Forensic Science or Criminalistics Two words are the same/ interchangeable Definition: the application of science to

those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in the criminal justice system

The application of science to law

History & Development Who is Sir Arthur

Conan Doyle (1859-1930)?

Author of Sherlock Holmes

Popularized scientific crime detection: serology (blood), fingerprinting, firearms, & document examination

MATHIEU ORFILA (1787-1853)

Father of Forensic Toxicology (study of drug/poison detection)First published text of poisons and their effects on animals

Marsh Apparatus: detect arsenic

ALPHONSE BERTILLON (1853-1914)

Father of criminal identificationDeveloped the science of Anthropometry—study of body measurements to identify/distinguish individuals

FRANCIS GALTON (1822-1911)

Not the 1st to use fingerprinting

1st to establish fingerprinting as a science to be used in criminal cases; he also filed them

GALTON'S OWN PRINTS

LEONE LATTES (1887-1954)

Continued the work of Dr. Karl Landsteiner, who discovered blood can be grouped into 4 categories: A, B, AB, & O

Devised a simple procedure for determining the blood group of a dried blood stain & applied it to investigations

BLOOD TYPES

CALVIN GODDARD (1891-1955)

US Army Colonel

Expert on firearms examination

Established the use of comparison microscope to identify bullets and the firing gun; applied his expertise to criminal cases

GODDARD EXAMINING A WEAPON

ALBERT S. OSBORN (1858-1946)

Forefront of document examination

Reason for document acceptance as scientific evidence in courts

1910-authored “Questioned Documents”

WALTER C McCRONE (1916-2002)

Worlds most profound microscopist

Educated thousands of forensic scientists world wide

Used his microscopy skills in thousands of criminal cases

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HANS GROSS (1847-1915)Public prosecutor &

judge

1st to develop and publish a document on applying science disciplines to criminal investigations in 1893

EDMOND LOCARD (1877-1966)• Started the 1st police

laboratory in 1910

• Founder and director of the 1st Institute of Criminalistics

• Believed that when a criminal came in contact with an object or person, a cross transfer of evidence occurred

Tuesday 9-3-2013BELLRINGER/ACTIVATOR/DO NOW Take out a sheet of paper and head it

Number it 1-5

BRAINSTORM: List five services provided or jobs done in the field of Forensic Science (Hint: Think about the Forensic shows that you like to watch and our class discussions)

You only have 5 minutes…don’t waste time

SERVICES OF CRIME LABS Physical Science Unit-uses techniques of chemistry,

physics, and geology to identify & compare evidence like drugs, glass, paint, explosives, & soil

Biology Unit-identify & profile DNA, dried blood stains, and other bodily fluids. Compare hairs, fibers, and other botanical materials like plants/wood.

Firearms Unit-examine firearms, bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, & all ammunition; examine clothing & other objects for gunshot residue. Approximate distances from targets. Compare tool markings.

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SERVICES OF CRIME LABS, cont’ Document Examination Unit-determine

authenticity and/or source of typewritten & hand written documents. Analyze paper, ink, indented writing (depressions on the page under the page that was actually written on), obliterations, erasures, & burned/charred documents.

Photography Unit-examine & record physical evidence. X-ray photography to make the invisible visible. Prepare photo exhibits for courtroom presentations.

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SERVICES OF CRIME LABS, cont’

Toxicology Unit-examine bodily fluids and organs for presence/absence of drugs, poisons, and/or alcohol. Train operators, maintain, and service field instruments like the Intoxilyzer (measures alcohol consumption).

Latent Finger Print Unit-examine & process evidence for finger prints. (Latent means not apparent to the eye but able to be made visible by dusting/fuming.)

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Intoxilyzer (aka breathalyzer)

SERVICES OF CRIME LABS, cont’

Polygraph (Lie detector)Unit-for investigation & interrogation; generally used by investigators not forensic scientists

Voiceprint Analysis Unit-ties a voice to a suspect using a sound spectrograph (instrument that turns speech into a visual graph called a “voice print.”) Ex. Uses: telephone threats, recorded messages, etc.

Sound Spectrograph Result

Polygraph Test

Polygraph Results

SERVICES OF CRIME LABS, cont’

Evidence Collection Unit-collect and preserve physical evidence that will be later processed in the crime lab.

6 Forensic Specialties Forensic Pathology—the investigation of sudden,

unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths Forensic Anthropology—specialty used in

identification and examination of skeletal remains Forensic Entomology—the study of insects and their

relationship to criminal investigations Forensic Psychiatry—the examination of the

relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings

Forensic Odontology—the identification of an individual through the analysis of teeth

Forensic Engineering—analysis of structural failures, accident reconstruction, and causes/origins of fires/explosions

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