...DNA profiling is the process that is used to determine an individual's DNA characteristics. These characteristics are just as unique as fingerprints. At first, DNA profiling was only used for paternity tests to match a parent to a child. DNA evidence was able to make its way into the courts in a 1986 double rape-homicide case. A 17 year old boy had been accused of the crime but molecular biologist Alec Jeffreys used DNA tests to prove that the boy was not the perpetrator (DNA Profiling) In 1987, the Circuit Court in Orange County, Florida made their first conviction based off of DNA evidence. Tommy Lee Andrews convicted of rape by matching his DNA sample to semen found inside the rape victim. West Virginia was the first state to rule in favor...
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...Deoxyribonucleic acid, commonly known as DNA, is the carrier of genetic information and the building blocks of all organisms. It is also the building block for both the defense and prosecution in criminal cases. This paper will explore the history of DNA profiling in the criminal justice system. While it is a common misconception that James Watson and Francis Crick discovered DNA in the 1950s, it was actually discovered in the 1800s. The molecule now known as DNA was first identified in the 1860s by a Swiss chemist called Johann Friedrich Miescher. Johann set out to research the key components of white blood cells, part of our body’s immune system. The main source of these cells was pus-coated bandages collected from a nearby medical clinic....
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...British geneticist who developed techniques for DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling that are now used worldwide by investigators to bring justice to perpetrators as well as to resolve paternity and immigration disputes. Jeffreys was born into a middle-class family in Oxford, where he spent the first six years of his life until 1956, when the family moved to Luton, Bedfordshire. He attributes his curiosity and inventiveness to having been gained from his father, as well as his paternal grandfather, who held ma ny patents. When he was eight, his father gave him a chemistry set, which he enhanced over the next few years with extra chemicals, even including a small bottle of Sulphuric acid. He says he liked making small explosions, but an accidental splash of the sulphuric acid caused a burn, which left a permanent scar on his chin (now under his beard). His father also bought him a...
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...In this paper, I will be focusing on the act of racial profiling, which has become quite common in the contemporary society. Racial profiling refers to the practice of using race as the main ground for suspecting individuals of having committed an offense. I will be sharing this article with the history professor in Sunderland University. Racial Profiling Component of Article The article that I will review and is related to this topic on racial profiling is named “Race and Justice: Wrongful Convictions of African American Men” is written by Feagin Joe. Precisely, this article mainly talks about how the African Americans tend to be wrongly convicted due to racial prejudice and discrimination (Feagin, 2013). In order to gather adequate...
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...* DNA technology – Methods for studying and manipulating genetic material, has rapidly revolutionized the field of forensics, the scientific analysis of evidence for legal investigators * Has practical applications beyond its use in forensic science * Include the use of gene cloning in the production of medical and industrial products, the development of genetically modified organisms for agriculture, and even the investigation of genealogical questions * DNA evidence was used to solve a double murder in England * Showed that two murders could have been committed by the same person * Showed the innocence of someone who confessed to one of the murders * Showed the absence of a match in 5,000 men tested when the murderer persuaded another man to donate blood in his name * Showed a match with the murder and DNA found with both victims * Biotechnology: The manipulation of organisms or their components to make useful products * Grew out of discoveries made about 60 years ago by American geneticists Joshua Lederberg and Edward Tatum * Performed a series of experiments with E.coli that demonstrated that two individual bacteria can combine genes * Genetic engineering involves manipulating genes for practical purposes * Gene cloning leads to the production of multiple identical copies of a gene-carrying piece of DNA * Recombinant DNA is formed by joining DNA sequences from two different sources ...
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...21st Century By: Crystal Lyle AJS/584 - FORENSIC SCIENCE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILING STEVEN HOENIG 2-29-16 This paper will examine my perception and concept of forensic science in the 21st century. It will also examine the importance of forensic science to policing criminal investigation court process, and the efforts of various levels in security. In addition to analyzing the importance of forensic science, I will give a historical approach. I will discuss the accuracy of the media representation of forensic science and how issues. Lastly, I will discuss the influence the CSI effect have on the judicial process. Forensic Science is the application of science to criminal and civil laws that are enforced by law enforcement agencies in a criminal justice system. Another definition of forensic science is principles and techniques to matters of criminal justice, especially as it relates to the collection, examination, and analysis of physical evidence. In 1929, a Los Angeles police department establish the first American forensic lab. Forensic science has been around over 300 years or more and it continues to improve and emerge today as science and technical knowledge find more improved and accurate techniques. Forensic science has come to be a critical instrument in allowing guilt or demonstrating innocence in the system of criminal justice. In the late 80’s (DNA), society was accepting of (DNA) and forensic science continues to develop and unfold Technology in this fast...
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...DNA profiling (also called DNA testing, DNA typing, or genetic fingerprinting) is a technique employed by forensic scientists to assist in the identification of individuals by their respective DNA profiles. DNA profiles are encrypted sets of numbers that reflect a person's DNA makeup, which can also be used as the person's identifier. DNA profiling should not be confused with full genome sequencing.[1] It is used in, for example, parental testing and criminal investigation. Although 99.9% of human DNA sequences are the same in every person, enough of the DNA is different to distinguish one individual from another, unless they are monozygotic twins.[2] DNA profiling uses repetitive ("repeat") sequences that are highly variable,[2] called variable number tandem repeats (VNTR), particularly short tandem repeats (STR)s. VNTRs loci are very similar between closely related humans, but so variable that unrelated individuals are extremely unlikely to have the same VNTRs. The DNA profiling technique was first reported in 1984[3] by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester in England,[4] and is now the basis of several national DNA databases. Dr. Jeffreys's genetic fingerprinting was made commercially available in 1987, when a chemical company, Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), started a blood-testing centre in England.[5] Contents [hide] 1 DNA profiling process 1.1 RFLP analysis 1.2 PCR analysis 1.3 STR analysis 1.4 AmpFLP ...
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...ISSUE NO. 267 U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice National Institute of Justice JOURNAL Police Use of Force: The Impact of Less-Lethal Weapons and Tactics n Toward a Better Way to Interview Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Solving the Problem of Untested Evidence in Sexual Assaults Extending the Time to Collect DNA in Sexual Assault Cases Also in this issue In Brief: Block by Block: Zeroing in on Crime Trends Minimizing the Risks of Hazardous Materials: The CBRN Standard Improving Forensic Death Investigation In Brief: Expanding Research by Sharing Data n n i Building Knowledge to Meet the Challenge of CriMe and JustiCe National Institute of Justice John H. Laub Director, National Institute of Justice The NIJ Journal is published by the National Institute of Justice to announce the Institute’s policy-relevant research results and initiatives. The Attorney General has determined that publication of this periodical is necessary in transacting the public business of the U.S. Department of Justice as required by law. Findings and conclusions of the research reported here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. All products, manufacturers and organizations cited in this publication are presented for informational purposes only, and their discussion does not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice. Subscription...
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...DNA is a molecule that contains the body’s genetic information. ”DNA typing is also known as DNA profiling and genetic fingerprinting. Forensic investigators use this method to identify the suspects involved in a criminal case(s). “Although 99.9% of human DNA sequences are the same in every person, enough of the DNA is different to distinguish one individual from another.” (Accessexcellence.org) A Mr. Alec Jefferys first documented the DNA typing procedure in 1984 at the University of Leicester in England. Inside ones DNA, we find what is called Short Tandem Repeats (STR). It is known why STR exist, but what is significant is that over 30 percent of human DNA is made up by these STR. “STRs are locations on the chromosome that contain short sequence elements that repeat themselves with in the DNA molecule.”(Saferstein, R pg.397) With Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR technology, DNA research has made leaps and bounds. This method greatly enhances a single piece of DNA and makes thousands of copies of that particular DNA sequence. Another reason PCR is proven beneficial is that it moves shorter strands of DNA that are supposed to be more stable and less subjected to degradation, as oppose to the longer strand that break in bad environment atmospheres. Particularly PCR can enhance the STRs found in individuals blood and can be used to tell the difference between different individuals DNA, thereby proving a person innocent or guilty. In criminal investigations today DNA is used...
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...Miscarriages of justice are routine, even mundane features of the criminal justice system” (Goldhill, 2014, p.1). The understanding that the criminal justice system was able to prevent innocents from being found guilty has now given way to the idea that it is possible for this system to find guilty those same innocents. This has lead to courts, government and scholars, working in the criminal justice arena to research and implement strategies to prevent wrongful convictions (Weathered, 2013). As such, this paper will explore the topic of wrongful convictions in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States by analyzing elements of each criminal justice system. Moreover, this paper will examine the similarities and differences between the approaches to dealing with wrongful convictions in the above mentioned countries and will argue that the United Kingdom has the better...
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...FORENSICS Forensics, by and large, is the application of science to the legal process. It is an emerging research domain in India. There are many different types of forensic sciences baring their vital presence possibly in every field of human endeavor. Of these, let us now discuss about the computational, cyber and the DNA forensics. COMPUTATIONAL FORENSICS: The development of computational methods or mathematical and software techniques to solve forensic issues is called computational forensics. These methods analyze the evidence beyond human cognitive ability. They scrutinize a large volume of data, which is at any case impossible for a human mind to figure out. In spite of this, we can’t say that these techniques alone would serve our purpose because computational forensics is a field which needs huge collaboration between recognition and reasoning abilities of humans combined with comprehension and analytic abilities of the tool or a machine, which is most of the times, a computer. Computational forensics aids us to model the uncertain. At the crime scenes, we usually get incomplete or broken evidences. These evidences are later on modeled by the computational forensic tool which gives us first clues from its largest biometric database (fingerprints, criminal histories, mug-shots, scar and tattoo, physical characteristics like height, weight, hair and eye color and aliases), which is a collection of significant information regarding the criminals, their criminal history...
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...Forensic Hair Analysis Forensic hair analysis is a method of studying hair found at the scene of a crime, and the scientific study of hair is referred to Trichology. In this paper I will discuss the different techniques that are used to study hair during an investigation and the many different aspects of the hair to consider based on what type of investigation is taking place. Hair analysis can be used to determine the presence of a suspect at the scene or to detect the presence of certain chemical substances in the victim or suspect. With the help of DNA techniques used in forensic hair analysis an absolute match can be determined by examining hair found at the scene of a crime. According to Douglas Deedrick of the FBI’s Trace Evidence Unit, Humans shed an average of 100 hairs daily and are often used in violent crime investigations such as: homicides, assaults, burglaries, and armed robberies. (Deedrick, 2000) The most useful hairs in a crime scene investigation are longer hairs found on the scalp but can be subject to changes due to hair colorings or a simple haircut. In order to prevent this outside exposure samples should be taken from potential suspects as soon as possible after the crime to avoid any possible contamination. According to Deedrick, examining a hair under a microscope can help to determine many things about the source of the hair and even how the hair was lost either through shedding or by force, or from which location on the body the hair originated...
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...1. Introduction Genetic profiling for the public has been around for a few decades but it has already changed many people’s lives. However, though it has many benefits an ethical issue arises should someone have the duty to disclose their genetic information to someone who may be at risk. In this essay, the issue of disclosure will be discussed, it will be broken down into 3 main topics: the advantages and disadvantages of genetic profiling; disclosing genetic information to family members and finally disclosing genetic information in the work place. This essay will then prove in its conclusion that there though there are ethical objections to disclosing genetic information there is a greater moral duty to show information. 1.1. Definition of genetic profiling Genetic profiling is also called DNA and genetic finger printing. According to the glossary of the National Human Genome Research Institute (n.d., n.p) the definition is “Genetic testing is a laboratory test to look for genetic variations associated with a disease. The results of a genetic test can be used to confirm or rule out a suspected genetic disease or to decide the likelihood of a person passing on a mutation to their offspring.” 2. Genetic Profiling and Ethics 2.1 Advantages of genetic profiling and ethics Even though genetic profiling is still relatively new, its positive outcomes can already be seen in the world around us. A layman’s example would be the use of genetic testing to discover the...
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...Criminal Justice Trends Joann Harris CJA/484 September 17, 2012 Robert Metzger Criminal Justice Trends This paper is on criminal justice trends. In this paper, past, present, and future trends in law enforcement will be discussed. Also, the budgetary and managerial will also be discussed. These things are important in all areas of criminal justice. The way that the criminal justice system changes from the past to the present has had a big impact on the way the criminal justice system is. Changes that were in the past had an impact on the present as changes in the present will have an impact on the future. The changes that will be in the future will also have a big impact on the criminal justice system. With changes, no matter how big or how small always has impact to the upcoming years. When it comes to the criminal justice system, it does not matter if it is in law enforcement, (police, detectives, or any other), courts (judges or lawyers), or even corrections, they are all important. They all have a big impact on the criminal justice system and how it is ran. There are different types or jobs of law enforcement. Some of these jobs are: * Uniformed police officers * Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs * State police, also known as state troopers or highway patrol officers. * Detectives Just to name a few. They are all important to the past, present, and future of the criminal justice system. They all had important jobs in the past and they still...
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...Criminal Justice Trends Joann Harris CJA/484 September 17, 2012 Robert Metzger Criminal Justice Trends This paper is on criminal justice trends. In this paper, past, present, and future trends in law enforcement will be discussed. Also, the budgetary and managerial will also be discussed. These things are important in all areas of criminal justice. The way that the criminal justice system changes from the past to the present has had a big impact on the way the criminal justice system is. Changes that were in the past had an impact on the present as changes in the present will have an impact on the future. The changes that will be in the future will also have a big impact on the criminal justice system. With changes, no matter how big or how small always has impact to the upcoming years. When it comes to the criminal justice system, it does not matter if it is in law enforcement, (police, detectives, or any other), courts (judges or lawyers), or even corrections, they are all important. They all have a big impact on the criminal justice system and how it is ran. There are different types or jobs of law enforcement. Some of these jobs are: * Uniformed police officers * Sheriffs and deputy sheriffs * State police, also known as state troopers or highway patrol officers. * Detectives Just to name a few. They are all important to the past, present, and future of the criminal justice system. They all had important jobs in the past and they still...
Words: 1610 - Pages: 7
