History & Development History & Development of Forensic Scienceof Forensic Science

History and Development of History and Development of Forensic ScienceForensic Science

The word “forensic” is derived from The word “forensic” is derived from the Latin word, the Latin word, forensisforensis, meaning , meaning forumforum, a public place where, in , a public place where, in Roman times, senators and others Roman times, senators and others debated and held judicial debated and held judicial proceedings.proceedings.

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

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

Forensic Science Forensic Science (Criminalistics) (Criminalistics)

Forensic science is the application Forensic science is the application of science to the criminal and civil of science to the criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice agencies in a criminal justice system. system.

Saferstein, Richard. Saferstein, Richard. Forensic Science An IntroductionForensic Science An Introduction. Second . Second edition.edition.

Civil vs. Criminal LawCivil vs. Criminal Law

CIVIL LAW CRIMINAL LAW

filed by a private party.o a corporationo an individual person

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 - less than 1 year incarcerationo felonies - sentence of 1+ year

Some sciences involved in Some sciences involved in forensics are…… forensics are……

Chemistry Chemistry Biology Biology Physics Physics Geology Geology BotanyBotanyAnthropologyAnthropologyPhysiology …….Just to name a Physiology …….Just to name a

few!few!

Contributions to the Field of Contributions to the Field of Forensic ScienceForensic Science

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

““Father of Father of ToxicologyToxicology””

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

Alphonse BertillonAlphonse 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.

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

““Father of Father of FingerprintingFingerprinting”” Provided statistical proof supporting Provided statistical proof supporting

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

Karl Landsteiner Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943)(1868-1943)

““Father of Father of Blood TypingBlood Typing””

He discovered that blood can be He discovered that blood can be grouped into different categories. grouped into different categories.

Blood types Blood types (A, B, AB, or O)(A, B, AB, or O) can narrow can narrow the list of possible suspects.the list of possible suspects.

Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle Sci-fi author in late 1800’s—created Sci-fi author in late 1800’s—created

legendary detective, ‘Sherlock Holmes’legendary detective, ‘Sherlock Holmes’

Applied many of the principles of modern Applied many of the principles of modern forensic science long before their value forensic science long before their value was recognized and accepted by real-life was recognized and accepted by real-life criminal investigators. criminal investigators.

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

““Father of Father of Document ExaminationDocument Examination”” His work led to the acceptance of His work led to the acceptance of

documents as scientific evidence by documents as scientific evidence by the courts. the courts.

Calvin GoddardCalvin 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.

Edmond LocardEdmond Locard(1877-1966)(1877-1966)

““Father of the Father of the Crime LabCrime 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.attic of a police station. 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 His most important contribution was ““Locard’sLocard’s ExchangeExchange PrinciplePrinciple””

Locard’s Exchange Locard’s Exchange PrinciplePrinciple

When two objects come into contact with When two objects come into contact with each other, a cross-transfer of materials each other, a cross-transfer of materials occurs. “Every Contact Leaves a Trace.”occurs. “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.

Alec JeffreysAlec Jeffreys (1950- )(1950- )

““Father of Father of DNA DNA

FingerprintingFingerprinting””

Developed a technique that Developed a technique that allows investigators to match allows investigators to match biological samples left at a biological samples left at a crime scene to a suspect.crime scene to a suspect.