Introduction
The use of mathematics in criminal justice is a very efficient and effective way of tracking down criminal activities. For instance, a ballistic expert can make use of forensic science in the study and critical analysis of firearms and bullets. In fact, the study of the path followed by bullets after shooting from firearms is all under ballistics. Additionally, an expert in this field will apply the scientific knowledge with basics in mathematics to establish the unique characteristics of the bullets after they have been released from the guns.
Statistics in criminal justice
The use of mathematics in criminal justice is a very efficient and effective way of tracking down criminal activities. For instance, a ballistic expert can make use of forensic science in the study and critical analysis of firearms and bullets. In fact, the study of the path followed by bullets after shooting from firearms is all under ballistics. Additionally, an expert in this field will apply the scientific knowledge with basics in mathematics to establish the unique characteristics of the bullets after they have been released from the guns (Florida Department of Law Enforcement 2008).
The knowledge applied here is purely scientific and therefore the police can hire the services of such experts to assist in the investigation of crime. In the course of the analysis, the bullets remains which were used at the crime scene are quantitatively assessed (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2010). This may involve the examination of guns used, the shell casings of the used bullets as well as the broken small pieces of the bullets. From these remainders, a mathematical model based on probability and statistics is used to give hint on the make of a specific weapon used. These procedures are encompassed in the process known as ballistic fingerprinting (Enhow 1999). The particular marks left on the used firearms are essential in correlating the firearm which was used at the scene of crime. Additionally, the likely distance from the shooting point can be determined. Moreover, the specific angle through which the bullet was shot is crucial in this analysis. The trajectory of the fired bullet is then determined using laser technology.
When investigations are being carried out, the blood spatter patterns are used as useful hints to the progression of the crime. This is achieved by relating the knowledge on arithmetic progression and number series to the blood patterns at the scene of crime.
The temperature of the body of the decreased person can also be mathematically used to establish the likely time of death of the crime victim.
Relating to statistics in a practical case, we take the case of Florida. In the year 2008, it was announced by the State’s Department of Law enforcement that violent crime had gone down by 2.4 percent for the initial half of that year (Bureau of Justice Statistics 2010). This report was on the basis of the data that was collected and submitted by 406 agencies that were involved in law enforcement for the criminal offenses that were reported to be committed between the month of January and June. Such data or statistics indicate that great efforts have been carried out by the law enforcement agencies to curb crime in the region.
The data is seen to be accurate since it is collected by several agencies; 406 in number. As a result, this shows a very close relationship between mathematics and criminal justice. The two cannot be separated when actual crime count is to be put into consideration. It is through the mathematical knowledge that clearly marked efforts which are aimed at the rigorous identification of crime rate are carried out by the law enforcement agencies in the criminal justice field (Florida Department of Law Enforcement 2008).
Conclusion
As it has been seen, there exists a strong relationship between mathematics and the discipline of criminal justice. The professionals in criminal justice may regularly require the knowledge of ballistic experts and forensic science to execute their duties more effectively. It is through this knowledge that some statistics are established in relation to particular criminal activities.
References
- Bureau of Justice Statistics (2010). Data Collections.
- Enhow (1999), “How is math used in criminal justice”.. Web.
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement (2008), “FDLE Crime statistics.” Miami Medical.