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Item Scientific approaches in bloodstain analysis (crime scene investigation)(2011)Forensic science or forensics is the scientific processing of information found at the crime scene. The facts derived from the analysis can be used as evidence in the justice system. Blood is one of the most common types of physical evidence found at a crime scene. Understanding how blood interacts with various surfaces is most important during analysis. This understanding and knowledge can lead to discovering details that are essential too reconstructing events at the crime scene. The process of deducting what events led to a given bloodstain pattern requires exigent and complex analysis. This thesis project seeks not to expound exigently. It presents calculationbased methods that automate point-of-origin and area-of-origin of the bloodstain. Blood leaving the body is subjected to atmospheric conditions: for example specific gravity and force. Surface tension will cause the blood drop to be pulled horizontally and vertically. Because blood droplets are influenced by drag force, the drops will settle into a spherical shape as a result of the surface tension. Determining the angle of impact requires measuring the stains length and width. The angle of impact can be defined as the acute angle which is formed between the area of the blood droplet and the target surface location. Point-of-convergence is the intersection of two bloodstain paths and is important in determining bloodstain directional travel. A stain on a surface can be traced based on the stains long axis. Understanding the bloodstain patterns allows the forensic analyst to interpret and provide the following information: type of weapon used in the crime and movement of victim and assailant after the bloodshed began.Item Self-defense spray and bank dye evidence: contributions of the forensic nurse(2004)The hospital based forensic nurse has not been fully recognized or incorporated into the healthcare setting; it is a relatively new concept that needs more exposure in order to conceptualize. Recent crime and healthcare related Statistics would be cited to document the need for forensic nurses and their incorporation into the healthcare field as an assistant to law enforcement in matters that have legal consequences. Typically, the forensic nurse is associated with the collection of evidence in sexual assault cases; as this was the basis of formation of the specialty. However, potentially, it has the ability for a much broader role. As an example of the expanded role for forensic nurses in the assessment, documentation and collection of evidence possibly related to a crime, this study will focus on two types of evidence that heretofore have received little notice. Self defense sprays, used by civilians and law enforcement, and exploding dye packs, incorporated by banks into bundles of cash and used as bank deterrents, have been known to cause injuries requiring medical treatment. Verbal interviews and written questionnaires will evaluate the current practice of the medical profession in terms of their ability to recognize these injuries and how to properly document, collect and preserve this type of evidence collection. A sample guideline outlining the collection of evidence related to self-defense sprays and bank dye packs will be researched and outlined. Finally, experimental results involving the detection of invisible but fluorescing dyes incorporated into many commercial self defense sprays will be presented, as well as methods for the collection from skin and clothing of dye traces possibly originating from bank dye packs.Item Securing gasoline-dispensing facilities from attack(2008)On September 11, 2001 terrorists successfully used large quantities of aviation gasoline as a weapon of mass destruction to destroy large iconic buildings in the United States. Federal regulations have since tightened the airline industry. However, 170,000 widely distributed public-access gasoline-dispensing facilities (GDFs) throughout the U.S. are inadequately secured from adversarial acts. Despite the lessons learned in the post 9/11 incident, physical security and fire prevention equipment in the gasoline dispensing facilities have remained the same. Visual observations on GDFs during this study revealed that majority of the external and internal covers for the common 10,000 to 20,000 gallon gasoline underground storage tanks are installed without security locks. There appears to be no physical security provided to GDF housing thousands of gallons of highly flammable gasoline. Simultaneous and re-occurring attacks on several well used GDFs resulting in large fires will cause the United States significant panic among public and commuting disruptions resulting in more defined economic harm with wider impact than terror attacks on iconic infrastructures. Clearly, the lack of governance in providing appropriate security for GDFs against attack is an oversight of our national security. This study reviews the security measures undertaken at typical gasoline-dispensing facilities (GDFs). Through research based on published literature, journals, and articles, this study provides new countermeasures required of GDFs to operate more securely. In addition, specific risk-mitigating structural design of a GDF is proposed to help deter, delay, and/or limit the vulnerability of a service gasoline station.Item Science fiction vs. real science: the influence of the "CSI effect" on the prosecution of felony cases(2010)Since its inception into our lives, television has become a staple in mainstream America. For some, situations are not true unless it is seen or talked about on television. Television is a reality in areas beyond one’s knowledge or experience. With the continuous advancement in science and its perception on our lives, forensic science has taken a leading role in what is portrayed as real life crime drama. Yet, reality in the spectrum of criminal trials is forensic evidence. There are numerous television shows that center around law enforcement and the solvability factors needed to close a case. There is great impact on America known as the “CSI Effect” and the stronghold on potential jurors and those that have the task of prosecuting cases across the country. This research explored the influence of the “CSI Effect” on the prosecution of felony cases in a large urban community. Using focus group interviews, this qualitative phenomenological study examined the perceptions of the impact that the “CSI Effect” has on their preparation and prosecution of felony homicide cases. Results found that potential jurors expect felony trial cases to have forensic evidence, to include, but not limited to, that which is seen on television as it pertains to crime drama shows. However, there is a small percentage of attorneys that feel more research needs to be obtained to gather results.Item Seat belt use- how safe are we? another option(2010)Too many people are injured, or worse killed, from not wearing seatbelts, or wearing them incorrectly. Seatbelts are designed to prevent the wearer from being ejected from the vehicle, or from hitting the interior of the vehicle causing injury. Some people who choose not to wear seat belts are afraid that they will be unable to get out of a vehicle if involved in a motor vehicle collision; specifically if it cathces fire, or is submerged in water. After survival of the initial impact- by providing antoher option or way to get out of the vehicle, it could give wearers of the restraint a better piece of mind if such issue occurred; as well as encourage others to "buckle up."
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