Crime scene management and investigation refers to the activity that goes on at an actual crime scene rather than in a forensics laboratory.
Crime scene management and investigation refers to the activity
that goes on at an actual crime scene rather than in a forensics
laboratory. However, the physical and trace evidence gathered in
the field at a crime scene will eventually be analyzed in a
forensics laboratory and the analyses conducted govern the types of
evidence collected at a scene. Many individuals tend to accept as
absolute truth that forensic laboratory testing and results are
scientific in nature. However, much criticism has been leveled in
recent years that many of the techniques used have never been
validated and no known error rates have been established. Without
this information, we cannot be sure how often forensic examiners
make errors in judgment or to what extent these errors are
influenced by what the examiner already knows about the case. This
has broad implications in criminal investigation. For this week’s
assignment, you will step out of the crime scene and into the
forensics laboratory for a look at some known issues and criticisms
in forensic laboratory testing as well as in credentialing someone
to be classified as an “expert” forensic examiner. It is beneficial
to understand what happens with the evidence collected at the crime
scene once it goes to the laboratory. Your research for this paper
may cause you to question the reliability and validity of commonly
relied upon forensic evidence in criminal trials. However, your job
as a scholar (and criminal investigator) is to evaluate objectively
what you are learning and arrive at a conclusion that is based on
information from credible sources. First, watch the Frontline
documentary The Real CSI and then discuss the following in your
paper using the National Academy of Sciences 2009 report (Chapters
2, 4, and 5) as a credible resource to support your assertions:
Summarize the Brandon Mayfield case, focusing on the idea that no
two fingerprints are alike despite the fact that this has never
been tested. Identify what type of testing would need to be done to
ensure that the assertion that “no two fingerprints are alike” is
true? Examine whether or not this type of testing is feasible and
why or why not. Analyze what role cognitive bias might play in
influencing the forensic lab results of tests in areas such as
fingerprint identification, firearms identification, bite mark
identification, or the “smell of death” technique described in the
Frontline film. There is much criticism that techniques used in
fingerprint identification and other types of forensic
identification described in the NAS report (Chapter 5) are
inherently unscientific because there have been no validation
studies. Without validation studies that establish known error
rates, these methods cannot be said to be scientifically sound.
Recommend whether or not to use commonly accepted scientific
techniques that have not been scientifically validated and supports
these recommendations with research materials. Suggest at least one
intervention to overcome the effects of cognitive bias that may
influence a forensic examiner’s identification decision. Analyze
the type of training and credentials forensic examiners should have
in order to work in a forensics lab. Provide recommendations for
training and credentialing forensic examiners to ensure that they
are adequately trained. The Forensic Identification: Science or
Pseudoscience? Paper: Must be three to four double-spaced pages in
length (not including title and references pages) and formatted
according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center
(Links to an external site.) Links to an external site. .
Must include a separate title page with the following: Title of
paper Student’s name Course name and number Instructor’s name Date
submitted Please include, in APA style, at least three credible
and/or scholarly resources sources in including the NAS report and
your textbook. The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible
Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source
types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is
appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor.
Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a
specific source for a particular assignment. Must document all
sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Must include a separate references page that is formatted according
to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
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