Why do we use forensics

Hans Gross — : Studied and developed principles of criminal investigation. Edmond Locard — : Had a background in medicine and law, and was the first one to use scientific methods for criminal investigation. Forensic science is that piece without which the puzzle of a criminal investigation is incomplete. Without the application of forensic science, criminals can never be convicted unless an eyewitness is present.

While detectives and law enforcement agencies are involved in the collection of evidence, be it physical or digital, it is forensic science that deals with the analysis of those evidence in order to establish facts admissible in the court of law.

Thus in a world devoid of forensic science, murderers, thieves, drug traffickers and rapists would be roaming scot-free. The duties and responsibilities of a forensic scientist in a criminal investigation is crucial as it involves the careful examination of an evidence while ensuring that it is not tampered with.

A diverse pool of forensic scientists and forensic tools go into the investigation of a criminal act. For instance, forensic pathologists are skilled at determining the cause of a death by performing autopsies. An autopsy helps establish the cause and manner of death through the examination of body fluids and tissues. Forensic Scientists analyze physical evidence fingerprints, blood, hair etc. Additionally, forensic professionals use image modification tools to search for criminals absconding from the law for a long time.

This tool enables them to digitally age a photograph to understand how the individual would look at aging. Criminal profiling dates back to and is believed to have been originally used and adapted by the FBI.

It is based on a psychological evaluation of the belongings seized from an offender. This helps in drawing a complete social and psychological assessment of the offender. Although it is often questioned for its accuracy, effectiveness and scientific validity, its role in the criminal investigation cannot be neglected. Back in early Rome, a forum referred to a public place where judicial proceedings and debates were held.

Forensic Science involves the collection, preservation, and analysis of evidence suitable for prosecuting an offender in the court of law. The application of forensic science in the criminal justice system is, therefore, an apparent picture.

The legal system widely recognizes the role of forensic evidence in the trial of criminal offenders. This is because when scientific techniques and methods are used, there is not much scope for bias or injustice.

That is why DNA profiling and a host of other forensic evidence are widely accepted in courts across the world. Interestingly, the first forensic technique ever used involving finger and palm print identification dates back to the Chinese A. Forensic evidence is extensively used worldwide to both convict and exonerate defendants.

The absence of diatoms raises the possibility that the drowning took place in a sink or bathtub, not where the body was found, since diatoms are filtered from household water during treatment. A scanning electron microscope that can magnify objects , times is used to detect the minute gunpowder particles present on the hand of a person who recently has fired a gun.

These particles also can be analyzed chemically to identify their origin from a particular type of bullet. Forensic examination of substances found at a crime scene often can establish the presence of the suspect at the scene. Human bite marks also can serve as circumstantial evidence.

Such bites may be found upon the body of a homicide victim or within pieces of food or other objects found at the crime scene, such as chewing gum. A forensic scientist can fill the impressions caused by these bites with liquid plastic. This is the application of various sciences to answer questions relating to the examination and comparison of biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence such as fingerprints, shoeprints and tire tracks , controlled substances and firearms in criminal investigations.

This is the application of physical anthropology in a legal setting, usually for the recovery and identification of skeletonized human remains. This is the study and interpretation of economic damage evidence to include present-day calculations of lost earnings and benefits, the lost value of a business, lost business profits, lost value of household service, replacement labor costs and future medical care costs.

This deals with the examination of insects in, on and around human remains to assist in determination of time or location of death. It also is possible to determine if a body has been moved after death. This is the study of crime scenes when the victim is an animal, such as an endangered species or an animal illegally hunted or poached. Forensic scientists work in laboratories, at crime scenes, in offices and in morgues.

If anything, forensics can be used to narrow down the possibilities for whom the remains belonged to—i. Forensics can also be used to determine the cause of death, which may give authorities a lead on the murder weapon to look for, and subsequently, a starting point for their search for a suspect.

For instance, if it was determined that the individual died as a result of a gun shot to the head, and the bullet wound was consistent with a. Two of the most common crimes solved with forensic science include drug-related crimes and sex crimes. In drug crimes, forensics can be used to determine the chemical makeup of a drug, and therefore, determine whether or not an individual possessed illegal drugs. If the results come back positive for illegal substances, the prosecution can use the results as evidence to convict an individual for anything from drug possession to drug manufacturing or trafficking.

In the instance of death by poisoning, forensics can be used to determine the drug used to kill the individual, as well as narrow down the list of suspects by figuring out who would have access to such substances.

In sex-related crimes, DNA may be taken from the victim and the results used to convict the perpetrator. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc. Lastly, the chapter talked about the number of specialized Forensic Science services. Afterwards, wipe away the waste, and turn them back off. Once that is done, you want to repeat those same steps with your trimmers, minus the working of the lever because trimmers do not have levers. Now that you are done sanitizing the clippers and trimmers, you will move on to the clipper guards, comb and sheers.

You simply want to spray them lightly with the clippercide then wipe them off with a paper towel, and this will complete the sanitation. A forensic pathologist focuses on determining the cause of death through examination to uncover evidence of injury or disease. A forensic pathologist studies the medical history, evaluates crime scene evidence including witness statements and also determines time of death.

I must earn a bachelor's degree, a medical degree and. Have you ever wonder how does a crime scene investigator, known as a CSI, discover blood spatter on different fabrics, which is not visible to the human eye? The key is bluestar. By analyzing the article the reader is able to understand how bluestar works through the rhetorical techniques used. Criminal Minds is undoubtedly one of the most popular crime TV dramas currently on air. The show revolves around FBI agents who profile and catch serial killers.

Like most crime shows, Criminal Minds has highly qualified technical analysts that ensure the police procedure is as true to real life as possible Nevitt, , p. While the plotlines of this show are often unusual, these analysts work to accurately portray proper police practices. The consultants ensure common mannerisms and actions of police officers, like how to correctly apply handcuffs and hold guns, are correctly shown.

Their job includes, but is not limited to, conducting interviews, locating missing persons and criminal suspects, examining records, writing detailed reports and occasionally making arrests. It is also required to have experience as a police officer for at least three to five years.