The Hisory of Investigations - Research Paper Example

 The History of Investigations Introduction Historical aspect of investigations is widely studied in cultural, social, political, and economical concepts. The recent decades have seen vast numbers of researchers and scholars develop interest and enthusiasm to the study of how investigations are conducted, as well as the rationales to these processes. This includes investigation activities primarily owing to the drastic pace of industrialization, the arising security needs in all phenomenons, the improvements in the technological knowledge, and rampant changes that have taken preeminence in all realms among others. Investigations have been conducted since the beginning of the middle age as a result of knowledge requirements by the early man, who made many historical discoveries. The carrying out of investigations acts as a vital instrument in the provision of a road to essential information discoveries in accordance to its requirements. Moreover, the impacts of investigations conduction include vital information retrievement, the realization of various problems that are taken as matters of concern by particular people and at particular periods or seasons as well as providing a rationale for implementing change within various sectors. The context of investigation is quite wide owing to it application in all realms regardless of the kind of operations that are dealt with. Appropriate investigation procedures are those that employ ample methodologies and approaches with an intention of promoting effectiveness and efficiency measures in addition to providing the desired findings. However, the current world is faced by rampant t crimes, proving crimes to be the most important area of study in regards to investigations. Furthermore, the arrangement and the operational sequence of investigations departments in any organization play a pivotal role in determining the success levels of the investigation processes (Husserl and Moran xxix). The discussion in this paper provides results for the analytical examination of the history of investigations. The comprehension of this context will be boosted by looking into the definition of investigations and viewing the context of investigations in various contexts of application. It is also crucial to provide a presentation of the investigation process conduction by the subjects entrusted with such roles. This will also study factors that influence the need for investigations, its development, and limitations, in addition to the strengths and weaknesses of a public defendant’s office. An overview of the context of investigations The process of studying phenomena in details to enhance comprehension of its course of action entails investigations. The investigation that is conducted in any study field entails efforts of a team, individual searches, or classes of professional groups in certain fields. A wide array of specific studies and subjects are applied in distinct phenomena in order to develop better comprehension of the original requirements. The completion of any kind of investigation entails the interplay of the factors driving to such a study need, the importance of the investigation being conducted, the involved investigators, as well as the scope into which the investigations are conducted. The methodologies and processes of conducting the investigations also play a major part in the investigation activities. In addition, evidence of study by investigators include the skin cells or body fluids that are biological like, course dynamics and fingerprints in the study of crimes and other required areas (Husserl and Moran xxix). Investigations require the application of proper formats with the intention of capturing real details in the required field. Different investigators apply distinct investigatory procedures and methodologies in a bid to promote efficiency and effective measures. There are different phenomena in the investigations history and requirements that need distinct ample approaches for accomplishment. The best approaches are those deemed crucial in regards to provision of the required information, as well as those that apply the best procedures the investigators are well acquainted with. The historic developments encompass a wide context of the studies that involve clear investigations. The recent developments in investigations are critical for identification, since there is even the invention of investigatory and presentation devices, inclusive of investigation films, for example the Bulgarian drama of 2006. The implementation of the digital cable channel also enhances these processes, which boost the Investigation Discovery in addition to other countless devices (Husserl and Moran xxix). The investigations mainly conducted are normally geared towards law enforcement strategies, therefore demanding combined efforts from public defendants who are employed by the state’s government in order to deal with client’s cases in courts of law defenses. The public defendant’s inability to deal with cases effectively has led to the rise of the private investigators that are considered efficient in dealing with DWIs. Alternatively, every country in the world has made use of investigation Bureaus as governmental arms, for instance the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This operates in the US justice department. The British Criminal Investigation Department in Britain and others in all countries are as well applied in the investigations deemed crucial for law enforcement. The medical grounds have also historically developed investigatory activities, which are inclusive of clinical trials aimed at collecting data for upcoming operational devices as drugs. Other medical investigations are conducted via utilization of the USFDA program to investigate the actions of new drugs. Other realms include the forensic scientific investigations in regards to the study of the accounting, engineering, information technology, as well as scientific areas. Moreover, discoveries of any kind since the beginning of advancements in all fields are also classified as investigations in addition to the recent research activities in continuity (OHCHR, Para 2). The historical context of investigations The history of investigations can be presented via a sequential transitional path, involving tremendous improvements in regards to methodologies and approaches. There lacked investigation practices and approaches that were standardized in the ancient world which made most of the dynamics remain undiscovered. For instance, confessions that were ideally forced had long been relied on as well as the testimonies of witnesses in criminal investigations. However, recent centuries have seen drastic transformations take place in regards to investigatory equipment innovations as well as practices. The prehistoric times mark the inception of the initial investigatory inventions, especially in the forensic methodologies. The prehistoric periods saw the early man take fingerprints via the utilization of clay or rocks, a process that entailed hands press on the selected substance. For instance, the ridge patterns of the hand that were detailed were discovered by archaeologists in Nova Scotia in the form of an ancient drawing. The utilization of fingerprinting strategies by the ancient Babylonians on top of clay tablets for completing business transactions is also an evidence to prove that investigations are long lived. The use of such devices was also a rationale for the preservation of official requirements identification (McKelvey Bill 18). The period between 700 B.C. and 44 B.C. saw the evolution of forensic sciences when the Chinese people could record thumbprints on documents as well as clay sculptures. This they did regardless of their lack in place of a classification system that is formal. The developments in the investigations realms were not limited to any specific area due to the existence of people serving in diversified areas. The 250 B.C saw Erasistratus an ancient Greek invent the initial detector test for the detection of heart beat rate. The results he presented indicated that the lying was a rationale to the enhancement of pulses. The 44BC saw a Roman doctor investigate on the fatality of stabbed wounds in human body. The 1100s and 1200s are periods that are today identified with the advancements in crime scene investigation and conduction practices. The 1100 AD was the time when the first document was produced indicating that palm prints are usually left on murdered body and can be used as a murder proof. Therefore, the document was based on medical knowledge application in providing crime solutions. It was then easy to distinguish between drowning from strangulation, rendering it easy to get in touch with criminals by the authority of a state (McKelvey Bill 18). The period 1300s and Through Mid-1800s saw greater advancements take place in investigations focusing on chemical elements and fingerprints details that could be used to provide adequate evidence. This period saw the rise of many scientists and investigations studies become a crucial part of human interaction. It was the period when Mathieu Bonaventure Orfila implemented in the publication of "Traite des Poisons’ release and became identified as the father of contemporary toxicology. Scotland Yard investigators began to conduct studies in relation to bullet comparisons in the mid-1800s. Flourishing tissue tests were done owing to these advancements, leading to the identification of arsenic utilization practices as a means of massacre. The Late 1800s Through Early 1900s were ample periods that saw the expansion of forensic scientific investigations. This included the utilization of crucial technologies, for instance the use of temperature measurements of human body in the determination of death time. The utilization of fingerprinting that is systematic was also launched in regards to ease in identification procedures. The year 1921 saw the appearance of the polygraph machine, which aided in gunshots residue detections and other medical diagnosis procedures. There also emerged a group of people who invented the voiceprint technological identification devices, DNA analysis, and acid phosphatase test for the medically useful detections in diagnosis. The modern investigations have become advanced in the period 1900s and the early 2000s. The solid foundations that were laid in these historic times have been utilized today in the implementation of the most modern developments in investigatory procedures. The modern constructions of investigations are based upon computer, DNA, entomological and advanced studies in biological studies in the completion of the required investigations in various realms. Thus, investigations continue to face drastic developments on daily basis (McKelvey Bill 18). The investigations process The investigation process entails examining, studying, searching and tracking in addition to gathering of information that is factual and crucial in providing responses to unsolved problems. It entails the utilization of art than the sciences. It involves the use of comprehensive dynamics and sound reasoning exercise to come up with logic conclusions. The factual explanations are the end results of an investigation of the transpirations that are duly proposed prior to investigations. The limitations of the investigations that are conducted is not limited to security or criminal justice fields, but utilized in the sum total of human endeavor realms. It entails the involvement of too many facets in the dynamics of information anthology, logics application, as well as reasoning whose outcomes have definite responses to the required fields. A variety of approaches has been employed in history in the investigatory activities with an intention of providing the exact required results of investigations. Nevertheless, the best approaches are those that have excellently designed formats, which are inclusive of the utilization of the most modern equipment as well as strategies (Sennewald and Tsukayama 3). Two categories of investigations are evident depending on their nature and requirements for their accomplishments. The investigations that are covert in nature have been historically identified as those that have a covert in nature in the fact that they are performed in secrets. The occurrence of an activity takes an enquiry path with results expectations being as priory anticipated. The reconstructive investigations are conducted after an incident has occurred, making the demand of facts develop in regards to the scenario. The activities of these investigations are conducted in the open and with the awareness of the public. More over, these activities are usually termed as organizational rather than community-based. The collection of the information in regards to the two methodologies is based on collected, observed, or communicated values to the occurrence of a particular phenomenon (Sennewald and Tsukayama 3). Most of the investigations that have been collected in history entail the utilization of reconstructive research studies, owing to the many incidents that have curtailed the volatility of the world. The aftermath of an event leads to the call for the investigations departments to come up with intended facts regarding an item of agenda. The 9/11 terrorist attacks of the United states in 2001 by the Al-Qaeda group in the leadership of Osama bin laden are a good example of an incident that led to the conduction of reconstructive investigations. This was in a bid to unveil the facts for the occurrence of such a planned attack in the criminal investigations realms. The investigations that need be taken are in every social, political, cultural or economical realms are conducted via the utilization of the best machinery and equipment. The only challenge to these processes is the lack of adequate equipment that is required to conduct upcoming investigatory requirements, thus calling for dynamics in the implementation of new strategies. The current volatile world needs to emphasize and address on the best strategies as well as equipment implementation to enhance the development of the investigations processes (Schmidt 136). Factors accounting for investigations requirements Far-reaching requirements for investigations are in existence in all human-operations realms, including the medical, forensics, political, criminal, cultural, economical etc. Beginning in the Stone Age period when man identified the need for food, fire, weapons construction etc. Most important, investigations are essential in providing required evidence for a phenomenon occurrence. Crime investigations are ample in providing information regarding crime scenes, which is important in the execution of appropriate judgments by a court of law on those charged with illegal activities. The medical grounds need information from investigations in order to identify disease course, making of medicinal discoveries in regard to arising ailments, performance of medicinal equipment and testing, and existing biological organisms in the ecological set up body functioning etc. Therefore, the arising ailments, new machinery, the desire for knowledge acquirement are all factors leading to the need for investigations in the medical grounds, which have led to the implementation of new strategies in medical entities (Sennewald and Tsukayama 5). Another rationale for investigations is the making of future predictions regarding some phenomena. This arises as a result of enhanced security requirement factors in all realms. For instance, the continued tsunamis occurrence in major countries like Japan have been crucial in the prediction of the future occurrences, making it possible for the government to take vacation, reconstruction and implementation of strategies that would prevent excessive future damages. The investigations of terrorism crimes in regards to Al-Qaeda attacks help the government in every nation to fund the implementation in crime detectives’ as well as ample ways that help in the prevention of upcoming crimes. In addition, the crime investigations in a country help the government to invest much more on guns than butter in a bid to tighten the security. The need for adoption of change strategies factors by organizations, countries governmental set up is also pivotal in regards to conduction of investigations. This creates the essence of adopting modern management and governance models, purchasing of the most developed equipment as well as improving the systems in operation within a set up (Sennewald and Tsukayama 4). Common limitations to investigation procedures A vast number of limitations have been considered effective poisons to investigations in history. First, the employment of investigators by state governments is a very crucial and ample process. However, the recently preeminent competitions between the public and private investigators are attributed to the violation of effectiveness measures. The public defendants are often found handling thousands of cases concurrently, which makes them ineffective, and thus the current increasing demand for private defendants’ demand. The lack o f adequate equipment for investigations by the investigations departments in all realms leads to inadequacy of the anticipated findings (OHCHR, Para 1). The most common challenges facing the investigations industry are human oriented. The major arising world conflicts are a source of hindrances to inventions and innovations. For instance, land conflicts, terror activities as well as the revolving natural catastrophes cause the rampant problems that have affected the investigations industry. More over, the researchers have no direct access to the needed research devices and information to conduct the required investigatory studies (McNeil and Brian 284). Strengths and weakness of the public defendant’s office Public defendant’s offices comprise of attorneys who are licensed with an assignment of representing individuals who have been charged with crime. The representation is usually in accordance to the desires of those charged though limited by certain crucial factors, for instance inability to take into private service attorneys. The office plays a vital role in the judicial defense systems. However, these offices recent analysis provides the rationale for their excellence in regards to the existing strengths and weaknesses. First the offices’ long-term strengths are marked by their ability to interact with judges as well as prosecutors day in day out. This helps in promoting their identification of their tolerances, personal quirks, and peeves in regards to handling cases. This becomes their strength in regards to handling their client’s cases. They are also able to acquaint themselves with distinct police force testimonies, hence the promotion of their ability to judge the best and worst witnesses and develop strategies for handling cases in ample methodologies (McNeil and Brian 283). The confinement of the defendants in niched positions and the legal specialty aids in keeping them up to date with the new theories and legal laws, which are enacted at particular times in their areas of specialization. For instance, the defendants working with domestic violence defense (DWI) will remain updated on specific information regarding their operational departments; hence ease in dealing with such issues. Thirdly, the defendants are deemed best in terms of case sizing and the presentation of a plea-bargain that is tolerable by the judges and prosecutors. Therefore, their representations are considered more efficient than those of private attorneys (McNeil and Brian 285). On the other hand, the rampant weaknesses have been identifies in historical times in regard to the performance and the operations of these attorneys. First, their huge burden of cases makes them inefficient in handling of their clients cases. The fact that they are paid by the government leads to their mutual overloading with rampant cases, which supersede their handling capacities. The historical evidence has it that they are in most cases only accessible during court proceedings due to their inability to assign adequate time to each case. This is highly contributed to by the fact that their operations are governmentally controlled in accordance to the laws, leading to their overload, which creates a passive rationale to their overall performance. The effects of lacking adequate office equipment have often been a source rampant challenges that limit their performance efficiency (Woodcock and Seibert 58). Additionally, the recent empirical studies present the weaknesses of defendant’s offices inability to access adequate and appropriate research, and at the same time are not in a position to take into service other investigators who would flesh out available cases in accordance to the requirements. Their young and inexperience conditions of the public defendants, the fact that “their teeth have to cut a cross sky-scraping volumes” of extreme cases makes them ineffective in handling the cases. The administrative matters as well as civil laws are impossible areas of assistance by the public attorneys, which makes private attorneys more crucial than them. Thus, their hearing of DWIs is not rampantly preferred by most people that are charged with crime (Woodcock and Seibert 57). Conclusion The history of investigations comprehension is very crucial in the determination of future research paths. This dates back in the beginning of human life on the Earth, in a bid to make new discoveries. A variety of realms is available in which investigations are conducted, mainly in the crime investigations by the judicial arm of the government in states. The medical and forensic fields are also considered ample for the investigatory studies, owing to the recent changes that have overtaken the world. However, the investigatory field is influenced by rampant challenges, which include the inability of the public defendant’s offices incapacity to handle the tremendous crime cases. Nevertheless, the history of investigations is marked by rapid advancements that have taken place over time since the pre-historic times. More empirical and theoretical studies should be conducted to enhance the comprehension of this history as well as future required improvements. Works Cited Husserl, Edmund and Moran, Dermot. Logical investigations. NY: Routledge, 2001. McKelvey, Bill. Organizational systematic--taxonomy, evolution, classification. CA: University of California Press, 1982. McNeil, Barry and Brian, Brad. Internal corporate investigations. Illinois: American Bar Association, 2007. OHCHR. Principles on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. 2007. 03 May 2011. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/investigation.htm. Schmidt, William. Many Visions, Many Aims: A cross-national investigation of curricular intentions school science. London: Springer, 1997. Sennewald, Charles and Tsukayama, John. The process of investigation: concepts and strategies for investigators in the private sector. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006. Woodcock, Henry and Seibert, John. Investigations: A Handbook for Prevention Professionals. NY: AIHA, 2000. Read More