Runaway Jury

1. Runaway Jury How TV crime dramas effect American court rooms

2. March 2006 2 Outline Breakdown of the different fields and sensors used in forensics TV versus Real Life Case Study CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Effects of TV on the Court Room

3. March 2006 3 Forensic Science The application of a broad range of sciences to answer legal questions Used for both criminal and civil cases Usually referred to as simply �forensics� Dates back to Aristotle

4. March 2006 4 Forensic Psychiatry A sub specialty of psychiatry that focuses on the legal aspects of the profession Two major areas of criminal evaluation Competency to stand trial Mental state at time of offense Not guilty by reason of insanity in this case insanity is a legal and not a medical term

5. March 2006 5 Trace Evidence Evidence found at a crime scene in small but measurable amounts Hairs Fibers Gunshot residue Arson accelerants Botanical materials

6. March 2006 6 Trace Evidence Sensors Compound polarized light microscope � most commonly used Scanning electron microscope Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry Infrared spectroscopy

7. March 2006 7 Fingerprints Imprint made by the pattern of ridges on the pad of the human finger No two fingerprints are exactly the same Dactyloscopy is the science of comparing fingerprints Three basic patterns: arch, loop, and whorl

8. March 2006 8 Fingerprint Sensors Dusting power and brush Magnifying glass Computer image enhancement

9. March 2006 9 Forensic Engineering Investigation of materials, products, structures, or components that fail or do not operate as intended Much more common in civil cases than criminal Locate cause of problem for improvement Insurance companies for liabilities

10. March 2006 10 Forensic Engineering Sensors Optical and Scanning electron microscopes Spectroscopy Simple hand lens

11. March 2006 11 Forensic Chemistry Application of chemistry principles to law enforcement Explosives Poisons Controlled substances Weight Positive identification of substance

12. March 2006 12 Forensic Chemistry Sensors Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer Traveling time Ion presence Fourier Transform infrared spectrophotometer Drug fingerprint GCMS: 2 instruments in one. The gas chromatograph is a very hot oven with a hollow coiled column. A drug sampled is diluted in a solvent and is injected into the column. The solvent will evaporate very quickly and then the drug will travel through the column. The time it takes the drug to travel the length of the column is compared to the traveling time of a known drug. The drug is then sent to the mass spectrometer for identification of prominent ions in the drug. This is done by interacting electrons with the substance to break it down into its specific ions. Results are again compared with known drugs. FTIR: exposes the substance to infrared light which will bend and stretch the molecular bonds of the compound. The bonds of a compound create a unique pattern when exposed to infrared light, thus creating a drug fingerprint. Again the results are compared to a known drug sample.GCMS: 2 instruments in one. The gas chromatograph is a very hot oven with a hollow coiled column. A drug sampled is diluted in a solvent and is injected into the column. The solvent will evaporate very quickly and then the drug will travel through the column. The time it takes the drug to travel the length of the column is compared to the traveling time of a known drug. The drug is then sent to the mass spectrometer for identification of prominent ions in the drug. This is done by interacting electrons with the substance to break it down into its specific ions. Results are again compared with known drugs. FTIR: exposes the substance to infrared light which will bend and stretch the molecular bonds of the compound. The bonds of a compound create a unique pattern when exposed to infrared light, thus creating a drug fingerprint. Again the results are compared to a known drug sample.

13. March 2006 13 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Combines biology, chemistry, math, and physics to produce strong and solid evidence Can be used to determine several characteristics of the crime committed Variety of blood pattern categories

14. March 2006 14 Bloodstain Pattern Categories Passive bloodstains, force: gravity Passive drop, gravity alone Drip pattern, blood dripping into blood Flow pattern, change in flow due to gravity or movement of an object

15. March 2006 15 Bloodstain Pattern Categories Projected bloodstains, force: energy transfer Low, Medium, High Velocity Impact Spatter Cast-Off Gushing Back Spatter Expiratory Blood

16. March 2006 16 Bloodstain Pattern Categories Transfer/contact bloodstains, force: touch Wipe, object moves through existing stain altering its appearance Swipe, transfer from moving source and the direction of travel may be determined by the feathered edge

17. March 2006 17 Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Can be used to determine Mechanism that created the stain Direction of travel Area of origin Basic type of object used Minimum number of blows Positioning of victim, suspect, and objects Sequence of events

18. March 2006 18 Bloodstain Pattern Sensors Center around principles of physics Determine Angle of impact (software) Point of convergence (2D) Area of convergence (2D) Area of origin (3D) Generally collected using photography

19. March 2006 19 DNA Sometimes called �the genetic fingerprint� Inherited from both parents, so biological connections can be confirmed 1986 - First used to convict an criminal of murder in England

20. March 2006 20 DNA and Sensors Computerized databases Ultraviolet scanners Microarray scanner

21. March 2006 21 OJ Simpson and DNA Simpson was not the only thing on trial It was also the most public trial of DNA fingerprinting Most jurors actually did not consider the DNA results when reaching their verdict Prosecution used two different labs with eight markers being tested

22. March 2006 22 Forensic Anthropology Applying physical anthropology and the study of the human skeleton in a legal setting Usually applies to criminal cases when the remains are skeletonized or unrecognizable due to decomposition, burning, or mutilation Cannot legally determine the cause of death but help identify the victim

23. March 2006 23 Forensic Anthropology Sensors Measurement instruments Microscopes X-rays

24. March 2006 24 Forensic Facial Reconstruction Process of recreating the face of an unidentified individual from skeletal remains through artistry, anthropology, and anatomy Does not meet the Daubert Standard Only used to reach a positive identification for the remains

25. March 2006 25 Forensic Facial Reconstruction Two-dimensional reconstructions Portrait drawings based on radiographs, ante mortem photographs, and the skull FACE and CARES computer software can now produce facial approximations quickly and can be edited easily Three-dimensional reconstructions Casts of remains and modeling clay Can be enhanced with computer imaging

26. March 2006 26 Forensic Facial Reconstruction

27. March 2006 27 Information Forensics Investigation into systemic processes that produce information Tends to focus on business, technology, and legacy systems Fraud Abuse Mistakes Sabotage

28. March 2006 28 Information Forensics Bioinformatics Cryptography Musicology Trace Major Specialty area: Forensic Accounting

29. March 2006 29 Forensic Entomology Appling the study of insects and arthropods to legal issues Arthropod involvement in various crimes including Murder/Suicide Rape Physical abuse Contraband trafficking

30. March 2006 30 Forensic Entomology Most insects involved in criminal investigations are necrophagous Four primary insect orders Diptera � first on the scene Coleoptera Acari Hymenoptera � last, normally eat insects eating the corpse

31. March 2006 31 Forensic Entomology Sensors Dissection microscope Electron light microscope Variety of Lenses and chemicals

32. March 2006 32 Case Study: CSI One of the most watched shows in television history Has several spin off shows all of which are usually in the top spot in their time slot Different from other crime dramas such as Law and Order because it follows the story more through forensics than it follows people and the court proceedings

33. March 2006 33 Case Study: CSI Benefits produced by CSI Increased or even created public interest in forensic science Majors relating to forensics are some of the fastest growing in the nation Some institutions have even added forensic depts Improved understanding of the importance of science in our every day lives

34. March 2006 34 Case Study: CSI Problems created by the program However, several myths have been created and reinforced through the popularity of the show Myths range from the actual responsibilities of the criminalists to the speed at which results can be produced Influencing real court rooms in what�s termed �The CSI Effect�

35. March 2006 35 Case Study: CSI Myth 1: Laboratory Personnel can examine evidence as soon as it gets to the lab Usually takes months before time permits an examination of the evidence due to back logs and quality control procedures Only exception are �high priority� cases

36. March 2006 36 Case Study: CSI Myth 2: One person can examine all types of evidence There are no �generalists� in today�s forensics The expertise required for each section of forensics sometimes requires one piece of evidence to be examined by more than one individual

37. March 2006 37 Case Study: CSI Myth 3: Fingerprints susceptible to testing and identification are always found Finding identifiable fingerprints that can be collected and are of a high enough quality to do an automated search are rare Normally fingerprint comparison must be done by �hand�

38. March 2006 38 Case Study: CSI Myth 4: Testing for drugs and chemicals in blood is quick and easy Numerous drugs, botanicals, chemicals that can be presented at any given crime scene Numerous instruments to identify these various compounds Process often takes weeks or months to complete

39. March 2006 39 Case Study: CSI Myth 5: The cooperative crime scene The �perfect� evidence is rarely there Technology has greatly improved evidence collection but no technological advancements can find nonexistent evidence Time between occurrence and discovery of the crime is the biggest factor

40. March 2006 40 Case Study: CSI Myth 6: The fully equipped crime lab TV forensic labs are always fully equipped with the most up to date technology Even the labs with the largest budgets cannot afford to have the same lab quality as the labs on TV dramas Shortages occur with building space, funds, equipment and proficient personnel

41. March 2006 41 Case Study: CSI Myth 7: Use and availability of some sensors Some of the sensors used are actually prototypes still in the developmental stages and are not on the market yet The accuracy and power of some sensors has been enhanced beyond what they are currently capable of detecting

42. March 2006 42 CSI and the Courtroom Experts have noticed the rise of the �CSI Effect� in courtrooms Trend in which TV shows increase the expectations of victims� and jury members� concerning forensic evidence and the level of crime scene investigation Trials are being presented differently at trial

43. March 2006 43 CSI and the Courtroom From the criminal�s perspective Increase in crime scenes where the evidence has been tampered with or completely destroyed Burning scenes Using bleach Vacuuming carpet and removing the vacuum cleaner

44. March 2006 44 CSI and the Courtroom Criminal Perspective: Case Study Murder Case in Trumbull County, OH Mother and daughter murdered Used bleach to wash hands Covered car interior with blankets preventing transfer Burned bodies, clothes, and other potential evidence Attempted to sink remaining evidence in a lake

45. March 2006 45 CSI and the Courtroom Juror perspective Expect to see solid physical evidence indicating the defendant Likely to ignore circumstantial evidence Always assume DNA evidence should be found at the scene If physical evidence is found, it is now much less likely to be questioned by jurors

46. March 2006 46 CSI and the Courtroom Juror Perspective: Case Study Robert Blake Case Quote from juror �I would have liked more of the kind of evidence I have seen in the cases on �CSI�, I just expected more� Dismissed circumstantial evidence More often than not, there is little physical evidence linking defendant directly to the crime