Benefit Of Forensic Science Essay

What are the benefits of forensic science? Why is the application of forensic science in courtrooms beneficial? Can forensic science further lead to less cases where innocent people are put into prison for something they did not commit? It is said that "Since 1989, there have been tens of thousands of cases where prime suspects were identified and pursued—until DNA testing proved that they were wrongly accused" (Innocence Project, 2016). It is time, at last, to speak the truth about forensic science, and the truth is this. Forensic science is a reliable source for acquitting the wrongfully accused thus making its application a major benefit in courtrooms. To begin with, the use of forensic science in courtrooms is a major benefit due to the fact that its application can lead to less individuals in prison for something they did not commit. One of the many cases where an individual had been sent to prison for something they did not commit and later were found innocent is the case of Larry Fisher. This individual spent 23 years in prison when "DNA evidence proved that he, not David Milgaard, raped and murdered Gail Miller, a Saskatoon nursing assistant, in 1969" (Robertson, 2015). This is one of the cases where forensic science and its application led to an individual 's freedom after spending his early adulthood in prison for a crime he did not commit. This case proves that forensic science can go a long way in making sure less people go to prison for something they did not commit. Overall, cases similar to this one can be prevented earlier using forensic science which means that there would be less cases of wrongful convictions meaning fewer individuals who are innocent would go to prison making it a major benefit in courtrooms. To continue, according to Alan Johnson from The Columbus Dispatch (2012), "More than 2,000 people falsely convicted of serious crimes ranging from murder to child sex offenses have been exonerated by DNA in the U.S. during the past 23 years". This statistic means that 2,000 people wasted many years in prison for a crime they didn 't commit when they were exonerated by forensic science. The use of forensic science freed 2,000 people meaning the application of forensic science led to less innocent individual 's in prison. Therefore the use of forensic science in courtrooms will make sure less individual 's who don 't belong in prison do not end up in prison for a crime they did not commit which makes forensic science beneficial in courtrooms. To examine further, statistics show that many individuals were in prison but have been exonerated due to forensic science. Statistics say that "There have been 317 post-conviction DNA exonerations …show more content…
As regards to The Innocence Project, they state that forensic science resulted in "147 true suspects and/or perpetrators identified. Those actual perpetrators went on to be convicted of 146 additional violent crimes, including 77 sexual assaults, 34 murders, and 35 other violent crimes while the innocent sat behind bars for their earlier offenses." Not only can forensic science acquit the wrongfully accused but it can also help in finding the real perpetrator. As the statistics show, 147 of the real perpetrators have been put into prison so they don 't commit any other crimes which is another benefit forensic science provides. While acquitting the accused, the same forensic evidence allows to find the real suspect. In addition, there have been many cases where the wrongfully convicted had been acquitted based on forensic science, and the same forensic science led them to determine the real suspect. One of the many cases is the case of Frank Lee Smith who was at first convicted of rape and murder but then " On December 15, 2000, eleven months after his death, and fourteen years after his 1986 conviction, Frank Lee Smith was exonerated based on exculpatory DNA testing results. These results not only cleared Smith of the crime, but identified the true …show more content…
Forensic science ensures there are less innocent individuals in prison who have not committed any crime, that justice is served by putting the real perpetrator in prison and that taxpayers pay taxes for the benefit of the community rather than incarcerating innocent individuals who were wrongfully