Free Essay

Forensic Science in the 21st Century

In:

Submitted By crystallyle43
Words 1265
Pages 6
Forensic Science in the 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 pace world. Forensic science has been through many changes because of the maturity of the Science labs and its accurate findings. Forensic science is very important because it helps in solving crimes and exonerating people of crimes they did not commit. They also solves crimes through investigation such as cause of death, identifying a suspect /victim, missing person, and criminal profiling. Sometimes in an investigation, there are no witnesses, so the only evidence is from forensic science Forensic scientist are a big help to police and detectives because the collected evidence just liekt the b oth of them, but science Is involved in the collecting of evidence. If science was not involved then criminals could burglarize homes, drug dealer will continue to sell drugs, murdered would keep killing others, child molesters would continue hurting children, and none of these criminals could be convicted of their crimes. Criminal constantly leave clues behind, because they be in a rush and it’s not throughout at times, so they leave clues behind that can be traced back to them. The clues that are left behind are scientific evidence for forensic scientist. The police office or detective job is to come on the scene and make sure that the area is taped off, nothing is tampered with and there is no contamination on the evidence. By following this process, forensic science can determine a lot with the evidence when it is properly collected. According to the New York state trooper “advance in technology are being applied to the finite and exacting field of forensic science, a field which technical competency is achieved only by the synthesis of a number of factors, including training, experience, supervision, continuing education, proficiency and an appreciation of scientific methods and protocols projected against a back ground of stringent professional ethics. In the field of Forensic science there are multiple levels in criminal investigation such as toxicology photography, forensic imagery and documentation. In addition to the private labs, which are contracted employed to assist in court process, which consist of analyzing document in question and handwriting as well. According to Applied Forensic “various physical details and elements of documents in order to identify their source or to determine their authenticity or integrity. Forensic document examiners, help lawyers by examining and offering written opinions on a variety of disputed document problems”. The media representation of forensic science is always added excitement when it relate to all evidence findings, everyone is waiting on the mystery to unfold and a conviction for the individual that committed a crime. For example, the case of O.J Simpson and, Johnnie Cochran who was his lawyer. This was a high profile case. O.J Simpson was exonerated of the charges. The O.J Simpson miniseries is now on television another show is Forensic Files, CSI, and Law &Order. These shows give the audience and example of what happens in Court cases.
The investigation and (DNA) may take longer in the real world and the outcome of a real case may go the other way of its not enough evidence to hold a criminal. The effect that impeccable synchronicity of the investigator and successful outcomes portrayed in fictional arenas are contemporaneous with the public feeling dissatisfied with the criminal justice system not solving cases fast enough. The public then places astronomical expectations on medical examiners and real life investigators believing that a lack of competency may be at play when in reality, society has been provided a distorted view of the lengthy, painstaking process involved. Attorneys and judges have claimed that watching television programs such as “CSI” has made the jury wrongfully acquit guilty defendants when there is no scientific evidence being presented. The media picked up on these complaints very quicky.This effect was promptly called the "CSI effect”, which layed much of the blame on the television show. The court relied on some academic work in its decision, not too much is known about the CSI effect, and the research on the existence and direction of the effect has produced different kinds of results. Some of the studies have failed to observe the effect among students participating in jury simulations, though other studies have found some support for the prosecution version of the CSI effect with non-student samples. In one study, non-student mock jurors who watched more "CSI" TV shows that had a lot higher expectations for the amount of forensic evidence necessary to prove the defendant's guilt, and they were less likely to find accountability. Other studies that have been found more evidence for the defense version of the CSI effect, with mock broad who thought CSI and corresponding programs were believable overvaluing forensic evidence and returning guilty verdicts when presented with any DNA evidence, be it good or poor quality. In light of the limited and mixed empirical findings, future research is necessary before any definitive claims can be made about the existence and veracity of the CSI effect. Of particular interest is determining the conditions in which the CSI effect exerts an influence on jurors' decisions. It is possible, for example, that such effects only occur in homicide cases, which are among the most prevalent crimes on forensic shows, though the CSI effect may also vary depending on the amount and quality of evidence.
This paper has discussed forensic science in the 21st Century criminal justice system. It also discussed the importance of forensic science to policing and criminal investigations, court processes and security efforts. In addition, the accuracy of popular media representation of forensic science and the influence of popular opinion on justice-related issues. Forensic science will constantly develop and evolve with the breaking of the 21st Century; however, science may or may not account every situation. The judicial process should aim to conserve a balance consisting of both emotion and logic, meaning emotions may use some logic. Scientific measure is not infallible and humanistic intuition should remain present within a jury when the question of an individual’s life is at stake.

Reference www.merrian.webster.com www.troopers.state.nt.us/forensic.science.modern.forensics www.appliedforensic.com www.maryberstein.wordpress.forensicscience.com

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Forensic Science in the 21st Century

...Forensic Science in the 21st Century Gertrude West Forensic Science and Psychological Profiling /CJA590 May 30, 2011 Edward Baker Forensic Science in the 21st Century Forensic science has various influences on crime, investigation and the people that are involved. Forensic science has a connection with the courts to ensure crimes are getting solved and justice is being served to those that commit crimes. With the help of forensic science, crimes are being solved from a human and technological aspect. This paper highlights numerous discussions on how forensic science plays a role in criminal justices system, security, media and the law. Forensic science is a separate entity from the police; although a large portion of the work is obtains through law enforcement. Forensic science is a recognizable component of policing during criminal investigation. The successful resolution from a crime scene involves preventing the site from being contaminated. This helps assures a great deal of gathering and interpreting evidence that could lead to an accurate interpretation of the event. The advances in technology are being applied to forensic science; a field in which technical is achieved by many factors such as including training, experience, continued education, and scientific methodology (NYSP, 2007). Forensic Science continues to develop in the 21st Century. It blends science and technology that has been useful for law enforcement to solve crimes and prosecute...

Words: 1454 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Forensic Science in the 21st Century

...Forensic Science in the 21st Century AJS/592 Aug 2012 Forensic Science in the 21st Century Forensic science is regarded as an essential component in the resolution of crimes and law enforcement. Collecting and deciphering evidence properly and preserving crime scenes are two of the most important elements in crime-solving. Consequently, technological advances are relevant to the limited and challenging forensic science field. Also, it is a field wherein technical aptitude is attained only by the amalgamation of various dynamics. For example, supervision, continuing education, proficiency, training, experience, coupled with appreciativeness of scientific protocols and methods proposed against a setting of harsh professional beliefs. This submission delves into forensic science’s contributions to policing and criminal investigations, court processes, and security efforts. Also it explores the media’s representation of forensic science, influence on popular opinion for justice-related issues, and “CSI” effect on the judicial process. Forensic Science Contributions to Policing and Criminal Investigations The geneses of criminalistics or forensic science are mainly European. Forensic science is an amalgamation of various disciplines, such as chemistry, mathematics, geology, physics, and biology to examine physical evidence associated with crime. Previously, the employment of forensic...

Words: 1778 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Forensics History

...Forensics History Theresia L. Coates Criminal Justice 1010 Forensics History What does Forensics mean? How old is forensic science? When it was first applied to the law? How has the Forensic science changed the arrest and prosecution success of criminals? The term "forensic" comes from the Latin and means, simply, having to do with the law. How has Forensics evolved from the beginning until today? Let us delve into the history of forensics and its blossoming partnership with the law. Surprisingly, Forensic Science has been around and used in criminal investigations in some manner since before the Roman Empire making it centuries old. It has only been within the last century that law enforcement agencies and the court systems have come to rely so heavily on the use of scientific practices in crime scene investigations.1 The first application of forensic science was by the Roman physician Antistius in the year 44 B.C., whom examined the body of Julius Caesar. He determined even though the dictator was stabbed 23 times, only one wound through his chest caused his actual death. This autopsy is thought to be the first one recorded and the start of using forensic science. Here in the Greek and Roman society extensive knowledge was developed regarding the production, use and symptoms of various poisons, making it possible to identify their use in previously undetected murders. Thanks to these western civilizations advances in the medical field as well as pharmacology were...

Words: 1732 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Cyber Crime in India

...or against information on computers, is beginning to claim attention in the India. The digital age has dramatically changed the scope of a crime by adding the electronic component and it comes a new form of science ≴Computer Forensic Science≵. Computer Forensic allows for the evidence of cyber crime to be admissible in court when prosecuting the cyber criminal. In most countries, existing laws are likely to be unenforceable against such crime. Cyber laws, as it stand today, gives rise to both positive & negative consequences. The main negative consequences is the digital soup so vague that many refer to it as the dark sides of technology and that cyber criminal currently have upper hand. The applicability and effectiveness of our existing laws need to be constantly reviewed to face the risk coming from the cyber world. In this paper we are going to firstly describe the computer forensic, cyber crimes, cyber laws of nation & technology challenges. Aim of this paper is to act as a catalyst to raise awareness regarding computer forensic which continues to grow as one of the most important branch of science and help in investigation of cyber crime which continues to grow as one of the most potent threats to the Internet and computer users of the cyber society of 21st century in India Introduction The rapid change occurring in the present era of Information Technology and the computer has gained popularity in every aspect of our lives. This includes the use of computers by persons...

Words: 2686 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Criminal Identification

...Criminal Identification Procedures in the Twenty-first Century Criminal Procedure CJA/350 Abstract In modern society we are faced with the difficulty of ensuring that we are not locking up innocent people. We as a society want to fight crime at any means necessary but at what cost are we willing to pay for this so called justice? In this paper I will discuss the ways that we use criminal identification. Some of these methods are very simple as well as those, which are quite complex. These are eyewitness identification, DNA fingerprinting, latent prints found on bodies, brain fingerprinting, and thru vision. Identification of a person means knowing positively who a given person is and it may be necessary to identify living as well as dead individuals in a variety of situations. In our day-to-day life, we do not face many problems with identification, and it might seem surprising at first glance that such a mundane thing as identification ever needed the help of science. We may meet a long forgotten friend, and may not be able to identify him in the beginning, but recollection of some events would help us recall who the person is. In fact, in daily life, many take the identity of a person for granted. (Forensic Identification) Criminal identification procedures in the 21st century is an ever-changing and remarkable endeavor that has become something that law enforcement has been leaning towards for some time now. The criminal identification process is a long, but...

Words: 978 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Careers in Psychology Essay

...difference, and that's what I would like to spend the rest of my life doing. The field of psychology is divided into subfields each of which deal with a different area, and since working with and helping people is a good feeling for me, community and social services is an excellent job group. When going into the field of psychology, one is able to explore many different careers. I’m also interested in forensics. The field of forensic psychology has grown in the 21st century because courtrooms recognize the value of psychologist’s testimonies to help juries reach a clearer verdict. Like all fields in psychology, forensics has many perspectives, they can focus on law enforcement psychology, the psychology of litigation, correctional psychology, and forensic psychology (Nietzel, Bernstein, & Milich, 1998). The field of psychology is becoming more scientific, advances are being made to increase reliability. Just the thought of having a career in psychology is fascinating to me, I know sooner or later I am going to have to make the decision on which way Im going to go about it. Forensic psychologists handle legal matters, including mental state examinations of criminal defendants and their insanity...

Words: 698 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Forensic Testimony in Court

...Examine Forensic Testimony Forensic evidence has become more and more important in the court case for proving the guilt or innocence of a criminal defendant. Due to new technology the world of forensics is becoming more and more advanced providing law enforcement with all types of new investigatory tools and ways for the court to prove or disprove guilt. It is essential for law enforcement agencies to have trained forensic personnel with the skills to properly collect the evidence first to ensure the evidence does not become lost, destroyed, or damaged and the forensic evidence is accepted in a court of law. Improper collection of evidence is only one of many potential challenges associated with forensic evidence but it is an important challenge that must be addressed. Forensic evidence is collected at the crime scene. If the evidence is not properly documented and collected it can be found to be unreliable in the court process. In order for forensic evidence to be accepted in a court of law it must be documented through sketches, photographs, and video tapings and it must be collected using accepted standard forensic collection methods. If evidence is not properly documented or collected the chain of evidence is broken and the court will exclude the evidence from the court case. The chain of evidence refers to an important aspect of forensic involving the movement of evidence. In order to show the court the evidence was located and collected at the scene...

Words: 1538 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Careers in Psychology Essay

...difference, and that's what I would like to spend the rest of my life doing. The field of psychology is divided into subfields each of which deal with a different area, and since working with and helping people is a good feeling for me, community and social services is an excellent job group. When going into the field of psychology, one is able to explore many different careers. I’m also interested in forensics. The field of forensic psychology has grown in the 21st century because courtrooms recognize the value of psychologist’s testimonies to help juries reach a clearer verdict. Like all fields in psychology, forensics has many perspectives, they can focus on law enforcement psychology, the psychology of litigation, correctional psychology, and forensic psychology (Nietzel, Bernstein, & Milich, 1998). The field of psychology is becoming more scientific, advances are being made to increase reliability. Just the thought of having a career in psychology is fascinating to me, I know sooner or later I am going to have to make the decision on which way Im going to go about it. Forensic psychologists handle legal matters, including mental state examinations of criminal defendants and...

Words: 1127 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Cognitive Psychology

...research that focuses on the encoding, storage and retrieval processes involved when one remembers information at a later time. Perception- is the use of previous knowledge to gather and interpret stimuli registered by the senses (Matlin 2005). Language- A area of research focuses on how humans and (nonhumans) acquire and use language. Thinking- A area of research includes various topics such as, problem solving, decision making, mental imagery, and logic. The main focus is on the internal thought processes. Cognitive psychology flourished at the beginning of the 21st century, and its principles have been applied to clinical and counseling psychology, personality theory, developmental psychology, social psychology, comparative psychology forensics and legal psychology, and education among other principles. Other independent schools of thought have developed form cognitive psychology including cognitive science and cognitive neuroscience. Cognitive psychology had other discipline that had evolved from it was cognitive neuroscience this area combines the basic research techniques and issue from cognitive psychology with various method (e.g; brain scanning,...

Words: 372 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

How Has the Development of Fingerprinting Techniques in Forensics Increased the Succession Rate of Convicting Criminals from the Period of 1890-1950?

...techniques in forensics increased the succession rate of convicting criminals from the period of 1890-1950? Introduction The birth of forensic science within the use of the police force revolutionised how crime investigations were conducted, via the work of the forensic scientists, or also known as ‘forensic officers’. This work would consist of collecting evidence from a crime scene such as looking for fingerprints on either a suspected murder weapon used by the murder or on a touchable surface which is in the crime scene where the suspect laid their hand on. Furthermore this collectivisation of evidence from the crime scene could mean collecting; foreign fibres (unusual fibres that seem to look like that they do not belong their i.e. due to their different colour, type of fabric or thickness of the fibre.); retrieving bullets and firearms form the crime scene and any possible DNA samples that can be collected in the crime scene such as blood spatter on the walls of a room, where in this case the crime was committed. This evidence would then be sent to be analysed by more forensic scientists in different subdivisions to help led a path to a final suspect, thus leading the police to a quick and successful conviction of a criminal and bring justice to their crimes. Overall this revolution of the police force saw the birth of a new era of fighting crime throughout the whole of the country, as well as throughout the rest of the world. How the evolution of different forensic techniques...

Words: 6139 - Pages: 25

Premium Essay

Essay

...areas of specialization in psychology. Apply some strategies that will help you succeed in psychology. After studying Chapter 1, you will be able to: Define psychology. Describe the influence that philosophy, biology, and physiology had on the beginnings of psychology as a science. Compare the two early scientific approaches in psychology: structuralism and functionalism. Describe the focus of each of the six contemporary approaches to psychology. Describe the positive psychology movement, and discuss why this movement recently emerged in psychology. Discuss career opportunities in psychology. Profile the main areas of specialization in psychology. Say how studying habits may be optimized. Understand how to be a critical thinker. CHAPTER 1: OUTLINE Psychology is a science dedicated to the study of behavior and mental processes. In this chapter you are introduced to the history of this science, a variety of contemporary perspectives in psychology, the positive psychology movement, and an overview of psychology-related careers. At the end of the chapter, the reader learns about the most effective methods of studying and learning. There are three concepts important to the definition of psychology: science, behavior, and mental processes. Psychologists use scientific methods to observe, describe, predict, and explain behaviors and mental processes. Behaviors are actions that can be directly observed, while mental processes are experiences that cannot be observed directly, such...

Words: 11126 - Pages: 45

Premium Essay

Psychology

...specialization in psychology. Apply some strategies that will help you succeed in psychology. After studying Chapter 1, you will be able to: Define psychology. Describe the influence that philosophy, biology, and physiology had on the beginnings of psychology as a science. Compare the two early scientific approaches in psychology: structuralism and functionalism. Describe the focus of each of the six contemporary approaches to psychology. Describe the positive psychology movement, and discuss why this movement recently emerged in psychology. Discuss career opportunities in psychology. Profile the main areas of specialization in psychology. Say how studying habits may be optimized. Understand how to be a critical thinker. CHAPTER 1: OUTLINE Psychology is a science dedicated to the study of behavior and mental processes. In this chapter you are introduced to the history of this science, a variety of contemporary perspectives in psychology, the positive psychology movement, and an overview of psychology-related careers. At the end of the chapter, the reader learns about the most effective methods of studying and learning. There are three concepts important to the definition of psychology: science, behavior, and mental processes. Psychologists use scientific methods to observe, describe, predict, and explain behaviors and mental processes. Behaviors are actions that can be directly observed, while mental processes are experiences that cannot be observed directly...

Words: 11126 - Pages: 45

Free Essay

Evolution of American Intelligence

...The Evolution of Intelligence in the United States John Doe Utica University The Evolution of Intelligence in the United States The beginning of intelligence in the United States dates back to the Revolutionary War and America’s first president, George Washington. President Washington requested that Congress set aside a ‘secret service fund’ for clandestine and secret activities (Revolutionary Ideas, 2007). After leading the Continental Army during the war, he knew how important it was to have secret agencies analyze and protect the new country. The use of secret agents, counterintelligence, and the clandestine paramilitary, have been used extensively to set up elaborate deceptions, gather sensitive information, and coordinate operations to cause sabotage towards other adversaries or countries that wished to cause us harm throughout the history of our country (Revolutionary Ideas, 2007). Although President Washington set a growing foundation of creating and fostering the need and use of foreign intelligence, it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) that helped combined the efforts of the state and war departments to coordinate efforts on a combined government-wide level (History of the CIA, 2007). The events of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 prompted FDR to make a change to all government intelligence. FDR asked World War I veteran William J. Donovan to draft a new plan for an intelligence service that would combine all those departments’ efforts and make...

Words: 2722 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Cyber Crime Trends

...Cyber-Crime Trends Melody Ann Lovelace CJA570 October 10, 2011 Ray Gagne Cyber-Crime Trends In the dawn of the 21st century, the evolution of new technology and science concepts have made changes to everyone’s daily life. Cyber-crimes are a creature that did not exist 15-plus years ago. Back in the day, before technology, were only the conventional crimes such as illegal behaviors people thought were criminal behaviors. However, in today’s time an individual must be extremely careful because not only are people combating traditional crimes but cyber-crimes as well. Cyber-crimes are the newest and most complicated crimes for the new century. A cyber crime is an individual conducting actions such as disrupting communications and devices, disrupting networks, Internet, and telephone; both landlines and mobile. Individuals of various ages are committing cyber crimes because these types’ crimes are easier to commit than the traditional kidnapping, murder, or human trafficking. According to Parthasarati (n. d.), cyber criminals fall into one of four categories or groups including children and adolescents between ages six to 18, organized hackers, professional hackers/crackers, and the discontent employee(s). The child or adolescent will partake in such behaviors to prove his or her self superior or outstanding over other individual in his or her age group. The organized hacker will want to fulfill objectives such as political bias and fundamentalism to name a couple. The professional...

Words: 1794 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Forensic Auditing

...FORENSIC AUDITING As stated by Gordon Brown, the former Prime Mister of the United Kingdom, “what the use of fingerprints was to the 19th century and DNA analysis was to the 20th century, forensic accounting will be to the 21st century”. When people first see the word “forensic”, they naturally categorize it into a science-related field. According to Webster’s Dictionary, the term “forensic” is defined as “belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature or to public discussions and debate”. Therefore, forensic accounting is generally defined as relating and applying financial facts to legal problems (Singleton and Singleton 12). Forensic accounting consists of a combination of the techniques that are used in accounting, auditing, and investigative work. The focus of this paper is on the concept of forensic auditing; however, forensic auditing cannot be fully understood without incorporating all of the facts about forensic accounting. Most situations that involve forensic auditing will deal with proposed fraudulent activities, but there are some cases that may deal with non-fraudulent activities, such as settlements of monetary disputes (“Student Accountant”). Throughout this paper, we will discuss, in detail, the profession of forensic auditing and forensic accounting in relation to fraudulent activities. What is Forensic Auditing? Forensic auditing and financial auditing are not related in any way; rather, they have their own distinct objectives that are set...

Words: 3839 - Pages: 16