Forensic Science free essay sample

A great deal of the media image of forensic science is more of a hyped occupation that could possibly persuade the public of the magnificence of functioning as a forensic science expert. Forensic Science Forensic science has developed into a valuable advantage in the criminal justice world. Prior to the evolution of forensic science cases have relied upon physically collected evidence as well as eye witnesses. Subsequent, forensic science evidence can be collected and analyzed in a more proficient and effective manner. The effective use of Forensic science has made criminals consider the crimes prior to committing them. Although, forensic science has been an enormous benefit to the criminal justice system it is still necessary to update the technologies, techniques and devices within the lab in order to sustain accurate results and maintain the edge on the criminal mind. Addition to the technologies, techniques and devices utilized within the lab, medicine can also be used to gather information to convict criminals and prevent future crimes from happening. The source of forensic science cannot be pinpointed. According to H. J. Walls article â€Å"Whither Forensic Science? † forensic science started as a hobby of a few scientists who wanted to get involved in police procedures and â€Å"enjoyed the kind of problems this association brought them (Walls 32). †Ã‚   We do not know how forensic science originated and came together or how it came to be connected to the police investigations and court rulings. According to Cowan in his article â€Å"Decision Theory in Law, Science, and Technology† Forensic Science and Policing For an extended period of time the police had not been proficient deal with criminal actions. Criminals have always managed maintain a step ahead of the police with the latest weapons and advanced technology. In the past, criminals have managed to leave a crime scene free of any evidence for the police. Consequently, the advancement with technology in the 20th Century has played a phenomenal role to make changes when gathering evidence at crime scenes. Collected not easily found evidence using forensic science has been a very important technical apparatus in helping the police to disentangle criminal activities. Forensic science has proven to be a reliable advantage to the criminal justice system by assisting police in collecting evidence otherwise uncollectable under normal circumstances. Prior to forensic science, verbal testimony was the main source to collect evidence. For this reason, the courts had to depend on unreliable oral evidence. As a result, there were countless disputes and rebuttals. Following the implementation of forensic science crime scene evidence has become more attainable resulting in uncontested and undisputable convictions. Although, forensic science is a tremendous asset it is still the responsibility of the police to perform the investigation and obtain the evidence needed to prosecute criminals. Forensic Science Significance in Criminal Justice System Forensic science has developed into a determining factor in investigations and court procedures on all levels. According to the New York State Trooper: â€Å"advances in technology are being applied to the finite and exacting field of forensic science, a field in 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 background of stringent professional ethics. † (2007,  ¶3. ) There are many components of forensic science in criminal investigation. These components include but are not imited to: ballistics, bioscience, documentation, drug chemistry, evidence receiving, forensic imagery and photography and trace evidence. In addition to the previous components, applied forensic is a private forensic lab contracted and employed to assist the criminal justice system in analyzing documents and handwriting analysis. The forensic document examiners, according to applied forensics, scrutinize â€Å"various p hysical details and elements of documents in order to identify the source or to determine the authenticity or integrity. Forensic document examiners, or FDE’s, help lawyers by examining and offering written opinions on a variety of disputed document problems. †Ã‚   (2007,  ¶5. ) Forensic Science and Criminal Investigations Forensic science is used to analyze evidence in an investigation and prosecution of a criminal case. The results can be used to determine the innocence or guilt of a defendant. Forensic scientists initiate criminal investigations immediately after a crime has been committed to identify suspects effectively and efficiently. In some cases the forensic works precede the arrest of the suspect. This change in forensic science is being utilized more as a result of the increased awareness of forensic science and advanced technology. Forensic Science and â€Å"CSI† Effect The impression that forensic science is unblemished and cannot possibly make any mistakes can be influenced on the public after watching some of the crimes show such as NCIS or CSI Miami. When in fact forensic science is not perfect at all, and the criminal justice system is currently in the process of reforming the process (Podlas, 2006). The CSI effect is a term that legal powers that be and the mass media have coined to illustrate a theoretical influence that television show such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has on juror performance. There are three definitions for the â€Å"The CSI Effect† The first definitions states that CSI have causes jurors to expect irrational results placing prosecutors at a disadvantage before e ven starting the case. The second definition is dissimilar from the first, it states scientific evidence is placed at a level so high the prosecutor have no worries that they will win the case. The last definition refers to the manner CSI advertises the criminal forensic field. Viewers who watch these shows are believed to be able to better follow scientific evidence and will be more interested in the case (Podlas, 2006). According to Podlas, 2006 in the â€Å"The CSI Effect† juror raise their standard in real trials where evidence is normally flawed after watching one of the popular forensic science television shows (Podlas, 2006). The result of this is defendants are being released on a more frequent base because the CSI effect on the jurors. The argument that there is some evidence of jurors convicting defendants less as a result of watching CSI can be rebutted that equally jurors have convicted defendants as a result of watching CSI. After watch television shows such as CSI Miami and NCIS solve cases in a impressive manner give the public a disgruntle attitude when the criminal justice system do not solve real life cases fast enough. After viewing the shows the public also place extreme unrealistic expectations on medical examiners and investigators. These shows have placed sort of a blinder over the public eyes causing a distorted picture of the real forensic science process in real life (Podlas, 2006). Conclusion The development of forensic science will continue to grow and develop as the technology of the 20th century continues to grow. However the fact that science cannot and will not be able to explain every situation must be kept in mind. This means the judicial system must strive to main the checks and balances consisting of both emotion and 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. References (2007). Modern Forensics: 21st Century. Retrieved January 25, 2008, from New York State Trooper Web site: Retrieved from: http://www. troopers. state. ny. us/Forensic_Science/Modern_Forensics Cole, Simon A. nd Dioso-Villa, Rachel, CSI and its Effects: Media, Juries, and the Burden of Proof. New England Law Review, Vol. 41, No. 3, 2007. Retrieved from: http://ssrn. com/abstract=1023258 Cowan, Thomas 1962, Decision Theory in Law, Science, and Technology. Retrieved from: http://www. sciencemag. org/content/140/3571/1065. extract Meg Sidebottom, 2008 â€Å"The Importance of Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations† Retrieved from: http://criminalistic. org/index. php? option=com_contenttask=viewid=7 45Itemid=5 The Justice Project, www. thejusticeproject. org, 2008 Retrieved from: http://ag. ca. gov/meetings/tf/pdf/Justice_Project_Report. pdf Podlas, Kimberlianne, 2006 â€Å"The CSI Effect†: Exposing the Media Myth Retrieved from: http://iplj. net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Article-THE-CSI-EFFECT-EXPOSING-THE-MEDIA-MYTH. pdf Schiro, G. Forensic Science and Crime Scene Investigation: Past, Present, and Future. American Lawman, Spring 2000. Retrieved from: http://www. forensicscienceresources. com/CSIPPF. htm