FORENSIC SCIENCE

Computer Technology and Forensic Science

Computer Technology and Forensic Science

Introduction

Since the beginning of time, people have been committing crimes and put on trial. Even Jesus had a trial and the people decided whether or not to execute him. With new technology becoming available every day, there are new ways to convict criminals. With the new technological advancements, the forensic scientists are carrying out different kinds of tests and experiments to examine and extract more valuable information, for gathering authentic evidence on a criminal case. For example, when you are working with the ballistics in forensic evidence you are looking at the markings that are left on the shell once it leaves the gun barrel.

The shell itself can tell you what type of gun you are looking for but you are really lucky when that guns already been used in another crime and its markings are matched to a crime already in the system. It is very rare that a gun used in a crime that is been seized winds back up on the streets but most of the time if there's a match in the system it's helping you to solve two or more crimes at once and might also narrow down some suspects. While making a DNA test , it becomes very difficult for the forensic scientists to examine the blood spots on a particular evidence .it becomes even more complicated if there are more than one person's blood spots on a particular evidence. It is then very difficult to judge as who the culprit was and who the innocent one was. This paper discusses the types of evidence and also shows that how the computer has influenced the way that evidence is examined by forensic scientists.

Discussion

Before technology, the way to solve crimes was with hand drawn pictures. The problems that came from this are pretty apparent, but sketches are still used today, more for the public knowledge, rather than a way to convict someone. Then with the invention of cameras, photographs were used as evidence. However, this meant that someone had to be at the crime scene to take pictures. The criminal could also change their looks, or wear a disguise to try to claim innocence. Then, the knowledge of using fingerprints in forensic labs was introduced. Since everyone has a different fingerprint, it was easy to figure out who the criminal was. It was then discovered that there is a gene mutation that erases fingerprints, and so some people don't have them. The criminal could also wear gloves so that they wouldn't leave their prints behind (Rudi, 2008).

With the technology to read DNA and match it to a person, it is impossible to not know exactly who committed the crime. Everyone except identical twins have different DNA. It is impossible to change your DNA, so this is the best way to prove either innocence, or guilt. The most common places to get DNA evidence from a crime scene is blood, semen, saliva, urine, or ...