Forenics
Q1
A brief description of a case history entails a structured summary of the facts of a case and issues. Note that in evidence submission, there should be consistent information. An important point to note is that the submission form should also contain a brief description of the case history (Girard, 2006). Note that the evidence collected together with an evidence submission form is sent to the crime lab where forensic scientist uses the information to conduct analysis or test evidence. The importance of including the case history is to assist forensic science in understanding the essential details and perform additional analyses (Girard, 2006). In testing the evidence, the forensic scientist requires a brief history of the case to identify the facts and the procedurally significant facts.
Q2
First, it is important to note that an investigator should collect the evidence, document all items, and protect and preserve the information. Then, the evidence is transported to the crime lab. The forensic scientist presents the evidence to the court, and the court uses all the evidence to start court proceedings (Girard, 2006). Note that if an investigator fails to handle, collect, and pack the crime scene evidence properly, he or she breaks the chain of custody. Such evidence becomes tainted, inadmissible, and unacceptable (Girard, 2006). When the chain of custody is broken, the evidence is excluded at trial. Therefore, the evidence is an important element in the investigation, and thus, investigators should understand the manner in which the evidence should be collected, documented, and analyzed to avoid evidence exclusion at trial (Girard, 2006). It is also important to understand that the court will exclude the evidence if they find that it wastes time, it lacks material information, it is misleading, and it is hearsay, among other factors. Such evidence will not be used in the court, and it will be defined as irrelevant (Girard, 2006). It is important for the investigators to understand the evidence rules and make sure that the evidence is handled carefully for trial.
Reference
Girard, J. E. (2006). Criminalistics: Forensic science and crime. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and
Bartlett.
