Why do you think it is important to examine and understand the drug and toxicology levels of individuals involved in a crime? Is it more important to analyze the drug and toxicology levels of the suspect (cause) or the victim (effect)? Explain your response.
REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S POST TELLING WHY YOU AGREE BY PRESENTING QUESTIONS, ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS, CHALLENGES TO THEIR ASSUMPTIONS AND CLAIMS (WITH RESEARCH), ON HOW HE ARRIVED AT HIS CONCLUSIONS (MINIMUM OF 250 WORDS) MAKE SURE YOU ASK QUESTIONS IN THE DISCUSSION
CLASSMATE’ S POST
Forensic toxicology supports the investigative process in determining the presence of drugs within a body system. In examining body tissues, fluids, and blood, a determination can be rendered as to the behavior of a suspect before, during, and after a criminal act had been committed (Saferstein, 2021).
First, in this scenario, whether the perpetrator or the victim's toxicology report is more critical in the case. Toxicology will assist in the case by applying forensic science through methods toxicological applications and the use of the scientific method (Saferstein, 2021). Second, continued analysis of this week's discussion question reveals that the essence of the question involves the toxicology level involved in a case involving causation of harm (suspect) versus the effect of the causation (victim); thus, rendering a classic metaphoric causality in a "chicken and egg" dilemma.
Forensic scientists can positively detect a substance in a body system (Saferstein & Roy, 2021). With the knowledge of the level of importance within a suspect's system at the time of the commission of a crime, the scientist can testify to the type of behavior that could have been exhibited before, during, and after the crime. In the victim's case, the scientist can, with certainty, testify to the victim's mental and physical state along a timeline before, during, and after death (Saferstein & Roy, 2021). My concluding answer lies with the suspect's toxicological report primarily when credible physical or biometrics supports criminal involvement; thus, guilty adjudication must be made.
Conclusion
The importance of a toxicology report is weighted towards the suspect. The victim is served by justice being dealt to the offender. The prosecution's case rests on its ability to render enough credible evidence to persuade the jury that the accused's guilt rises to a level beyond a reasonable doubt. The victim suffers the causative effect in the actions of the perpetrator.
References
Saferstein, R., & Roy, T. (2021). Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science (13th ed.). Pearson. https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/97801352684070
