Trace Evidence

However, back in the 1980s, detailed studies were done to try to accomplish this task. One specific comprehensive study was done in 1984 by Peterson et al. In this study, the analysts found that physical evidence was discovered in only about twenty to thirty percent of serious crimes (Peterson, 2013). When each of the crimes were studied separately, however, they found that only crimes such as homicide, drug, or rape resulted in a large chance of physical evidence being found at the crime (Peterson, 2013). Cases such as attempted murder, burglaries, and robberies yielded lower chances of the retrieval of physical evidence from the crime (Peterson, 2013). When considering all of these possible crimes, the most commonly collected evidence were controlled substances, and then in lesser amounts, there was other physical evidence such as blood, hair, firearms, and fingerprints (Peterson, 2013).

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

It’s important that all evidence is identified so that forensic scientist can examine it and take

Forensic evidence has been shown to be reliable due to many factors of evidence such as DNA, blood, fingerprints, etc.; however, many cases have shown that

The gathering, protection and safeguarding of evidence is a crucial facet of evidence integrity, without accurate adherence to these processes, vital evidence that could possibly have significant influence on a court case could be deemed inadmissible. Therefore identifies the importance in establishing policy and procedure for law enforcement agencies in the identification, collection, and storage of evidence. Objects that constitute fruits, instrumentalities, or evidence of the crime or are contraband may be introduced in evidence and exhibited to the jury if it is proven that such objects offered as evidence relate to the crime charged (Garland, 2015, p. 417). Below is a procedure for handling physical evidence for presentation

There are times when certain forms of evidence, such as blood and fingerprints, need to be obtained before the accused has time to destroy them (Inabau 2).

Crime scenes are known to have many clues left behind. The obvious would be a the body or bodies, clothing, and sometimes even the murder weapon. While these are great way to solve a case there's another kind of evidence; trace evidence. Trace evidence are small pieces of evidence that are laying around a crime scene. There are many types of trace evidence some of them include metal filings, plastic fragments, gunshot residue, glass fragments, feathers, food stains, building materials, lubricants, fingernail scrapings, pollens and spores, cosmetics, chemicals, paper fibers and sawdust, human and animal hairs, plant and vegetable fibers, blood and other body fluids, asphalt or tar, vegetable fats and oils, dusts and other airborne

In the United States, crimes are constantly being committed. Some of the crimes that are committed are simple, and other crimes are extremely complex. Every complex crime comes with its own challenges in distinguishing material evidence. Some evidence can be tiny as a hair, or a fiber that can be located on a piece of clothing or carpet. Even though, the size of the evidence is not important, the information that it provides investigators is crucial to finding the suspect of the crime. With the assistance of trace evidence, investigators can obtain the small particles that can transfer from two objects come together. Collecting material from any crime scene can yield a plethora of information. However, by properly collecting material evidence like the tire print impression, pubic hairs, multiple dog hairs, and foreign fibers. Investigators, were able to convict Cecil Sutherland for kidnapping, sexual assault, and three counts of murder.

Fingerprinting was still in the process of being developed. A classification scheme appeared in 1901 and first used in a trial in the UK in 1902. Dental records were non-existent and blood grouping only developed after the identification of the different types in 1901. From that it became possible to serologically identify other body fluids. DNA was not discovered until 1953 and the unique identification of individuals by DNA profiling did not follow until 1985. In 1910, an important principle of forensic science was established by Edmund Locart who suggested that every contact leaves a trace; a criminal will always carry away with him some trace from the scene of the crime and will leave behind some trace of his presence. This is the very foundation of forensic science that has led to the

Forensic Evidence is the most important evidence to use mostly in jury cases. It is used a lot in different types of problems. In paragraph two it states, “Forensic Science is science applied to answering legal questions. It draws together the principles and knowledge from one field, or a combination of fields-such as medicine,

When determining what forensic tools to take to a scene; it’s more efficient to have a forensic ready tool kit on standby. The forensic tools used to collect, analyze, and authenticate potential evidence from a crime scene should be current technology and appropriate for the crime scene (Gogolin, 2013). Therefore, forensic

DNA evidence can come from the suspect themselves or found at the crime scene. If the investigator does not know who was at the crime scene, they can collect different forms of DNA. The investigators can collect liquid blood, bloodstains, saliva stains, liquid saliva, liquid semen, or dried semen (“DNA Evidence Basics: Types of Samples Suitable for DNA Testing.”). Different forms of DNA can appear on any surface. They can even find hair follicles, fingerprints, and fingernail clippings. Then the investigators can use that evidence to narrow their search for the suspect. If the suspect is known, the investigators can use different forms of evidence to connect the dots. The investigators can do an oral swab, collect blood samples, and pluck hair (“DNA Evidence Basics: Types of Samples Suitable for DNA

Crime scenes tell a story. Whether it is a long story with a lot of evidence, or if it’s a short story with a lot of information missing can be determined on how you use what you see. In traditional crime scenes investigators rely heavily on fingerprints and DNA found at the crime scene. Each can be useful but also has their faults. When it comes to fingerprints, you may not get a full print, it could only be a partial or even an individual who is not in the system. Most fingerprints found at crime scenes are only smears making them worthless. DNA samples can be extremely beneficial, but only if you get lucky. I say this because it is so much that could go wrong while trying to obtain information from a DNA sample. The body could have already

People who enter the scene must be noted, where they went into an area of a scene, and also when they left the scene. Protecting physical evidence for a criminal procedure is another step that is important in helping its success. Packaging is a key role in protecting evidence if it must be collected. Keeping items in separate containers can help evidence from coming in contact with each other and contaminating one another. When picking up items it is important for the collector to wear gloves and use forceps or tools that are similar to pick them up. When picking up DNA, such as, hair fibers, glass, or trace of evidence, the collector must make sure the item is contained in a secure, closed lid container. When storing materials with DNA, such as blood or salvia, it should be allowed to air-dry before being packaged, because it could grow mold and destroy the evidence. The main concern about physical evidence is making sure that it does not become contaminated and the collector must wear disposable clothes, wear gloves, and may also wear eye protection to ensure evidence is not

Forensic science is defined as science that pertains to law. Forensic science is used during investigations of a crime scene. Many forensic techniques are used during the investigation of crime scenes. These techniques are applied to what is considered to be trace evidence. Trace evidence is evidence left at the scene of the crime that helps tell the story of what had happened and could possibly lead to a suspect. The reliability of forensic evidence testing is a widely debated topic in the world of forensic science. The new “Gold” standard in evidence is DNA analysis, because of its reliability. Finger printing as well as ballistics are often used but are said to be imperfect compared to DNA analysis. DNA analysis is deemed the most reliable because it has faced rigorous scientific experimentation.