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An Introduction to Forensic Science What is Forensics? • Forensic science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. Brief History of Forensic Science • 1800’s Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes adventure stories. • 1903 New York State prison initiates the use of fingerprints to identify criminals • 1923 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) formed the first crime laboratory • 1932 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) crime laboratory was created • 1948 University of California at Berkeley opens the school of criminology • 1960’s Drug use is on the rise – more drug testing Increase in Crime Rate • Science is involved in monitoring water quality, nature and potency of drugs, etc… • With the increase in population and crime rate, more science is applied – example: drug testing and detection, DNA, etc… • More and more laws regulate and restrict us and science is involved in this regulation and restriction. What is a Crime? • CRIME: An offense against the public at large, proclaimed in a law and punishable by a governing body • CRIMINAL LAW: The body of law that, for the purpose of preventing harm to society, defines what behavior is criminal and prescribes the punishment to be imposed for such behavior A death that is unexpected or is thought to have been caused by injury or poison, is always investigated for the purpose of determining whether it was a homicide. A homicide is a death caused by an act of another , which was done with intent to produce bodily injury, or death or done with disregard for the possibility that it could produce injury or death Suicide is the act of taking one's own life on purpose. Classification of Crimes? • FELONY: A relatively serious criminal offense punishable by death or imprisonment for more than a year in a state or federal prison • MISDEMEANOR: A less serious crime that is generally punishable by a prison sentence of not more than one year in a county or city jail The Law, Evidence & the Analyst • The forensic scientist or criminalist has no function without the judicial system • The criminalist’s job is to: – provide scientific info to the legal community (expert witness testimony) – translate the story the evidence has to tell • Analysis is done only at the behest of someone seeking to introduce the evidence into a court of law (prosecution or defense) The Role of a Criminalist • A criminalist obtains data or evidence by two methods – qualitative data by observation – quantitative data by measurement • From this evidence – The criminalist uses logic and/or reasoning when evaluating the evidence and attempts to understand and reconstruct the crime Questions: What does a forensic scientist do? Some Jobs in Forensic Science Investigation Laboratory Work Crime Scene Work Performing Autopsies Investigation of Crime The police investigate crimes. Forensic scientists do not investigate. Laboratory Work Scientists conduct laboratory analysis. Police investigators do not work in the lab. Forensic Scientists in the Lab Fingerprinting Firearms/ Ballistics Documents Trace Evidence (i.e. Hair, Fiber) Blood Splatter/ DNA Drugs/ Toxicology Bones/Teeth/Bugs Crime Scene Work Who performs work at the crime scene? What do they do at the crime scene? Crime Scene Work Police or Crime Scene Technician may collect evidence Crime Scene Work Crime Scene Tech only processes evidence. Does not investigate or conduct lab work. Crime Scene Work Crime Scene Tech only processes evidence. Does not investigate or conduct lab work. Fact: CSI: Fact or Fiction? Crime scene investigators do exist. Investigation system varies from region to region The Fiction: They do too much! Not very likely that they dramatically communicate with the victims or suspects Note about Crime Scene Work: Some, but not all, forensic scientists work crime scenes System varies from region to region Crime or death scene investigator is a real job Landing your ideal job requires patience and the ability to relocate. Many fields of study have forensic applications: Forensic Forensic Forensic Forensic Forensic Entomology Anthropology Odontology Pathology Psychology Forensic scientists in these fields are educated in the general field, then specialize in the forensic application of the science. Questions: Where would I work? What education do I need? How easy is it to get a job and how much money can I make? Where would I work? 1. State Agency State Police State Bureau of Investigation County or City Crime Labs 2. Federal Agencies FBI ATF Secret Service (Dept of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms) DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) Armed Forces U.S. Postal Service Where would I work? 3. Private Labs Private DNA Labs Paternity Labs Drug Analysis 4. Non Forensic Laboratories Analytical Chemistry Research Labs Pursue an advanced degree Undergraduate Education: What’s my major? Myth: Forensic Science is half science and half criminal justice Fact: Forensic Science is mostly science Undergraduate Education Chemistry or Biology (B.S.) Forensic Science (B.S.) (also Forensic Chemistry or Forensic Biology) B.S. in Forensic Science may help, but does not guarantee a job after undergrad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNVa5e51 FE8 (30 sec ad) FORENSIC SCIENTIST I, II, or III (Posted 8/11/06) The Texas Department of Public Safety is seeking applicants for the position of Forensic Scientist I, II, or III. Qualifications include graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in biology, chemistry, or forensic science, including the successful completion of 16 semester hours of chemistry and a minimum of one 3-semester-hour course each in genetics, upper division molecular biology (molecular genetics), and biochemistry (transcripts required). Applicants must be skilled in the use of laboratory equipment/materials. Responsibilities include conducting analyses/examinations of tissue/body fluids of human/animal origin to detect the presence of blood stains/semen/other stains; examining/comparing hairs to establish origin/descriptive characteristics; conducting DNA typing tests on human tissues to compare criminal evidence with samples of known origin; evaluating/interpreting/documenting the DNA test conducted and testifying in court as to the findings; appearing at crime scenes to collect evidence and assist law enforcement officers; preparing reagents; reviewing work of other forensic scientists; maintaining records of evidence and its disposal; performing proficiency tests and other quality assurance duties; participating in continuing education; and performing other duties as assigned. On the job training will be provided for a period of about six months. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Annual Salary: $39,312. Applicants may be compensated at a higher level when hired depending on previously qualifying Crime Laboratory work experience. Application deadline: August 23, 2006. http://www.txdps.state.tx.us Interview Process: Extensive Background Check Past Landlords Past Employers Polygraph Relatively Strict on Past Drug Use Job Availability: 10,000 positions to fill, but no money to pay employees. Flexibility in relocation greatly enhances your chances of getting a job. Basic Areas of a Criminology Lab • • • • • • • • • • Physical Science Unit Biological Unit Firearms Unit Photography Unit Toxicology Unit Document Examination Unit Fingerprint Unit Polygraph Unit Voiceprint Analysis Unit Evidence Collection Unit Types of Evidence 1. Testimonial evidence would be any witnessed accounts of an incident or crime. 2. Physical evidence refers to any material items that would be present on the crime scene or the victims. These items would be presented in a crime investigation to prove or disprove the facts of the issue. • Trace evidence refers physical evidence that is found at a crime scene in small but measurable amounts (can be anything from strands of hair or skin cells to tool marks). Trace evidence can be used to identify a victim or suspect or determine how a crime was committed. Evaluating the Evidence All physical evidence and trace evidence is circumstantial • Circumstantial evidence can be used to infer someone’s guilt • The more physical evidence present in a case the more likely the offender accused will be found guilty • Eyewitness evidence tends to be considered conclusive unless the witness is not credible Videos 10 Crimes Caught on Google Earth (4 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EaZIpqIjK8 10 Crimes Caught on Google Street View (7 min) begin at :45 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSfOwBTDhw Digital evidence forensics (3.5 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfxEAp93zWg WORKING IT: Digital Forensics Detective (3 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvvfj-Fn2go A Look At Digital Forensics Bloomsburg University (3 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSfcVE-_To