Free A Trace: How Forensic Science Has Revolutionized Criminal Investigations Essay Example

Abstract

The advances of modern science have made a lasting impact in the field of criminal investigations. Forensic science now allows police and other investigators to discover evidence and other clues left on persons and at crime scenes that were once invisible and undetectable to the naked eye. During the commission of every crime, there is always trace evidence transferred between the criminal and the victim. There are many types of trace evidence ranging from soil and paint chips to blood, and body fluids. Before forensic science, it was much easier for criminals to get away with horrific acts and escape the eyes of law enforcement. For instance, the identity of the notorious Jack the Ripper serial killer was never solved. If a similar serial killer existed today, it is almost certain that such a killer would be apprehended. This paper will give a brief overview of forensic science techniques that provide law enforcement with a powerful tool to track down suspects.

Introduction

Criminal investigative feats that were not possible just twenty years ago are now made possible by the advent of forensic science and technology. Before such technology made a breakthrough to be used effectively in solving crime, there were relatively few tools that could be recovered from a crime scene and later used to identify a suspect with a particular victim or crime scene. Particular in the area of identifying particular suspects, there was relatively few accurate techniques. Owens describes two foremost early ideas that were used to identity potential suspects. The first concept that ultimately failed was proposed by Cesare Lombroso in 1876, which advanced the theory that criminals possessed certain facial characteristics and features unique to criminals (Owen, 2000, p. 18). But there has never been any hard evidence to support the notion that there is any real link between criminality and physical characteristics (Owen, 2000, p. 18).
While the idea that criminals possessed certain physical traits and characteristics was never proven, the theory was useful for other scientists to advance the field. In 1879, Alphonse Bertillon used the idea of facial measurements as a means to precisely identity individuals (Owen, 2000, p. 21). To test whether the facial measurements could accurately identity a particular person, Bertillon took measurements from a suspect named Dupont (Owen, 2000, p. 21). Dupont’s measurements were a perfect match to a thief called Martin (Owen, 2000, p. 21). When confronted with this incriminating evidence, Dupont confessed that he was in fact the thief known as Martin (Owen, 2000, p. 21). Although people are now identified through fingerprints and other means rather than facial measurements, Bertillon’s identification system laid the groundwork for later scientific techniques of accurate personal identification. With a reliable technique to differentiate and identify individuals, this was a huge step forward and major headway in criminal investigations.

Jack the Ripper

One of the most notorious serial killers in history, Jack the Ripper, could never be identified by police or law enforcement. The unknown killer’s anonymity perhaps adds to his legendary status. One piece of evidence that possibly belonged to the mysterious Jack the Ripper was a diary (Owen, 2000, p. 156). A man claimed to be the infamous Jack the Ripper and alleged that he had been given the diary (Owen, 2000, p. 156). A handwriting analysis was conducted on the diary, and handwriting experts are divided on whether the diary is authentic or a forgery (Owen, 2000, p. 21). Handwriting analysis is a relatively controversial forensic technique and the reliability of the expert’s opinion is often at issue (Risinger, 2007, p. 493). There are many other forensic techniques that yield more accurate results.
If Jack the Ripper were still wreaking havoc on the streets of London today, there is almost no chance that he would not eventually be caught. One particularly useful form of identification is fingerprint analysis. Although there have been a few high profile cases that challenged the notion of absolute uniqueness of fingerprints (Cole, 2005, p. 987), the statistical likelihood of any two fingerprints being the same is extremely small. With few exceptions, fingerprinting is a widely accepted and used method of individualized identification.
Crime databases hold millions on fingerprints on file. Such a large potential suspect pool is a huge asset to law enforcement. For criminal investigative purposes, a fingerprint is only useful if it can be compared and matched to suspects. The fingerprint database is of particular use when a fingerprint is found at a crime scene and police are still in search of a potential suspect. Today, the deceased victims of Jack the Ripper could be dusted or searched for fingerprints. Police and other trained investigators could lift these fingerprints and enter them into the database to search for matches. Inside the database are millions of prints on file. While fingerprints from known criminals will be stored, a large pool of fingerprints will be from non-criminals. Many jobs these days keep fingerprint records of employees. Thus, if Jack the Ripper were arrested for ay type of crime, his fingerprints could be found in the database and matched to a particular person.
Other useful type of evidence that could be used and tested through modern DNA technology is biological evidence, such as blood, saliva, or semen. When Jack the Ripper committed murder, he undoubtedly left his own DNA on the victim’s body. A coroner or medical examiner would be able to identify these fluids on the deceased and swab them for DNA testing. Each person has a unique set of DNA, and these biological fluids contain that DNA. Police could gather samples of DNA from potential suspects and compare their DNA to the DNA found on the crime victim.

Conclusion

When Jack the Ripper went on his crime rampage back in the late 19th century, forensic DNA testing and other forms of identification simply did not exist. This made it much easier for criminals to commit crimes and get away undetected. Every criminal leaves behind at the scene some type of trace evidence during the commission of the act. But before forensic science, this trace evidence largely went unnoticed. Even if biological fluids or fingerprints had been collected and stored, there would be no practical use for such evidence before the advent of modern technology and testing. Today, forensic science is an invaluable investigative tool to police and law enforcement. Many crimes would be impossible to solve if forensic science did not exist.

References

Cole, S. A. (2005). More than zero: Accounting for error in latent fingerprint identification.
Owen, D. (2000). Hidden evidence: Forty true crimes and how forensic science helped solve
them. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books Ltd.
Risinger, M.D. (2007). Cases involving the reliability of handwriting identification expertise
since the decision in daubert. Tulsa Law Review, 43(2): 1-20.