Case: Presented handwriting analysis as evidence of special interest to the case.
Using the Internet, your textbook, or any other available materials, research a notorious criminal case that either used shoe impressions, tire impression evidence, handwriting analysis or alternative light source evidence (depending on the case type assigned to you from above).
Individual Portion(Part I)
After researching a case, complete the following:
- Briefly summarize the case.
- Provide specifics about the investigation/background of the case. Were there any problems associated with handling the evidence in this case?
- If your case includes more than one type of evidence, other than the required evidence in your assigned case, please note that as well.
Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.
Group Portion
In the Group Discussion Board, each person is to present his or her findings to the group. Discuss how a criminalist may properly collect, preserve, and analyze the evidence presented in each of the cases (best practices).
Also, discuss some of the specific laboratory techniques that may be conducted to analyze the evidence. (If you are researching an older case, provide information about how that evidence might be analyzed today).
Individual Portion(Part II)
After your discussion, each person will have the following information for his or her case:
- A summary of the case (from Individual Portion)
- Written material providing specifics about the investigation/background of the case, including any problems associated with handling the evidence in this case (from Individual Portion)
- How a criminalist may properly collect, preserve, and analyze the evidence presented (from Group Portion)
- Specific laboratory techniques that may be conducted to analyze the evidence (from Group Portion)
- What is the importance of expert testimony? Explain.
- What problems exist with the use of expert witnesses? Explain.
- What role might an expert witness play in this particular case? Be specific.