Forensic Science and Criminal Justice INTRODUCTION GAVS 1

Forensic Science and Criminal Justice INTRODUCTION GAVS 1 Introduction to Forensics and Criminal Justice

SFS 1. Students will recognize and classify various types of evidence in relation to the definition and scope of Forensic Science. a. Compare and contrast the history of scientific forensic techniques used in collecting and submitting evidence for admissibility in court (e. g. Locard’s Exchange Principle, Frye standard, Daubert ruling).

Learning Targets 1. I can describe how scientific discoveries have influenced the development of forensics as it applies to the law? 2. I can differentiate between the specialties and techniques used in a crime lab to process evidence and report findings. 3. I can describe the responsibilities of the Forensic Crime Lab and Forensic Scientist.

Forensic Comes from Latin word forensis, meaning forum originating from the Roman Forum in which a criminal charge was presented before the public. Both the accused and accuser would present a speech based on his side of the story.

Influential Forensic Scientists of the Past Albert Osborn (1858 -1946) “Father of Questioned Document Examination. ” Founded the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners in 1942. In 1932, the son of a famous aviator, Charles Lindbergh, was kidnapped and a ransom note left. Several spelling mistakes and grammatical habits led investigators to believe the suspect was of German ancestry. Later a German immigrant, Bruno Hauptmann, was arrested and found guilty in the child’s abduction and murder.

Influential Forensic Scientists of the Past (cont) Mathiew Orfila (1787 -1853) “Father of Toxicology. ” Authored “Traite’ des poisons” (Trestise on Poisons) in 1814 providing detailed descriptions of poisons and their effects on animals. Helped to develop new testing methods for Arsenic poisoning and the presence of blood in a crime scene or in evidence.

Influential Forensic Scientists of the Past (cont) Alphonse Bertillon (1853 -1914) – “Father of Anthropometry” Developed a system to distinguish one individual from another based on certain body measurements. His systems included 11 various body measurements, plus eye, hair, and skin color. Originally developed to identify prisoners other than by names, pictures, and subjective observations. These measurements helped catch repeat offenders.

Anthropometry The scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body.

Influential Forensic Scientists of the Past (cont) Calvin Goddard (1891 -1955) – “Father of Ballistics” Developed technique to examine bullets using a comparison microscope to determine if a particular gun fired the bullet.

Influential Forensic Scientists of the Past (cont) Edmond Locard (1877 -1966) – “Father of the Crime Lab. ” Started the first crime lab in an attic of a French police station in 1910. Developed Locards Exchange Principle

Locard’s Principle of Exchange “Every Contact Leaves a Trace. ” He believed that every criminal can be connected to a crime by particles carried to or from the crime scene. Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value. - Professor Edmond Locard

Influential Forensic Scientists of the Past (cont) Francis Galton (1822 -1911) – “Father of Fingerprinting. ” Developed a system of fingerprint identification as a way to uniquely identify individuals. Discerned 8 types fingerprint patterns.

The Frye Standard Arose from the court decision, Frye v. US in 1923. An expert witness claimed he could determine that John Frye, charged with murder, was lying due to increase in his blood pressure and pulse. Led to standards pertaining to the admissibility of scientific examinations and experiments in legal proceedings. Data collected must be reliable and reproducible under the same circumstances and be generally accepted by the scientific community. Under the Frye Standard, blood alcohol tests are admissible, but polygraph tests (lie detector tests) are not. www. enotes. com/homework-help/waht-frye-standard-4050499

The Daubert Ruling Arose from 1993 court decision in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals. Jason Daubert and co-plantiff Eric Schuller were born with significant birth defects they claimed were caused by a drug their mothers had been prescribed in pregnancy. Expert witness testimony by Dr. William Mc. Bride claimed that multiple serious birth defects were caused by this drug. Independent sources found this evidence to be falsified and co-authors of Dr. Mc. Bride’s research came forward announcing Dr. Mc. Bride had falsified his study findings. Resulted in a revision of the Frye Standard requiring more rigorous application of the scientific method including hypothesis testing, estimates of error rates, peer-reviewed publication, and general acceptance. www. law. cornell. edu/wex/daubert_standard

Crime Labs Scientific laboratory for the purpose of examining evidence from criminal cases. Most are not equipped or staffed to provide all necessary services, so some evidence is sent to other labs to be analyzed. 4 major crime labs in the US DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration – specializes in investigations involving drugs. FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation – one of the largest crime labs in the world with broad investigative power and privilege. They analyze all types of evidence. ATF – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – investigates offenses involving unlawful use, manufacture and possession of firearms and explosives, acts of arson and bombings, illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco. USPIS – US Postal Inspection Service – devoted to inspection of mail for fraud and prohibited substances.

Forensic Science Disciplines Forensic Anthropology Application of physical anthropology (study of various aspects of humans within societies of the past and present) and human osteology (the study of the human skeleton) in a legal setting �Most often when the victim’s remains are in advanced stages of decomposition. �Can assist in identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated, or otherwise unrecognizable.

Forensic Science Disciplines (cont) Forensic Psychiatry A sub-speciality of psychiatry and criminology. Provides services, such as determination of competency to stand trial.

Forensic Science Disciplines (cont) Forensic Odontology Proper handling, examination and evaluation of dental evidence as part of a criminal case.

Forensic Science Disciplines (cont) Forensic Engineering The investigation of materials, products, structures, or components that fail or do not operate as intended causing personal injury or damage to property.

Forensic Science Disciplines (cont) Forensic Entomology Study lifecycles of insects that feed on the flesh of the dead, to establish timeline of death and occasionally identify chemicals present in a person's body at the time of death.

Forensic Science Disciplines (cont) Forensic Pathology Branch of medical science that uses medical knowledge for legal purposes.

Forensic Scientist Responsibilities Work in the field to collect evidence at a crime scene, lab to analyze blood samples, or digging up skeletal remains Focus is to recognize, gather and analyze evidence from a perceived crime scene for use in a criminal case in court. May testify as an expert witness to interpret evidence or explain scientific findings to the jury.

Crime Scene Archaeology The application of archaeological concepts, to the crime scene to help in the location and recovery of ancient or decomposed remains and artifacts of evidence. May be able to discern age, sex, some physical characteristics of the remains, injury to the body, and cause of death. Utilized when buried remains are found to accurately excavate.

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Case Study Complete your first case study. Perform research about the St. Valentine’s Day massacre, orchestrated by Al Capone. www. history. com/topics/saint-valentines-day -massacre See Case Study Instructions

Forensic Science Review Match the following: Forensic Science Expert in questioned documents and forgery Mathieu Orfila Application of scientific knowledge Alphonse Bertillion Work led to a system of fingerprinting that is still used Francis Galton Developed a system of identifying repeat offender criminals Calvin Goddard Responsible for advancements in ballistics through extensive ballistic database Albert S. Osborn Wrote that “every contact leaves a trace” in reference to the “Principle of Exchange”. Edmond Locard Helped initiate the study of toxicology as it pertained to legal

Forensic Science Review Answers Match the following: Forensic Science Application of scientific knowledge Mathieu Orfila Helped initiate the study of toxicology as it pertained to legal Alphonse Bertillion Developed a system of identifying repeat offender criminals Francis Galton Work led to a system of fingerprinting that is still used Calvin Goddard Responsible for advancements in ballistics through extensive ballistic database Albert S. Osborn Expert in questioned documents and forgery Edmond Locard Wrote that “every contact leaves a trace” in reference to the “Principle of Exchange”.