Chapter 1 Introduction to Forensic Science In school

Chapter 1 Introduction to Forensic Science “In school, every period ends with a bell. Every sentence ends with a period. Every crime ends with a sentence. ” —Stephen Wright, comedian

Introduction Objectives: § Define forensic science § Understand the growth and development of forensic science through history § Describe the steps used in the scientific method § Account for rapid growth of forensic labs in the past 40 years Chapter 1 1

Warm-Up Question What is forensic science? Chapter 1

Forensic Science § Forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil laws. § The word forensic is derived from the Latin “forensis” meaning forum, a public place where, in Roman times, senators and others debated and held judicial proceedings. § We will cover the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. Chapter 1 3

Why study Forensic Science? § You will use science to study physical evidence, such as fingerprints and blood § Learn how to investigate and analyze crime scenes § Understand how forensic science is used in the service of the law Video - what is forensic science? Chapter 1

Ted Bundy, Serial Killer § Responsible for 40 murders between 1964 and 1978 § His victims were typically young women and murdered with a blunt instrument or strangulation § He was charged with murder based on matching bite marks on victim’s body Chapter 1 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 5

Forensic science encompasses many different sciences § § § Biology Chemistry Physics Geology Computer Technology Chapter 1 6

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Professions that practice Forensic Science u. Criminalistics u. Toxicology u. Odontology u. Pathology/Biology u. Physical Anthropology u. Digital and Multimedia Sciences Chapter 1 8

Project History of the Development of Forensic Science Due Date: You will choose a topic or scientist that somehow contributed to the development of forensic science. Email me your topic. This is a first come first serve basis. Create a small poster that describes your event or person. You are to research the topic and provide the following information to the class. It should include: • A detailed summary of the event or person describing their significance in the development of forensic science. • All work should be written/typed in a font large enough to read • Heading or Title at the top of the poster • The date when the event took place under the heading. • At least one picture, photo or drawing. • Please reference your source(s) on the back. • Your name and block on the back. Chapter 1

History and Development of Forensic Science § Earliest record of applying forensics to solve a criminal case comes from third century China v A woman in China was suspected of murdering her husband burning his body. v A coroner experimented with pigs and determined the wife had lied about her husband’s death Chapter 1 10

Forensic Science Timeline § Orfila (1814) father § Landsteiner (1901) of forensic discovered A, B, O toxicology blood types § Bertillon (1879) § Lattes (1915) father of criminal developed a simple identification technique for (anthropometry) identifying blood group of dried blood § Galton (1892) first to stains study and classify fingerprints Chapter 1

1814 Mathieu Bonaventure Orfila § In 1814, published the first scientific study of the effects of poisons on animals § Father of forensic toxicology § In 1840, gave expert testimony in a French arsenic poisoning murder case Chapter 1

1879 - Alphonse Bertillon § Considered the Father of criminal identification § Developed the science of measurement called Anthropometry § Based on taking a specific series of body measurements as a means of personal identification Chapter 1

Anthropometry There were eleven measurements: 1. 2. Height Stretch: Length of body from left shoulder to right middle finger when arm is raised 3. Bust: Length of torso from head to seat, taken when seate 4. Length of head: Crown to forehead 5. Width of head: Temple to temple 6. Length of right ear 7. Length of left foot 8. Length of left middle finger 9. Length of left cubit: Elbow to tip of middle finger 10. Width of cheeks 11. Length of left pinky Chapter 1

History and Development of Forensic Science § Hans Gross—wrote the first treatise describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation. § Edmond Locard—incorporated Gross’ principles within a workable crime laboratory. v Locard’s Exchange Principle— states that when a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs. v Locard help solve a case involving counterfeit coins Chapter 1 15

Locard Principle in Action You have 2 children and a cat. You run out to take care of some errands that include stopping at a furniture store, the laundry, and the house of a friend who has one child and a dog. From a forensic standpoint, this sequence of events can provide a gold mine of information. What “traces” of you are left behind at each stop? What evidence of each stop do you take with you? Chapter 1

Crime Laboratories Ø A facility specifically dedicated to forensic analysis of criminal evidence. Chapter 1 17

Crime Lab History § First police crime lab in the world was established in France in 1910 by Edmond Locard § First police crime lab in the U. S. opened in 1923 in Los Angeles § The first FBI crime lab opened in 1932, under the directorship of J. Edgar Hoover Video 1 Boulder Crime Lab Video 2 Utah Crime Lab Video 3 Boston Bombing Chapter 1 18

The Crime Lab § The development of crime laboratories in the United States has been characterized by rapid growth § At present, approximately 400 public crime laboratories operate at various levels of government—federal, state, county, and municipal. Chapter 1 19

The Crime Lab § The ever increasing number of crime laboratories is partly the result of the following: Ø Supreme Court decisions in the 1960 s responsible for police placing greater emphasis on scientifically evaluated evidence. Ø Crime laboratories inundated with drug specimens due to accelerated drug abuse. Ø The increase of DNA profiling. Chapter 1 20

Major Crime Laboratories § § § FBI DEA ATF U. S. Postal Service U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service http: //www. veoh. com/watch/v 189007707349 fgsp? h 1=Modern+Marvels+-+FBI+Crime+Lab Chapter 1 21

Crime Lab—Basic Services § Physical Science Unit § Chemistry § Physics § Geology § Biology Unit § Firearms Unit § Document Examination Unit § Photography Unit Chapter 1 22

Physical Science Unit § Applies principals and techniques of chemistry, physics and geology to the identification and comparison of crime -scene evidence § Evidence can be drugs, glass, paint, explosives and soil Chapter 1

Biology Unit § Biologists and biochemists identify and perform DNA profiling § DNA can be extracted from bloodstains, body fluids, hairs § Compare and identify hairs and fibers, wood, plants and other botanical materials Chapter 1

Firearms Unit § Examine garments and other objects that might be exposed to gunshot residue and target distance § Examines firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells and ammunition of all types § Also examine tool marks Chapter 1

Document Examination Unit § Studies handwriting, typewriting on questioned documents § Determines authenticity and or certifies source of document § Analyzes paper, ink, writing depressions, obliterations, erasures, and burned or charged documents Chapter 1

Photography Unit § Examines and records physical evidence § Uses digital imaging, infrared, ultraviolet and X-ray photography § Make invisible information visible Demo Chapter 1

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Optional Crime Laboratory Services THESE SERVICES ARE FOUND IN CENTRALIZED LABORATORIES: Ø TOXICOLOGY UNIT Ø LATENT FINGERPRINT UNIT Ø POLYGRAPH UNIT Ø VOICEPRINT ANALYSIS UNIT Ø CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATION UNIT Chapter 1

Toxicology Unit § Examines body fluids and organs to determine the presence or absence of drugs or poisons Chapter 1

Latent Fingerprint Unit § Processes and examines evidence for latent (or nonvisible) fingerprints or palm prints Chapter 1

Polygraph Unit § Polygraph (lie detector) technology is usually used by criminal investigators § Technicians are trained in interrogation techniques Chapter 1

Voiceprint Analysis § Believed that speech patterns are unique to an individual § Analysis of telephoned threats or taped messages § Uses sound spectrograph, that transforms speech into a visual graphic display called a voiceprint Chapter 1

Crime-scene Investigation Unit § Specially trained personnel that travel to a crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence § Must be able to distinguish between physical evidence that is valuable and that which is not Chapter 1

Special Forensic Science Services § A number of special forensic science services are available to the law enforcement community to augment the services of the crime laboratory. § These services include forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, forensic psychiatry, forensic odontology, forensic computer and digital analysis, and forensic engineering. Chapter 1

Special Forensic Science Services § Forensic Pathology involves the investigation of unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths. Ø Forensic pathologists in their role as medical examiners or coroners are charged with determining cause of death. Ø The forensic pathologist may conduct an autopsy which is the medical dissection and examination of a body in order to determine the cause of death. Chapter 1 36

Special Forensic Science Services § Forensic Psychiatry is an area in which the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings is examined. § Forensic Odontology involves using teeth to provide information about the identification of victims when a body is left in an unrecognizable state. Also investigates bite marks. Chapter 1

Special Forensic Science Services §Forensic Anthropology deals with the identification and examination of human skeletal remains. § Forensic Engineering is concerned with failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and causes and origins of fires or explosions. § Forensic Entomologist – studies insects and their relation to a criminal investigation Chapter 1

Functions of a Forensic Scientist § Applies physical and natural science techniques to analyze the many types of physical evidence (Only physical evidence is free of error or bias) § Subjects all physical evidence to principals of Scientific Method § Explain the significance of the results in a court of law as an expert witness Chapter 1

The Expert Witness The expert witness presents scientific evidence in court. He/She will: ØEstablish credibility through credentials, background experience. ØEvaluate evidence. ØExpresses an opinion about the evidence. ØThe judge may accept or reject the opinion’s significance. Video Chapter 1

Introduction to Forensic Science and the Law Federal Rules of Evidence Ø In order for scientific evidence to be admitted in a court of law, it must be: Ø Probative: actually proves something Material: addresses an issue that is relevant to the particular crime Chapter 1 Do Not Write!

Admissibility of Evidence The Frye Standard From the 1923 case Frye v. United States Ø Scientific evidence is allowed into the courtroom if it is generally accepted by the relevant scientific community. ØThe Frye standard does not offer any guidance on reliability. ØThe evidence is presented in the trial and the jury decides if it can be used. Chapter 1

Admissibility of Evidence The Daubert Ruling From the 1993 case Daubert v. Dow ØThe judge decides if the evidence can be entered into the trial. Admissibility is determined by: Whether theory or technique can be tested Whether the science has been offered for peer review Whether the rate of error is acceptable Whether the method at issue enjoys widespread acceptance Whether theory or technique follows standards Chapter 1

The Scientific Method Scientific method – A process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information § § Formulate a question worthy of investigation. Formulate a reasonable hypothesis to answer the question. Test the hypothesis through experimentation. Analyze data and validate of the hypothesis, it becomes suitable as scientific evidence. § Formulate a conclusion *After evidence is validated, it becomes suitable as scientific evidence to be allowed for admission in a court of law Chapter 1

Exploring Forensic Science on the Internet Ø www. forensicpage. com Ø www. forensic. to/forensic. html Ø www. officer. com Chapter 1 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 45