Analytical Forensic Analytical Forensic ScienceScience

The adventure Begins NowThe adventure Begins Now

What is Forensic Science?What is Forensic Science?

““Forensic”?Forensic”? From Latin From Latin publicpublic (e.g. Roman (e.g. Roman

Forum, or other fora, used for Forum, or other fora, used for public matters) public matters)

Public speaking, or public Public speaking, or public presentation of scientific presentation of scientific evidenceevidence

Today—science applied to legal Today—science applied to legal issuesissues

Why Take Forensic Science?Why Take Forensic Science?

CSI-LV, NY, Miami….CSI-LV, NY, Miami…. Because you were told to?Because you were told to? Is it good, basic science?Is it good, basic science? Is it applied science?Is it applied science? Natural curiosity-The detective Natural curiosity-The detective

in all of us?in all of us?

Forensic Science as a CareerForensic Science as a Career

There are scores of forensic There are scores of forensic science programs (graduate and science programs (graduate and undergraduate) in the US—more undergraduate) in the US—more each yeareach year

Most do not lead to jobs….Most do not lead to jobs…. But—a good science But—a good science

background leads to a lot of background leads to a lot of good thingsgood things

Disciplines in ForensicsDisciplines in Forensics

Life Science: anatomy, DNA, hair, bonesLife Science: anatomy, DNA, hair, bones Chemistry: toxicology, fibers, powders, Chemistry: toxicology, fibers, powders,

paint, arsonpaint, arson Physics: ballistics, blood spatterPhysics: ballistics, blood spatter Geology; soil analysis, casts, mappingGeology; soil analysis, casts, mapping Math; statistics, graphing, measuringMath; statistics, graphing, measuring English; writing, reports, communicationEnglish; writing, reports, communication Social Studies: criminal law, justiceSocial Studies: criminal law, justice

Forensic Science Lab SystemsForensic Science Lab Systems

Federal—FBI, ATF, DEA, CIA, SecServ Federal—FBI, ATF, DEA, CIA, SecServ (Tres), Postal….(Tres), Postal….

State (CHP, CalDOJ) County, CityState (CHP, CalDOJ) County, City Private labs (all sizes)Private labs (all sizes) Accreditation (no real rules)Accreditation (no real rules)

Some are and some are not Some are and some are not ASCLD (ASCLD (www.ascld-lab.org)www.ascld-lab.org)

May affect quality, may notMay affect quality, may not

Forensic DepartmentsForensic Departments

Physical Science expertsPhysical Science experts Biologists-specifically DNA expertsBiologists-specifically DNA experts BallisticsBallistics Document examinersDocument examiners Photography unit and processingPhotography unit and processing Toxicology and drug analysisToxicology and drug analysis Fingerprint labFingerprint lab

Forensic JobsForensic Jobs

SerologistSerologist Prints examinerPrints examiner AnthropologistAnthropologist EntomologistEntomologist OdontologistOdontologist CSICSI

Trace evidence Trace evidence examinerexaminer

Firearms examinerFirearms examiner Tool mark Tool mark

examinerexaminer PathologistPathologist ToxicologistToxicologist Document Document

examinerexaminer

Fundamental PrincipleFundamental Principle

Edmond Locard (1900)Edmond Locard (1900) ““Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever

he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value.”understand it, can diminish its value.”

Locard Exchange Locard Exchange PrinciplePrinciple

Locard's exchange principle Locard's exchange principle states that "with contact between states that "with contact between two items, there will always be an two items, there will always be an exchange of material"exchange of material"

The role of the criminalist is to link The role of the criminalist is to link the suspect to the crime scene from the suspect to the crime scene from this exchanged materialthis exchanged material

Expert TestimonyExpert Testimony

The forensic specialist if often asked to The forensic specialist if often asked to testify in court on their findings.testify in court on their findings.

American justice system is adversarial American justice system is adversarial (Prosecution vs. Defense)(Prosecution vs. Defense)

Two significant rulings on the testimony Two significant rulings on the testimony of “expert” witnessesof “expert” witnesses Frye StandardFrye Standard The Daubert RulingThe Daubert Ruling

The Frye StandardThe Frye Standard

1923 James Frye convicted of murder1923 James Frye convicted of murder To meet the To meet the FryeFrye standard, scientific standard, scientific

evidence presented to the court must be evidence presented to the court must be interpreted by the court as "generally interpreted by the court as "generally accepted" by a meaningful segment of the accepted" by a meaningful segment of the associated scientific community. This associated scientific community. This applies to procedures, principles or applies to procedures, principles or techniques that may be presented in the techniques that may be presented in the proceedings of a court case. proceedings of a court case.

The Daubert RulingThe Daubert Ruling

1993 Daubert vs. Dow Pharmaceuticals1993 Daubert vs. Dow Pharmaceuticals In In DaubertDaubert, the Supreme Court held that , the Supreme Court held that

federal trial judges are the “gatekeepers” of federal trial judges are the “gatekeepers” of scientific evidence. Under the scientific evidence. Under the DaubertDaubert standard, therefore, trial judges must standard, therefore, trial judges must evaluate possible expert witnesses to evaluate possible expert witnesses to determine whether their testimony is both determine whether their testimony is both “relevant” and “reliable”, a two-pronged test “relevant” and “reliable”, a two-pronged test of admissibility. of admissibility.

Scandals in Forensic ScienceScandals in Forensic Science

Fred Zain – Expert gone wrongFred Zain – Expert gone wrong Sandra Anderson – Planting evidenceSandra Anderson – Planting evidence http://www.truthinjustice.org/http://www.truthinjustice.org/ http://www.innocenceproject.org/http://www.innocenceproject.org/