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Chapter 1

Chapter 1. History of Forensic Science. Forensic Science. Application of science to law Begins at crime scene Also known as Criminalistics. History of Forensics. Alphonse Bertillon. Father of Criminal Identification Developed ANTHROPOMETRY. Anthropometry.

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Chapter 1

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  1. Chapter 1 History of Forensic Science

  2. Forensic Science • Application of science to law • Begins at crime scene • Also known as Criminalistics

  3. History of Forensics

  4. Alphonse Bertillon • Father of Criminal Identification • Developed ANTHROPOMETRY

  5. Anthropometry • Series of body measurements to distinguish between individuals

  6. Francis Galton • Studied fingerprints & how to classify them

  7. Calvin Goddard • Firearms examiner • Studied bullet comparison (Done today with a comparison microscope)

  8. Edmond Locard • Started the 1st crime lab (France) • Developed the Exchange Principle

  9. Locard’s Exchange Principle • When 2 objects come into contact, there is an exchange of materials between them (Cross-transfer of evidence) • Criminals can be connected to a crime by particles carried from the crime scene

  10. Crime Laboratories A. National B. State C. Local

  11. National Labs (4) • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI largest lab in the world) • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives (ATF) • U.S. Postal Inspection Service

  12. State Labs • Service the state as well as local communities that cannot afford their own crime lab

  13. Local Labs • Service counties & municipal (cities) agencies • Financed by local government • Nassau & Suffolk County Crime Labs

  14. Basic Crime Lab Services • Physical Science Unit • Biology Unit • Firearms Unit • Document Examination Unit • Photography Unit

  15. Physical Science Unit • Uses chemistry, physics, and geology to identify & compare evidence

  16. Biology Unit • Examines blood & other body fluids • DNA profiles • Compares hair & fibers • Examines botanical materials (plants/wood)

  17. Firearms Unit (Ballistics) • Examines firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge cases, & shotgun shells • Searches clothing for gunpowder residue • Determines distance a weapon was fired from

  18. Document Examination Unit • Studies handwriting or typewriting • Analyzes paper & ink • Examines indented writings & burned documents

  19. Photography Unit • Examines & records physical evidence • Only black & white photos are shown to jurors

  20. Optional Services • Toxicology Unit  poisons/drugs • Latent Fingerprint Unit • Polygraph Unit  lie detector • Voiceprint Analysis Unit • Evidence Collection Unit  CSI

  21. Evidence & the Courts

  22. Frye vs. United States (1923) • Rejected lie detector evidence • Scientific techniques, procedures, & principles must be “GENERALLY ACCEPTED” by majority of scientific community

  23. Daubert vs. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993) • “GENERAL ACCEPTANCE” is no longer absolute • Trial judge will act as GATEKEEPER deciding whether evidence is admissible or not

  24. The Expert Witness • A person with knowledge that is notexpected from the average individual • This is acquired through experience, training, education, or a combination of all 3

  25. Testimony • Ordinary witnesses cannot & mustnot give their opinions  just FACTS • Expert witnesses can give their opinions based on scientific facts (but can’t be biased to either side)

  26. Other Areas of Forensic Science

  27. Forensic Pathology • Investigates sudden, unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths • Tries to answers Who? What? When? Why? How? • Via Autopsy

  28. Types of Death • Natural • Accidental • Homicide • Suicide • Undetermined????

  29. Estimating Time of Death

  30. Rigor Mortis • Muscles shorten & body stiffens • Appears within 24 hours • Disappears within 36 hours

  31. Livor Mortis • Blood settles to areas closest to ground • Skin turns a blue/purple color

  32. Algor Mortis • Body starts to lose heat • 1-1.5°F per hour until room or outside temperature is reached

  33. Potassium Levels • Rise in ocular (eye) fluid after death • Time of death estimated by amount of potassium present

  34. Forensic Anthropology • Identifies & examines human skeletal remains • Determines race, sex, age, & injuries • Creates facial reconstructions

  35. Forensic Entomology • Studies insects & their relation to death • Blow flies lay eggs  maggots

  36. Forensic Psychiatry • Determines if people are competent enough to make decisions or stand trial • Develop behavioral profiles

  37. Forensic Odontology • Studies teeth & bite marks • Useful when a body is unrecognizable

  38. Forensic Engineering • Determines how a crime happened & who is responsible • Accident reconstruction

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