Atomic Spectroscopy Be Used As Evidence In Court Cases

What does it take to put a criminal behind bars? In the American legal system, a suspect must be proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. This can prove very challenging, as criminals can be obscenely proficient in covering their tracks. However, there are several methods of pinpointing a culprit. One of these methods is known as atomic spectroscopy. It can test the basic atomic makeup of substances, making it an invaluable tool to any team preparing a court case. Several different types of atomic spectroscopy have been used as evidence in court cases already. One such case was the People of the California versus Robert Blake. Atomic spectroscopy is a very useful tool for identifying substances and proving connections from the crime

A multitude of reliable evidence must be presented in order to put someone away. Prosecution and defense alike must spend months upon month building up a concrete case. A great deal of work must go into any case, but it all will unravel if the case does not have enough evidence. Evidence provides the solid backbone of solid facts necessary to prove someone innocent or guilty. Forensics is a branch of science dedicated to finding methods to take the often scant bits and pieces left at the scene of a crime and find a way to recreate the crime itself. A huge variety of methods are necessary to completely dissect a crime. One of these many methods is atomic spectroscopy. This is a method used to identify the elemental compositions of different types of trace evidence. There are a few different types of spectroscopy that fall under the category of atomic spectroscopy. One such sub-category is optical spectroscopy, which can be even further subdivided into both atomic emission spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Both can provide very useful information, but absorption is more

It accurately provides information on what elements are in a sample, though it can sometimes be open to interpretation as to where the different elements are from. However, the results of the test itself are very accurate. This method determines the concentration of atoms according to scientific and mathematical rules. So, it seems to live up to the Frye standard. The Frye standard states that the scientific technique is only admissible when the technique is generally accepted as reliable in the relevant scientific community. The actual test that atomic spectroscopy provides is accepted in the scientific community, as it accurately shows the concentrations of certain atoms within a sample. This data was shown in the case of the people vs. Robert Blake. The data given by atomic spectroscopy was deemed to be accurate. It was the reporting of the data and the samples themselves that were called into question. Yet, the actual data that atomic spectroscopy gives is supported by a scientific basis and is accepted by the scientific community. So, it lives up to the Frye