An Introduction to An Introduction to Forensic ScienceForensic Science

Forensic Science IForensic Science I

South Pointe High SchoolSouth Pointe High School

Course Topics & PerspectiveCourse Topics & Perspective

Forensic science is the application of Forensic science is the application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law. and criminal law.

This course is a lab-based, hands-on This course is a lab-based, hands-on course that will explore what forensic course that will explore what forensic scientists do. You will learn modern scientists do. You will learn modern forensic methods and use scientific forensic methods and use scientific methods to solve legal problems.methods to solve legal problems.

Course Topics & PerspectiveCourse Topics & Perspective

Course focus is on the collection and Course focus is on the collection and analysis of crime scene evidence (such analysis of crime scene evidence (such as serology, toxicology, entomology, as serology, toxicology, entomology, odontology and trace evidence), and odontology and trace evidence), and the the

Exploration of lab analysis techniques, Exploration of lab analysis techniques, (such as chromatography, DNA (such as chromatography, DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and hair and analysis, fingerprinting, and hair and footprint analysis). footprint analysis).

Course Topics & PerspectiveCourse Topics & Perspective

Forensic scientists are also required to testify Forensic scientists are also required to testify in court about their analysis of evidence. in court about their analysis of evidence.

To make a convincing case, you need to be To make a convincing case, you need to be able to clearly and concisely explain your able to clearly and concisely explain your results and their significance in lab reports. results and their significance in lab reports.

Finally, mock crime scenes will be Finally, mock crime scenes will be investigated and real case studies analyzed.investigated and real case studies analyzed.

Interdisciplinary RelationshipsInterdisciplinary RelationshipsForensics is a diverse field, and rarely are Forensics is a diverse field, and rarely are forensic scientists “generalists” – people who forensic scientists “generalists” – people who specialize in all aspects of forensic science. specialize in all aspects of forensic science. Forget what you see on CSI.Forget what you see on CSI.

Forensic scientists don’t wear pumps to a crime Forensic scientists don’t wear pumps to a crime scene, they rarely interview suspects or make scene, they rarely interview suspects or make arrests, and they are not experts in all areas of arrests, and they are not experts in all areas of forensic investigations. Rather, forensic experts forensic investigations. Rather, forensic experts usually specialize in one or two branches of usually specialize in one or two branches of forensic investigation. forensic investigation.

Interdisciplinary RelationshipsInterdisciplinary Relationships

A botanist may be an expert in forensic A botanist may be an expert in forensic botany. An entomologist may be an expert botany. An entomologist may be an expert in forensic entomology. Chemists may in forensic entomology. Chemists may specialize in forensic toxicology or arson specialize in forensic toxicology or arson and bomb analysis. People with expertise and bomb analysis. People with expertise in physics may focus on firearms and in physics may focus on firearms and ballistics or blood spatter analysis. ballistics or blood spatter analysis.

Interdisciplinary RelationshipsInterdisciplinary Relationships

It would be impossible to survey all areas It would be impossible to survey all areas of forensic science in a semester long high of forensic science in a semester long high school course. school course.

Rather, we will explore a range of fields, Rather, we will explore a range of fields, topics and methodologies to give you a topics and methodologies to give you a sense of the diverse fields of study in sense of the diverse fields of study in forensics. forensics.

Interdisciplinary RelationshipsInterdisciplinary Relationships

Nevertheless, forensic science is an Nevertheless, forensic science is an applied scientific discipline, and your applied scientific discipline, and your success in this course will require you to success in this course will require you to apply your basic understanding of physics, apply your basic understanding of physics, chemistry, biology and even math to chemistry, biology and even math to explore the range of topics surveyed. explore the range of topics surveyed.

Forensic Science Defined:

Forensic Science (or Criminalistics) Forensic Science (or Criminalistics) is the is the use of science & technology to enforce use of science & technology to enforce civil & criminal laws.civil & criminal laws.

It is somewhat hard to pin down exactly It is somewhat hard to pin down exactly what a forensic scientists does because it what a forensic scientists does because it includes so many other areas of science.includes so many other areas of science.

Why do we look to science for Why do we look to science for assistance in our legal system?assistance in our legal system?

• Increasing Increasing CrimeCrime Rates Rates• New or Changed New or Changed LawsLaws• New CrimesNew Crimes• New New WeaponsWeapons (*see next slide) (*see next slide)• Response to Response to PublicPublic Concerns Concerns• Response to Law Enforcement Response to Law Enforcement

ConcernsConcerns

New Weapons?New Weapons?

Applying Science to LawApplying Science to Law

Applying science to the Criminal Applying science to the Criminal Justice System depends on a Justice System depends on a scientist’s ability to supply scientist’s ability to supply accurateaccurate & & objectiveobjective information information that reflects the events that have that reflects the events that have occurred at a crime. occurred at a crime.

Civil vs. Criminal LawCivil vs. Criminal LawCIVIL LAW CRIMINAL LAW filed by a private party.

o a corporationo an individual

Penalty: a guilty defendant pays the plaintiff for losses caused by their actions.

o no incarceration

filed by the government

Penalty: a guilty defendant is punished by

o incarceration (in jail/prison)o fine paid to the gov’to execution (death penalty)

Crimes are divided into 2 classes:

o misdemeanors - < 1 year incarcerationo felonies - 1+ year sentence

History & Development of History & Development of Forensic ScienceForensic Science

When in Rome…““Forensic” comes from the Forensic” comes from the LatinLatin word word

““forensisforensis” meaning forum. ” meaning forum. During the time of the During the time of the RomansRomans, a criminal , a criminal

charge meant presenting the case before charge meant presenting the case before the public.the public.

Both the person accused of the crime & the Both the person accused of the crime & the accuser would give speeches based on accuser would give speeches based on their side of the story. their side of the story.

The individual with the best argument The individual with the best argument would determine the outcome of the case. would determine the outcome of the case.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Mystery author in late 1800’sMystery author in late 1800’s

Popularized scientific crime-Popularized scientific crime-detection methods through his detection methods through his fictional character ‘fictional character ‘Sherlock Sherlock HolmesHolmes’.’.

Mathieu OrfilaMathieu Orfila(1787-1853)(1787-1853)

““Father of Father of ToxicologyToxicology””

Wrote about the detection of Wrote about the detection of poisons & their effects on poisons & their effects on animals.animals.

Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)(1853-1914)

““Father of Father of AnthropometryAnthropometry”” Developed a system to distinguish one Developed a system to distinguish one

individual person from another based on individual person from another based on certain body measurements.certain body measurements.

AnthropometryAnthropometry

Francis Galton(1822-1911)(1822-1911)

““Father of Father of FingerprintingFingerprinting””

Developed fingerprinting as a Developed fingerprinting as a way to uniquely identify way to uniquely identify individuals.individuals.

Leone Lattes(1887-1954)(1887-1954)

““Father of Father of BloodstainBloodstain Identification” Identification”

He developed a procedure for He developed a procedure for determining the blood type (A, B, AB, determining the blood type (A, B, AB, or O) of a dried blood stain.or O) of a dried blood stain.

Calvin Goddard(1891-1955)(1891-1955)

““Father of Father of BallisticsBallistics”” Developed the technique to examine Developed the technique to examine

bullets, using a comparison bullets, using a comparison microscope, to determine whether or microscope, to determine whether or not a particular gun fired the bullets.not a particular gun fired the bullets.

Albert Osborn(1858-1946)(1858-1946)

““Father of Father of DocumentDocument Examination” Examination”

His work led to the acceptance of His work led to the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by the documents as scientific evidence by the courts. courts.

Walter McCrone(1916-2002)(1916-2002)

““Father of Father of MicroscopicMicroscopic Forensics” Forensics”

He developed & applied his He developed & applied his microscope techniques to examine microscope techniques to examine evidence in countless court cases.evidence in countless court cases.

Hans Gross(1847-1915)(1847-1915)

““Father of Forensic Publications”Father of Forensic Publications”

Wrote the book on applying all the Wrote the book on applying all the different science disciplines to the different science disciplines to the field of criminal investigation.field of criminal investigation.

Edmond Locard(1877-1966)

• ““Father of the Crime Lab”Father of the Crime Lab”• In 1910, he started the In 1910, he started the 11stst crime lab in an crime lab in an

attic of a police station in Paris, France.attic of a police station in Paris, France.• With few tools, he quickly became known With few tools, he quickly became known

world-wide to forensic scientists & criminal world-wide to forensic scientists & criminal investigators & eventually founded the investigators & eventually founded the Institute of CriminalisticsInstitute of Criminalistics in France. in France.

• His most important contribution was the His most important contribution was the ““Locard’sLocard’s ExchangeExchange PrinciplePrinciple””

Locard’s Exchange Principle

• ““Every Contact Leaves a Trace.”.”

• He believed that every criminal can be He believed that every criminal can be connected to a crime by particles carried connected to a crime by particles carried from the crime scene.from the crime scene.

• When a criminal comes in contact with an When a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs. evidence occurs.

J. Edgar HooverJ. Edgar Hoover “Father of the FBI” - Director of Federal Bureau

of Investigation during the 1930’s

Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential administrations. His reign covered Prohibition, the Great administrations. His reign covered Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, & the Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, & the Vietnam War. Vietnam War.

He organized a He organized a nationalnational laboratory to offer forensic laboratory to offer forensic services to services to allall law enforcement agencies in the U.S. law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

VERY CONTROVERSIALVERY CONTROVERSIAL– He exceeded & abused his authority with unjustified He exceeded & abused his authority with unjustified

investigations & illegal wiretaps based on political beliefs rather investigations & illegal wiretaps based on political beliefs rather than suspected criminal activitythan suspected criminal activity

– FBI directors are now limited to 10-year terms FBI directors are now limited to 10-year terms

Applications of Forensic Science

IdentificationIdentification of Criminals or Victims of Criminals or VictimsSolving Mysteries Solving Mysteries

Past crimes (unsolved or wrongfully Past crimes (unsolved or wrongfully convicted)convicted)

Cause, Location, Time of DeathCause, Location, Time of DeathPaternity casesPaternity cases

CyberCyber crimes crimesCorporate Crimes (Enron)Corporate Crimes (Enron)Voice AnalysisVoice Analysis

Applications of Forensic Science Application of Application of DNADNA as evidence as evidence Prevention vs. ReactionPrevention vs. Reaction CatastrophesCatastrophes & Wars & Wars

ID remains of victims (either civilian or ID remains of victims (either civilian or soldiers)soldiers)

ex. Holocaust or Katrina ex. Holocaust or Katrina Military & International ForensicsMilitary & International Forensics

TerrorismTerrorism The search for WMD’sThe search for WMD’sstockpiled or stored weapons from past warsstockpiled or stored weapons from past wars

When the Army unearthed more than a 1,000 mortar rounds from a WW2 training site, they enlisted a Forensic Science Lab to determine which were live munitions & which were dummies.

Munitions

The Trial of the Century

• O.J. Simpson was a NFL football legend.

• He is now famous for having been tried for the murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson & her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994.

• He was acquitted in criminal court after a lengthy, highly publicized trial.

What went wrong?• 1st on the scene, police found evidence of blood

& entered the Simpson home without a search warrant, an action permissible b/c the situation was an emergency.

• HOWEVER, the police collected a pair of blood-stained gloves during their search.

• Collection of evidence without proper warrants became the key argument used by Simpson’s legal team & ultimately led to his acquittal.

What was learned?

• If forensic evidence is to be admissible in court, the highest professional standards must be used at the crime scene!

• He was found liable for their deaths in civil court, but has yet to pay the $33.5 million judgment.

The Wonderful Weirdness of Forensic Science:

The Body Farm• Primary Goal: To understand the processes

& timetable of postmortem decay, primarily to improve determining the "time since death" in murder cases.

• The Body Farm is a simulation of various crime scenes using real human bodies.

• Started in 1970’s by Dr Bill Bass to study Forensic Anthropology (the study of human decomposition after death).

The Body Farm• Used by Law Enforcement, Medical Examiners,

Entomologists, Cadaver Dogs, Anthropologists & FBI for Crime Scene Training.

• The BF uses unclaimed cadavers & volunteers (who donate their body to science after death)

• Only 2 Facilities in the U.S.– Univ. of Tennessee (original)– Western Carolina University

Doorway to death, the main gate of the Anthropology Research Facility—the “Body Farm”—consists of a wooden privacy fence

inside a chain-link fence topped with razor wire.

Security is a high priority. Fences, padlocks, video surveillance cameras, & police patrols

safeguard the world’s only human-decomposition research facility.

One research study examined the effects of the elevated temperatures—and limited insect access—to which a body in a car

would be subjected.

Corpse 1-81 was an elderly white male; he became part of a pioneering study of insect

activity in human corpses.

Close-up of a recent research subject. After only a few weeks in the Tennessee summer, the skull is completely bare & many vertebrae are exposed. The rib cage & pelvis are

covered with dried, leathery skin, but the soft tissues beneath are gone, consumed by insects & bacteria.

Close-up of a human femur & hip bone, containing an artificial hip implant. Such orthopedic devices can help identify an

unknown crime victim.

An aerial view of the Body Farm. Large wooden tripods are used for hoisting & weighing bodies as

part of a research study of weight loss during decomposition.

A jaw from a research subject held by the founder of the Body Farm, Dr Bill Bass.

Key Question: Time Since Death?

How does the decomposition rate compare in:– sunshine vs shade?– In cool weather vs hot weather? – In a shallow grave vs on the ground? – In water? – Inside a car? – What effect do other variables have—humidity,

insect activity, clothing, body weight, & so on?

Why is TSD so important?

• 1st question at most murder scenes: "How long has this person been dead?“– TSD: Time Since Death

• It's crucial to know when the crime was committed.– it can help narrow the search for a suspect or– it can help rule out potential suspects who

had alibis at the time the victim was killed.