forensic criminology

Question 1

forensic criminology

Answer 1

applied use of scientific and criminological research and analytical techniques for the purposes of addressing proactive and reactive investigative work, and for aiding legal cases and issues.

Question 2

locard’s exchange principle

Answer 2

when two objects come into contact, there is always a transfer of material between them, a criminal will bring something to the crime scene and leave something with it, trace evidence is central to this

Question 3

logic of forensic criminology

Answer 3

the use of scientific and investigative techniques to aid criminal investigations and provides evidence in court. Crime- evidence(DNA specimen), Collection and analysis- assisting criminal inquiry, police and court decisions-sentence/discharge

Question 4

common misconceptions

Answer 4

csi effect and hoe they distort the reality of what forensic science actually does, lack of forensic awareness of the public

Question 5

major techniques

Answer 5

fingerprints, body fluids, bloodstains, DNA, fibre and bullets

Question 6

trace and traceology

Answer 6

the study of physical traces left at the scene of, or because of, a crime e.g. foot and tyre tracks

Question 7

bloodstain pattern analysis

Answer 7

critical forensic technique for violent crime scenes, blood follows predictable laws of physics, provides insight into nature of offense, sequence of events, scene disturbances, position of individuals/objects

Question 8

forensic entomology

Answer 8

the use of insects to solve criminal cases, involves studying the life cycles of insects found on corpses

Question 9

relevance of forensic science in criminology

Answer 9

it provides important evidence for criminal investigations and prosecutions, forensic criminologists analyse crime scenes

Question 10

reliability of forensic science

Answer 10

reliability depends on the competence and honesty of the examiners, helps solve crimes and used as evidence in courts for decades, techniques like DNA analysis, fingerprinting, ballistics and toxicology have proven to be generally reliable when properly collected and analysed by trained professionals

Question 11

limitations

Answer 11

rely on human analysis and judgment which can be subjective, issues of unconscious bias among forensic examiners, contamination of evidence

Question 12

conclusion

Answer 12

Valuable evidence helps investigation when done well
Potential for misuse means the courts should allow forensic evidence as supporting evidence, not as infallible proof on its own