Criminalistics 40656300 - Essay Example

Evidence is the most important feature in solving a crime. Then the evidence should be matched with the crime process. A sound knowledge, investigative ability and facilitating materials are required to solve crime. Internet helps in several ways to solve crimes. The purpose of this research is to explore the internet to identify the uses of internet to solve crimes. The use of internet to solve crimes Crime mapping Crime mapping is the illustration of geographical patterns of crimes. It plots the distribution of different types of crimes and with the time periods.

It uses high technologies like GIS and information from census. By looking at the crime pattern plotted in a particular area and the surroundings such as banks, schools, shops etc. underline cause can be determined. Even protective steps can be taken to minimize the potential harm to other people. Crimemapping.com, www.mapnimbus.com are examples of such web sites. A typical map uses color icons to indicate distribution of crimes as well as the type of the crime (i.e. Homicide, gun fire, stabbing, etc.) These maps are frequently used by the law enforcement agencies as well as the criminal investigators.

Past crimes/Crime libraries Internet provides complete details of solved crimes. In this sources method of crime, evidence, forensic identifications, special tests, court details and verdict are extensively discussed. A large number of such crimes can be found in the internet. When a similar crime is occurs the facts in the solve crimes can be taken in to consideration. This is greatly help to identify the criminal behavior and may be helpful to protect others from the unidentified criminals.

Sometimes evidence are inadequate to convict a criminal although everyone knows he is the criminal, in such a situations special tests or court decisions of early solved crimes can be used to fill the gap. Crimelibrary.com is another example which provides comprehensive details on large number of notable crimes and court decisions. Wilipedea.org also contain complete details on many notable crimes such as “parker-hulme” murder and Sarah Marie Johnson an Idaho woman who was sentenced for killing both parents (Wikipedia, 2011) Forensic technology Like any other technology, forensic technology is also upgraded frequently with much reliable detection methods.

However not all the criminal investigators know all the methods use in forensic science. The internet is a source of huge amount of such methods. These sites not only provide the details of new forensic technology but also open a path to contact the relevant experts, or institutes probably online and even facilitate application. As an example, the ForensicTechnology.com provides technological details on the comprehensive bullet and cartridge case analysis. They introduce MATCHPOINT+ an advance ballistic technology for bullet matching and provide access to service and training online (Forensic Technology, 2011) Several fingerprint comparison software packages currently available in the web.

Moreover the investigators get a chance to know about the locally unavailable crime detection technologies sometimes overseas. Fingerprint comparison The web offers access to several fingerprint data bases of world wide criminals as well as some non criminals. The FBI has introduced the Integrated Automated Fingerprint