The Science of Evidence - The impact of forensic science on the criminal justice system

The Science of Evidence Evidence presented in a court of law is essential for making legal decisions. This information, as highlighted by Birzer and Roberson (2018), helps the judges decide if the suspect committed a crime or not. It is also beneficial in proving the truth of a fact presented in court.

Law enforcement agencies and investigators collect data and facts regarding criminal cases raised by individuals, the public and government, and non-governmental agencies (Birzer & Roberson, 2018). These officials use scientific procedures to critically analyze evidence to ensure it supports the truth and is admissible in court. This process is referred to as forensic science. It helps investigators gather data from crime scenes, explore and analyze this evidence to develop objective findings.

Evolution of forensic science Forensic science has become a vital component of the criminal justice system. Ancient Roman and Greek societies are the first civilizations to apply forensic science (Adam, 2015).

Researchers and other professionals in these societies contributed immensely to the growth of medicine, research, and pharmacology.

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Modern scientists, later on, advanced the knowledge initiated by these people. Researchers and forensic scientists, for instance, integrated various scientific disciplines, including biology and chemical analysis, into crime investigation. Modern scientists, as noted by Adam (2015), also developed complex scientific procedures such as DNA fingerprinting, chemical identification, fiber and trace, and document analyses. These tests are commonly used in crime laboratories to develop reliable results.

The impact of forensic science on the criminal justice system Forensic science has reformed the criminal justice system by helping investigators gather and analyze complex data from crime sciences to enhance its admissibility in court and ensure it reflects the truth (Ling, Kaplan & Berryessa, 2021). It helps investigators understand the recreate by recreating it. Forensic science helps investigators analyze minute bits of evidence such as blood drops that might appear insignificant to a normal person. Importantly, it generates information that investigators use to tie suspects to the crime (Morgan, 2017). Cases previously thrown out of court by judges due to insufficient evidence have become easier to resolve (Ling, Kaplan & Berryessa, 2021). Forensic science has also proven effective in vindicating innocent persons. The possibility of incarcerating innocent people has decreased remarkably as compared to the last century.

Scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories Researchers in crime laboratories conduct numerous scientific testing including DNA fingerprinting, chemical analysis, ballistic analysis, latent prints, and document analysis. Every person has a unique DNA profile. Scientists conduct DNA analysis by comparing a sample obtained from the suspect and the biological material from the crime scene (Ballantyne, Edmond & Found, 2017). This analysis helps determine if a specific person is the source of the biological

material at the crime scene. Chemical analysis, on the other hand, helps identify the chemical composition of inorganic materials at the crime scene and linking these materials to the suspect (Vanessa, 2016). The ballistic analysis involves examining evidence from firearms suspected to have committed a crime. Scientists examine the microscopic marks of cartridge cases and bullets to determine if they were fired from a specific gun (Vanessa, 2016). Latent prints identification, on the other hand, involves analyzing footprints, fingerprints, and palm prints recovered from crime scenes. In document analysis, the scientist analyses ink types, writing characteristics, and document materials besides restoring damaged documents.

Evidentiary value of scientific tests Scientific tests used in crime laboratories have a high evidentiary value. These tests generate reliable results that help investigators establish innocence or guilt (Pridemore, Makel & Plucker, 2018). Scientists compare biological and inorganic materials obtained from the crime scene with samples gathered from suspects to determine potential links (Pridemore, Makel & Plucker, 2018). For instance, in DNA fingerprinting, scientists eliminate or tie suspects to a crime since people have unique DNA profiles. Complex chemical analytical procedures, on thither hand, help analyze inorganic materials from crime scenes and determine if they are linked to the suspect in any way (Vanessa, 2016). These tests are carried out by professionals, thus reducing the magnitude of errors.

Standards of admitting scientific evidence The criminal justice system has developed various standards to guide the admissibility of evidence at trial. The first standards state that the evidence presented in court must be relevant and not influenced by countervailing aspects such as prejudicial, hearsay, confusing and

privileged. In line with Frye v. the United States, courts must determine if the data collection method is valid and acceptable to experts within the field in which it belongs (Cornell Law School, 2021). These standards indicate that the evidence must be credible, accurate, dependable, and complete.

Conclusion Forensic science is doubtlessly a beneficial component of the criminal justice system. It establishes a platform for analyzing evidence gathered at the crime scene and connecting it to the suspect. Evidence from forensic science is reliable and admissible in court. Judges use this evidence to determine if a suspect is guilty or innocent. The forensic tests regularly used by forensic scientists include DNA fingerprinting, latent print, chemical analysis, and ballistic tests.

These tests have high evidentiary value since they are performed by experts, thus reducing associated errors.

References Adam, A. (2015). A history of forensic science: British beginnings in the twentieth century.

Routledge.

Ballantyne, K. N., Edmond, G., & Found, B. (2017). Peer review in forensic science. Forensic science international, 277, 66-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.05.020 Birzer, M., & Roberson, C. (2018). Introduction to the criminal investigation. Routledge.

Cornell Law School (2021). Frye Standard. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/frye_standard Ling, S., Kaplan, J., & Berryessa, C. (2021). The importance of forensic evidence for decisions on criminal guilt. Science & Justice, 61(2), 142-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2020.11.004 Morgan, R. M. (2017). Conceptualizing forensic science and forensic reconstruction. Part I: a conceptual model. Science & Justice, 57(6), 455-459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2017.06.002 Pridemore, W. A., Makel, M. C., & Plucker, J. A. (2018). Replication in criminology and the social sciences. Annual Review of Criminology, 1, 19-38. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-091849 Vanessa, M., (2016). Strengths and Limitations of Forensic Science. West Virginia Law Review, 119(2), 639-651. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/wvlr/vol119/iss2/8