Why Is Forensic Photography So Important In Criminal Investigation
Trenita L. Raney
ENC 1102-1007
Composition II
Instructor: Terri Miller
September 23, 2014
Reliability of Forensic Tools
What’s reliable and what’s not so scientific when it comes to forensic tools? Forensics is relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law. Forensic tools examples are forensic photography, forensic ballistics, forensic toxicology, computer forensics, hair analysis, DNA analysis, and fingerprint evidence. Forensic tools can be used rhetorically in debate or argument. There are American TV shows that feature CSI’s using forensic evidence to solve murders; however these CSI’s show impractical interpretations of the abilities …show more content…
Film and digital photography are both used for documenting crime scenes. It is part of the evidence collection process. Crime scenes should be recorded with a minimum of four photographs: an overview photograph, a medium-range photograph, a close-up photograph, and a close-up photograph with a scale. Special techniques and considerations are needed when photographing indoor scenes, outdoor scenes, night scenes, arson scenes, sexual assault victims, impression evidence, bloodstain evidence, and latent fingerprint evidence. Many digital cameras have far exceeded the common film camera in resolution and ease of use, admissibility issues may still exist in the use of digital images during legal proceedings. Video documentation is helpful for showing possible paths and for including note narration with photography. Still pictures are still required for detail and especially for close-up views of evidence. (Saferstein, 2009, pp. …show more content…
(n.d.). Australian Goverment/ Australian Law Reform Commission. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from www.alrc.gov: www.alrc.gov.au/publications/44-criminal-proceedings/reliability-dna-evidence
Jeeg. (2012, April 19). Genetic Watchdog. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from www. councilfor responsiblegenetics.org: http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/blog/post/Is-Forensic-DNA-10025-Accurate.aspx
Jones, J. (2012, April 17). www.pbs.org. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from Frontline: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/criminal-justice/real-csi/forensic-tools-whats-reliable-and-whats-not-so-scientific/
Saferstein, R. (2009). Forensic Science: From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Tam, J. (2014, January 2014). Legal Match. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from www.legalmatch.com: http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/forensic-evidence-the-reliability-of dna-testing.html
ENC 1102-1007
Composition II
Instructor: Terri Miller
September 23, 2014
Reliability of Forensic Tools
What’s reliable and what’s not so scientific when it comes to forensic tools? Forensics is relating to the use of science or technology in the investigation and establishment of facts or evidence in a court of law. Forensic tools examples are forensic photography, forensic ballistics, forensic toxicology, computer forensics, hair analysis, DNA analysis, and fingerprint evidence. Forensic tools can be used rhetorically in debate or argument. There are American TV shows that feature CSI’s using forensic evidence to solve murders; however these CSI’s show impractical interpretations of the abilities …show more content…
Film and digital photography are both used for documenting crime scenes. It is part of the evidence collection process. Crime scenes should be recorded with a minimum of four photographs: an overview photograph, a medium-range photograph, a close-up photograph, and a close-up photograph with a scale. Special techniques and considerations are needed when photographing indoor scenes, outdoor scenes, night scenes, arson scenes, sexual assault victims, impression evidence, bloodstain evidence, and latent fingerprint evidence. Many digital cameras have far exceeded the common film camera in resolution and ease of use, admissibility issues may still exist in the use of digital images during legal proceedings. Video documentation is helpful for showing possible paths and for including note narration with photography. Still pictures are still required for detail and especially for close-up views of evidence. (Saferstein, 2009, pp. …show more content…
(n.d.). Australian Goverment/ Australian Law Reform Commission. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from www.alrc.gov: www.alrc.gov.au/publications/44-criminal-proceedings/reliability-dna-evidence
Jeeg. (2012, April 19). Genetic Watchdog. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from www. councilfor responsiblegenetics.org: http://www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/blog/post/Is-Forensic-DNA-10025-Accurate.aspx
Jones, J. (2012, April 17). www.pbs.org. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from Frontline: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/criminal-justice/real-csi/forensic-tools-whats-reliable-and-whats-not-so-scientific/
Saferstein, R. (2009). Forensic Science: From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Tam, J. (2014, January 2014). Legal Match. Retrieved July 27, 2014, from www.legalmatch.com: http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/forensic-evidence-the-reliability-of dna-testing.html