CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORENSICS
Eclpse1
crj311week3discussion2feedback.docxArson dogs are useful tools for finding accelerants in locations where human investigators cannot. Some believe that arson dogs and their indication of possible accelerant residue should not be used as evidence in court.
Do you think arson dogs come up with better results than a chemical sniffer? Why or why not? Provide evidence to support your opinion.
If your last name begins with A-L, argue your opinion for allowing arson dog findings to be entered into court.
If your last name begins with M-Z, argue your opinion for preventing arson dog findings to be entered into court.
This Assignment above is already complete your next assignment is to:
Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts.
You Must Provide Feedback on what they have written.
You should include your thoughts associated with their posted information.
Additionally, you are to contribute to the discussion by adding support or constructive alternatives to your classmates’ posts.
Each response should be a minimum of 200 words.
You are to provide feedback from two students discussion posts
Two discussion posts 200 words each= 400 words total for the two different student responses
First Student Response from Valerie Hund
The evidence in a fire scene is not as readily available as it may be in some other scene. During the process of extinguishing fires evidence may be lost due to the contamination of the scene. Firefighters have been through the entire scene which may result in damage to evidence, and the fire itself is cause for losing some evidence as well (Gaensslen R.E. & Larsen K., 2013). Because of this arson dogs are used to help find where a fire is started based on the accelerants used. These dogs are specially trained to detect very small quantities of ignitable vapors, something impossible for humans to do.
I do believe that arson dogs can come up with better results than a chemical sniffer. Specialized training to operate the machine would have to be done, machines need calibrated and also human error alone is a reason for errors. If any part of the calibration records are missing or out of date, cases can be thrown out of court (Gaensslen R.E. & Larsen K.,2013). Dogs on the other hand need no calibration nor can human error be a factor. It is proven that the sensitivity of a dog’s sense of smell is greater than that of any human or chemical sniffer (Gaensslen R.E. & Larsen K.,2013). Once the evidence is found as long as it is properly handled and packaged to be sent to the lab the findings should be just as, if not more, legitimate than that of a chemical sniffer. Because of this any evidence found by these well trained animals should be allowed and entered as evidence in a court.
References:
Gaensslen, R.E., & Larsen, K. (2013). Introductory forensic science. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.
Second Student Response from Towyna Williams
Yes I believed that arson dogs come up with better results than a chemical sniffer, They have good noses, and an arson dog is capable of detecting trace amounts of materials which would be almost impossible to find using other means. Dog when train properly they can sniff out anything, These are dogs specially trained to detect very small quantities of hydrocarbon ignitable liquid vapors Gaensslen, R.E., & Larsen, K. (2013);but there can be a situation where it can derail the dog from sniffing out arson chemicals. For once preventing arson dog findings to be entered into court can be a con for the accelerants are exposed to air they begin to fade and evaporate and a dog could be too late in smelling it, which can be a big problem, another thing. Despite all of the help that arson dog gives, the dog is not perfect. The dog is only a tool to help arson investigators locate the spots where the evidence of chemical are. The dog alone cannot testify – it is up to their handlers and the arson investigators to make sure the dog’s findings are used in a valuable way, to catch and prove in court.
References:
Gaensslen, R.E., & Larsen, K. (2013). Introductory forensic science. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc
