#1:In 1995 Jack Dempsey was convicted for setting fire to a Cleveland, Ohio building. Firefighters found Mr. Dempsey unconscious in the basement of the building as it burned. Police charged him with arson and he served more than six years in prison. However, his conviction has been overturned and he has been awarded more than $300,000 in damages. You can read about the case and Mr. Dempsey's settlement here:
https://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/02/cleveland_man_wrongfully_convi.html.
After reading about the case, please answer the following questions. Be sure to use scholarly and professional sources to support your assertions. Cite your sources throughout the body of your work and list your references at the end of your initial post:
Analyze commonly accepted forensic techniques and contemporary specialized techniques regarding fire/arson investigation focusing on whether or not they were used in this case and how that use, or failure to use, influenced the investigation.
Discuss why you think police believed Mr. Dempsey set fire to the building? Briefly define cognitive bias then discuss what role cognitive bias may play in classifying a fire as an arson.
Discuss some motives for committing arson including the most common. Based on what you read in the news story, did it appear that Mr. Dempsey had any motive to set the building on fire?
Evaluate accepted methodologies employed in contemporary crime scene management and how these methodologies were or were not employed in this investigation.
Generally speaking, what are the challenges for CSIs with determining whether a fire scene is actually arson or simply an accident? Include a brief explanation of how to process and retrieve trace evidence in a fire scenario.
#2:The purpose of forensics investigations and the analysis of evidence is to exonerate the innocent and to provide evidence against the guilty. Physical evidence is used to support or repudiate eyewitness testimony. As this week's articles and videos suggest, even physical evidence may be difficult for some to accept. Drawing on the readings and additional research, this discussion asks you to evaluate the value of firearms and ballistics evidence and to analyze why it is sometimes brought into question. Evaluate the circumstances that might result in some not believing the scientific evidence.
Although you may be inclined toward one position, being able to debate your position involves being aware of the opposing position. In this debate-style discussion, we may have heated arguments and everyone's commitment to netiquette and mutual respect is expected. Therefore, even if you adamantly oppose the position formulated by a peer, remember to support your opposition using the resources you consulted and ensure your opposition represents an informed opinion.
Using two scholarly resources, evaluate accepted methodologies employed in contemporary crime scene management that relate to firearms and ballistics evidence and how these influence the validity of the evidence.
Analyze commonly accepted forensic techniques and contemporary specialized techniques that relate to firearms and ballistics evidence, and evaluate how the use or failure to use these techniques impacts the value of the evidence.
Examine judicial expectations and requirements relative to the admittance of evidence collected by forensic crime scene investigators that relate to firearms and ballistics evidence and how the actions, inactions, and the statements of investigators impact the validity and value of evidence.
Provide at least one argument in support of each side of the controversy. After considering both sides of the issue, clearly state your position and rational.