You have just graduated from the AIU Online Criminal Justice program and acquired your dream career working with the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). You love to write articles of criminal justice interest, and because the NCJRS provides links to millions and millions of criminal justice references, you find yourself in awe of your career.
For your first assignment, you have been asked to present a report at an upcoming criminal justice conference. This report will help your colleagues better understand how databases, technology, policies, and so forth affect the administration of justice and the outcome of court cases in particular. Your training coordinator expects you to highlight several examples of how criminal justice databases, computer technology, and policies have changed the way in which crimes are investigated and how criminals are brought to justice.
Pick 2 of the following databases, and address how technology tools and policies have changed the legal landscape in the United States in a 3–4-page paper:
Fingerprint analysis
DNA databases
Ballistics testing
Tire-tread analysis
Tracking of illegal pornographic images
Modus operandi databases
Three-strikes laws
Gun control laws
The USA PATRIOT Act
Megan’s law
Domestic violence laws
The exclusionary rule
Lie detectors
Inmate classification systems
Truth-in-sentencing laws
The American Legal Landscape
The American legal landscape is continually embracing changes that set to improve the administration of justice. These changes include the establishment of technological and policy-related improvements that aid in apprehending the right criminals and exonerating innocent prisoners. Since most criminal incidences involve gunshots, ballistic testing is crucial in pinning the offence to bullet owners. Equally, criminals often leave their DNA crime scene making it essential to conduct DNA profiling. Without these technological tools, it is hard to solve criminal cases and administer justice; thus, it is essential to analyse their contribution to the American legal landscape.
DNA Databases Overview
DNA databases help in the provision of justice in the American Law courts. They comprise DNA profiles that aid in matching the DNA of suspects and convicted criminals (Murphy, 2018). Within these databases, all the American DNA material is recorded (Murphy, 2018). If an offender leaves behind materials containing their DNA, the criminal justice system collects the sample and compares its sequence with the DNA in their systems. In the process, serving justice to the Americans.
How DNA Databases Has Shaped the Legal Landscape
DNA databases have helped in improving American jurisdiction by nabbing the rightful perpetrator. DNA database presents an opportunity for reviewing cases and matching the DNA of suspects to the sequences in the system (Murphy, 2018). For instance, in a scenario where women are molested, DNA helps in nabbing the offender. The investigation sector makes use of the DNA found within the victim’s body and matches it with the DNA of the suspects. Upon pinpointing the sequence that matches, the process to arrest the perpetrator begins. The DNA information is also used as evidence in the court of law. With the evidence, the criminal is punished with a rightful sentence.
DNA databases have aided in sealing systematic flaws in the USA jurisdiction system by exonerating wrongfully punished individuals. Without sufficient evidence to defend their case, some individuals were wrongfully imprisoned (Murphy, 2018). In the light of DNA databases, profiling their DNA against the sequence found within the crime scene has aided in proving their innocence. In the past, individuals were arrested based on witness confessions. Most of these confessions were falsified. Due to weak defence towards the false claims, the suspects were arrested. However, with DNA databases, these cases have been reviewed and analysed afresh (Murphy, 2018). With the evidence from these databases, innocent imprisoned individuals have been freed.
Recommendations
The DNA databases should enhance the handling of DNA. The databases have marked continual progress in improving the American judicial system. However, in most instances, DNA from the crime scene is tampered with (Murphy, 2018). It makes it difficult to pinpoint the original DNA from the newly attached samples. Without a proper basis for verification, the system might find itself apprehending innocent but framed civilians. Therefore, it is important to improve how DNA from crime scenes is handled.
Ballistics Testing Overview
Ballistics testing aid in the resolution of cases that involve gunshots. It revolves around reviewing bullet design, shape, calibre, and code (Maguire et al., 2016). It also encompasses the examination of the angle of a gunshot. With information from the review and examination, it is easier for the criminal justice system to track and arrest offenders. As a result, resolving gunfire cases.
Impact of Ballistics Testing on Legal Landscape
Ballistics testing has improved the efficiency of American legal landscaping by making it easier to arrest felons. In gunfire crimes, bullets are often left on the scene or in the victim’s body. When the bullet is extracted, the justice systems review its code, calibre, and design (Maguire et al., 2016). The information is run on the system and pinpoints the prospective owner. Since bullets have different codes depending on the owner, the process to nab the perpetrator commences. With the data, it has become quicker and simpler to apprehend criminals.
Ballistics testing has fastened the resolution of court cases. It provides information on how the bullets were fired and the angle of the shot. Analyzing the bullets and guns used in the crime scene provides data on the potential shooter (Maguire et al., 2016). In scenarios where the data presented is similar to a previous case, it is easier for the judges to give a ruling. It has also helped in portraying patterns in firearms and linking different cases (Maguire et al., 2016). As a result, the case will be resolved faster.
Recommendations
It is vital to improve the accuracy of ballistics testing. Although the results may provide information on the manufacturers and owners of the bullet, it is hard to apprehend them without sufficient evidence that they committed the crime. The firearm might have been stolen; thus, arresting them would be wrong. Incorporating aspects of DNA testing may help in improving the accuracy of the tool.
Conclusion
In conclusion, DNA databases and ballistic testing have enhanced the American criminal justice systems. They have facilitated the apprehension of rightful perpetrators. Nonetheless, there are areas for improvement to ensure that the system is as just as it should be. In future, these tools should be enhanced to ensure justice is administered in the state.
References
Maguire, E., King, W., Matusiak, M., & Campbell, B. (2016). Testing the Effects of People, Processes, and Technology on Ballistic Evidence Processing Productivity. Police Quarterly, 19(2), 199-215. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098611115618374
Murphy, E. (2018). Forensic DNA typing. Annual Review of Criminology, 1, 497-515. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-032317-092127
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