LEGAL NURSE NEWS: FORENSICS- The Present, Past, and Future
FORENSICS- is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences used to answer questions of interest to a legal system in relation to a crime or a civil action. Many Legal Nurses have expanded their practice by adding forensic training to their repertoire. Forensic science is used to investigate criminal cases involving a victim, such as assault , robbery, kidnapping, rape, murder and civil cases such as forgeries, fraud, or negligence. Due to advancement in technology in the past decade, many cold cases have been brought back to life.
For instance, in 2001, the combination of two different types of DNA tests, the short tandem repeats test (STR) with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allowed investigators to re-exam evidence which enabled them to amplify and compare samples. These tests proved indispensable, allowing scientists to sequence and copy very short fragments of DNA taken from crimes scenes. Together, these tests closed a 20-year-old cold case, The Green River Killer.
Gary Ridgeway, after confronted with the genetic evidence, pleaded guilty to killing 48 women, mostly prostitutes, during the period of 1982-2001. He was sentenced to 48 consecutive life sentences with no chance at parole.
A report posted on creativityinserialkillers.com, by N.A. Anderson, states that, "Ridgeway confessed that he continued his rampage because he felt that he could get away with it for several reasons: The women he victimized were runaways or prostitutes so no one would go looking for them immediately." But luckily for the Forensic Analyst, Ridgeway did not always wear condoms and left semen in four of the many corpses. This oversight by Ridgeway provided DNA to be retested 19 years later, which helped catch and convict the Green River Serial Killer.
Many of the experts that contributed to this case specialized in DNA identification of decomposed or damaged remains, DNA forensics, STR-PCR, etc. For years, local prosecutors send their samples to private labs for testing due to the lack of Experts in this field. Dr. Barry Logan, forensics crime lab director in Washington, has submitted a plan to meet increasing demands for DNA testing. He has asked for 4 million dollars to hire about 40 more scientists and improve equipment and facilities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for forensic scientists will increase by 20 percent or more between 2008-2018. Most work for the local government, followed by state governments, hospitals, investigation and security services, and labs. For more information on how to become a Certified Forensic Criminal Evidence Analyst, please call 866-933-2562.
Refereces: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009. www.karisable.com. Elizabeth Svoboda -www.nytimes.com. www.investigation.discovery.com. N.A. Henderson- www.creativityinserialkillers.com. www.dictionary.com.
For instance, in 2001, the combination of two different types of DNA tests, the short tandem repeats test (STR) with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allowed investigators to re-exam evidence which enabled them to amplify and compare samples. These tests proved indispensable, allowing scientists to sequence and copy very short fragments of DNA taken from crimes scenes. Together, these tests closed a 20-year-old cold case, The Green River Killer.
Gary Ridgeway, after confronted with the genetic evidence, pleaded guilty to killing 48 women, mostly prostitutes, during the period of 1982-2001. He was sentenced to 48 consecutive life sentences with no chance at parole.
A report posted on creativityinserialkillers.com, by N.A. Anderson, states that, "Ridgeway confessed that he continued his rampage because he felt that he could get away with it for several reasons: The women he victimized were runaways or prostitutes so no one would go looking for them immediately." But luckily for the Forensic Analyst, Ridgeway did not always wear condoms and left semen in four of the many corpses. This oversight by Ridgeway provided DNA to be retested 19 years later, which helped catch and convict the Green River Serial Killer.
Many of the experts that contributed to this case specialized in DNA identification of decomposed or damaged remains, DNA forensics, STR-PCR, etc. For years, local prosecutors send their samples to private labs for testing due to the lack of Experts in this field. Dr. Barry Logan, forensics crime lab director in Washington, has submitted a plan to meet increasing demands for DNA testing. He has asked for 4 million dollars to hire about 40 more scientists and improve equipment and facilities.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for forensic scientists will increase by 20 percent or more between 2008-2018. Most work for the local government, followed by state governments, hospitals, investigation and security services, and labs. For more information on how to become a Certified Forensic Criminal Evidence Analyst, please call 866-933-2562.
Refereces: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009. www.karisable.com. Elizabeth Svoboda -www.nytimes.com. www.investigation.discovery.com. N.A. Henderson- www.creativityinserialkillers.com. www.dictionary.com.
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