The Science of Evidence

Last week, you evaluated on-scene analysis and documentation. This week, the focus will shift to the scientific processes accomplished within the crime laboratory. In addition to the scientific processes, it is important to understand the standards applied to determine if the scientific process and its results can or should be admitted at trial. While science uses the peer review process to evaluate credibility, the courts also use case law to evaluate the standards for forensic science.

Prior to beginning work on this assignment, please review the following:

• From the text:
  • Chapter 5: Forensic Toxicology
  • Chapter10: Blood and Other Biological Fluids
  • Chapter 11: DNA Analysis
• The articles:
  • Surrogate Testimony After Williams: A New Answer to the Question of Who May Testify Regarding the Contents of a Laboratory ReportLinks to an external site.
  • What Happens If Autopsy Reports Are Found Testimonial?: The Next Steps to Ensure the Admissibility of These Critical Documents in Criminal TrialsLinks to an external site.
  • To Analyse a Trace or Not? Evaluating the Decision-Making Process in the Criminal InvestigationLinks to an external site.
  • Examining the Role of Science in the Courtroom: Admissibility and Reliability of Forensic Science in the CourtroomLinks to an external site.
  • Testing the Testimonial Doctrine: The impact of Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts on State-level Criminal Prosecutions an ProcedureLinks to an external site.
• The e-book Forensic Science Evidence: Can the Law Keep up with Science?Links to an external site.
• From the video Forensic Science in Action: From Crime Scene to CourtroomLinks to an external site.: Segment 6. Forensics: Examination of the VictimLinks to an external site. 03:25
• The video Duties of a Forensic Scientist in the Forensic Biology Lab shown above.

You must use at least three Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site. in addition to the course text.

You are also strongly encouraged to review the recommended sources, which may further support this assignment.

In your Assignment, address the following:

• Evaluate the evolution of forensic science, focusing on the types of scientific analysis conducted in crime laboratories.
• Explain how the changes in science and evidence processing over the last century have affected the criminal justice system.
• Describe at least four major types of scientific testing conducted by crime laboratories.
• Describe the evidentiary value of the four major testing processes identified.
• Analyze the current standards (based on case law) for admitting scientific evidence at trial, specifically addressing the four types of scientific testing identified in your paper.

The Science of Evidence Assignment 

• Must be 750 words in length (not including title and references pages) and formatted according to APA StyleLinks to an external site. as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Formatting for Microsoft WordLinks to an external site. resource.
• Must include a separate title page with the following:
  • Title of Assignment
  • Student’s name
  • Course name and number
  • Instructor’s name
  • Name of the school
  • Date submitted
• Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic VoiceLinks to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
• Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
  • For assistance on writing Introductions & ConclusionsLinks to an external site. as well as Writing a Thesis StatementLinks to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.
• Must use at least three scholarly, peer-reviewed, and/or credible sources in addition to the course text.
  • The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible SourcesLinks to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
  • To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view The University of Arizona Global Campus Library Quick ‘n’ DirtyLinks to an external site. tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
• Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your PaperLinks to an external site. guide.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the APA: Formatting Your References ListLinks to an external site. resource in the Writing Center for specifications.

Carefully review the Grading RubricLinks to an external site. for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.