The impact of forensic evidence on criminal justice case processing.

by | Feb 2, 2025 | criminal justice

 

Briefly discuss the impact of forensic evidence on criminal justice case processing. In doing so, also briefly discuss biometric analysis as it may pertain to criminal investigations.

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Forensic evidence has a profound impact on criminal justice case processing, influencing investigations, prosecutions, and ultimately, trial outcomes. Here’s a breakdown:

Impact of Forensic Evidence:

  • Investigations: Forensic evidence can be the key to identifying suspects, linking them to crime scenes, and corroborating or refuting witness testimony. It provides objective, scientific information that can guide investigations and help establish probable cause for arrest.
  • Prosecutions: Strong forensic evidence can significantly increase the likelihood of charges being filed and a case proceeding to trial. Prosecutors often rely on forensic evidence to build a compelling case and persuade a jury of the defendant’s guilt.

Forensic evidence has a profound impact on criminal justice case processing, influencing investigations, prosecutions, and ultimately, trial outcomes. Here’s a breakdown:

Impact of Forensic Evidence:

  • Investigations: Forensic evidence can be the key to identifying suspects, linking them to crime scenes, and corroborating or refuting witness testimony. It provides objective, scientific information that can guide investigations and help establish probable cause for arrest.
  • Prosecutions: Strong forensic evidence can significantly increase the likelihood of charges being filed and a case proceeding to trial. Prosecutors often rely on forensic evidence to build a compelling case and persuade a jury of the defendant’s guilt.
  • Trials: Forensic evidence is often presented in court as powerful evidence. DNA, fingerprints, ballistics, and other types of forensic analysis can be highly persuasive to jurors, influencing their decisions in determining guilt or innocence.
  • Case Outcomes: Studies have shown that cases with strong forensic evidence are more likely to result in convictions and potentially longer sentences. This highlights the significant role forensic evidence plays in the justice system.

Biometric Analysis:

Biometric analysis is a subset of forensic science that uses unique biological characteristics to identify individuals. This includes techniques like:

  • DNA Analysis: Analyzing DNA found at a crime scene (hair, blood, saliva) to match it to a suspect’s DNA profile. DNA evidence is considered highly reliable and can be a powerful tool in criminal investigations.
  • Fingerprint Analysis: Comparing fingerprints found at a crime scene to those in databases to identify a potential match. Fingerprints have been a long-standing method of identification in criminal investigations.
  • Facial Recognition: Using software to analyze facial features in images or videos to identify individuals. Facial recognition technology is increasingly used by law enforcement, but it also raises privacy concerns.
  • Iris Scanning: Analyzing the unique patterns in a person’s iris to confirm their identity. Iris scanning is a highly accurate biometric method.

Impact of Biometrics:

Biometric analysis has revolutionized criminal investigations by:

  • Improving Identification: Biometrics allows for more accurate and reliable identification of suspects, even when traditional methods are not available.
  • Linking Suspects to Crime Scenes: Biometric evidence can definitively link a suspect to a crime scene, providing crucial evidence for prosecution.
  • Solving Cold Cases: Biometric databases can be used to re-examine evidence from unsolved cases, potentially leading to the identification of suspects years later.

Important Considerations:

While forensic evidence, including biometrics, plays a vital role in the criminal justice system, it’s important to acknowledge potential limitations and concerns:

  • Accuracy: Forensic analysis is not always infallible. Errors can occur in the collection, handling, and analysis of evidence.
  • Bias: Human interpretation of forensic evidence can be subjective and prone to bias.
  • Privacy: The collection and storage of biometric data raise privacy concerns, particularly with technologies like facial recognition.

It’s crucial that forensic evidence is used responsibly and ethically, with safeguards in place to ensure accuracy, prevent bias, and protect individual rights.

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