1.1
Throughout criminal investigations, there are many personnel involved, whom each have a unique
role in trying to support the case. Some personnel include: SOCO’s, Forensic Scientists, Police
Officers, CPS and Pathologists.
SOCO’s
- Crime of scene officers have major role when a case comes to light.
- They get called by the police when evidence needs to be gathered from a crime scene.
- Main tasks a SOCO will partake in, includes, liaising with the police to ensure they are
gathering useful evidence discussing the best way to preserve it.
- Photographing the scene is key in investigations.
- SOCOS must not only gather materialistic evidence but also biological evidence too, includes
fingerprint, DNA, body fluids, tiny things such as clothing fibres.
- SOCO’s have power to advise police on physical evidence, due to expertise, they often giving
evidence in court as they have a status of being reliable experts.
- SOCO’s undergo considerable amount of training before classed as a qualified SOCO, in
essence, means that they must be highly skilled.
- There is high expectation to be highly educated to degree level specifically in biological
science and chemistry and forensic science.
- looking for employees, previous experience in gathering information is key and very
relevant.
- Due to extremely qualified and skilled nature, are very effective and useful when they are in
need.
- While have received training of high standard, if make a mistake, can lead to justice not
being served and criminals don’t get sentenced.
- Another reason why SOCO’s are useful within society, is they are available 24 hours a day
visit a crime scene almost within hours if that.
- the TV show CSI, the career has taken interest of many people, resulting in competitive
industry and lots of qualified SOCO’s.
- a weakness is, While on call 24/7, they may not always be able to reach the scene
immediately.
- SOCO labs and offices are vastly located in urban areas, a crime scene in rural area will take
much longer to travel to evidence could possibly already been tampered with by the time
they arrive.
- However, as SOCO’s are employed by police, they share key issues with force.
- One being funding, Due to the budget cuts, funding isn’t distributed equally between areas.
- This Means different police forces have more or less SOCO’s depending on the area.
- Therefore, effectiveness of SOCO’s vary by location.
- overall lack of funding may lead to insufficient resources maybe detrimental when trying to
preserve and store evidence,
- more evidence gets contaminated, the less reliable scene of crime officers is.
- It can be argued SOCO’s are more cost effective compared to other experts, such as
pathologists.
- average salary for SOCO ranges between £16,000 to £35,000.
- While may seem as cheap to hire, require many people to be available specifically if are two
scenes need attending at same time.
- Therefore, what starts of as a cheap option, quickly becomes expensive.
- furthermore, led to budget cut, in cases resulting to being insufficient amount of SOCO’s
further increases risk of contamination.
, 1.1
- For example, Amanda Knox and boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were arrested and charged of
murder and sexual assault.
- They spent 4 years in Italian prison, throughout every trial, remained pleading innocent.
- Eventually were acquitted due to the information that SOCO’s had used 30 gloves which
were all dirty and the scene had been contaminated as hadn’t been secured properly leading
to invalid evidence.
- The couple were convicted of murdering Meredith Kercher 2007.
- Then 2011 they were set free.
- Following this, Italy’s highest court ordered a new trial in 2013 in 2014 were convicted again.
- Once new evidence came to light in 2015, supreme court overturned the 2014 conviction.
Forensic Scientists/ experts
- Forensic scientists analyse biological samples such as if there were drugs or alcohol present
in the victim, along with analysing evidence seized by police for evidence of controlled drugs.
- Forensic scientists deal with specialised areas within investigation, such as psychology,
computing, toxicology, and dentistry.
- Forensic psychologists investigate, research, consult, design treatment, and often act as
expert witness courtroom testimony.
- This profession extremely specialised and specific; must utilise specific degrees and
qualifications depending on what aspect they want to undergo.
- For example, forensic psychologists need a psychology degree and relevant work experience,
plus complete psychological accredited master’s in forensic psychology and have applied for
registration with HPC.
- All forensic scientists are trained to an international standard (ISO 17025) once received
their degree.
- They are extremely skilled and must be able to scientifically interpret evidence, have access
to scientific advantages such as DNA profiling.
- Due to high expertise, there is advanced analysis of evidence, e.g., spectrometry.
- Forensic scientists play huge role in proving one’s innocence or guilt. This is a strength as it
provides extended knowledge within the case, providing more factual evidence.
- Expertise is key when in process of solving cases due to how specialised the field is.
- Forensic scientists are highly accurate, furthers their effectiveness by decreasing chances of
injustice.
- However, as interpretations are based off one’s individual judgment, experts sometimes
disagree on another expert’s conclusion of evidence.
- Another limitation is in court, juries believe what they are told by experts, meaning the jury
can get persuaded solely because of their status as an expert resulting in a miscarriage of
justice
- Similarly, to SOCO’s, slightest mistake can lead to wrong convictions, or none.
- have been issues regarding ethicality because of usage of DNA.
- Not only is it used for private information.
- primary salary is £20,000 annually which increases with further advanced experience.
- downfall is how expensive a single test is to perform, costing around £250. very soon adds
up.
- Not only is expensive but also time consuming.
- These professionals do not work for the police, rather work for Cellmark companies.
Throughout criminal investigations, there are many personnel involved, whom each have a unique
role in trying to support the case. Some personnel include: SOCO’s, Forensic Scientists, Police
Officers, CPS and Pathologists.
SOCO’s
- Crime of scene officers have major role when a case comes to light.
- They get called by the police when evidence needs to be gathered from a crime scene.
- Main tasks a SOCO will partake in, includes, liaising with the police to ensure they are
gathering useful evidence discussing the best way to preserve it.
- Photographing the scene is key in investigations.
- SOCOS must not only gather materialistic evidence but also biological evidence too, includes
fingerprint, DNA, body fluids, tiny things such as clothing fibres.
- SOCO’s have power to advise police on physical evidence, due to expertise, they often giving
evidence in court as they have a status of being reliable experts.
- SOCO’s undergo considerable amount of training before classed as a qualified SOCO, in
essence, means that they must be highly skilled.
- There is high expectation to be highly educated to degree level specifically in biological
science and chemistry and forensic science.
- looking for employees, previous experience in gathering information is key and very
relevant.
- Due to extremely qualified and skilled nature, are very effective and useful when they are in
need.
- While have received training of high standard, if make a mistake, can lead to justice not
being served and criminals don’t get sentenced.
- Another reason why SOCO’s are useful within society, is they are available 24 hours a day
visit a crime scene almost within hours if that.
- the TV show CSI, the career has taken interest of many people, resulting in competitive
industry and lots of qualified SOCO’s.
- a weakness is, While on call 24/7, they may not always be able to reach the scene
immediately.
- SOCO labs and offices are vastly located in urban areas, a crime scene in rural area will take
much longer to travel to evidence could possibly already been tampered with by the time
they arrive.
- However, as SOCO’s are employed by police, they share key issues with force.
- One being funding, Due to the budget cuts, funding isn’t distributed equally between areas.
- This Means different police forces have more or less SOCO’s depending on the area.
- Therefore, effectiveness of SOCO’s vary by location.
- overall lack of funding may lead to insufficient resources maybe detrimental when trying to
preserve and store evidence,
- more evidence gets contaminated, the less reliable scene of crime officers is.
- It can be argued SOCO’s are more cost effective compared to other experts, such as
pathologists.
- average salary for SOCO ranges between £16,000 to £35,000.
- While may seem as cheap to hire, require many people to be available specifically if are two
scenes need attending at same time.
- Therefore, what starts of as a cheap option, quickly becomes expensive.
- furthermore, led to budget cut, in cases resulting to being insufficient amount of SOCO’s
further increases risk of contamination.
, 1.1
- For example, Amanda Knox and boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were arrested and charged of
murder and sexual assault.
- They spent 4 years in Italian prison, throughout every trial, remained pleading innocent.
- Eventually were acquitted due to the information that SOCO’s had used 30 gloves which
were all dirty and the scene had been contaminated as hadn’t been secured properly leading
to invalid evidence.
- The couple were convicted of murdering Meredith Kercher 2007.
- Then 2011 they were set free.
- Following this, Italy’s highest court ordered a new trial in 2013 in 2014 were convicted again.
- Once new evidence came to light in 2015, supreme court overturned the 2014 conviction.
Forensic Scientists/ experts
- Forensic scientists analyse biological samples such as if there were drugs or alcohol present
in the victim, along with analysing evidence seized by police for evidence of controlled drugs.
- Forensic scientists deal with specialised areas within investigation, such as psychology,
computing, toxicology, and dentistry.
- Forensic psychologists investigate, research, consult, design treatment, and often act as
expert witness courtroom testimony.
- This profession extremely specialised and specific; must utilise specific degrees and
qualifications depending on what aspect they want to undergo.
- For example, forensic psychologists need a psychology degree and relevant work experience,
plus complete psychological accredited master’s in forensic psychology and have applied for
registration with HPC.
- All forensic scientists are trained to an international standard (ISO 17025) once received
their degree.
- They are extremely skilled and must be able to scientifically interpret evidence, have access
to scientific advantages such as DNA profiling.
- Due to high expertise, there is advanced analysis of evidence, e.g., spectrometry.
- Forensic scientists play huge role in proving one’s innocence or guilt. This is a strength as it
provides extended knowledge within the case, providing more factual evidence.
- Expertise is key when in process of solving cases due to how specialised the field is.
- Forensic scientists are highly accurate, furthers their effectiveness by decreasing chances of
injustice.
- However, as interpretations are based off one’s individual judgment, experts sometimes
disagree on another expert’s conclusion of evidence.
- Another limitation is in court, juries believe what they are told by experts, meaning the jury
can get persuaded solely because of their status as an expert resulting in a miscarriage of
justice
- Similarly, to SOCO’s, slightest mistake can lead to wrong convictions, or none.
- have been issues regarding ethicality because of usage of DNA.
- Not only is it used for private information.
- primary salary is £20,000 annually which increases with further advanced experience.
- downfall is how expensive a single test is to perform, costing around £250. very soon adds
up.
- Not only is expensive but also time consuming.
- These professionals do not work for the police, rather work for Cellmark companies.
