Recent innovations to crime scene investigations
A reflection on the history of crime scene investigation shows that various changes have occurred over time. These changes have been evident due to the adoption of the laser, DNA, and computer innovations for use in various issues aligned with crime scene investigations. Overall advances in the field of science and technology bring forth some advances in the field of criminal justice. There exist various innovations to crime scene investigations that are worth being emulated across various settings. More importantly, the use of alternative light source is perhaps the most recent innovations with regards to crime scene investigations. Speaking of alternative light sources, this connotes to advanced sources of forensic lighting that allow detection of evidences that are not visible with the naked eyes. Such evidences include body fluids and fingerprints (Pepper, 2010). Another recent innovation in the in the field of crime scene investigation is the portable lasers, which offer a comprehensive platform that enhances determination of crucial evidences such as bullet trajectories.
What the future holds for crime scene investigation and criminalistics
The future of crime scene investigations is certainly hopeful. This is because various researches are ongoing with the sole aim of developing more advanced strategies that enhances the identification, collation, and analysis of evidence derived from different crime scenes. For example, the use of lasers in crime scene investigations is certainly promising. This is because there is hope for the creation of a new system called the laser profilometry system, which will replace the use of simple laboratory microscope in examining evidences from crime scenes. Precisely, the said system will be computerized, and three dimensional; hence, will compare, transmit, analyze, and store evidence images in a more sophisticated and accurate manner. On another note, the use of alternative light sources is hopeful because recent researches have shown hope of establishing a new system referred to as Reflective Ultraviolet Imaging System (Pepper, 2010), which is capable of detecting concealed prints in full day light and during darkness. This analysis shows that the future of crime scene investigations and criminalistics is certainly promising.
Standardization and its importance to crime scene investigation
While much has been hypothesized regarding standardization in the context of crime scene investigation, it is essential to note that it primarily refers to the processes of streamlining all the procedures in crime scene investigation to suit the set standards. Precisely, it entails the development of cognizant procedures that are applicable across various crime scene settings all over the globe. Worth noting is the fact the evidences drawn from crimes scenes are of immense value (Pepper, 2010). For this reason such evidences should be properly collected to minimize any distortions. Therefore, standardization offers a viable platform in which all the evidences drawn from a crime scene remain intact and useful.
Certainly, standardization is important to crime scene investigations in a number of ways. More importantly, crime scene investigators and other personnel involved in crime scene investigations have often been criticized for the backlogs that are evident in data collected from crime scenes. However, the advent of standardization has offered a sigh of relief for these personnel because it is through standardization that different methodologies are employed in identification, collation, and analysis of evidences drawn from crime scenes (Pepper, 2010). Overall, standardization consolidates all the processes involved in crime scene investigations, which enhances crime scene investigations across various settings all around the world.
References
Pepper, I. K. (2010). Crime scene investigation: Methods and procedures. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
