Fighting Crime with Science
Technicians as well as scientist spend a considerable length of time in laboratories whose main task is analyzing evidence and this leans heavily on other areas of science most of which is in the area of computing, life as well as physical science. However, over the years there has been increased a need for these labs to hasten their paces in relation to analysis of evidence in order to much more quickly provide solution. As a result, there have been efforts geared towards developing a better technology capable of working well with enhanced research.
Consequently, institutions, such as the NIJ have developed a number of approaches in the area of forensic science, most of which are founded on rudimentary research work, for instance, ability to develop an individual’s image from his or her DNA strand. Other advances include development of software that is capable of reconstructing fragment of bones exhumed from graves.
There are a number of advances that scientist hope will be a key to provide the much-needed improvements in the area of forensics and provision of justice. This includes approaches, such as the use of metabolites in determination of parent drugs which then allows scientist to develop enhanced approaches to drug testing as well as screening. Similar advances have been initiated in the area of explosives detection through applying principles of microfluidics. This approach is better, effective, and less costly compared to the use of dogs or ion spectrometer.
In our quest for fairness and justice the era of detectives is slowly ending and in its place there has emerged an era of science as well as scientific methods of solving crimes and providing justices (McCrery, 2013). There is a need to continuously revolutionize scientific methods of solving crimes, since criminals nowadays have developed ingenious ways of evading the most cleverest and tactical questioning. Indeed, a considerable number of these criminals will tend to offer inquisitors very little, while opting to be questioned in the presence of an attorney. In addition, evidence submitted by eyewitnesses has ceased to be relevant, since defense counsels have become much more adept at shedding doubt on eyewitness accounts (McCrery, 2013). As a result, we must wait for science to offer us the best way forward. Today, with the help of forensics, the smallest blood or hair sample on a point of crime is sufficient for use as evidence. Aspects of forensics, such as genetic finger print development branched out and stand out on their own (McCrery, 2013). Several other interesting areas exist in forensics, for instance, microscopic examination of fabric from clothing, detection of poisons as well as bullet matching, all of which lend relevance to the need of forensics.
Fighting crime through science is currently relevant, since it ensures that the right criminals are punished. In the recent past, there have been cases in which the wrong people have been convicted simply due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time (McCrery, 2013). Proper processing of crime with the use of forensics is able to determine who the actual criminal is and what he or she looks like which would help in acquitting a wrongly indicted individual (McCrery, 2013). In other cases, it helps in proving that an individual was at the scene of crime. Contemporary forensics is able to analyze, say soil samples on an individual’s shoes to prove that he or she was at the scene of crime and may have committed the crime.
