Crime Scene Evidence

Laying the Foundation for Crime Scene Evidence

In recent decades, significant advances in forensic technology and communications have revolutionized the art of collecting, sharing and using evidence to prosecute and convict accused criminals. These advances definitely make it easier for law enforcement (police and prosecutors) to put criminals away, but this not at the expense of the accused's constitutional rights to a fair trial. Therefore, courts have established different measures for ensuring that the forensic evidence that is used against a defendant is authentic and reliable. This paper will discuss the various safeguards in place and how law enforcement navigates through the process to maximize the benefit of the available forensic technology.

Generally speaking, on order for forensic evidence to be used against a defendant in court, the state must lay a proper foundation for that evidence. Specifically, this means the state must demonstrate that the evidence...
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