Use of Insect Evidence in Criminal Investigations: Developing a Framework for Strengthening of the Justice System

Forensic entomology is the utility of arthropods/ insects in legal investigations. Insects are an important component of cadavers feeding on the nutrient rich resource provided to them by nature. In doing so they are performing the important ecological service of decomposition. Blow flies are among...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPakistan journal of criminology Vol. 9; no. 4; p. 1
Main Author Zaidi, Farrah
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Peshawar Pakistan Society of Criminology 01.10.2017
Subjects
Arthropods
Child abuse & neglect
Criminal investigations
Criminal justice
Death & dying
Discipline
Drug abuse
Entomology
Environmental conditions
Forensic sciences
Higher education
Human remains
Insects
Law enforcement
Legal system
Time
Pakistan
China
India
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Forensic entomology is the utility of arthropods/ insects in legal investigations. Insects are an important component of cadavers feeding on the nutrient rich resource provided to them by nature. In doing so they are performing the important ecological service of decomposition. Blow flies are among the first insects arriving at the body and laying their eggs. The larvae that hatch out of the eggs are necrophagous i.e. they feed on flesh. The flies pupate in soil/dirt beneath the body. The development time of flies is specific for instance 9-10 days for oriental latrine fly. This time period allows the entomologists to calculate the time of death roughly corresponding with the time of egg laying. Besides estimating the time of death, forensic entomology in some cases can also determine child neglect, drug use prior to death and identifying potential assailants. In order to strengthen our justice system training workshops in the discipline should be made mandatory for the law enforcement agencies. A frame work should be developed to gradually incorporate the discipline in the legal system. For this purpose the science should be given its due share in the curricula of institutes of higher education and collaborative efforts must be taken to educate the current and future law enforcement professionals.
ISSN:2074-2738
2222-6648