FORENSIC SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION

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FIRST SEMESTER

Introduction Physical Evidence DNA Documentation Biology

Introduction Prints Toxicology Trace Evidence Serology

SECOND SEMESTER

UNITS

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Forensic Science

Application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

The business of providing timely, accurate, and thorough information to all levels of decisions makers in our criminal justice system.

Complex ReasoningIn Forensic Science

Deductive and Inductive Reasoning

Classifying

Comparing and contrasting

Problem Solving

Analyzing Perspectives

Constructing Support

Error Analysis

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CRITICALTHINKING

When Mrs. Jackson came back from lunch, there were several messages on her desk. By changing each digit of the phone numbers to one of the three corresponding letters on the telephone buttons, can you determine from whom each message came?

Which type(s) of critical thinking skill (s) are you using?

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Answers to Critical Thinking

336-8478 dentist(222)686-2868 accountant774-6837 printer487-2263 husband247-5463 airline832-2437 teacher

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CORPUS DELICTI“Body of the Crime”

You must prove: that a crime occurred that the person charged with the crime was responsible for the crime

Top Reasons for Committing a Crime Money Revenge Sex Emotion--love, hate, anger

Source of Evidence Body Primary and/or Secondary Crime Scene Suspect(s)

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FACETS OF GUILT

Means--the ability of have committed the crimeMotive--the reason for committing the crime.

(This doesn’t have to be proven or presented in a court of law, but its what everyone wants to know.)

Opportunity--time or availability to have committed the crime.

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Murder Charges

1st Degree Murder--premeditated2nd Degree Murder--killed intentionally, but

not thought out as much ahead of timeVoluntary Manslaughter--usually involves

sudden passion (fear, rage, anger, terror)Involuntary Manslaughter (criminally negligent

homicide)--killed someone, but unintentionally

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Crime Scene Team

As a group of professional investigators, each trained in a variety of special disciplines, you and your team will stage a crime scene for the other members of your class. Each of you will have a specific job. Choose from the following:

Team Members First Police Officer on the scene Lead Investigator(s) Field Evidence Technician Witness(s)--Possible suspects Victim

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Lead Investigator (for the staged crime scene)

Will escort the team of investigators to the crime scene

Will introduce the first officer

Will help lead the team through the questioning of the witness(s)

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First Officer (for the staged crime scene)

Discuss what you saw when you arrived.

Have a set time: for call to police for arrival of policewitness(es) last seeing the victim

Give a body temperature (algor mortis). State the body rigor. Discuss livor mortis and/or blanching.

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Witnesses(for the staged crime scene)

Will explain their part of the sceneGive enough information to lead the team to

a conclusion about what happened at this crime scene

Be sure that there could be more than one possible solution.

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Evidence Technician

Will set up numbers at the 10 pieces of evidence

One piece of evidence must come from each of the units in this semester.

Will help the other team collect evidence

Have the necessary equipmentForcepsBags--paper and plasticEnvelopesJars and Q-tips

Properly collect all evidence

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Physical Evidence

Be sure to include various types of evidence, in particular ones that we will be studying and working with this semester.

You will have to draw the crime scene to scale. Please do not include more than 10 pieces of evidence.

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Evidence Characteristics

Class--common to a group of objects or persons

Individual--can be identified with a particular person or source.

ABO Blood Typing Blood DNA Typing

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Crime SceneSketch

Date: August 14, 2001 Criminalist: Ann WilsonTime: 11:35 Location: 4358 Rockledge Dr

St. Louis, Mo.

A. Couch/sofa

B. Female body

C. Knife

D. Over turned Lamp

E. Chairs

F. Table

G. Fireplace

cD

E

EE

E

E

A G

F

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Medical Examiner’sResponsibilities

Identify the deceased Establish the time and date of death Determine a medical cause of death--the injury or disease that resulted in

the person dying

Determine the mechanism of death--the physiological reason that the person died

Classify the manner of death Natural Accidental Suicide Homicide Undetermined

Notify the next of kin

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EYEWITNESSCrazy Criminal

Suspect Falters

Over Account of RobberiesRobbery suspect Frank Margary can’t seem to keep his mouth shut. In some subtle statements, he has confessed to a series of robberies. When questioned about a November robbery at Lakeside Dili and Mini Market, he told detectives: “There’s no way the clerk could identify me, I had my hat down over my eyes.”

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Remember:

“HOW PLUS WHY EQUALS WHO”--John Douglas, former FBI profiler

Keep this in mind as you set up your crime scene and work up your lab.

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History--Repeating Itself?

1840 William Henry Harrison--died in office 1860 Abraham Lincoln--assassinated 1880 James A. Garfield--assassinated 1900 William McKinley--assassinated 1920 Warren G. Harding--died in office 1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt--died in office 1960 John F. Kennedy--assassinated 1980 Ronald Reagan--survived assassination attempt 2000 George Bush--KIND OF SCARY?