Question

How did increased access to modern transportation reduce the effectiveness of the old crime-solving methods? (A) It meant that criminals could escape from the crime scene faster than before. (B) It had no effect. (C) It made eyewitness accounts less reliable. (D) It made confessions less reliable.

Short answer

(A) It meant that criminals could escape from the crime scene faster than before.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Impact of Modern Transportation on Crime-solving Methods

First, let's consider what could change as a result of increased modern transportation access. This includes the ability to travel to distant locations and move more swiftly in and out of areas, which can impact how crimes are committed and resolved.

Analyzing Each Option

Now let's analyze each option: (A) It meant that criminals could escape from the crime scene faster than before. - With modern transportation, criminals can indeed get away from a crime scene more quickly. When compared to old methods of transportation, this makes it more challenging for law enforcement to track and apprehend suspects. (B) It had no effect. - It is unlikely that there would be no effect whatsoever on crime-solving methods due to increased access to modern transportation. It is unreasonable to assume that it would not change the way crimes are committed and solved in some way. (C) It made eyewitness accounts less reliable. - Improved transportation does not directly affect the reliability of eyewitness accounts. However, it may make it more difficult for witnesses to identify suspects, because individuals can move more quickly and may not be local to the area. (D) It made confessions less reliable. - This option does not have a direct connection to transportation. Transportation may impact how a criminal is found or tracked, but it does not change the nature of confessions or their reliability.

Choosing the Correct Answer

After analyzing each option, we can conclude that the correct answer is: (A) It meant that criminals could escape from the crime scene faster than before.

Key concepts

Modern Transportation

Modern transportation has drastically transformed how we move in today's world. It allows us to travel longer distances in a shorter amount of time, thanks to vehicles like cars, trains, and planes.
This accessibility plays a significant role in society, impacting many areas, including crime-solving. To understand this, consider how criminals benefit from modern transportation. With faster vehicles, escaping a crime scene becomes quicker and easier.
This challenges police forces to follow and capture suspects who now have the means to flee the area swiftly.

• Speed: Modern transportation increases the speed of movement, both for legitimate purposes and criminal activities.
• Distance: Offenders can move to other cities or countries, complicating the jurisdiction of a crime.
• Tracking: Advanced vehicles require law enforcement to enhance their tracking technologies.

These factors have made it essential for crime-solving techniques to evolve alongside advancements in transportation.

Crime-solving Methods

Crime-solving has always been an intricate and evolving field, where traditional methods once dominated. With the rise of modern transportation, law enforcement can no longer solely depend on these older strategies. Technology and mobility have introduced new complexities to crime-solving methods. For instance, the rapid travel between locations necessitates real-time tracking systems and databases that can keep up.
Police might use technologies like GPS and surveillance to follow suspects' routes effectively.

• Real-time tracking: Essential for monitoring fast-moving suspects.
• Integration: Police forces benefit from connected databases to share information quickly across jurisdictions.
• Innovation: New problem-solving methods are constantly being developed in response to advanced transportation.

Enhanced transportation has pushed traditional crime-solving methods to adapt by integrating modern technology and strategic planning.

Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitness accounts have been a cornerstone of crime evidence for centuries. Witnesses provide crucial details about events and suspects, but with increased modern transportation, challenges arise. While quick escapes enabled by vehicles can make identifying suspects harder, they do not directly reduce the reliability of eyewitnesses' memories. However, this means that law enforcement must take into account the possibility of suspects coming from distant places or being able to leave the area rapidly, complicating identification.

• Identification: With people moving faster, witnesses might only have a brief moment to see the suspect.
• Memory: Quick escapes mean witnesses must recall details under pressure and stress.
• Local vs. Non-local suspects: A suspect using fast transportation can easily be non-local, complicating witness accounts.

Despite these challenges, eyewitness accounts remain crucial, requiring police to carefully consider logistics and verification when evaluating them.