Assignment:
TOPIC: UNSOLVED COLD CASES
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please review the following:
The articles:
- Policies and Practices in Cold Cases: An Exploratory Study
- The Impact of DNA Exonerations on the Criminal Justice System
- Cold Cases: Resources for Agencies, Resolution for Families
- The special report Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases
The videos:
- IBIS and a Cold Case (video above)
- Just Wrong: The Aftermath of Wrongful Convictions
- Power of Forensic DNA & Technology in Cold Case Prosecutions - Justice Journal Episode 1
The web pages:
- Cold Case Initiative
- Cold Case Investigations and Forensic DNA
Significant advances in forensic science and technology have been made in just the last 50 to 75 years. The two areas most significantly affected by these advances, which have allowed investigators to reevaluate old cases with new tools, are cold case investigations (i.e., usually homicide or sexual assault) and exonerating individuals wrongfully convicted.
From the perspective of your assigned topic, evaluate modern science's potential in reevaluating evidence from historical cases. Provide examples and specific details about what has changed and the impact it has had on the criminal justice system.
Readings:
1. The Impact of DNA Exonerations on the Criminal Justice System
By Margaret A. Berger
2. Policies and practices in cold cases: an exploratory study
By Robert C. Davis and Carl Jensen