Criminology unit 3 notes latest with summary (100% well Enlightened).

Criminology unit 3 notes latest with summary (100% well Enlightened). Criminology unit 3 notes latest with summary (100% well enlightened 1. AC 1.1 - Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations. (10 marks) 2. AC 1.2 assess the usefulness of the investigative techniques in criminal investigations (20 marks) 3. AC1.3 explain how evidence is processed (6 marks) 4. AC 1.4 examine the rights of individuals in criminal investigations (6 marks) 5. AC 2.1 explain the requirements of the crown prosecution service (CPS) for prosecuting suspects (4 marks) 6. AC 2.2 describe trial processes (4 marks) 7. AC 2.3 understand rules in relation to the use of evidence in criminal cases (4 marks) 8. AC 2.4 assess key influences affecting the outcomes of criminal cases (10 marks) 9. AC2.5 discuss the use of lay people in criminal cases (6 marks) 10. AC 3.1 examine information for validity (15 marks) 11. AC 3.2 Draw conclusions from information (15 marks) AC 1.1 - Evaluate the effectiveness of the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations. (10 marks) Crime scene investigators Role: A crime scene investigators role is to collect and preserve evidence from the crime scene. They main responsibility is to ensure that the evidence at the scene is not contaminated as tis would therefore mean it will not be admissible in court. work together with the police to decide what evidence is vital and decide the best way in order to gather it. They photograph the crime scene as well as any surrounding areas that contain evidence, using the common approach path. Once they have obtained all the evidence, they have to pack and document everything so it is ready to be sent off for analysis by forensic specialists. In addition to this, the may also attend post mortems and give evidence in court. Effectiveness: Expertise- CSIs are experts in their field as they undergo through training and many also have a degree in a science related field. This would imply that they have a great deal of expertise as they have had the necessary training in order to carry out their role effectively. Availability- CISs are available 24/7 as they work on an on-call basis. This means that they could be called to a crime scene at any time of the day. This is essential as of course crimes can be committed at any time, and so its important that crime scene investigators can arrive at the scene quickly in order to obtain evidence before it may be possibly contaminated by factors such as the weather. Cost- Each CSI gets paid a salary, and so this will therefore incur additional costs to the investigation. Other evaluative points: • The samples that CSI’s collect may be a hazard to their health and safety, so these rusks need to be calculated and the appropriate measures taken in order to minimize the risk of harm • The role can be taking a toll on CSI’s mental wellbeing due to the nature of the scenes that they may attend to • The weather could contaminate the crime scene • They may be able to provide a suspect’s innocence through DNA or fingerprints testing. Case example- Amanda Knox: • Exchange student found dead in her flat In Italy, friend Knox suspected of murder. • Contamination of evidence, failures to document evidence, planted evidence to falsely incriminate Strength • CISs may gather evidence that conclusively links suspects to crime scenes and victims • The evidence may also prove conclusively that a suspect is in fact innocent, e.g., when their fingerprints do not match those found by the CSI at the crime scene Limitations • The work requires specialist skills (such as forensic photography), as well as patience, meticulous care and attention to detail. failure to collect and record evidence correctly, or allowing it to become contaminated, can lead to a guilty person going free or an innocent one being convicted. • the forensic samples that CSIs handle may out their health or safety at risk. These include blood and other body fluids, hazardous chemicals, explosives and incendiary devices, firearms and ammunition, knives and hypodermic syringes. • The work may be stressful and emotionally demanding. This can lead to burn-out and people leaving the profession, resulting in staff shortages. Forensics specialists and scientists: Role Once evidence has been collected from the crime scene by CSI’s, it is passed over to the Forensic Specialists and Scientists. Their role is to interpret and analyse the evidence in relation to the crime scene. They analyze a range of evidence, such as blood and other bodily fluids, in order to try and find DNA. This is the aim of most evidence analysis, as finding DNA means the person responsible for the crime is often identified and found. Effectiveness Expertise- Forensic scientists possess a great deal of specialist knowledge that is vital in investigations. They are able to interpret evidence which could lead to proving if a suspect is innocent or guilty, so they have a big role to play within an investigation. This expertise is especially valuable in complicated and advanced criminal cases, as the criminal may also possess knowledge which prevents evidence being linked to them. Availability- Forensic scientists typically work during the normal working week, which is Monday to Friday. This could be an issue as some cases may require evidence to be analyzed urgently in order to catch the suspect as soon as possible and so waiting for a forensic scientist to be available would cause delays in the investigation. However, some forensic scientists work on an on-call basis, which means that they can work on high priority cases as they unfold which would greatly help the investigate process. Cost- As forensic scientists are highly qualified individuals, this also means that their salaries and work they provide is expensive. This would mean that the use of forensic scientists in investigations would increase the cost of the investigation overall, and perhaps means that not all evidence woul d be analyzed as its might not be financially feasible.