Forensic Misconduct: Dr. Pamela A. Fish Kirstin L. Daniels Professor Ian Rodway George Mason University Forensic Misconduct: Pamela A Fish Forensic science is defined as the practice of utilizing scientific methodologies to clarify judicial inquiries. The field of forensic science contains a broad range of disciplines and has become a vital aspect of criminal investigations. Some forensic disciplines are laboratory-based; while others are based on an analyst’s interpretation of observable patterns (Kourtsounis, 2009). According to the Innocence project’s website; in greater than fifty percent of wrongful convictions, the use of invalidated or improper forensic techniques played a role in cases; which were later …show more content…
Although he was in jail, five more crimes with the same distinctive patterns occurred. Though another man name Dennis McGruder had been arrested and charged with those crimes the prosecution still moved forward with Willis’ case (Warden). The only piece of physical evidence in this case was a scrap of toilet paper; which, contained traces of semen on it. (In 1992, after two separate jury trials Willis was convicted based on identification of eyewitness identifications, as well as the rape victims. He was sentenced to one hundred years in prison. The prosecution in this case failed to disclose to the defense attorneys that they had received a report; which, stated that one of the rape suspects had type A blood. This was exculpatory evidence as Willis had type B blood. Dr. Fish’s hand written lab notes concluded that the secretor of the semen had type A blood; however in her official report and later her testimony, she falsely testified that she was unable to complete the test because the biological sample was too small to test. In 1997, under a new law granting him the right to seek DNA testing, Willis filed a petition. Prosecutors claimed that the biological evidence had been lost, but was later found. The DNA sample was tested and found to exclude Willis as the donor. After eight years of incarceration, another man Dennis McGruder confessed to the crimes after being linked via DNA. Willis (Fisher, 2014) was released from custody
Forensic Science is the process of finding evidence or material connected to the crime. When a crime is committed, police officers take over and secure the scene so if needed, special investigators can search the area to collect and transport evidence to the crime lab. In addition, forensic scientists work in laboratories, courtrooms, etc. But forensic scientists do not carry a weapon or have the authority to arrest someone, even if proven guilty. They research evidence connected to a crime scene to figure out and uncover who committed the crime. It is often used in cases like airplane crashes, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, crimes committed during the war and cause of sudden death (Funkhouser). Forensic science can
Forensic Science is the discipline in which professionals use scientific means to analyze physical crime evidence. By testing weapons or substances like fibers, hair, tissue is used to determine the
The second primary cause of wrongful conviction is due to unreliable or improper forensic science and forensic misconduct. The Innocence Project asserts that most forensic science (e.g., analysis of hair, bite marks, fire arms, and tool marks) has not been thoroughly and scientifically evaluated
Forensic science can be defined as the relationship between law and science; it answers the questions of how, why and who committed the crime, with the input of multiple actors. However, there are currently problems with
A review of false convictions that involved forensic science and can help identify critical lessons for forensic scientists as they perform testing, interpret results, render conclusions, and testify in court from the national institute of justice.
Forensic science, the versatile studying and analyzing of specific information from the past such as blood, DNA, crime scenes, and evidence, takes many years of experience to master but the results can be influential on many aspects of everyday life. Most commonly used in criminal justice, the career requires specific skills and knowledge. If even one slight mistake is made, an innocent could be put behind bars or the safety of a community could be threatened.
Forensic science is the use of scientific knowledge and technology to help solve criminal investigations, and provide evidence that is used in a trial. Any person who helps a lawyer or any kind of law enforcement by testing physical evidence is known as a forensic scientist (Frith 4). Forensic scientist can also be known as forensic science technicians, crime lab analyst, or other titles that may reflect a specific area (Echaore-McDavid and McDavid 28). People who are forensic scientists deal with gruesome scenes on a daily basis, and are at a higher risk of depression than most. Most people in this field love the thrill of solving crimes and catching criminals.
The word forensic is defined as relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a
A segment of the Forensic Science in the Criminal equity organization that the vast majority acquainted with these days, however, few individuals know how this particular science came to be. Overall, legal science is intended to utilize experimental standards to clarify obscure parts of a wrongdoing. Through the utilization of uncommon tests and lab gear that permits researchers to recognize decisively different parts of a bit of confirmation in an illegal behavior. On the off chance that you occupied with finding out about how this procedure came to fruition, you have to peruse the recorded data underneath. Here is a brief history
Forensics is the basis of the crime-fighting unit. It is devised to assist in the solving of a crime by providing explicit and reliable evidence. There are many different components of forensic science, which include: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), fingerprints, hair samples, ballistics and toxicology (what is a forensic scientist). There are many different types of forensic scientist such as an anthropologist, ballistics expert, chemical scientist, fingerprint expert, photographer and toxicologist [3]. There are a variety of different forensic scientists that specialize in different fields and they all use their specific knowledge to work together and come to a conclusion.
To illustrate the subjectivity of DNA forensic a study was carried out by Itiel E. Dror and Greg Hampikian. The study entailed taking DNA from a real crime scene in Georgia that involved a Kerry Robinson who was indicted and then sentenced to prison for rape. As a part of his trial process a DNA test was carried out on him and it was found that he could not be excluded. Resuming to the study, a mixed sample of DNA evidence was given to 17 expert analysts who were asked to interpret the DNA sample. In the end their findings were inconsistence, with only one of them findings matching the judgement that
Forensic evidence plays a huge role in most criminal cases. After the Daubert trial, forensic scientific evidence was reevaluated in criminal and civil cases. Scientific and forensic types of evidence can be extremely helpful in proving the case. It can help identify the suspect in a criminal case. That will help put a criminal in prison. There are many different types of forensic evidence that can be considered as scientific evidence. The different types include DNA matching, fingerprint identification, and hair evidence. The methods used to show these types of evidence are usually beyond the scope of knowledge that judges and juries know. Those types of forensic evidence are usually introduced as scientific evidence. Scientific evidence can sometimes be omitted from a courtroom or
Behind every court case there’s a train of forensic science evidence and research. Forensic science is the application of scientific principles of criminal justice. In many court cases a forensic scientists is the one on the scene collecting finger prints, photos, blood samples and other evidence. Unfortunately one of the controversial issues in the forensic world is the evidence and its lack of verification of its reliability. In the field of forensics there are issues in finding proof in generating conclusion, fundamental knowledge to solve problems, and the whole false memory defense in the court. These issues can be solved in many ways like extensive research, preparation and training. These issues
Forensic science borrows from a number of sciences which include: physics, Biology and chemistry. It therefore involves examination of a wide spectrum as compared to any other method of investigation. Due to the wide spectrum of investigation and evidence analysis the method offers; it ensures that the results are accurate and can be used in the court of law to make a decision. The method establishes the existence of a crime, the connection between the crimes and the