Crime scene investigation (CSI) is a crucial field, which allows criminal justice experts to apply scientific theories and logic to solve crimes and advance justice. The experts apply science to every aspect of the crime scene including ballistics, body fluids, and fingerprints. Modern forensic is quite advanced considering that it is enhanced by technology as compared to the initial CSI that dates back to the 18 th century. An analysis of some short videos would help to trace the history of CSI to understand how the field has developed over the years.
First CSI Lab
CSI laboratories are crucial in the forensic investigation since this is where tests are carried out, analyzed, and interpreted to link suspects with criminal activities. An interview with Dr. Richard Saferstein a former Chief Forensic Scientist establishes that the first crime lab was established in Lyons, France in 1910. The US had its first CSI lab in 1923 and was located in Los Angeles and this lab paved the way for another lab in 1932 by FBI founder, J Edgar Hoover. This CSI lab has grown to become the largest crime lab in the US and serves as a model crime lab both in the US and all over the world (Daily Motion. 2010a). The history of CSI lab is crucial as it points to the earliest efforts to apply scientific aspects to criminal investigations.
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Major Scientist Associated with CSI History
Modern CSI traces its roots to the works of various scientists who developed scientific and social frameworks for conducting investigations. The main scientist associated with modern CSI is Alphonse Bertillon a French biometric researcher and a police officer. Bertillon who was an anthropologist developed anthropometry a forensic investigation technique that predated fingerprinting (Daily Motion, 2010b). The technique was used to measure human body parts to correlate physical variations and in turn help in the identification of criminal suspects. Bertillon believed that if investigators took enough measurements they would have a foolproof identification strategy. This technique served the purpose at the time considering that technology was at its infantry stage and investigators had to rely on the existing measurements database.
Literature Supporting the Development of Early CSI
Early CSI relied on a book titled Criminal Investigation, which was written by Hass Gross, an Austrian who had no forensic science background. Hans a criminologist and a jurist established the need for applying scientific theories in criminal investigations and the book highlighted these possibilities. The use of scientific theories was a good addition to forensic investigation considering that at the time there were no effective technologies to guide the investigations. Bennell, Woodhams & Mugford(2018) note that scientific theories such as the linkage theory help to make connections between suspects, victims physical evidence, and the crime scene This book still serves as a crucial reference in the forensic science field. Hans may not have been forensic scientists but his experience with the criminal justice system informed the need for integrating scientific theories. Scientific theories such as the linkage theory help to make connections between suspects, victims, physical evidence, and the crime scene.
Sherlock Holmes as a Contributor to the History of CSI
Sherlock Holmes is a popular fictional literary character who was created by Arthur Conan Doyle, a Scottish writer. Sherlock is a character who applies deduction skills, intellect, and observation to solve complex crimes making him a popular detective. In as much as Sherlock is a fictional detective, he helped shape the history of crime scene investigation. Safertsein establishes that Sherlock Holmes not only inspired a generation of readers but also scientists. Holmes's approach to crimes advanced the CSI field since he applied logic and scientific tenets to link crimes with suspects. Sherlock Holmes may have inspired most of the practitioners who joined the forensic science field at the beginning of the 20 th century (Daily Motion, 2010c). Sherlock Holmes continues to be a model investigator and most of the crime scene investigation films appear to be aligned to Holmes's strategies.
References
Bennell C., Woodhams J., Mugford R. (2014) Linkage analysis for crime. In Bruinsma G., Weisburd D. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of criminology and criminal justice (pp. 225-250). Springer.
Daily Motion. (2010a). When was the first CSI lab established? [Video]. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg5m0q
Daily Motion. (2010b). Who was the first major scientist of modern CSI? [Video]. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg5m07
Daily Motion. (2010c). What role did Sherlock Holmes have in the history of CSI? [Video]. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg5m0b
