How can forensic crime scene analysis assist with developing offender Essay

How can forensic crime scene analysis assist with developing offender profiles Illustrate your answer with examples - Essay Example For the profiler the process begins at the scene of the crime – the pieces needed in order to solve the puzzle are found here, and it would be impossible to proceed without a thorough investigation of the crime scene. Forensic evidence, details concerning the mode of attack, the victim chosen and other pertinent details are collected by the profiler and these serve as the foundation on which the offender profile is developed. Thus the importance of forensic crime scene analysis in developing the offender profile cannot be stressed enough. The evidence gathered at the scene of the crime, both physical and behavioural serves as the springboard on which the profiler gains access to the criminal mind. Over the years, forensic technology has improved vastly and has had a tremendous impact on police investigations as we know it. Some people go as far as to say that the infamous Jack the Ripper would have been nabbed if Scotland Yard could have had the benefits of the enhanced forensic technology available today. Be that as it may, evidence in the form of a fingerprint left on the crime scene, a shoe print, physical evidence like hair, fibres, semen, blood or other bodily fluids can go a long way in helping the police to identify the perpetrator. Locard’s Exchange Principle was a groundbreaking development in forensic technology. According to Saferstein, it â€Å"†¦ states that when an offender comes into contact with a location or another person an exchange of evidence occurs† (cited by Turvey, 2002, p.40). Consequently, the perpetrator leaves a part of himself behind while also taking something with him that is bound to link him to the crime. Physical evidence l eft behind may be compared against a database of known offenders and more often than not the identity of the perpetrator can be established. Fingerprint technology and