Forensic Indentification and Criminal Justice: Forensic Science, Justice and Risk

• NCJ Number: 216532
• Author(s): Carole McCartney
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 269 pages
• Sale Source: Willan Publishing
• Publication Format: Book (Hardbound)
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book focuses on the societal and legal context of forensic identification evidence and its use in criminal justice processes and its ability to be data-based.

Abstract

Forensic science can be considered broadly as the application of natural and physical sciences to the resolution of legal conflicts for the criminal courts, as well as in civil litigation and other regulatory matters. The variety of methods employed in forensic investigation and the number of specialties involved have tended to obscure the reality that the most commonly used forensic scientific evidence takes the form of bodily samples such as fingerprints, urine, hair samples, mouth swabs, and breath or blood samples. This book focuses on the forensic identification technologies of fingerprinting and DNA typing as the two identification technologies most often relied upon in criminal investigations. The book targets those with an interest in the rapidly growing field of forensic identification and consists of six comprehensive chapters on forensic identification: (1) the legal framework; (2) the criminal investigation; (3) the criminal trial; (4) the development of forensic identity databases; (5) forensic identification in other jurisdictions; and (6) issues and prospects regarding the future of forensic identification. The book provides an account of the development of forensic identification technologies and the way in which this has impacted the legal system. It traces the advent of forensic identification technologies, focusing on fingerprinting and forensic DNA typing and the deployment of these technologies within the system. Focusing on the National DNA Database, the book shows ways in which the new reliance on technologies has gained hold with the criminal justice system. A critical analysis is conducted on the wholesale adoption of forensic identification technologies, the ethical issues involved, and the shortcomings and fallibilities of these technologies. References and index