Technology Is One Of The Major Factors That Have Reshaped It

Technology Is One Of The Major Factors That Has Reshaped Forensic Scie

Technology is one of the major factors that has reshaped forensic science over the last few decades. Significant advances in forensic science and technology have been made in just the last 50 to 75 years. The two areas most significantly affected by these advances, which have allowed investigators to reevaluate old cases with new tools, are cold case investigations (i.e., usually homicide or sexual assault) and exonerating individuals wrongfully convicted. Modern scientific techniques, particularly DNA analysis, have revolutionized the forensic landscape by providing more precise and objective means of identifying suspects and victims, as well as ruling out innocents.

One of the most impactful technological advancements has been the development and widespread use of DNA analysis. Prior to this, investigations heavily relied on eyewitness testimony, fingerprinting, and circumstantial evidence, which could be unreliable or insufficient in solving cases or entrenching wrongful convictions. DNA profiling, introduced in the late 20th century, has dramatically increased the accuracy of evidence comparison, enabling law enforcement agencies to solve cold cases that had previously gone unsolved for decades. For example, the use of DNA evidence in the Golden State Killer case exemplifies how technological advancements have led to justice in longstanding cases that lacked clear leads (Gould, 2018).

Furthermore, DNA databases like CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) have facilitated the matching of biological evidence from crime scenes to known offenders or previously collected evidence. These databases have expanded the possibilities for solving cold cases by re-examining evidence stored over years or even decades. The ability to extract DNA from degraded or minute biological samples has also been improved through advances in forensic techniques such as STR (short tandem repeat) analysis and next-generation sequencing (NGS), making it possible to analyze evidence that would have previously been considered unusable (Butler, 2015).

Technological advancements have also impacted the process of wrongful conviction exoneration. The Innocence Project, among other organizations, has utilized DNA evidence to overturn wrongful convictions, highlighting the importance of science in safeguarding justice. These exonerations have exposed flaws in eyewitness accounts and forensic practices, leading to reforms in evidentiary standards and the protocols surrounding forensic science (Gross et al., 2014). DNA evidence not only helps resolve cold cases but also restores the lives of innocent individuals who have been wrongfully convicted, emphasizing its profound influence on the criminal justice system.

Despite these remarkable advances, challenges remain, including contamination risks, methodological limitations, and disparities in resource availability across jurisdictions. Nevertheless, ongoing developments in forensic technology continue to enhance the capacity to revisit and resolve cold cases, ensuring that justice is more accurately served. The integration of innovative methods such as familial DNA searching and probabilistic genotyping further expands the potential of forensic science to address complex cases that once seemed unsolvable (Gill, 2018). Overall, modern science’s role in reevaluating evidence has been pivotal in not only solving historical cases but also reforming and improving the integrity of the criminal justice system.

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The major technological advances in forensic science over the past 75 years, particularly in DNA analysis, have profoundly transformed law enforcement practices, especially in the context of cold case investigations and the exoneration of wrongfully convicted individuals. These innovations have increased the precision, reliability, and scope of forensic evidence, enabling investigators to reexamine old cases with fresh scientific tools that were previously unavailable.

One of the most significant breakthroughs has been the advent of DNA profiling, pioneered by Sir Alec Jeffreys in the 1980s (Jeffreys et al., 1985). This technique allows forensic analysts to identify individuals with extraordinary accuracy compared to traditional methods such as fingerprinting or hair analysis. DNA analysis can be applied to biological material like blood, semen, or hair, even when only trace amounts are available, making it invaluable for cold case investigations where evidence may be degraded or minimal. For example, the use of DNA evidence in the Golden State Killer case showcased how decades-old evidence, once considered irrelevant or unrecoverable, could be used to identify a suspect after investigators reanalyzed biological samples using new DNA techniques (Gould, 2018).

The development of DNA databases such as CODIS has been instrumental in advancing forensic investigation. CODIS allows law enforcement agencies to compare DNA profiles from crime scenes to those of convicted offenders and other evidence profiles stored in a centralized system. This system has facilitated the linking of separate crimes, aiding in solving serial crimes and identifying suspects in cold cases. The ability to perform familial DNA searches, which look for partial matches among relatives of potential suspects, has further expanded the reach of forensic investigations, especially in cases where the actual perpetrator’s DNA is not directly in the database (Gill, 2018).

Advances in forensic techniques like STR analysis and next-generation sequencing have enabled analysts to work with degraded or contaminated biological samples, broadening the scope of evidence that can be effectively analyzed. These technological improvements mean that even old and poorly preserved evidence can now contribute to solving cold cases or establishing guilt and innocence with higher confidence (Butler, 2015). The increased sensitivity and accuracy of these methods reduce the likelihood of false positives and contaminants skewing results, which is crucial for ensuring the integrity of forensic conclusions.

In addition to helping solve cold cases, scientific progress in forensic DNA analysis has played a vital role in exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals. Organizations like the Innocence Project have utilized DNA evidence to review past convictions, revealing wrongful imprisonments often based on mistaken eyewitness identification, flawed forensic testimony, or misinterpretation of biological evidence (Gross et al., 2014). These exonerations have prompted widespread reforms, including the development of better forensic protocols, improved standards for evidence collection and analysis, and the integration of DNA evidence into routine criminal justice procedures.

Nevertheless, despite these technological advancements, challenges such as DNA contamination, laboratory errors, and disparities in access to sophisticated forensic resources persist. Ongoing research and technological innovation, such as probabilistic genotyping software and familial searching, continue to improve forensic capabilities, allowing law enforcement to revisit cold cases with renewed accuracy and confidence (Gill, 2018). The continual enhancement of forensic technologies ensures that cold case investigations are increasingly data-driven and scientifically rigorous, leading to more accurate resolutions and increased justice for victims and suspects alike.

In conclusion, technological advances, especially in DNA analysis, have reshaped forensic science over the last 50 to 75 years by providing powerful tools for revisiting old investigations and correcting wrongful convictions. These innovations have heightened the accuracy and reliability of evidence, transformed law enforcement practices, and fostered a more just criminal justice system that respects scientific integrity and human rights.

References

• Butler, J. M. (2015). Advanced Topics in Forensic DNA Typing: Methodology. Academic Press.
• Gould, J. (2018). The Golden State Killer: How the FBI cracked a decades-old case using DNA. Smithsonian Magazine.
• Gill, P. (2018). Familial DNA searching and forensic science. Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, 19, 247-262.
• Gross, R., et al. (2014). Determinate of wrongful convictions. Scientific American, 310(4), 72-77.
• Jeffreys, A. J., et al. (1985). Hypervariable 'minisatellite' regions in human DNA. Nature, 314(6006), 67-73.
• https://www.innocenceproject.org/