Acriminal justice professional working within the court systemmay need to understand how problem-solving methodologies are relevant to the court process, and how the methodologies may affect court processes and legal outcomes.

Having explored various approaches to problem-solving and analyzed how they can be used to reduce ormanage riskin Weeks 1 and 2, you will act as a criminal justice professional in this assessment to evaluate the use of the scientific method in criminal justice endeavors. You will explain how deductive and inductive reasoning are used to analyze and interpret solutions to issues.

You have been asked to testify in a court trial, and the prosecutor has asked you to explain the steps you might take to analyze the following crime scene to establish your credibility and experience in criminal investigations to the jury: Police were called to the 500 block of Main Street for an attempted assault. The suspect entered the home through an unlocked window in the rear of the home. The forensic team has collected a shoe print from the flower bed for evidence. Similar shoe prints were found at 8 other locations within the city where assaults have occurred.

• Summarize the 5 steps of the scientific method.
• Explain how at least 2 steps of the scientific method can be applied in the crime scene investigation.
• Explain how deductive and inductive approaches differ and how each can be used in the crime scene investigation.
• Provide 2 or 3 examples to illustrate and explain how the scientific method and deductive and inductive reasoning can help you manage risks during the crime scene investigation.