Text 2. Crime Investigation
Forensic science and scientific expertise serve the administration of justice by providing scientific support in the investigation of crime and providing evidence to the courts. Scientific expertise is available on a case-by-case basis to different law enforcement agencies. It is very important during investigation of many crimes, particularly fires where arson is suspected, cases involving DNA profiling and offences involving the use of firearms.
The scientists have a wide range of experience in fire-scene examination, incl. fatal fires in domestic premises, large industrial fires and vehicle fires.
DNA profiling is a revolutionary scientific testing process, which can positively identify an individual from a specimen of blood, hair roots, tissue, etc. Its application to crime specimens represents the greatest advance in forensic science in decades. The vast potential of DNA profiling is recognized by the police and the legal profession, and its use in criminal investigation has increased.
Forensic science experts provide advice on firearms and related matters and assistance in the investigation of shooting incidents. When presented with a suspect weapon, the expert is able to establish whether or not it was the weapon used in a crime. Experts are particularly adept in the microscopic examination of spent bullets and cartridge cases.
The expert also use fingerprints, method of identification using the impression made by the ridge patterns found on the fingertips. No two persons have exactly the same arrangement of ridge patterns, and the patterns of any one individual remain unchanged through life. Fingerprints may be classified and filed on the basis of the ridge patterns, setting up an identification system that is almost infallible.
I. Answer the questions.
1. What is the task of the forensic science?
2. What is DNA profiling?
3. Which specimen are used in DNA profiling?
4. Which procedures are used in firearms expertise?
5. Can two different persons have the same fingerprints?
II. Are these statements true or false according to the text?
1. Scientific expertise provides scientific support in the investigation of crimes.
2. DNA profiling is a long-existing procedure.
3. Only blood specimen can be used in DNA profiling.
4. The microscopic examination of spent bullets is used in firearms expertise.
5. Fingerprints change when a person gets older.
III. Insert the proper word into the following sentences and explain its meaning with the help of the dictionary.
1. Scientific … is available on a case-by-case basis to different law enforcement agencies.
2. … profiling is a revolutionary scientific testing process.
3. … science experts provide advice on firearms and related matters.
4. The experts also use … , method of identification using the impression made by the ridge patterns found on the fingertips.
5. No two persons have exactly the same arrangement of ridge … .
IV. Find a proper definition for the following words.
| 1) fingerprint | a) expert skill or knowledge in a particular field |
| 2) forensic | b) a regular and intelligible form or sequence |
| 3) expertise | c) an impression or mark made on a surface by a person's fingertip |
| 4) pattern | d) a weapon, esp. a portable gun or pistol |
| 5) firearms | e) relating to or denoting the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime |
V. Put the verb into the correct form.
1. DNA profiling (to become) an important branch of crime investigation recently.
2. Fingerprints (to be used) in forensic science.
3. Specialists (to identify) criminals using DNA profiling.
4. Forensic science experts (to provide) advice on firearms and related matters.
5. The word 'firearm' (to relate) to guns and pistols.
VI. Give a short summary of the text in English.
VII. Retell the text.
Essential vocabulary
| belongings | речі, пожитки |
| charge with | обвинувачувати, висувати обвинувачення у |
| dust | запиляти, запорошувати |
| hang | вішати |
| improve | покращувати, вдосконалювати |
| latent | прихований, латентний, у прихованому стані |
| measurement | розмір |
| powder | порошок, пудра |
| preserve | зберігати |
| proof | доказ |
| secretion | виділення, секреція |
| shopkeeper | крамар, власник (невеликої) крамниці |
| skin | шкіра |
| smooth | гладкий, рівний |
| subsequently | згодом, пізніше, опісля |
| supersede | заміняти, заміщати |
| thumb | великий палець (руки) |
| transmit | передавати |
| treat | поводитися |
| yield | давати, створювати |
Text 3. Fingerprints
Very many books and scientific papers have been published on the subject of fingerprints and the reference to “the prints from man’s hand” can even be found in the Bible.
The first recorded use of fingerprints was by the ancient Assyrians and Chinese for the signing of legal documents. The study of the application of fingerprints for useful forensic purposes was recorded in the latter part of the 17th century when, in 1684, the anatomist Doctor N. Grew published a paper on the subject which he illustrated with drawings of various fingerprints patterns. About the same period, in Italy, Prof. Malpigni was investigating the functions of the skin.
The use of fingerprints for identification purposes was proposed late in the 19th century by the British scientist Sir Francis Galton, who wrote a detailed study of fingerprints in which he presented a new classification system using prints of all ten fingers, which is the basis of identification systems still in use. Subsequently, the use of fingerprinting as a means for identifying criminals spread rapidly throughout Europe and the US, superseding the old system of identification by means of body measurements.
One of the cases involving the use of fingerprints identification was in 1905, when a thumb print left on a cash box at the scene of a murder in Deptford of shopkeepers Mr. and Mrs. Farrow, was identified as belongings to Alfred Stratton, one of two brothers. As a result they were jointly charged with the crime and subsequently hanged.
As crime-detection methods improved, law enforcement officers found that any smooth, hard surface touched by a human hand would yield fingerprints made by the oily secretion present on the skin. When these so-called latent prints were dusted with powder or chemically treated, the identifying fingerprint pattern could be seen and photographed or otherwise preserved. Today, law enforcement agencies can also use computers to digitally record fingerprints and to transmit them electronically to other agencies for comparison. By comparing fingerprints at the scene of a crime with the fingerprint record of suspected persons, officials can establish absolute proof of the presence or identity of a person.
I. Answer the questions.
1. When was the first recorded use of fingerprints?
2. When were they first used for forensic purposes?
3. Who proposed the use of fingerprints for identification purposes?
4. In what way did crime-detection methods improve?
5. How can fingerprints be preserved nowadays?
II. Are these statements true or false according to the text?
1. The first recorded use of fingerprints was by the ancient Egyptians for the signing of legal documents.
2. Sir Francis Galton was the first to study fingerprints.
3. During the 17th century fingerprints were studied only in Italy.
4. Americans were the first to use fingerprints in crime investigation.
5. Nowadays fingerprints can be preserved digitally.