Many people have mistaken the jobs of detectives and forensic scientist to be those of similar means. Crime shows like “CSI: NY” and “LA forensics” portray the lives of forensic scientist as hectic, dramatic and full of action. It is the same shows that are also showing the lives as detectives in a similar fashion; often displaying the two occupations performing the same tasks. Although TV depicts their professions in a similar fashion, the job duties, work environment and education requirements for forensics and detectives are very dissimilar. First and foremost, the job duties of a forensic are far more complex than that of a detective’s.
Forensic Science in 21st Century Criminal Justice Sheena Marie Miller CJA 590: Forensic Science and Psychological Profiling March 21, 2010 Fred Sams Forensic Science in 21st Century Criminal Justice Abstract The significance of forensic science is maintaining the goal of solving crimes efficiently and effective to produce quality results. Forensic science is constantly developing new techniques and theories in a demanding industry. Forensic science is crucial to the investigative process, court process, and security levels. Much of the media representation of forensic science is more of a glorified profession and may convince the public of the beauty of working as a forensic science professional. Introduction Forensic science has evolved into a necessity for the criminal justice world.
False testimony, exaggerated statistics and laboratory fraud have led to wrongful conviction in several states. Since forensic evidence is offered by "experts," jurors routinely give it much more weight than other evidence. But when misconduct occurs, the weight is misplaced. In some instances, labs or their personnel have allied themselves with police and prosecutors, rather than prioritizing the search for truth. Other times, criminalists lacking the requisite knowledge have embellished findings and eluded detection because judges and juries lacked background in the relevant sciences, themselves.
The main suspect of the case was the wife of the assassinated Mr. John. Mrs. Minnie Wright was kept in county jail while the investigators searched for clues or evidence that lead to the murder. The two groups which were separated, and consisted of two pairs of men and woman continued with their search, until the two women searched for another kind of evidence which not only included physical evidence, also psychological
Assignment #7 Who Hit Reveille? Vinay Jithendran 11/11/2013 BIO 111-502 Lab Lab Instructor: Matthew Markert Abstract: The examination of evidence, taken from Reveille’s hit and run accident, aided in the investigation of the perpetrator who did so. DNA, fingerprint, blood, and hair evidence was taken from the scene of the crime and compared to the testimonies of the suspects, Bikerman and Maroon Flash. The DNA evidence of the two suspects were observed, through gel electrophoresis, which produces a DNA fingerprint of the culprit. Fingerprint evidence was observed, through specific patterns in the fingerprints.
Most commonly, in criminal cases these psychologists play big roles in course a trial takes and its outcome. Law enforcement uses psychologists for many things. Sometimes they are used to evaluate officers who have been through a traumatic experience on the job such as killing someone or being shot/ injured on the job. They are also called in on occasion to watch integrations and give deceives insight on the suspect’s mannerisms and mental status. When law enforcement is dealing with issues regarding children, child psychologists are often called in to observe the child and speak with them regarding the situation.
Investigators will follow up on tips made by witnesses or through the community and individuals who know anything about a murder are encouraged to contact law enforcement in an effort to bring the criminal to justice. There are many types of investigative techniques that are used that have been around for a long time that has not gone away over time. In the next section I will explain a couple of techniques that are used and why. I will also talk about newer types of techniques that have been developed and how they are used to better the Investigator on their
The precise location of the crime and the map of the relationship between the places in which a series of offences took place, may relate to where the offender is living and to his past experience. Forensics are important when making a profile. For example if a rapist has been questioned previously by the police, their crimes may leave indications of this, this can be shown by some rapists who make their victims bathe to get rid of forensic evidence, so a check of police records is always worthwhile. According to Boon and Davies (1992) Canter and his colleagues identified five aspects of criminal behaviour which is very significant and revealing; the location, criminal biography, personal characteristics, domestic and social characteristics and occupational history. Another important aspect is geography, where criminals may feel comfortable committing the crime.
Once the behavioral profile is done, the profiler can then compare this to other criminals or mental patients with the same basic characteristics. It is generally very difficult to get professional hands-on experience on how to be a profiler. Police have been able to catch a wide array of people using profilers, including serial killers. Once criminals have been taken into custody, profilers can learn even more about the criminal mind and can find possible motives, verify motives, and/or assess the defendant's state of mind. The police psychologist does more hands-on work with officers and victims as opposed to criminals.
It was DNA evidence that led to a conviction in the 1998 murder case of 10-year-old Anna Palmer who was attacked and killed outside of her own front door in Salt Lake City. The crime was heinous, and included multiple stab wounds to her body, but following the crime, investigators had no witnesses, little evidence, and no apparent suspects, the news station reports. However, in 2009, forensic analysts were called in to assist in the case, and they decided to examine the girl’s fingernails for DNA samples. Using visible and alternative light sources to look for DNA not belonging to the girl, they made a hit, and matched it to a man named Matthew Brock, who had lived a block away at the time of the her murder and was age nineteen then. Brock was already in prison serving a ten year sentence for a sex related crime with a child, and he pled guilty in 2011 to an aggravated murder charge in the death of Anna Palmer and is now in prison for life.