History of Forensic Science

1. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved History of Forensic Science Mathieu J. B. Orfila: Many forensic science specialties can be traced back to the medicolegal institutes of Europe One of the most renowned medicolegalist of the time was Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853) Mathieu Orfila is best known for his involvement in the �Lafarge� arsenic poisoning case in France He is often referred to as the �father of forensic toxicology�

2. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved History of Forensic Science Hans Gross: A magistrate and law professor in Austria Known for his publications and for introducing the word �criminalistics� In 1893, published a Handbook for Magistrates that greatly influenced the practice of criminal investigations

3. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved History of Forensic Science Alphonse Bertillon: Developed an anthropometric system for human identification in the 1890s The limitations of this system was shown by its inability to distinguish between two Leavenworth, Kansas, penitentiary prisoners, Will West & William West The Bertillon system was eventually replaced by the fingerprint system being developed by Francis Galton, William Hershel, Edward Henry & others in the late 1800s

4. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Development of Forensic Science Laboratories Professor R. A. Riess: Established a forensic photography laboratory at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland in 1909 Edmond Locard: Established one of the world�s first police crime laboratories in Lyon, France in 1910 Known for the Locard Exchange Principle

5. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Development of Forensic Science Laboratories August Vollmer: Established a forensic laboratory at the Los Angeles Police Department in 1923 Colonel Calvin Goddard: Established a crime detection laboratory at Chicago�s Northwestern University in 1929 Perfected the comparison microscope for bullet and cartridge case examinations

6. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Development of Forensic Science Laboratories J. Edgar Hoover: Established the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) forensic laboratory in 1932 New York City (NYC): The NYC Police Department Crime laboratory was established in 1934

7. History of the Local Lab Most Crime Labs were established within police agencies and performed Firearms Fingerprints Photography Missouri State Highway Patrol Lab Established 1936 Full service lab system No questioned document examiners in Missouri labs

8. History of the Local Lab Formally known as SEMO Regional Crime Laboratory served the southeast Missouri region since 1969 Under direction of chemistry department First full time director in 1971 Prints, firearms, drug analysis serving 20 counties, 90 agencies Merged with MSHP in 2006

9. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Development of Forensic Science Organizations American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Established in 1948 Approximately 5,000 members representing all forensic science disciplines and specialties Started the Journal of Forensic Sciences in 1954

10. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Development of Forensic Science Organizations American Society of Crime Lab Directors (ASCLD) Established in the early 1970s Created a Lab Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) ASCLD/LAB began lab accreditation in 1982

11. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Pathology: Pathology is a specialty area of medicine Pathology is the study of diseases and the bodily changes caused by the diseases Forensic pathologists determine the cause of death (the medical reason why a person died; e.g. asphyxiation) Forensic pathologists determine the manner of death (the circum-stances causing death; e.g. homicide)

12. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Entomology: Entomology is a branch of biology devoted to the study of insects Forensic entomologists use insects as investigative aids By examining insects, larvae or pupae associated with a corpse, knowing the life cycle of insects, and by using the existing environmental factors, forensic entomologists can estimate the time of death

13. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Odontology: Odontology is the study of the physiology, anatomy, and pathology of teeth Forensic odontologists perform two types of analyses involving the human dentition Identify human remains by comparing premortem and postmortem dental X-rays Bite mark comparisons (crime scene marks to known bite marks)

14. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Anthropology: Physical Anthropology is the science of the human skeleton and how it has evolved over time

15. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic anthropologists: Can determine whether found remains are of human or animal origin Reconstruct the skeleton from found remains Provide an estimate of age, stature, and gender Can sometimes determine racial origin Detect skeletal abnormalities and any trauma Can provide information about the cause of death

16. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Toxicology: Forensic toxicology is the study of the effects of extraneous materials such as poisons and drugs in the body Forensic toxicologists must determine both the presence and the amounts of extraneous materials in the body Assist the medical examiners in determining the cause of death May be involved in the determination of ethanol levels in blood and breath samples

17. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology: Psychiatry is a branch of medicine concerning the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior of humans Forensic psychiatrists & psychologists evaluate offenders for civil and criminal competence and may be involved in offender treatment programs A few specialize in �profiling� of criminal cases, primarily serial murderers and serial rapists

18. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Forensic Engineering: Involved in the investigation of transportation related accidents, material failures, and structural failures Forensic Computer Science: Use information located on computers and other electronic devices as investigative aids Find hidden or deleted information to determine if internet based crimes have been committed

19. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Criminalistics: Criminalistics involves the examination, identification, and interpretation of items of physical evidence

20. 2007 McGraw-Hill Companies, all rights reserved Forensic Science Specialties Four major areas of examination: Biological evidence Forensic Chemistry Pattern evidence Other patterns (scene reconstruction)