WJEC Level 3 Applied Diploma in Criminology Unit 2 AC1.1 Compare Criminal behaviour and Deviance
Ac 1.4 Evaluate the roles of personnel involved in criminal investigations
All for this textbook (143)
Written for
A/AS Level
WJEC
Criminology
Crime Scene to Courtroom
All documents for this subject (371)
Seller
Follow
studyinqpeachy
Reviews received
Content preview
AC 1.3 Explain how evidence is processed
There are two types of evidence: physical evidence and testimonial evidence. Both of these
types of evidence can be used in criminal investigations to form a basis of argument for
either the prosecution or defence. It is one of the key elements of a case and can impact on
whether someone is guilty or not guilty. Physical evidence is anything that is tangible and
real, such as DNA, blood, fingerprints, weapons, etc. Testimonial evidence is anything that is
spoken, or a statement and these can be taken from witnesses, experts, the prosecution or
the defence.
Physical evidence
Physical evidence is an important part of cases as they are often always present on a crime
scene, and this is due to Locard’s exchange principle. This principle explains that there will
always be evidence on the crime scene and traces of evidence can be found on the victims,
offender, and vice versa. Every point of contact that is made will be able to be analysed by a
professional, most likely a SOCO or a forensic scientist, which will uncover certain detailed
evidence. Locard’s exchange principle was further developed by Paul Kirk who explained
that physical evidence is factual, and that it can prove one's innocence or guilt, and that it is
fundamentally down to human error if we are able to find the evidence and study it. A case in
which Locard's exchange principle was highlighted to be ineffective was the case of Barry
George. Barry George was wrongly imprisoned for the murder of Jill Dando on the basis that
he had a microscopic amount of gunpowder residue on his clothing that was linked to the
murder weapon. It was said that the gunpowder was likely from a police firearm touching his
clothing while they searched his flat, and this piece of evidence was enough for George to
be sent to prison, ultimately leading to a miscarriage of justice.
Personnel on the scene of a crime are concerned with arresting the offender, but also
collecting evidence and ensuring that it is uncontaminated so that it can be used in court as
admissible and reliable evidence. Police officers will be present at the crime scene first, and
must ensure that scene is protected and secure to ensure that it cannot be tampered with
and so ensure that the evidence is preserved in order for the SOCO’s to collect it. Scene of
crime officers will be at the crime scene to preserve and collect all of the physical evidence
which will then be sent securely to a lab for it to be further tested and analysed. Afterwards,
forensic scientists will be able to analyse the evidence in a lab.
When a crime scene is committed outdoors, it may be more difficult to preserve the crime
scene, and this is primarily due to the weather. It may be more difficult to preserve the
evidence if it is raining, snowing, foggy, etc, and this may cause evidence to not be found or
even destroyed. Furthermore, if the crime is outdoors in a public area, this may cause
interest from the general public, or even media outlets who want to report on the crime
scene, and this interest has the potential to contaminate any evidence. To prevent this from
happening, police must secure the crime scene, and they often do this with police tape, and
station police officers around the crime scene to ensure that the general public cannot go
inside of the covered area. When the SOCO’s are collecting the evidence, they need to be
wearing the appropriate protective bodysuits and using stools to ensure that they do not
contaminate the evidence.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller studyinqpeachy. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.06. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
