Running head: RESEARCH REPORT TOPIC OUTLINE RESEARCH REPORT TOPIC OUTLINE 5 Research report topic outline Name of student Course Name of professor Date of submission Part 1A Real or physical evidence Physical evidence refers to anything that can be used as prove to a crime that happened and is connected to the criminal. Some examples of physical evidence include a knife that has blood on it, shoe impression, fingerprints, DNA, weapons, documents or glass. Real evidence describes evidence that is tangible and is often used interchangeably with physical evidence. It is used to describe the items that are collected as prove arguments at a trial or hearing. Physical evidence has a wide variety of issues. This research report will focus on exploring fingerprints and DNA as aspects of physical evidence. The report will also examine the strategies, advancements and innovations in the criminal evidence regarding to fingerprints and DNA. A search for fingerprints is usually done on a body before it is moved to the mortuary since it is also a source of physical evidence. The technology used in collecting the fingerprints and analyzing them has been refined from one decade to the other. Fingerprints are necessary as individualizing evidence since they can link an individual to crime due to their uniqueness. There are no people who have the same fingerprints. Identification is made when a fingerprint from a crime scene is linked to another one from a suspect or a database. DNA is a new technology that allows the crime investigators to match the biological samples acquired from a crime scene to a criminal. DNA evidence is admissible in court and therefore is frequently used. The evidence is linked to DNA profiles of offenders through national, state and local DNA databases known as the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Part 1B- Tier 1 Selected topic name Real or physical evidence Definition of key terms Physical evidence -Involves objects that are found at the scene of a crime. Real evidence-Describes evidence that is tangible and is often used interchangeably with physical evidence Fingerprints- used as individualizing evidence since they can link an individual to crime due to their uniqueness. DNA-A new technology that allows the crime investigators to match the biological samples acquired from a crime scene to a criminal. Crime scene-A place that is under investigation because a crime took place at that location A criminal-An individual who is guilty of a crime History During the late 1980’s and early 90’s, States started passing laws that required offenders convicted of several offenses to give their DNA samples. The DNA samples could be used to identify the criminal and their link with the offense they have been convicted of committing. Currently, all States and federal government have passed laws that require the provision of DNA samples for some categories of criminals. Fingerprint identification was developed for offender’s ...

1. Running head: RESEARCH REPORT TOPIC OUTLINE
RESEARCH REPORT TOPIC OUTLINE
5
Research report topic outline
Name of student
Course
Name of professor
Date of submission
Part 1A
Real or physical evidence
Physical evidence refers to anything that can be used as prove
to a crime that happened and is connected to the criminal. Some
examples of physical evidence include a knife that has blood on
it, shoe impression, fingerprints, DNA, weapons, documents or
glass. Real evidence describes evidence that is tangible and is
often used interchangeably with physical evidence.
It is used to describe the items that are collected as prove
arguments at a trial or hearing. Physical evidence has a wide
variety of issues. This research report will focus on exploring
fingerprints and DNA as aspects of physical evidence. The
report will also examine the strategies, advancements and
innovations in the criminal evidence regarding to fingerprints
and DNA.

2. A search for fingerprints is usually done on a body before it is
moved to the mortuary since it is also a source of physical
evidence. The technology used in collecting the fingerprints
and analyzing them has been refined from one decade to the
other. Fingerprints are necessary as individualizing evidence
since they can link an individual to crime due to their
uniqueness. There are no people who have the same
fingerprints.
Identification is made when a fingerprint from a crime scene is
linked to another one from a suspect or a database. DNA is a
new technology that allows the crime investigators to match the
biological samples acquired from a crime scene to a criminal.
DNA evidence is admissible in court and therefore is frequently
used. The evidence is linked to DNA profiles of offenders
through national, state and local DNA databases known as the
Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
Part 1B- Tier 1
Selected topic name
Real or physical evidence
Definition of key terms
Physical evidence -Involves objects that are found at the scene
of a crime.
Real evidence-Describes evidence that is tangible and is often
used interchangeably with physical evidence
Fingerprints- used as individualizing evidence since they can
link an individual to crime due to their uniqueness.
DNA-A new technology that allows the crime investigators to
match the biological samples acquired from a crime scene to a
criminal.
Crime scene-A place that is under investigation because a crime
took place at that location
A criminal-An individual who is guilty of a crime
History
During the late 1980’s and early 90’s, States started passing
laws that required offenders convicted of several offenses to
give their DNA samples. The DNA samples could be used to

3. identify the criminal and their link with the offense they have
been convicted of committing. Currently, all States and federal
government have passed laws that require the provision of DNA
samples for some categories of criminals. Fingerprint
identification was developed for offender’s record keeping. It
was developed to facilitate the storage and the retrieval of
criminal histories of offenders by the State.
Current strategies
All the aspects of the criminal justice system have computer
programs that are associated with the work of law enforcement
ranging from DNA testing to collection of fingerprints. The
number of electronic systems that are now available to make the
criminal justice work more effective is growing rapidly.
Criminals are also using some of these technologies; therefore
the professionals in law enforcement need to remain a step
ahead in technology to fight unlawful usage.
Current and/or pending advancements and/or innovations
The database systems test and profile DNA, fingerprints and
they also offer crime mapping programs. This technology has
allowed professionals in the criminal justice to find information
and exchange easily and cheaply between them. Fingerprinting
is more advanced due to the presence of image enhancements
that makes the prints clearer. There are biometric tools that
efficiently analyze the fingerprints and also the professionals
have portable tools that are allowing them take prints in the
field.
Recommended advancements and/or innovations
Research and development equipments that will allow crime
laboratories to conduct DNA analysis quickly to ensure the
timely analysis of samples for a less cost. This will reduce the
capital investment for the crime laboratories while raising their
capacity to process more cases. There is also need to improve
technology in order to be able to examine very small traces
collected from the crime scene. Another recommendation is for
DNA portable labs that can be taken to crime scenes and test

4. multiple samples at a low cost and with immediate results.
Justification for recommendations
Technology recommendations will ensure that all the innocent
suspects have been eliminated from criminal investigations.
DNA samples take a period of time before they are processed;
there is need for immediate results to avoid the long wait that
causes backlogs of cases in the courts.
Plausibility and logistics of the implementation of
recommendations
The use of DNA and fingerprints can be improved by providing
funds to the criminal justice system and the governments
assisting to ensure that technology realizes its full potential in
solving crimes. Also, to clear the pending backlogs of DNA
samples for serious crimes, the criminal justice needs funding to
improve the capacity of crime laboratories.
Anticipated impact of implementation of recommendations in
regards to the collection and utilization of criminal evidence in
the criminal justice system
Implementation of the recommendations will help solve crimes
and prevent some of the Nation’s serious violent crimes from
happening again. Suspects will be cleared and the persons
accused mistakenly and convicted will be exonerated, and there
will be increased accuracy and fairness in law enforcement.
Tier 2
Dangers posed by genetic identification and wrongful
convictions have been associated with deep causes that are more
than the choice of a specific identification technology. The
criminal justice avoidance to be surprised by the available new
technologies that are rapidly approaching can be an occasion for
investigating more on the causes that continues to make the
criminal justice system error-prone. Fingerprints and DNA are
some of the most used items in the physical evidence. They help
the crime investigators to easily know the perpetrators of a
crime. The fingerprints are collected and then matched to a
DNA profile that is easily found on the State’s computer
database. Physical evidence that has been tampered with is

5. inadmissible in court.
References
Allen, C., Taylor, C., & Nairns, J. (2015). Practical guide to
evidence. Routledge.
Bachman, R., & Schutt, R. K. (2013). The practice of research
in criminology and criminal justice. Sage.
Cole, G. F., Smith, C. E., & DeJong, C. (2015). The American
system of criminal justice. Nelson Education.
Eck, J. E., & Weisburd, D. L. (2015). Crime places in crime
theory. Crime and place: Crime prevention studies, 4.
Erol-Kantarci, M., & Mouftah, H. T. (2013). Smart grid forensic
science: applications, challenges, and open issues. IEEE
Communications Magazine, 51(1), 68-74.
Garland, N. M. (2015). Criminal evidence (7th ed.). New York,
NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Murphy, E. (2013). Mismatch between Twenty-First-Century
Forensic Evidence and Our Antiquated Criminal Justice System,
The. S. Cal. L. Rev., 87, 633.
Neubauer, D. W., & Fradella, H. F. (2015). America's courts
and the criminal justice system. Cengage Learning.
Siegel, L. J., & Worrall, J. L. (2013). Introduction to criminal
justice. Nelson Education.
SwaSwanson, C. R., Chamelin, N. C., Territo, L., & Taylor, R.
W. (2012). Criminal investigation (11th ed.). New York, NY:
McGraw-Hill.