Different Types Of Evidence In Criminology - Research Paper Example

Different Types Of Evidence In Criminology Introduction Crime scene photography can be a key source of evidence if done correctly. It transports a team of jury several years after a crime has been committed; to help them understand how the scene looked at the time the crime was committed. The volumes of work done in crime scene photography vary depending on the crime committed. If it were a minor offence such as stealing, it would be lower in comparison to large offences such as murder. Despite this, the attention to detail should not be different between a minor and a major incident (Robinson, 2010). The camera of a crime scene photographer should be in good condition and well maintained to perform a perfect job. A digital camera would perform this job very well due to its technological advancement. The quality of photography to be done will depend on the quality of the camera lens .It is essential to have an above standard lens in order to capture photographs of good quality. Some of the crime scene to be attended will be indoors, night scenes or even underground. Due to the contrast between light and shadow, it would be necessary to have flash equipment. This flash equipment should have a good flash unit with a large output that can be connected to the camera. In the case of violent crime scenes, maximum information should be recorded to enable the user of the crime scene photographs to understand the situation of the crime. The adjacent areas of the crime scene should also be captured to have an understanding of the acts that occurred before and after the crime. There is also need to take photographs of various ranges such as the close, medium, and long ranges to bring a clear concept and inter-relation of objects. It is important to take aerial photographs in crimes such as murder and serial rape because they are geographically linked crimes (Robinson, 2010). Overlapping photographs help in showing the location and neighborhood of the crime scene. In the case of a murder crime, it is crucial to capture photographs of the crowd observing the crime scene and number plates of vehicles around the crime scene since the killer may still be around. When photographing the room interiors, it is advisable to use a normal lens as compared to a wide lens. Using a wide-angle lens can lead to distortion especially when taking close range photographs. Photographs from the interiors of a room should show sufficient conditions of the room. These are things left at the scene, which would act as evidence such as shoe prints, tool marks, fingerprints, and cigarette butts. It is essential to capture the location and adjacent locations of fingerprints. Capturing photographs of signs of activities prior to the commission of a crime would be useful as evidence. These are activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, lights turned on and cooking. In rape-homicide investigation at Kampala in Uganda, crime scene photography provided substantial evidence that heavily influenced the judge’s decision to convict the suspect. The photographic record showed signs of struggle at the scene of crime. There were indications of the victim’s resistance from the brutal attack such as torn clothing, blue and black marks, and bruises. Biting marks were also captured with the aid of an oblique lighting. Due to hemorrhaging occurring in the tissue beneath the skin, it was possible to detect the biting marks by the use of infrared ultraviolet photography. The photographs also captured the location of stains, biological fluids, and foreign hairs. The direction of the blood flow was captured by placing the camera lens parallel to the wall when photographing blood spatter on walls. Blood spatter patterns linked with a crime scene can provide important information that may aid in solving a case. It is important to collect, document and preserve this kind of evidence correctly. Blood evidence can be very useful in providing relationship between an individual and a criminal scene. Blood evidence can help in supporting or contradicting a statement from a witness. If stored appropriately, evidence from blood spatters can also be presented to a jury some years from the time of crime. According to Bevel and Gardner, (2002), the best application of blood spatters as a source of evidence is that it can eliminate an individual as a suspect in a criminal case. Communication is very important in processing blood evidence. Open and clear channels of communication must prevail between the case detective, the responding officer at a crime scene, the investigator of the crime scene and the forensic scientist. The investigator of the crime scene should be aware of the capabilities of the crime lab, its method of collection of blood evidence and preferred preservation of the blood evidence by the crime lab. Methods of blood evidence collection and preservation vary from one forensic scientist to another. The investigator of the crime scene should therefore meet often with the forensic scientist to determine a suitable method of collection and preservation of blood evidence. This will ensure that the collection and preservation of evidence is effective and efficient. The use of blood spatter analysis as a source of evidence has advanced over the last two decades. A sample of blood spatters can now be narrowed down to pin point one individual out of millions of people. An investigator at a crime scene should be conversant with the methods of blood spatter analysis in their crime lab, private labs or even FBI labs. Blood spatter analysis is divided into three major categories. A crime lab is free to use one or all the methods. These three major categories are: Conventional serological analysis This is the analysis of enzymes, antigens, and proteins present in the blood. These substances easily degrade as compared with DNA. They are therefore required in large samples and good condition to minimize the risk of degradation and for optimal results. This method is rarely used alone as a method of blood spatter analysis. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) DNA analysis This is the analysis of specific DNA sequences prevalent in the white blood cells. DNA does not easily degrade as compared to enzymes, antigens, and proteins. This type of testing is often done alone since it has withstood serious court challenges on its efficiency and validity. In order to get significant results using this method, it is appropriate to use large samples. Polymerase Chain Reaction DNA analysis (PCR) This is the analysis of some specific DNA sequences that have been copied several times. This type of analysis works efficiently on small and degraded samples. Despite there being some concerns on the possibility of contaminating blood spatter samples resulting in PCR giving false results, this analysis has also withstood serious court challenges. The investigator at a crime scene should first recognize the value of the evidence in blood spatter pattern and link it with the crime scene before collecting and documenting it. Some of the most common uses of blood spatters as a source of evidence are finding blood that has the victim’s genetic markers such as the blood group and DNA profile on the body of the suspect or an object under the possession of the suspect. It also helps in finding blood that has a suspect’s DNA profile on the victim or on any item under the possession of the victim. Additionally, blood spatters are essential in collecting quality investigative information. Usually blood evidence helps in cases where the victim and the suspect have been in contact. An example is a crime scene that occurred in Turkey blood spatter patterns aided a crime scene investigator to identify a person who had stubbed his friend in an argument. The investigator took much of his time to concentrate on the blood stains collected from the crime scene. The blood spatter pattern provided useful information that linked the scene to the killer. References Bevel, T., & Gardner, R. (2002). Bloodstain pattern analysis: With an introduction to crime scene reconstruction (2nd Ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press. Top of Form Bottom of Form Robinson, E. (2010). Crime scene photography (2nd Ed.). Amsterdam: Academic Press/Elsevier. Top of Form Bottom of Form Robinson, E. (2012). Introduction to crime scene photography. S.l.: Academic Press. Read More