In an investigation, true, factual evidence is most needed. If eyewitness accounts are used, witnesses might lie of lean his/her argument to one side of the case or another. Eyewitnesses might forget minor parts of the story or sway the argument because of their feelings toward certain things involved in the case. Because forensic evidence is true, can’t lie, or sway its opinion, and provides tangible, visible evidence, it is most important and most helpful in a trial. There are many examples of how forensic evidence is more important than other types of evidence to be presented in a court case. This evidence is giving clues to what really happened rather than swaying the case with biased information. It presents the evidence in a straightforward
It’s important that all evidence is identified so that forensic scientist can examine it and take
The use of evidence presented in court cases has drastically helped defendants and prosecutors present reasons as to why an alleged criminal deserves to be found guilty or not guilty. Bite mark and fingerprint analysis are two pieces of evidence that have been used in numerous cases with inaccurate results, putting innocent people like William Richards and Brandon Mayfield in prison. Recent research shows that such evidence, which has been used for many years, should no longer be allowed in the courtroom.
I believe my argument was compelling, and should sway Board members toward investing in the development of a forensic lab. The biggest difference between corporate investigation and law enforcement investigation is the individual leading the charge. Dedicated forensic specialists can recover evidences across multiple platforms and work within the guidelines of forensic laws to unearth the truth. Public law should provide the blueprint to which organization create company policy. During an investigation, forensic specialist must follow federal, state and city statue; while adhering to company mandate. In closing, presenting facts in a professional manner carries as much weight as the fact-finding
In this position paper I have chosen Bloodsworth v. State ~ 76 Md.App. 23, 543 A.2d 382 case to discuss on whether or not the forensic evidence that was submitted for this case should have been admissible or not. To understand whether or not the evidence should be admissible or not we first have to know what the case is about.
Circumstantial evidence is probably one of the biggest ethical concerns when people are being convicted of crimes. Circumstantial evidence is: “Evidence not bearing directly on the fact in dispute but on various attendant circumstances from which the judge or jury might infer the occurrence of the fact in dispute”. (Dictionay.com, 2010). Many
Physical evidence surrounds the known end tale to a story. Since the beginning, crime scene investigators have seek the infallible nature of human identification. It can achieve its optimum value to help investigators reconstruct the crime scene to piece together the sequence of events. The contents of physical evidence, best known as real evidence, consist of those tangible particles such as hairs, fibers, fingerprints and biological material (blood, semen or saliva). It is stated in context of the “Locard’s Exchange Principle”, whenever a person enters into a room, they will always leave a trace of evidence. Physical evidence is subjective to being the only way to reliably place or link someone(s) to the crime scene.
The foundation of all Forensic practice is in practicing, maintaining and protecting integrity and continuity of evidence as it establishes credibility and reliability in court and makes certain that any fabrication, misunderstanding, bias’s or even mistakes, have not occurred.
Evidence plays a major role usually in trail of a case. Several types of evidence can be used. Evidence can be divided into two categories – Testimonial evidence and Physical evidence. Physical evidence is one type of such evidence; this evidence can be brought to court room for observation during trails. This is the most important evidence. Physical evidence is also known as real evidence, they consist tangible article from tiny microscopic to macroscopic evidence from large building to molecules in air. It can be in solid, gas or liquid form. Advances in forensic science have increased the use of physical evidence
Today, more than ever, the quality of evidence in criminal cases is scrutinized because of contamination. Contamination is the introduction of something that physically corrupts a substance at a crime scene that was not previously there; it comes in many forms and most often times comes from the humans who investigate a crime scene. It is imperative that prevention of cross-contamination is implemented when gathering evidence. Several of the more sensitive forensic techniques such as trace analysis, bloodspatter interpretation, and DNA comparison are not being used to their fullest potential. Items of physical crime scene evidence are not always visible to the naked eye and may be easily overlooked so deliberate and methodical approach to collection and preservation of evidence is essential. Prosecutors have lost cases due to crime scene contamination; this could be prevented by simple and productive behaviors. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a leading case on physical evidence, stated:
There are many uses of physical evidence and why it is so vital in a criminal investigation. For one physical evidence is found to be more reliable than a witness as there are numerous variables which can make witness evidence unreliable, bad view or sight, emotional involvement, what can be gained by lying, and not having a good recollection or believable one. Additionally, physical evidence can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a crime has been committed with science which can be tested and will still have the same outcome. It can also prove a story or testimony to be true or false and can identify the persons involved and what their involvement was. For example, if someone were to testify that they did not see the murdered person in
In the second part of the following essay I will be nominating one source of evidence that is present at the scene of a scenario. I will be discussing in my own words how Police should collate, handle and analyse the piece of evidence in a Criminal Investigation. In doing this I will be using relevant crime scene powers, NSWPF operational guidance and making reference to the Horswell (2004) reading.
There are many different types of forensic evidence that can be presented in court. Reliable sources- what is it called such as video footage, photos, audio recordings and evidence from the crime scene such as blood samples and
Evidence is the key element in determining the guilt or innocence of those accused of crimes against society in a criminal court of law. Evidence can come in the form of weapons, documents, pictures, tape recordings and DNA. According to the American Heritage College dictionary, evidence is the documentary or oral statements and the material objects admissible as testimony in a court of law (476). It is shown in court as an item of proof, to impeach or rehabilitate a witness, and to determine a sentence. This paper will examine two murder cases, O.J. Simpson and Daniel Taylor.
With direct physical evidence, it provides investigators with a definite conclusion or direction. This type of evidence employs deductive reasoning to state a fact that can be understood by everyone. For example, if a transfer bloodstain on the clothing of a homicide victim has a DNA type consistent with that of the suspect, the victim must have had contact with the suspect after the suspect was injured and began bleeding. (Saferstein, 2009) With all the evidence that investigators have gathered, they can begin to do some reenactments.
The crime scene is a delicate place that must be respected if a true picture is to be recognized in the investigative process. Approaching a crime scene requires the forensic specialist, or anyone directly involved with the incident, a sharp mental attitude and knowledge of the law. The purpose of this essay is to examine the processes involved with a crime scene investigation. This will include a discussion about collecting evidence and will use the given scenario to highlight a practical example of how a crime scene should be approached and managed in order to receive the best and most honest results that the justice system may allow.