Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations, Essay Example

Forensic science as used in criminal investigation is a scientific or  use of medical knowledge in collecting and examining evidence which involves pathological examinations of finger prints, palm prints, foot prints, tooth bite prints, blood smears, hair and fiber sample. Other examinations studied are hand writings and typewriting samples which include ink, paper and topography. Other techniques are carried out to identify weapons as well as voice identification techniques. All these studies are in an effort to solve crime problems and identify the criminals. It is a multidisciplinary subject of crime scene examination and gathering evidences used in prosecution of offenders in the court of law. The techniques comply with the international agreements regarding weapons of mass destruction with the main areas of interest being biology, chemistry and medicine. Others include physics, computer science, geology and psychology. The scientist observe objects, substances which includes blood or drug samples, chemicals, tissue traces like hair and skin and also impressions at the scene of crime such as finger prints and tide marks (Answer.com 2009).

Forensic science was the first recorded application that used medical knowledge to give solutions to crime or a broad spectrum of science to give answers to questions of interest to a legal system in relation to a crime or a civil action. Certain incidences of death like through drowning or death by strangulation could be studied and described. This application of medical knowledge in legal questions was developed in early 1590s but was not recognized until 19^th century where it was identified as a medicine branch. To make use of this system there had to be clear authentication of the efforts and impacts of scientific methodologies and norms under which facts were based upon regarding an event (Bellis 2009).Forensic application in judicial system is impartial and only draws conclusions upon the evidence shown. Other scenarios that are possible are asked and even if they are as strongly supported by the evidence as the scientist’s opinion, the expert must admit it when other scenarios are possible. However, this does not mean that anything is possible but the probability of any other option is practically impossible

With the rising levels of both emotionally and scientific challenging cases, scientists have been forced to come up with new improved methodologies to compact the problem of crime. These development feature top experts in the field of scientific research both in the field and in the laboratory to provide investigation protocols and laboratory procedures while also providing clear explanations on their role in forensic science. The importance of forensic science in investigations has formed the major source of evidence for crimes committed due to its extensive coverage in firearm examination, forensic DNA, footwear and tire track evidence, bloodstain pattern as well as vehicular accident reconstruction. Others include forensic engineering and also cyber crime. Other improvements are new materials on forensic photography, crime scenes and forensic pathology, not forgetting a chapter on forensic digital photo imaging. As stated by (James and Nordby 2009) simplified chapters on computer forensics and DNA analysis fall under the major advances in the field serving as a useful reference to the victims of criminal justice system like investigators, forensic specialists, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Comprehensive information is provided on forensic science topics with both scientific and technical details that introduces adequate richness to forensic science students. The emergence of changes in structure of the body as a result of diseases have lead to further studies in forensic science to develop those problems. New techniques of detecting people who died long ago and have not been identified by their people has been developed, they include DNA analysis hence changes in forensic science which facilitate new implementations of judicial system. There are other cultural changes in the laboratory from professionals working in an individual manner. Several initiatives were very vital in making the changes which included case management systems, strategy and business planning governing individual activity, performance management and development system, accreditation and development of a results culture particularly in the management team. The changes are destined in to particular issue related to important interpretations of scientific findings in the context of the case and in the opinion of forensic science.

Forensic science has seen great success in the field of criminal investigation since mid 20^th century till t date. These have been facilitated by extensive improvement and need for justice in cases related to certain crimes. More over, development of technology and scientific facilities has contributed to rise in research and studies on forensic science to come up with clear evidences on related issues. Where clear marks of touch is evidenced on the site of criminal activity, DNA analysis is successful through forensic science and technology but currently even those who are involved in criminal acts are well informed about screening of properties on the scene of criminal activity to detect presence of fingerprints that is used to carry out DNA analysis through forensic technology which eventually reveals the suspects of crime committed. Such scenarios are clear evidence of failures in forensic science since the victims will not get in contact with any equipment in that case to prevent being identified or may come up with new techniques to handle their activities.

The growing area of forensic science is analysis of possible terrorist attacks or breaches of security, the nature of samples analyzed is wide but slightly different to a criminal investigation and in addition those scientists who gather evidences of mass destruction collect swabs from objects, water and plant materials to test for presence of radioactive isotopes, toxins, or poisons and chemicals produced from chemical weapons. Therefore the only difference of advanced forensic science is use of more chemicals in samples taken from the crime scene of suspected chemicals or biological weapons that have very small quantities of chemicals that require very sensitive and accurate instrument to carry out analysis (Answer.com 2009).

Forensic scientists use DNA profiling or genetic fingerprinting technique in identification of individuals on the basis of their respective DNA profiles. They are basically a set of numbers that reflect person’s DNA makeup. They are not like in DNA sequencing in human which is almost the same in all every person. It is the basis of several national DNA databases also used in judicial systems to investigate crimes. However, in some cases criminal planted fake DNA evidence arise in serious events like where DNA transformation is initiated. New DNA fragments are genetically inserted into a DNA strand changing its genomic constitution this resulted into the DNA of interest and that on study not corresponding to the allegations. DNA Testing and analysis from any other laboratory gives results in favor of the responsible person.  Other surgical insert of penrose drain in the body and filled it with foreign blood and anticoagulant. Corruption overpowers the legal structure of carrying out investigation using forensic science. The power of money can overthrow the techniques used in supporting crime cases, where people pay to get misread and misinterpreted DNA sequence used in investigative issues on certain cases. Presentations and evaluation of evidence of partial or incomplete DNA profile, in cases where the march probability in relation to all the samples tested that the judge may decide to omit some of he evidences in the exercise of his direction. Other advances include familial search in which family members DNA is used to identify a close related suspect in jurisdictions where large DNA database exists but no exact match has been found.

Miniaturization of equipment and being able to perform most forensic analysis at the scene of crime results in more specialised being in the field. Presence of more people at the scene of crime introduces a greater chance of contamination of the evidence. Multi-handling of the evidence like the weapon being analysed by many specialists would introduce traces of tissue or DNA not originating from the scene of crime resulting into analysis of un intended DNA which ends up into giving wrong judgement on the victims of crime. Therefore, strictness in collection, handling and analysis of the evidence to ensure lack of contaminations. Samples must be stored at the right temperature and wearing clean gloves and performing the analysis in a clean laboratory to avoid contamination.

Chapters on computer forensics and DNA analysis fall under the major advances in the field serving as a useful reference to the victims of criminal justice system like investigators, forensic specialists, prosecutors and defense attorneys. It is so fortunate that the computer security field is progressing in bringing new ways of preserving and analyzing evidence related to cyber crime through their science and art of keeping and maintaining security particularly through the network or server. After several companies system was compromised of throwing the security product at a system and hoping that it would work as explained by Kurtz. Finding the security measures required and analyzing system are the commonly used processes in finding or creating the right product. Installing the security system is not the only thing but also maintenance and regular monitoring of the system. Computer forensics involves preservation, identification, extraction and documentation of evidences stored as a data in a computer or magnetically encoded information. The bad part of the science is that the computer evidence often is transparently created by the computer’s operating system without the knowledge of the computer operator and the information could be made unavailable to the viewers’ therefore special forensic software tools and techniques are needed. Several learning institutions have realized the importance of the forensic technique and incorporated it in the curriculum. The biggest issue that surrounds the computer security is shortage of experienced technologists who are well capacitated with knowledge of computer security and forensics, but attorneys and judges are taking courses on forensics that will help them in determining the kind of evidence to be found in the computer’s operating system and what scientific techniques to be used to obtain it (Weinstein 2009).

The field of forensic science has greatly enhanced the work of law enforcement agents through application of forensic processes to solve legal problems within the context of criminal justice system. Several years down the line, police work as well known has remained relatively unchanged; issues of responding to calls for service, crime investigation and dealing with victims of crime have not been catered for. The changes that have been effected in law enforcement are the aspects of the profession that are related to application of forensic science and technology within the investigative process that have become a norm in today’s law enforcement process.  Use of fingerprint analysis, examination of weapons or bullet markings, chemical analyses or the current extraordinary advances that have been made in DNA technology. Therefore, forensic science continues to be most valued and productive resources available to law enforcement and mostly in justice system as a whole. Members of the profession serve as witnesses in the explosion of progress in the field of forensic science and technology advances that will continue to grow exponentially in the future, for which police leaders must be well prepared to provide clear evidences on related cases.

However, forensic developments in future may cause serious complications due to over dependence on it as the only source of evidence that is generally accepted by the law enforcers. Many powerful personnel’s involved in such cases may fund the investigations to produce result that favor their case or defense; this will most probably involve the police since they are always responsible for arrests and prosecution of such crime victims.  These vices posses compromised police work in dealing with crimes that need forensic analysis. Being the only way to identify corps through DNA analysis, it is however very expensive thus not every body can afford to cater for the tests unless through government intervention.

The analysis that involve practical case study has a reasonable approach to forensic science. DNA is quantified by cutting it using restriction enzymes and running it in a gel against a known concentration of a marker DNA. Quantified DNA through several techniques can be isolated and examined to allow differentiation of related sequences within the genome. These techniques used by forensic scientists are employed to compare, identify and analyze. These are big steps are very important in determining criminal cases and justifying victims of crime. However there is subjective analysis in forensic science like in forensic pathologist’s need for all history of a victim in relation to the environment such a manner as to cause death. In the case of autoerotic death where they may search for behavior pattern previously conducted, dated pornography and reasonable expectations of privacy all of which may form a convergence of evidence suggesting the behavior related o the death, not suicide leading to a manner of death. Profiling cases objectively by not knowing  any specific suspect information and by not getting to know defendants information helps one to stick to interpreting the physical evidence at the crime scene and avoiding drawbacks as much as possible of shaping the profile to fit a specific person. Bent further expressed that a judge used the suspect’s information in the analysis of crime scene saying that it wound be clear what type of offender was actually at the scene of crime (Bent 2009).

Finally use of forensic science in investigating crimes has seen many victims acquire justice when convicted wrongly. Hence development of various technologies that involve the whole process of testing and analysis of sample from victims. This is however realized when there is no exclusion of subjective information from any analysis.

References

Answer.com (2009) Forensic Science Retrieved on August 12 2009 from <http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:UL0URkqM_5IJ:www.answers.com/topic/forensicscience+Changes+in+forensic+science+by+21st+century&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ke&client=firefox-a>

Bellis M (2009) “Police Technology and Forensic Science: History of Forensic Science.” About.com.

Bent V (2009) “The Need for “Blind” Procedures in Forensic Science” Retrieved on August 12 2009 from <http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:7UCRC7LVFqIJ:www.scientific.org/openforum/articles/blind.html+practical+and+reasoned+approaches+to+            the+successes+and+failures+of+forensic+science.&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ke&client=firefox-a >.

James S H & Nordby J J (2009) “Forensic Science: An introduction to scientific and investigative Techniques” Third Edition.

Weinstein B (2009) “Computer Forensics brings New Weapons to the Fight against Cyber crime.” An article retrieved on August 12, 2009 from <http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:s-arfJqimecJ:articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-            1041960.html+fields+of+computer+crime+and+the+forensic/investigative+tools+and+techniques+used+to+fight+%E2%80%9Ccybercrime.%E2%80 %9D&=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ke&client=firefox-a >.