Premium Essay

Madrid Bombing Case Study

Submitted By
Words 779
Pages 4
1. What happened in the investigation of the Madrid bombings with the fingerprint evidence? The investigation in the Madrid bombings with the fingerprint evidence was based off of ineffective practices. The fingerprint examiner that led them to a match in Portland, Oregon believed it to be a man names Brandon Mayfield. In addition four other examiners agreed that he was the criminal. However, before he could stand before the judge, the spanish police using video surveillance identified the correct person.

2. What assumptions have been made about fingerprints? What are the problems with these assumptions? Fingerprint identification is suppose to be “infallible”. Examiners are taught that there is no two people that have the same fingerprints. …show more content…
Those are compared with known prints and once the examiner believes there's enough points of similarity, he declares it a match. Examiners working with any finger print are known to make a leap of faith after fifteen or less similar points are found.

4. How does the fingerprint analysis different on television versus reality? What role does the examiner play in real life? What problems are there with this? Fingerprint analysis in reality is rarely as simple as television makes it. Machines used in television do not make a match. In real life, the people do. The examiner is the only analysis that has any judgement regarding the fingerprints match. Many people believe the examiner can have unconscious bias. In fact, four out of five examiners that looked over fingerprints they once said were a match, changed their minds without knowing they already looked at them.

5. How is fingerprint evidence used differently since the Mayfield case? In the Mayfield case, the weak link in fingerprint identification was found. Today, only some examiners who testit will say that the match is not one hundred percent certain. Most examiners, however, will say that the few cases that prosecuted the wrong person should not be the basis of whether the technique is correct because every method has its

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Finerprint Analysis

...b. defining science and pseudoscience c. explain purpose of paper- fingerprinting gone awry II. Mayfield a. 2004 Madrid Spain bombing b. ACE-V method of fingerprint analysis c. FBI point of comparison d. SNP point of comparison III. Bryan Strong a. a forensic examiner questioning ACE-V method via Brady v. Maryland b. exculpatory evidence IV. Jay Siegel a. percentages of bad print analysis V. PBS special- The Real CSI a. Itiel Dror, Ph.D. cognitive neuroscientist b. his theory and experiment c. results VI. Conclusion a. mention science and pseudoscience b. how to make fingerprinting a true science Did Hollywood cause more problems for the criminal justice system today with the use of forensic science in fingerprint analysis? Is fingerprint analysis a Bona Fide science or Pseudoscience? You decide, let’s take a look into what fingerprint analysis truly is and the outcome of different researches questions and answers. On the hit television series that you see like CSI and NCIS, fingerprint science is a bona fide science where investigators use computers to match a known finger with an unknown fingerprint. This is untrue, forensic science fingerprint examiners match the prints, the computer only searches out possible matches. Science is a systematical knowledge derived from observation, study, and experiments (Lilienfeld & Landfield, p.1216). In other words science deals with phenomena that can be explained. Pseudoscience...

Words: 1122 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Damned If You Don T Analysis

...intricacies of this dilemma and analyse a puzzle that is not sufficiently addressed in Adler’s article. Primarily, I will attempt to explain the differences in state reactions to terrorist attacks. Why is it that some states respond with aggression whereas others appear to do little, or even seem to act in a conciliatory manner? The design of this paper will feature a close examination of two cases. In particular, I will investigate the Spanish Government’s response to the two thousand and four Madrid train bombings, and the French Government’s aggressive stance following the Paris attacks of two-thousand and fifteen. The European...

Words: 1391 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Crime

...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-terrorism Counter-terrorism (also spelled counterterrorism) is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed. The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments. Not all insurgents use terror as a tactic, and some choose not to use it because other tactics work better for them in a particular context. Individuals, such as Timothy McVeigh, may also engage in terrorist acts such as the Oklahoma City bombing. If the terrorism is part of a broader insurgency, counter-terrorism may also form a part of a counter-insurgency doctrine, but political, economic, and other measures may focus more on the insurgency than the specific acts of terror. Foreign internal defense (FID) is a term used by several countries[citation needed] for programs either to suppress insurgency, or reduce the conditions under which insurgency could develop. Counter-terrorism includes both the detection of potential acts and the response to related events. Anti-terrorism versus counter-terrorism Further information: Detentions following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack The concept of anti-terrorism emerges from a thorough examining of the concept of terrorism as well as an attempt to understand and articulate what constitutes terrorism in Western terms. In military contexts, terrorism is a...

Words: 6044 - Pages: 25

Premium Essay

Terrorism

...Terrorism came from the word of ‘terror’ which mean to horror and to fear. There is no specific definition about the meaning of terrorism. This is because the field that related inside terrorism is very wide and there are over 100 definitions of ‘terrorism’ according to studies. Terrorism have been existed for many years as a global phenomenon, but only in few decades ago that it has been getting stronger and to influence our daily lives with any costs. In our report, we will explain more details about the relationship of terrorism and transportation. Transportation has always been a target or method for terrorism to transfer their message to the public. While transportation keeps economic moving, nationally and globally, business relies on transport and transport systems at every level no matter transferring goods, transporting customers or staff commuting. From jet airliners to mass transit buses and rail terminals, vehicles and transport facilities are all-too familiar targets of terrorist attacks in all country and abroad. The impact of large-scale disruption of transport infrastructures can be critical for national and global business because transport systems have long been viewed as targets for terrorists groups worldwide. Also we will elaborate more on how terrorism can be spread or being use through the four methods of transportation like rail, road, aviation and maritime. For the incident strikes on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York on September 11, 2001,...

Words: 13246 - Pages: 53

Free Essay

The United States and Israel

...The United States and Israel Many people think that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict dates back to several centuries ago, but in truth, the conflict began with the creation of Israel in 1948. Tensions first arose between Jewish people and Palestinians after World War II, after many Jewish people immigrated to Palestine. The Palestinian people consisted of more than one faith, including a majority of Muslims and some Christians as well. Palestinians wanted the Jews to live in Palestine as a minority, however Zionist organizations wanted at least a partition to be approved by the U.N. General Assembly. The idea of a Jewish state became relevant to the United States in the 1940s, specifically when President Truman was preparing for re-elections. The United States has taken several different stances on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict dating back to the early 1900s – during the Zionist movement and preparation of creating a Jewish state - until today, and its stance has always been changing and inconsistent throughout history. Some U.S. Presidents have supported Israel from its creation while some have opposed Israeli settlements and put effort into achieving peace and giving Palestinians back their rights. The Zionist movement in the United States was pushing to create a Jewish state in Palestine around 1916. President Woodrow Wilson, a Presbyterian Christian, was inclined to the idea of a Jewish state, but his meetings with Zionist leaders were never documented by the State...

Words: 2624 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Terror Group Ideology

... the terror groups had to find ways to quickly fund operations and find a way to financially support organizational operations for logistical reasons. With this, the propensity for the two groups to begin cooperate is high especially due to the nature of technology advancement and the use of social media and the internet for communication. The groups due to intervention from authorities have led to both becoming decentralized and became network organizations in order to survive and maintain operations. What has become clear is the point that both through the last century have had to transform into networks, which compounds problems where the lines of boundaries between the two were defined are now not so well defined. In the case of the Madrid bombing...

Words: 1138 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Student

...www.hbr.org HBR CASE STUDY How should Gerald Smarten balance the needs of Kaspa and the community? The CEO Can’t Afford to Panic by Eric J. McNulty • Reprint R1003X Purchased by robert duboff (robert.duboff@hawkpartners.com) on January 12, 2012 In an unthinkable crisis, a bank’s chief executive has to make a fast decision. HBR CASE STUDY The CEO Can’t Afford to Panic by Eric J. McNulty COPYRIGHT © 2010 HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Gerald Smarten, CEO of Kaspa Financial Services, was presiding over the regular Tuesday morning executive committee meeting in the glass-walled conference room that looked east over Massachusetts Bay. The management team was wrestling with the complexities of acquiring Huadong, a Shanghai-based investment firm. He glanced at his watch: 8:10 already, and they still had three more agenda items to work through. “I just don’t trust their valuation of all of their assets,” said Sarah Hicks, Kaspa’s CFO. “The securities are straightforward, but—” She stopped mid-sentence as the building shook and a low rumble rose up from below. She and her colleagues looked at one another and then, almost as one, rushed to the window. Smoke was billowing out of the subway entrance across from Boston’s historic South Station. Traffic had stopped, and people were pouring into the street. “Oh my God!” exclaimed Ben Lee, the firm’s general counsel. “There’s a fire.” “Or worse,” Smarten said quietly. Just a...

Words: 1890 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Incorporation of Muslim in Non-Muslim World: Focusing on France, Germany, Uk and Usa

...Incorporation of Muslim in Non-Muslim World: Focusing on France, Germany, UK and USA Abstract Though many European countries have large and growing Muslim minorities but since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, Madrid in 2004 and London in 2005 the vast majority of Muslims in Europe became vulnerable to extremist ideologies. The matter of joy is that over the last several years, European governments have stepped up their efforts to improve Muslim integration. These have included introducing new citizenship laws and language requirements, promoting dialogue with Muslim organizations, developing “homegrown” imams more familiar with European culture and traditions, improving educational and economic opportunities for Muslims, and tackling racism and discrimination. By ensuring the Muslim integration, European governments have also sought to strengthen security measures and tighten immigration and asylum policies to prevent radicalization and combat terrorism. So this paper will illustrate the incorporation of Muslim in Secular Europe along with the policies of combating terrorism. Contents Abstract • Introduction • Presence of Muslim in Europe • France o Muslim attendance in France o French Efforts to Promote Muslim Integration • Germany o Muslim attendance in Germany o Germany Efforts to Promote Muslim Integration ...

Words: 5663 - Pages: 23

Free Essay

Guernica Does Not Affect Picasso, Picasso Effects Guernica

...Guernica does not Affect Picasso, Picasso Effects Guernica Guernica (1937) by artist Pablo Picasso is one of the most powerful and disturbing anti-war paintings ever produced. Like so many famous works of art, the meaning of Picasso's Guernica is not immediately clear and left wide open to analysis and interpretation. What is the meaning of Guernica, the mural by Pablo Picasso? Guernica is unique and unlike any other photograph or painting of a historical war scene. According to Herschel B. Chipp, historical photographs show scenes and capture moments in time, but when viewing them an intangible “wall” exists between the viewer and the photograph. The difference between photographs and original paintings is that the painting allows the viewer to break through the “wall” and actually experience the feelings and emotions expressed in the painting.[1] Guernica was a unique painting for Picasso to create because he never wanted to be influenced by the outside world. Historians argue that Guernica is the exception and Picasso allowed him-self to be influenced and expressed his views. However, after deeply known about Guernica and Picasso, you may think that Guernica does not affect Picasso, instead, Picasso effects Guernica. Guernica is a town in the province of Biscay in Basque Country. During the Spanish Civil War, it was regarded as the northern bastion of the Republican resistance movement and the epicenter of Basque culture, adding to its significance...

Words: 1971 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

As It Goes

...Contents Preface to the First Edition Introduction Part 1. Thought Control: The Case of the Middle East Part 2. Middle East Terrorism and the American Ideological System Part 3. Libya in U.S. Demonology Part 4. The U.S. Role in the Middle East Part 5. International Terrorism: Image and Reality Part 6. The World after September 11 Part 7. U.S./Israel-Palestine Notes Preface to the First Edition (1986) St. Augustine tells the story of a pirate captured by Alexander the Great, who asked him "how he dares molest the sea." "How dare you molest the whole world?" the pirate replied: "Because I do it with a little ship only, I am called a thief; you, doing it with a great navy, are called an Emperor." The pirate's answer was "elegant and excellent," St. Augustine relates. It captures with some accuracy the current relations between the United States and various minor actors on the stage of international terrorism: Libya, factions of the PLO, and others. More generally, St. Augustine's tale illuminates the meaning of the concept of international terrorism in contemporary Western usage, and reaches to the heart of the frenzy over selected incidents of terrorism currently being orchestrated, with supreme cynicism, as a cover for Western violence. The term "terrorism" came into use at the end of the eighteenth century, primarily to refer to violent acts of governments designed to ensure popular submission. That concept plainly is of little benefit to the practitioners of state terrorism...

Words: 93777 - Pages: 376

Premium Essay

Lone Wolf Terrorism

...Lone Wolf Terrorism Introduction Problem background and significance In the United States terrorism incidents such as the attack in 1995 in Oklahoma by Timothy McVeigh and the September 11th attack in 2001, have led to the realization that lone wolf terrorism posses a grave threat to the safety of the public. Terrorism analysts and law enforcement authorities have insisted that it is hard to spot lone terrorists before they strike and this is of great threat to the security of a nation. From FBI information it is evident that lone terrorism trends indicate that it is an ongoing risk both in side the United States and outside the country (Risen & Johnston, 2003) In 2003 the director of the FBI stated that there was an increased threat from persons who are affiliated or sympathetic with the Al Qaeda and they act without having any conspiracies surrounding them or external support. Scholars in the field of terrorism have in the past concentrated on the how terrorist groups work so as to explain how individuals work. The general view of terrorism is that it is a group activity which is mainly influenced by leaders training, recruitment, obedience and conformity, solidarity and moral disengagement. Due to the imbalance that exists between the focus by scholars on terrorism that is group based on one hand and apparent threat posed by lone wolf terrorist on the other hand, necessitates the empirical and conceptual analysis of lone wolf terrorism so as to establish a good understanding...

Words: 8796 - Pages: 36

Free Essay

Terrorism

...section looks at the modern Islamic Fundamentalist threat and the primarily neocon response since 9/11. Whilst the US has withdrawn combat forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, a bipartisan approach has been maintained to counterterrorism. The dangers of such an approach are examined along with emerging threats. Table of Contents * Abstract * Introduction * Define * Role of the Media * Psychology * Modern Terrorism * The Response * Counterview – The Dangers * Looking Ahead – The Next Potential Threats * Another Approach * Conclusion INTRODUCTION “Terrorism has become part of our daily news diet. Hardly a day goes by without news of an assassination, political kidnapping, hijacking or bombing somewhere in the world. As such, incidents of terrorism have increased in the past decade, the phenomenon of terrorism has become one of increasing concern to governments....” Introduction. With the recent high profile terrorist attacks in Sydney and Paris and the ongoing terrorist incidents in Nigeria, Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism has been described as the biggest threat to 21st Century security. However the opening quote was from a RAND paper written in 1980. Terrorism is not a modern phenomenon. Historic Precedence. Terror as a tactic is not new. Some scholars date such actions to the Thugs; Assassins and Zealots. But it...

Words: 7041 - Pages: 29

Premium Essay

Media and Terrorism

...terrorism: the changing representation of terrorists and terrorist attacks in the media, and with it, the changing definition of terrorism. By calling attention to evolving news media practices in times of terrorism, I argue that advanced communication technologies and the emergence of global media ecology since the 1990s has made terrorism more visible in both national and international media landscapes. One consequence is that the more the news media expose terrorism to global audiences via the "front-door", the more controversial the use of the terms terrorism and terrorist become in social, political, and scholarly discourse. The paper addresses the new journalistic practices and their consequences as documented in previous studies on media reporting of terrorism in several national contexts, mostly the UK, the US and Israel. Terrorism, media, and the nation (or, reading about terrorists in the next day's newspaper) Classic definitions of terrorism evolved in a world in which a modernist view reigned supreme. Despite constant debates about how to define the term (Schmid 1983; Schlesinger 1981; Gibbs 1989; Nacos 2007), one conventional definition, at least under U.S. law, characterizing a nationalistic perception sees terrorism as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.”1 This definition was valid in a period in which terrorism was mainly contained within the borders...

Words: 5161 - Pages: 21

Free Essay

History

...When American schoolchildren are educated about Europe between the years 1936 through 1975, they are taught about the aftereffects of World
War I and about World War II. Europe, in high school history classes, ceases to exist after 1945 and the close of World War II unless, of course, one is learning about the Cold War and the Berlin Wall may be mentioned. They do not learn, however, that World War II era Spain—because Spain was neither an ally or a foe during the war—went through enormous conflict of its own. The three-year Spanish Civil War and the fascist dictatorship that followed are largely kept out of the American history books. Yet, the world is privy to much of its legacy through literature, art, film, and personal memory. Spain certainly remembers three hellish years of war and thirty six years of repression under Generalisimo Fransisco Franco, but how is General Franco remembered by the rest of the world? What legacy did he leave internationally? 2 It is a confused and varied one: to those closest to him he was a husband, father, and statesman; to Hitler, he was an obstacle on the road to world domination; to the Jews who fled from Hitler he was a hero; but to the many Spanish minorities and to his opponents in the Spanish Civil War he was a monster. 3 The answers to the questions posed are addressed in a variety of sources. One of these sources is the book Hitler Stopped by Franco, by Jane and Burt Boyar, who write a relatively straightforward book that explores many...

Words: 6971 - Pages: 28

Premium Essay

Kaka

...Al-Qaeda From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search al-Qaeda القاعدة Participant in the Persian Gulf War, the Global War on Terrorism, the War in Afghanistan, the Iraq War, and the Syrian Civil War Active 1988-present Ideology Sunni Islamism[1][2] Islamic fundamentalism[3] Takfirism[4] Pan-Islamism Worldwide Caliphate[5][6][7][8][9] Qutbism Wahhabism[10] Salafist Jihadism[11][12] Leaders Abdullah Yusuf Azzam (1988-1989) Osama bin Laden (1989-2011) Ayman al-Zawahiri (2011-present) Area of operations Worldwide (predominantly in the Middle East) Strength In Afghanistan – 50–100[13] In Egypt –Unknown In Iraq – 2,500[14] In the Maghreb – 300–800 In Nigeria –Unknown In Pakistan – 300[15] In Philippines – Unknown In Saudi Arabia – Unknown In Somalia – Unknown In Syria Unknown In Thailand -Unknown In Yemen –500–600[16] Allies Taliban Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan East Turkestan Islamic Movement Al-Shabaab Islamic Courts Union (dis) Jundallah Lashkar-e-Taiba Jaish-e-Mohammed Jemaah Islamiyah Boko Haram Abu Sayyaf Iraqi insurgents Caucasus Emirate FARC[17][18] Syria (alleged)[19][20] Qatar (alleged)[21] Opponents United States of America Israel International Security Assistance Force Syria Iran Afghanistan Pakistan Turkey Yemen Egypt Algeria Colombia Al-Qaeda...

Words: 14678 - Pages: 59