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Introduction to Forensic Science

Introduction to Forensic Science. Chapter 1. CSI effect video CSI effect article. What is Forensic Science?. Definition Application of science to the law (both criminal and civil laws) Physical vs. Natural? Physical – deals with non-living Natural (biological) – deals with living

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Introduction to Forensic Science

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  1. Introduction to Forensic Science Chapter 1 CSI effect video CSI effect article

  2. What is Forensic Science? • Definition • Application of science to the law (both criminal and civil laws) • Physical vs. Natural? • Physical – deals with non-living • Natural (biological) – deals with living • Forensics? • Criminalistics? • Synonym to forensics • Technically – more descriptive for describing the services of a crime lab

  3. Basic Services of a Crime Lab • Physical Science Unit • Biology • Dr. Josef Mengele – Brazil/Germany – 1992 • Firearms • Al Capone – 1929 – St.Valentine’s Day Massacre • Document Examination • The Hitler Diaries – Germany - 1983 • Photography

  4. Optional Services of a Crime Lab • Toxicology • Caroline Grills – Australia - 1948 • Fingerprints • Thomas Jennings – US - 1910 • Polygraph • Voiceprint • Crime Scene Investigation

  5. Outside Services • Pathology • Anthropology • John Wayne Gacy – 1978 • Entomology • The Ken and Barbie Murders – 1991 • http://huffmanconklin.blogspot.com/2011/08/and-dead-shall-speak-video.html • Psychiatry • The Hillside Stranglers - 1978 • Odontology • Ted Bundy – 1978

  6. Outside Services • Engineering • Timothy McVeigh – the OK bombing – 1995 • http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/mcveigh/dawning_1.html • Computer and Digital Analysis

  7. History of Forensic Science • Many people believe that Arthur Conan Doyle was the first to popularize forensic science with his Sherlock Holmes novels. The first, A Study in Scarlet, was published in 1887.

  8. Historical Pioneers • Handout!! • Mathieu Orfila • Spanish born but did work in France • Father of modern toxicology • Published book on poisons in 1814

  9. Historical Pioneers • Alphonse Bertillon • 1st personal ID method • Anthropometry – measure bones

  10. Anthropometry • The Bertillon system relied on a detailed description and measurement of the subject. • Eleven measurements were necessary. • These included height, reach, width of head, and length of foot.

  11. Anthropometry • The down fall of Anthropometry occurred in 1903 at Leavenworth Federal Prison. A prisoner named Will West was brought to the prison and had his measurements taken. His measurements matched a prisoner already in the prison named William West. Despite the system there was no way to tell the two apart. The only noticeable difference between the two men was their fingerprints. Thus the Anthropometry was abandoned and the fingerprint (Henry) system was adopted. Will West William West

  12. Historical Pioneers • Francis Galton • British Scientist • 1892 published the book “Finger Prints” • Contained the 1ststatistical proof supporting the uniqueness of fingerprints. • Laid the foundation of modern fingerprints.

  13. Historical Pioneers • Leone Lattes • Italian Scientist • Blood type (A,B,O) of dried bloodstains – 1915

  14. Historical Pioneers • Calvin Goddard • Comparison scope • Firearm ID expert • Matched bullet to gun • Helped establish FBI crime lab in 1932

  15. Historical Pioneers • Albert S. Osborn • Development of the fundamental principles of document analysis • Walter C. McCrone • Utilized microscopy to examine evidence in criminal and civil cases

  16. Historical Pioneers • Hans Gross • Lawyer and Judge in Austria • 1st real life forensic scientist • Methods of scientific investigation • Karl Landsteiner • Austrian who immigrated to the U.S. • Discovered that human blood could be grouped and devised the ABO blood groups – won a Nobel Prize in 1930

  17. Historical Pioneers • Edmond Locard • The “Sherlock Holmes” of France • 1910 set up the first Forensic Lab in Lyons, France • Formulated the basic principle of forensic science: • “Locard’s Exchange Principle” • Cross-transfer of evidence occurs when a criminal comes in contact with an object or a person • Basis of forensic investigation • Led to trace evidence

  18. Historical Pioneers • J.Edgar Hoover • Director of FBI (1924-1972) • Professionalized the organization • August Vollmer • Created 1st forensic lab in US • LA - 1923

  19. Historical Pioneers • Dealing with Evidence CD • Activity • Assessment

  20. Historic Timeline • http://www.forensicdna.com/Timeline020702.pdf • http://www.trutv.com/shows/forensic_files/timeline.html

  21. Crime Labs • National (federal) Level • FBI • Federal Bureau of Investigation • Originated around 1908-1910 during presidency of Theodore Roosevelt • The world’s largest crime lab

  22. Crime Labs • National (federal) Level • DEA • Drug Enforcement Administration • Developed in 1973 • Why? • To enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the US

  23. Crime Labs • National (federal) Level • ATF • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives • Law enforcement organization dedicated to reducing violent crime and protecting the public • Enforces laws relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and arson

  24. Crime Labs • National (federal) Level • US Postal Service • Protect the US mail

  25. Crime Labs • State Level • PA state police crime labs • Bethlehem, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Lima, Wyoming, DNA Division • PSP Forensic Services • ASCLD (American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors) accredited labs: • http://www.ascld-lab.org/accreditedlabs.html#pa

  26. Crime Labs • Local • Provides services to county and municipal agencies • Financed by local government • Individual police departments

  27. Autopsy • Coroner • Investigates the facts surrounding death • County elected or appointed position • Medical Examiner (ME) • Physician – with degree typically in forensic pathology – licensed to practice medicine • Performs autopsy • May also be coroner but does not have to be

  28. Autopsy • Duties of a ME • Determine cause and manner of death • Establish identity of unknown corpses • Determine time window of death • Supervise collection of evidence • Correlate wounds with weapons • Certify or sign death certificate • Testify in court

  29. Autopsy • Cause of death • Main reason individual died • Examples – heart attack, gunshot wound • Mechanism of death • Physiological change that caused life to stop • Examples – Exsanguination (bleeding to death), asphyxia (stoppage of breathing), sepsis (infection of blood stream) • Manner of death • Root cause of the sequence of events that lead to death

  30. Manners of Death • Five manners of death • Natural • Workings of Mother Nature; Largest category • Examples – heart attack, stroke, cancer • Accidental • Unplanned or unforeseeable sequence of events • Examples – car accident, fall • Suicidal • By dead person’s own hand • Drug OD, GSW • Homicidal • By hand of someone else • Undetermined • Cannot accurately determine category

  31. Manners of Death • Several manners can be associated with one cause of death!!! • Gunshot wound could be accidental, suicidal, or homicidal!

  32. Forensic Autopsy • Performed to determine manner, cause, and mechanism of death • Who gets autopsied? • Depends!! See website. • Recommendations: • Violent • Traumatic • Unusual - suspicious • Sudden and unexpected • Employment related • Prison/psychiatric inmates • Threat to human health Science, Technology The Real CSI http://www.deathreference.com/A-Bi/Autopsy.html

  33. Forensic Autopsy • Four Basic Steps: • Determine Time of Death • External Exam • Internal Exam • Autopsy Report

  34. Forensic AutopsyStep One: Determine Time of Death • Rigor Mortis • Shortening of muscle tissue and then the stiffening of body parts • Manifests in first 24 hours and disappears within 36 hours • If the body feels: • Warm and not stiff: Not dead more than three hours • Warm and stiff: Dead between 3 and 8 hours • Cold and stiff: Dead between 8 and 36 hours • Cold and not stiff: Dead more than 36 hours • Livor Mortis • Settling of blood in areas closest to ground • Skin appears dark blue or purple • Begins immediately and continues for up to 12 hours after death • Determining if body position has been changed

  35. Forensic AutopsyStep One: Determine Time of Death • Algor Mortis • Loss of body heat • Estimates time of death • Body will lose 1-1 ½ ° per hour until body reaches environmental temp • State of Decomposition • Dealing with Evidence CD • Potassium Levels • In ocular fluid • Amounts can determine time of death

  36. Forensic AutopsyStep Two: External Exam • External exam • Basics • Height, weight • Age, sex, race, hair/eye color • Photograph • Both clothed and unclothed • Frontal and profile • Scars, birthmarks, tattoo

  37. Forensic AutopsyStep Two: External Exam • External exam • Check clothing • Trace evidence • Damaged clothing correlate to weapons? • Removed and sent to lab

  38. Forensic AutopsyStep Two: External Exam • External exam • Exam injuries • Lacerations and contusions • Lacerations – cuts and slices • Contusions – bruises • Defensive wounds – scattered; defending body • Photograph and measure – search for weapon fragments • Stab wounds • Width, thickness, depth of each • Hesitation wounds – accompany suicide attempts • GSW • Measure entry wounds

  39. Forensic AutopsyStep Three: Internal Exam • Internal Exam • Dissect body using “Y” incision • http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs/galleries/media/autopsy/index.html • Remove heart and lungs • Removed as one unit • Examine abdomen • Each organ weighed and examined • Tissue samples taken for microscopic examination

  40. Forensic AutopsyStep Three: Internal Exam • Internal Exam • Collect samples • Stomach – toxicology (may reveal drug use) • Ocular fluid - toxicology • Bile (gall bladder) – toxicology • Urine • Liver tissue • Hair – heavy metals (poison) • Blood

  41. Forensic AutopsyStep Three: Internal Exam • Internal Exam • Assess head and brain • Head trauma? • Open skull • Examine brain in place • Then remove for thorough inspection • http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs/galleries/media/autopsy/index.html • Return organs and suture • Baseball stitch • Release body to family for burial

  42. Forensic AutopsyStep Four: Autopsy Report • Autopsy Report • Legal • Includes: • Description of body • Description of injuries • Description of any illness • Description of internal exam (detailed) • Results of all lab tests • Pathologist’s opinion

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