify suspects by matching the evidence to their known prints. Medical examiners perform autopsies on bodies and present conclusions on the circumstances of death. Toxicologists analyze blood and other body fluids for the presence of drugs, alcohol, or poisons.
According to forensic scientist’s, the strings themselves are not as substantial. However, they are clearly a form to help investigators and analysts draw a closure in reference to a substance that is often found at a crime scene: blood. In addition, the population has been converted to believe blood samples are used to ID someone through DNA. However, the blood in general, where it settled, how it settled, its consistency, the size and form of the blood globule, or spatter can conclude a lot of meaningful aspects of the offense. In addition, analyzing a blood splatter or pattern is not as uncomplicated as fictional bloodstain pattern analysts.
There are over 9,456,620 offender and forensic DNA profiles in CODIS, and the profiles have helped to assist in over 127,600 investigations. Another benefit of CODIS is that the examination of a DNA analysis can lead to a detection of a genetic disease if the individual has one. Unfortunately, a disadvantage of CODIS is the privacy concerns. The DNA of an individual can reveal a lot of information about the person. For example, many employers use the information to make decisions about who they hire; they also do a background check for the individual.
Abstract Both destructive and non-destructive techniques can be useful for determining the identity of body fluids at crime scenes. However, on site investigators would prefer techniques that are non-destructive to the fluid sample so that investigators can subsequently perform DNA analysis to confirm the identity of the fluid. Techniques that produce instant results, in addition to preserving the sample, are even more beneficial in forensic sciences. Specific techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy are potential candidates. Here we will be discussing the potential advantages of using Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, compared to the current destructive techniques being used in body fluid analysis.
Faced with powerful incriminating evidence, defendants are often persuaded to change their plea or else mount a legal challenge to the admissibility of DNA profiling. This paper will firstly outline the procedures used in DNA profiling, without dwelling too much on the technical details. The basis of the technology can be described simply, and is not in dispute (see, for example, the decisions in People v. Castro, 545 N.Y.S. 2d, Supreme Court of New York, Bronx, 1989; R v. Lucas (1992) 2 V.R. 109).
The grave may be sought as part of an investigation of an unsolved crime or may in some rare cases result from information gained from an individual already convicted of the crime in the absence of a grave. Surface body disposals where a recent victim has been concealed under fallen walls, tree branches, rubbish etc. In this case the application of archaeological stratigraphic recording to the removal of the layers of material concealing the victim can be of great evidential value. The collaboration of a forensic archaeologist, entomologist and forensic botanist in cases of this sort can allow very detailed reconstructions of the timing of the disposal and have in previous cases been decisive in proving a death was not accidental but an intentional criminal act. Mass graves, usually as part of an international organization’s investigation where the recovery
The criminal could also wear gloves so that they wouldn’t leave their prints behind. With the technology to read DNA and match it to a person, it is impossible to not know exactly who committed the crime. Everyone except identical twins have different DNA. It is impossible to change your DNA, so this is the best way to prove either innocence, or guilt. The most common places to get DNA evidence from a crime scene is blood, semen, saliva, urine, or hair.
Forensic Pathology Paper Forensic pathologists are interesting to me because they are commonly used when the cause of death of an individual is considered to be suspicious. The role of a forensic pathologist is to establish the cause of death in an individual. They perform autopsies, study and analyze physical evidence that is used in criminal court cases. First, forensic pathologists are physicians, but they must also have knowledge of several other forensic disciplines or sub-disciplines. For instance, forensic pathologists must be able to apply areas of toxicology, firearms examination, trace evidence, forensic serology and DNA technology to their investigations to determine the cause of death of each individual case.
Biological Criminal Behavior (Andrea Yates) Learning Team B Biological Criminal Behavior Adolfo In some situations, biology can cause or be the precursor for criminal behavior. Researchers and criminologists have sought to explain criminal behavior and believe that biology can explain criminality in some cases. According to Schmalleger (2012), some biological conditions that cause crime include: abnormalities of the brain, brain damage, head trauma, genetic predispositions, vitamin deficiencies, excess of hormones, hypoglycemia, fetal alcohol syndrome, a lack of neurotransmitters in the brain, and blood abnormalities. Many criminologists are weary or doubtful of biological explanations as they believe biology alone does not cause criminality and instead it is caused by the interplay among heredity, biology, and social environment (Schmalleger, 2012). In the case of Andrea Yates she was charged with the murder of her five children.
Also, some new methods of DNA testing have found inmates to be innocent. States are looking into DNA testing to see how accurate it really is and if they are necessary in every Death Row court case. (www.deathpenalty.org) The topic of capital punishment is evident in the world today. The dispute over if it should be allowed or not plays a big role in society. Changes are still being made today to improve the methods and to please the public’s opinion.