UNIT 3 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 1.2 - ASSESS THE USEFULNESSS OF
INVESTIGATE TECHNIQUES IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS (20
MARKS)
FORENSIC TECHNIQUES : Forensic techniques are methods used in
investigating crimes or legal cases .They involve collecting , preserving ,
analyzing and presenting evidence for court purposes. Most times forensic
techniques involve investigators or fibers collecting evidence from a crime
scene such as semen skin flakes , fingerprints , hairs , shoeprints and
submitting it for analysis in a laboratory. DNA and fingerprints are two
main form of forensic used in criminal investigations. A range of forensic
experts accompany the police with whom they discuss the usefulness of
various forms of evidence , these experts use protective clothing to cover
their shoes and hair to prevent contamination during collection and
analysis.
DNA -
,WHAT? DNA is one of the most important forensic techniques, this is
physical evidence that can be used in court .Deoxyribonucleic acid is the
chemical holds our genetic information and is located in chromosomes
within the nucleus of most cells, which can even be obtained by tiny
traces. Its often known as our unique genetic code since it dictates all our
characteristics. Each person's DNA is different from other people except
for identical twins.
POSITIVE?
DNA helps identify suspects and link them to crime scenes
accurately as everyone DNA is unique and this allows a very high
reliability , This can be done analyzing DNA samples collected from
crime scenes or suspects , investigators can establish a direct link
between individuals and specific criminal activities, e.g. in crimes
such as sexual assaults or violent crimes e.g. in Colette murder
case.
It aids in exonerating innocent individuals or guilty individuals, DNA
is concrete scientific evidence that can prove someones innocence,
this has helped wrongful convictions and ensure justice is served
accurately.
DNA evidence can be preserved for long periods, aiding in solving
cold cases, by keeping DNA samples, investigators can reanalyze
evidence using updated technology or new techniques, potentially
leading to solved cases that have still been unsolved for years.
It brings closure to families, providing scientific proof can help
identify perpetrators and bring them to justice. This is essential for
families who have suffered from the loss or harm.
NEGATIVE?
Human rights and privacy mean that suspects who are not
convicted have their DNA destroyed. There is a risk of data abuse,
contamination of evidence is still possible.
Identical twins both share the same DNA, making it difficult to
distinguish between the DNA of the rwins leading to potential
confusion in forensic investigations.
DNA cannot be used to determine WHEN the suspect was at the
crime scene, as DNA results don't provide a timeframe of the
individual's presence, can be challenging in cases where
establishing the timeline of events is crucial for the investigation.
DNA from close relatives is more similar than DNA from unrelated
persons.
The cost of financial DNA testing.
, To secure a match with a sample from a crime scene the
perpetrator must be on The National DNA Database, therefore if it
was the perpetrator first crime it would be tricky to find them as
they are not in the database link to Colette murder case.
TYPICAL CRIMES THIS TECHNIQUE USEFUL IN, WHY? DNA evidence
is used in several types of crimes, including homicides , sexual assaults,
burglaries, and other violent offenses. DNA evidence is usually used in
cases that are very serious , due to its effectiveness in identifying
perpetrators and linking them to the crime scene.
TYPICAL SITUATIONS THIS TECHNIQUE IS USEFUL IN AND WHY?
DNA can be useful in situations like the crime scene as once a crime has
occurred DNA can be found here. However DNA can be most useful in the
laboratory. The reason for this is because they where specialized
equipment and techniques are available to analyze biological samples.
Forensics can extract DNA from various materials and amplify it to create
a DNA profile. This then can be compared to databases or known samples
to help identify suspects or victims.
CASE STUDY? In the case of Colette Aram DNA Forensics were shown to
be successful. Colette was murdered in 1983 , before DNA was
established as an investigation technique , however as forensics had
developed , scientists were able to build up a DNA sample taken from the
murder scene from a alocal pub the murderer had visited after he killed
colette.Years later Paul hutchinson was pulled over at the side of the road
for a driving offence and his mouth was swabbed , his DNA came back
nearly as identical match for the murderer but he wasnt born when the
murder took place therefore the police were able to look through his
family history and discovered his father was the murderer.
LINKS TO CASE STUDY WHETHER A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?
Although the forensic technique was able to solve the case of Colette's
murder , and without DNA evidence the police wouldn't of been able to
make a family link to the murderer. However , it did take 26 years to
completely solve the case of Colette's murder which may have negatively
impacted her family , also this case highlights how relatives could have
very similar DNA , meaning police could easily come to the wrong
conclusion based of the DNA evidence alone.
INVESTIGATE TECHNIQUES IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS (20
MARKS)
FORENSIC TECHNIQUES : Forensic techniques are methods used in
investigating crimes or legal cases .They involve collecting , preserving ,
analyzing and presenting evidence for court purposes. Most times forensic
techniques involve investigators or fibers collecting evidence from a crime
scene such as semen skin flakes , fingerprints , hairs , shoeprints and
submitting it for analysis in a laboratory. DNA and fingerprints are two
main form of forensic used in criminal investigations. A range of forensic
experts accompany the police with whom they discuss the usefulness of
various forms of evidence , these experts use protective clothing to cover
their shoes and hair to prevent contamination during collection and
analysis.
DNA -
,WHAT? DNA is one of the most important forensic techniques, this is
physical evidence that can be used in court .Deoxyribonucleic acid is the
chemical holds our genetic information and is located in chromosomes
within the nucleus of most cells, which can even be obtained by tiny
traces. Its often known as our unique genetic code since it dictates all our
characteristics. Each person's DNA is different from other people except
for identical twins.
POSITIVE?
DNA helps identify suspects and link them to crime scenes
accurately as everyone DNA is unique and this allows a very high
reliability , This can be done analyzing DNA samples collected from
crime scenes or suspects , investigators can establish a direct link
between individuals and specific criminal activities, e.g. in crimes
such as sexual assaults or violent crimes e.g. in Colette murder
case.
It aids in exonerating innocent individuals or guilty individuals, DNA
is concrete scientific evidence that can prove someones innocence,
this has helped wrongful convictions and ensure justice is served
accurately.
DNA evidence can be preserved for long periods, aiding in solving
cold cases, by keeping DNA samples, investigators can reanalyze
evidence using updated technology or new techniques, potentially
leading to solved cases that have still been unsolved for years.
It brings closure to families, providing scientific proof can help
identify perpetrators and bring them to justice. This is essential for
families who have suffered from the loss or harm.
NEGATIVE?
Human rights and privacy mean that suspects who are not
convicted have their DNA destroyed. There is a risk of data abuse,
contamination of evidence is still possible.
Identical twins both share the same DNA, making it difficult to
distinguish between the DNA of the rwins leading to potential
confusion in forensic investigations.
DNA cannot be used to determine WHEN the suspect was at the
crime scene, as DNA results don't provide a timeframe of the
individual's presence, can be challenging in cases where
establishing the timeline of events is crucial for the investigation.
DNA from close relatives is more similar than DNA from unrelated
persons.
The cost of financial DNA testing.
, To secure a match with a sample from a crime scene the
perpetrator must be on The National DNA Database, therefore if it
was the perpetrator first crime it would be tricky to find them as
they are not in the database link to Colette murder case.
TYPICAL CRIMES THIS TECHNIQUE USEFUL IN, WHY? DNA evidence
is used in several types of crimes, including homicides , sexual assaults,
burglaries, and other violent offenses. DNA evidence is usually used in
cases that are very serious , due to its effectiveness in identifying
perpetrators and linking them to the crime scene.
TYPICAL SITUATIONS THIS TECHNIQUE IS USEFUL IN AND WHY?
DNA can be useful in situations like the crime scene as once a crime has
occurred DNA can be found here. However DNA can be most useful in the
laboratory. The reason for this is because they where specialized
equipment and techniques are available to analyze biological samples.
Forensics can extract DNA from various materials and amplify it to create
a DNA profile. This then can be compared to databases or known samples
to help identify suspects or victims.
CASE STUDY? In the case of Colette Aram DNA Forensics were shown to
be successful. Colette was murdered in 1983 , before DNA was
established as an investigation technique , however as forensics had
developed , scientists were able to build up a DNA sample taken from the
murder scene from a alocal pub the murderer had visited after he killed
colette.Years later Paul hutchinson was pulled over at the side of the road
for a driving offence and his mouth was swabbed , his DNA came back
nearly as identical match for the murderer but he wasnt born when the
murder took place therefore the police were able to look through his
family history and discovered his father was the murderer.
LINKS TO CASE STUDY WHETHER A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?
Although the forensic technique was able to solve the case of Colette's
murder , and without DNA evidence the police wouldn't of been able to
make a family link to the murderer. However , it did take 26 years to
completely solve the case of Colette's murder which may have negatively
impacted her family , also this case highlights how relatives could have
very similar DNA , meaning police could easily come to the wrong
conclusion based of the DNA evidence alone.
