Forensic Science
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Scientific technique is the simple starting point where the present investigation process is done. The method relies on information gotten from straight surveillance by investigators hence is an experimental process. The process, therefore, involves the study of items that are not known to find out their necessary attributes or uniqueness. The attributes are then compared with the well-known property items that are already known. The assessment is later carried out on the likeness and variations for recognition reasons. Forensic science thus is a scientific approach used in the investigation process with the main aim of ensuring justice to criminals. As result, the technique involves the study and performance of the use of science for reasons of law enforcement. Forensic science is for that reason a extraordinarily wide phrase that comprise of criminology and criminal justice as used in social science discipline with the function of civil law management. The term also extends to a number of fields such as forensic medicine, firearms, questioned documents, fingerprint assessment, psychology, anthropology and others (Nickel and Fischer 2009).
The majority of forensic scientists are investigators who just capture information at the site of crime. They make use of extremely advanced technology to ensure to that they expose the scientific proof in a number of areas of study. The present forensic science has a wide range of use. Some of the civil cases where it is used include counterfeiting, deception or negligence. However, the most widespread application area of forensic science is in the investigation of criminal cases. These cases engage victims like rape, murder, assault, robbery, theft and others. Forensic science is also applied in checking the conformity of different countries. Most of the countries have global accords like the Nuclear Non-explosion Treaty, in addition to the Chemical Weapons, conference and to study whether a country is making a top secret nuclear weapons plant (Jackson and Jackson 2004).
It can be able to assist law enforcement officers in finding out whether any laws and regulations have been dishonored in the selling of products such as foods and drinks, the making of medicines or drugs, or pesticide application on crops. It can also find out whether drinking water conforms to officially permitted purity requirements by law. Wrong-doers frequently never plan out a break-in or robbery. Also, they do not carefully go away behind different evidences that permit an investigator to follow their pathways comparatively with no trouble. Still, in case the criminal is extremely watchful all the way through their crime, there will still be some mapping out of their existence at the sight of crime. There are several areas of forensics. These areas include universal crime landscape study, forensic toxicology, forensic pathology, forensic chemistry, genetic fingerprint and many others (Jackson and Jackson 2004).
One of the most vital things that connect a suspected criminal with a given crime scene is the finger prints. The examination of this is still carried out even if the fingerprints are not left by the criminal. In most cases, the investigators use the available relevant technology to expose the invisible fingerprints. With computerized fingerprints, the investigators are able to detect criminals. The phrase, DNA fingerprint, also called genetic fingerprint is employed in the scientific technique in which samples of DNA are gathered. The term DNA fingerprinting – or genetic fingerprinting – is applied to the scientific process whereby samples of DNA are collected, brought together and used in matching added samples of DNA. These added samples might have been established at the site of an offense (Jackson and Jackson, 2004).This DNA method is normally applicable in a case where the criminal attacker happens to have left a few bodily fluids at the crime site. Also applied when visual recognition is not probable. The technique depends so much on the principle that two or more than two persons cannot share similar genetic code apart from matching twins. The DNA that are studied and used to achieve a match will, therefore, be exceptional. The DNA fingerprinting is carried out on the basis that any attacker or criminal will leave a few quantity of body fluid such as saliva, semen, blood and other related fluids at the crime site. This explains why this method is accepted in various criminal investigations. Since the genetic makeup of every person is unique, it is thus, impossible to fake, forge or even change in whichever way and hence the results derived from this method of investigation is highly and commonly accepted (Nickel and Fischer 1999).
One of the most vital things that connect a suspected criminal with the given crime scene is the fingerprints. The examination of this is still carried out even if the fingerprints are not left by the criminal. In most cases, the investigators use the available relevant technology to expose the invisible fingerprints. With computerized fingerprints, the investigators are able to detect criminals. The phrase, DNA fingerprint, also called genetic fingerprint is employed in the scientific technique in which samples of DNA are gathered. The term DNA fingerprinting – or genetic fingerprinting – is applied to the scientific process whereby samples of DNA are collected, brought together and used in matching added samples of DNA. These added samples might have been established at the site of an offense. This DNA method is normally applicable in a case where the criminal attacker happens to have left a few bodily fluids at the crime site. Also happens when visual recognition is not probable. The technique depends so much on the principle that two or more than two persons cannot share similar genetic code apart from matching twins. The DNA that are studied and used to achieve a match will, therefore, be exceptional. The DNA fingerprinting is carried out on the basis that any attacker or criminal will leave a few quantity of body fluid such as saliva, semen, blood and other related fluids at the crime site. This explains why this method is accepted in various criminal investigations. Since the genetic makeup of every person is unique, it is thus, impossible to fake, forge or even change in whichever way and hence the results derived from this method of investigation is highly and commonly accepted (Nickel and Fischer 1999, Nickel and Fischer 2004).
What seems clear to the naked eye might in reality appear to be a complete new story. Proof might vary from hair samples, to DNA, fingerprints, and several extra. In the past years, forensic science has assisted to transform law enforcement in all these ways although some other old techniques are still in use until now. Since there is the possibility of making mistakes, forensic pathology needs much tolerance and attentiveness to guarantee that each bit of proof is gathered and examined. In the real sense, DNA can help to clear any suspect incorrectly. It can also assist in the identification of the crime itself. Forensic science has also been successful in the past in defending the innocent while at the same time bringing the guilty ones in to justice (Jackson and Jackson 2004).
Psychological profiling is one more attractive way in which forensics might assist resolve crimes. Essentially, psychological profiling examines the behavior and customs of successive criminals. This may depend on the number of resemblance needed to individualize an impression. According to Nickel and Fischer (1999), the process of trying to individualize an impression is recognized by searching for an accord of matching individual attributes. The match is done basing on such number and significance as to stop the chance of their having taken place by extra coincidence. Also, there is ascertaining that there are no disparities that cannot be explained.
Toxicology and ballistics in forensic science can be used, by chemists, to detect chemicals in the stomach linings of an individual. Chemists in this case are called upon by the prosecution in a murder trial to give proof in case any victim’s poisoning in order to establish a criminal offence against the accused. An excellent example is the 1982 incident where the defendant, John Bodle was charged with poisoning his grandmother using arsenic lace coffee. Marsh, a chemist carried out a normal test by mixing alleged sample with hydrogen sulphide and hydrochloric acid. March was able to detect arsenic as yellow arsenic trisulphide which had deteriorated when it was shown to the judges. This permitted the suspect to be set free because of sensible disbelief (Nickel and Fischer 2009).
Anthropological techniques can also be applied to law enforcement through forensic science. In this case, an identification system is created on the basis of physical measurements. Prior to that identification creation, an individual can only be recognized by name or reference made to his/her photograph. The first person to apply this technique was a French police officer, Alphonse Bertillon. The officer did this after being dissatisfied with the ad hoc techniques which were being employed to recognize the captured criminal. He started his work on developing dependable system of anthropometric purposely for categorization of human being. This officer continued to come up with several extra forensics of which forensic document examination was one of them. Compounds such as galvanoplastic were used for the preservation of footprints, ballistics including the dynamometer which was used specifically for the attainment of the amount of force used when breaking (Nickel and Fischer 2009).
Forensic science can also assist in the study of the manner of death by gathering information on the cause of death by medical experts. A onetime surgeon from the French army analytically studied the impacts of violent death on interior organs. However, the foundation of current study of germs was laid by the Italian surgeons, Paolo Zacchia and Fortunato Fidelis after when the publications on the similar topic began in the 18th century. This groundwork was laid by studying changes that took place in the body makeup as the outcome of the disease (Jackson and Jackson 2004).
In summary criminalistics is the use of variety of sciences to answer questions that relates to examination and comparison of biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence which comprise of fingerprints, footwear impressions and even tire tracks. It also answers questions associated with the study and comparison of controlled substances, ballistics tool mark examination, and firearms. This is, in addition to, extra evidence in the investigation of criminal offences. Proofs are normally processed in crime laboratories in characteristic situation. Forensic accounting can also be used to study and interpret various accounting evidence in order to carry out an investigation on accounting fraud during financial auditing. As a result, this forensic study can be used to identify criminals from the group of financial officers working in a given firm or institution. Other types of forensics that can be used to investigate criminals are digital offences used for purposes of data recovery, forensic aerial photography, and forensic anthropology. There is also the use of forensic archeology, forensic botany, forensic chemistry, forensic DNA analysis, and forensic engineering (Nickel and Fischer 1999, Jackson and Jackson 2004).
References
Joe, Nickel, and John F. Fischer. Crime science: methods of forensic detection. University Press of Kentucky, 2009.
Jackson, R.W and Jackson, J.M. Forensic Science, Published 2004.
