StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Nobody downloaded yet

Homicide, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice System - Coursework Example

Summary
The "Homicide, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice System" paper analyses what drives a person to commit a homicide, the prevalence of homicide crimes perpetrated by both genders, the interrelation of government agencies in investigations, and the roles of the police in arresting a perpetrator…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.5% of users find it useful

Extract of sample "Homicide, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice System"

Download file to see previous pages

The perpetuation of crime continues to get more complex due to the advancement of technology and therefore a new method of uncovering homicides needs to be adopted. Since time immemorial, scientists have continued to uncover ways and means to unravel crimes and murders that have for ages gone unresolved. Forensic science is not a new technology because for years people relied on autopsy reports to exactly determine the exact cause of death (Urquhart, 2003).

The role of the police is to carry out investigations and ensure that they present to the court the exact and best evidence. Homicides are not usually predictable and the police only get involved with the investigations after the occurrence of the crime. Making sense of bits and pieces of scattered evidence and drawing up a mental picture of how the crime occurred as well as questioning witnesses. In a society where every person is keen on having their rights protected collecting samples from victims and following crucial leads is difficult. Forensic databases and DNA samples are collected from crime scenes each year in order to ensure that in any subsequent homicide, samples can be compared to determine whether the homicide was committed by the same perpetrator.

Forensic evidence is as good as any other evidence adduced in a court of law. Prior to forensic evidence being admissible, the courts relied on oral evidence and witness statements to link a person to homicide as well as seek to disprove the facts and occurrence of a case. In complex case scenarios experts would be called to determine the real likelihood of the occurrence of an offense (Petherick, et al., 2010). However, forensic evidence acts as corroborative evidence to the prosecution’s case by proving the witnesses' testimony and placing the accused at the murder scene. In investigations in the UK involving homicides, forensic evidence is considered to be the best evidence in homicide cases where the case involved the identification of the perpetrator of the crime

Homicide has always plagued humanity since the time of creation and it has been met with an unequally unquenched thirst for finding the perpetrators of this crime. There are different factors that drive a person to commit this crime including; the biological makeup of an individual trying to ascertain their criminal tendencies. Cesare Lombros (1835-1909) sought to find the difference that exists between physical appearance and criminal tendencies in trying to establish criminological tactics.

It is material to state that there are numerous issues that trigger an individual to commit homicide. One of the factors is neuropsychological problems, as presupposed by Moffit (1997) that individuals with an aggressive background and who engaged in anti-social behavior as children are highly likely to engage in violent behavior. Socioeconomic disadvantages also fuel a person to commit murders due to poverty and high economic standards of living (Thornberry, 2005).

Homicide is a word used intermittently with murder which is a crime that is committed by a person with malice aforethought. Murder is committed when a person has the intention to kill or malice aforethought and in the USA a person who commits murder is liable to a death sentence (Sampson and Laub, 1993).  

...Download file to see next pages Read More

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Homicide, Forensic Science and Criminal Justice System

Criminal Profiling in Forensic Psychology

The paper " criminal Profiling in Forensic Psychology" tells that criminal profiler finds ways to help police officers find criminals when all other efforts have failed.... criminal profiling is not an exact science, which creates some challenges for those who do the profiling.... There are many areas that are important to research in criminal profiling.... Within the subject of criminal investigation, criminal profiling is seen as an uncertain science....
13 Pages (3250 words) Assignment

CSI Effects on Crime

he effect of the CSI on the justice system has made the sensation a source of information and insight.... The American Bar Association and the Supreme Court attest television has changed the general view of the legal system.... This has impacted the administration of justice in the country.... The jury is the most affected in assessing criminal evidence while relating to what they see on the CSI program.... Anthony uses the narrative to imagine forensic evidence for absentee witnesses or where there is none....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Conceptual or Theoretical Framework

The system conflict theory of criminal justice postulates that criminal justice system organizations should work competitively rather than cooperatively in an effort to produce justice in the society.... In this regard, conflict model of criminal justice system is based on the.... The According to this model of criminal justice system, actors and criminal justice institutions share very little information between themselves a fact that ensures constant conflicts between these institutions (Samaha, 2005, 56)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

The Role of Ballistics in the Criminal Justice System

This research paper "The Role of Ballistics in the criminal justice system" provides background and the many changes undergone by ballistics in the 20th century.... Having been dubbed as 'the most popular television show in the world,' CSI: Crime Scene Investigation has not only given birth to two other franchises, CSI: Miami and CSI: New York, but has changed the way the criminal justice system in the United States work.... forensic science has gained much attention which is mainly due to the success of the television series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
11 Pages (2750 words) Research Paper

Pediatric Forensic Pathology

Two of the most significant events in the history of forensic pathology in America are the establishments of the American Academy of forensic science (AAFS) in Chicago and the printing of the Journal of forensic science (JFS) in 1950.... Medico-legal investigation in America was patterned after England's Coroner system, which empowers the coroner (equivalent to a sheriff) to perform judicial and ministerial authority over a corpse (Fisher, 1993, pp....
8 Pages (2000 words) Case Study

Misuse of DNA in Homicide Cases

This discussion has really helped me to understand how The National Commission on the Future of DNA was established by the National Institute of justice (NIJ) in 1998, courtesy of Janet Reno, who was then the attorney general.... The aim was to establish the prospects of DNA evidence, and ways of improving its effectiveness, through the Department of justice.... This article discusses the investigation method of purifying DNA from contaminated and degraded forensic samples, in respect to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Annotated Bibliography

Criminal Justice - Determining the Cause of Death

Investigation of death is a crucial component in American criminal justice system, which is based on the concept that no innocent person should be punished.... This paper "criminal justice - Determining the Cause of Death" examines the role of determination of the cause of death in the investigation of homicide cases, the sense of this activity in deciding the allocation of public funds for healthcare initiatives to step in issues of the public healthcare.... The accurate determination of the cause of death is a vital aspect of the investigation of criminal cases such as homicides....
4 Pages (1000 words) Term Paper

Homicide Crime Scene Investigations

Homicides are generally criminal offenses committed by any person against the state and punishable according to the law (Card, 1998, P.... When a homicide is committed, it's reported to the police and registered in the 'criminal register book (CRB)' and it is given a number.... The paper "homicide Crime Scene Investigations " states that when a homicide has been committed or there is a person suspected of committing or is about to commit a crime, it is prudent that investigations are commenced to determine whether or not the homicide was or is being committed....
13 Pages (3250 words) Research Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us