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Forensic Science Syllabus
Ms. Polumbo
[email protected]
[email protected]
Phone: 814-824-3400 ext 5551
Course Overview
The textbook is:Forensic Science for High School
Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
Forensics is a field of science dedicated to the methodical gathering and analysis of evidence to
establish facts that can be presented in a legal proceeding. Forensic science is a very broad field of
science including anthropology, chemistry, biology, genetics, entomology, mathematics, physics,
odontology, reconstruction, technology, toxicology and latent print identification.
Because Forensics encompasses many fields of science, students must have a thorough
understanding of biology and chemistry in order to take this class. Television has helped to generate
interest in forensic science. While the class will be lab oriented and intriguing, the course work,
projects and labs will be rigorous and include regular written assignments and mathematical
applications. Students must be prepared to work hard!
Forensics Grade Breakdown
Level One
Level Two
Final Exam
80%
20%
20%
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Materials needed:
Binder
Loose leaf paper
Highlighters
Pens, pencils
calculator
Project supplies when applicable
Course Content and Topical Outline
I.
Introduction to Forensic Science and the Law
A.
History
B.
Scientific method
C.
Criminal justice
3 days
D.
E.
F.
G.
II
Laws
Bill of Rights
Miranda rights
Types of crimes
Types of Evidence
A.
Testimonial
B.
Direct
C.
Physical
D.
Eyewitness accounts
E.
Statistical analysis
4 days
The Crime Scene
A.
Steps taken to preserve evidence
B.
Documentation
C
Photographs
D.
Chain of custody
3 days
Fingerprints
A.
Classification
B.
Statistical analysis
C.
Types
D.
History
E.
Latent fingerprinting
4 days
Hair
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
3 days
Structure
Types
Interference patterns
Chemical indicators
Removal patterns
Fibers
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
Probability
Statistical analysis
Types
Cross-sections
Chemical structure
Polymers
Density
Refractive index
Fluorescence
Dyes
Thin layer chromatography
Transfer and persistence
10 days
Soil Analysis & Plant Material
A.
Composition
B.
Grain size
C.
Specific gravity
D.
Tire tracks
E.
Topographic profiles
5 days
Glass
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
3-4 days
Types
Chemical composition
Characterization
Refractive index
Fracture patterns
Document and Handwriting Analysis
III.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Printing vs. writing
Forgery
Angles
Obliterations
Indentations
Typing
Paper
Ink
Counterfeiting
Drugs
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
Statistics
Types
Concentration
Color tests
TLC
FTIR
Confirmatory tests
GC-MS
Spectrophotometry
Drug penalties
9 days
10 days
Toxicology
A.
Poisons
B.
Elements
C.
Measurements
D.
Dosage
E.
Lead poisoning
F.
Alcohol
6 days
Trace Evidence
A.
Metals
B.
Environmental contamination
C.
Powders
D.
Lip prints
7 days
Blood
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
6 days
Detection
Types
Serology
Blood typing
Spatter
IV.
DNA Analysis
A.
Biological aspects
B.
Uses
C.
Fingerprinting
D.
PCR
E.
STR
F.
Statistical analysis
6 days
Human Remains
A.
Postmortem interval
B.
Anthropology
C.
Animal vs. human
D.
Skeleton
E.
Sex determination
F.
Skull features
G.
Age
H.
Race
I.
Facial reconstruction
J.
Entomology
5 days
Ballistics
A. Impressions
B. Pattern
C. Turning diameter
D. Wheel base
Tool Marks
A. Abrasion
B. Cutting
C. Indentation
Ballistics
a. Bullet caliber
b. Lands & grooves
c. Trajectory
d. Residue
6 days
Forensic Science –Unit 1:
Crime Scene Investigations
Performance Standards
Content Standards:
Students will analyze a crime scene using proper investigative protocols.
Document and record the crime scene details, including setting, and physical and biological evidence.
Collect, document, and maintain chain of custody for all physical evidence.
Reconstruct a crime scene.
Identify the role and duties of the crime scene investigation team members.
Discuss the role and responsibilities of expert witnesses.
Vocabulary you must know:
Analytical skills
Deductive reasoning
Eyewitness
Fact
Forensic
Logical
Observation
Opinion
Perception
Chain of custody
Circumstantial evidence
Class evidence
Crime scene investigation
Crime scene reconstruction
Direct evidence
First responder
Individual evidence
Paper bindle
Primary crime scene
Secondary crime scene
Trace evidence
Activities you must be able to do:
 Analyze a crime scenes
 Document and record the crime scene details,
including setting, and physical and biological
evidence.
 Collect, document, and maintain chain of
custody for all physical evidence.
 Reconstruct a crime scene.
 Identify the role and duties of the crime scene
investigation team members.
 Discuss the role and responsibilities of expert
witnesses.
Learning goals for Unit 1
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Define observation and describe what changes occur in the brain
Describe examples of factors influencing eyewitness testimony to what actually happened
Relate observation skills to their use in forensic science.
Compare the reliability of eyewitness testimony to what actually happened
Relate observation skills to their use in forensic science
Define forensic science
Practice and improve observation skills
Summarize Locard’s exchange principle
Identify four examples of trace evidence
Distinguish between direct and circumstantial evidence
Identify the type of professionals who are present at a crime scene
Summarize the seven steps of a crime scene investigation
Explain the importance of securing the crime scene
Identify the methods by which a crime scene is documented
Demonstrate proper technique in collecting and packaging trace evidence
Describe how evidence from a crime scene is analyzed
Forensic Science – Unit 2:
Identifying materials
Stage 1 - Desired Results
Content Standards:
Students will use chemical and physical separation methods to isolate and identify materials.
Distinguish materials using various types of microscopes.
Categorize glass, soil, hair, fiber, ink and paint samples using physical and chemical properties.
Use inorganic and organic analysis to identify unknown substances.
Vocabulary you must know:
Class evidence, Individual evidence; Trace evidence
Comparison microscope
Cortex; Cuticle; Medulla
Hair follicle; Keratin; Melanin granules
Neutron activation analysis
Amorphous; Crystalline
Direct transfer; Secondary transfer
Fiber; Mineral fiber; Natural fiber; Synthetic fiber
Monomer; Polymer
Textile; Yarn
Angiosperm; Gymnosperm
Exine
Things you must be able to do:
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Isolate and identify materials.
Distinguish materials using microscopes.
Categorize glass, soil, hair, fiber, ink and paint
samples using physical and chemical
properties.
Identify unknown substances using inorganic
and organic analysis.
Forensic palynology
Pistil; stamen; spore
Pollen fingerprint; Pollen grain; pollination
Fingerprint; latent fingerprint; patent fingerprint;
Plastic fingerprint
Arch; core; delta; loop; whorl; minutiae; ridge pattern,
Ten card
Counterfeiting; forgery
Document analysis; document expert; exemplar
Fraudulence
Questioned document
Mineral; rock; Clay; sand; silt
Soil; soil profile
Geology
Humus; Leaching; weathering
Becke line; normal line
Density
Glass; leaded glass
Obsidian
Refraction; refractive index
Silicon dioxide
Learning goals for Unit 2
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Identify various parts of the hair
Describe variations in the structure of the medulla , cortex, and cuticle
Distinguish between human and nonhuman animal hair
Determine if two examples of hair are likely to be from the same person
Explain how hair can be used in a forensic investigation
Calculate the medullary index for hair
Distinguish hairs from individuals belonging to the broad racial categories
Identify and describe common weave patterns of textile samples
Compare and contrast various types of fibers through physical and chemical analysis
Describe principal characteristics of common fibers used in their identification
Apply forensic science techniques to analyze fibers
Discuss the history of fingerprinting
Describe the characteristics of fingerprints
Identify the basic types of fingerprints
Describe how criminals attempt to alter their fingerprints
Determine the reliability of fingerprints as a means of identification
Explain how fingerprint evidence is collected
Describe the latest identification technologies
Determine if a fingerprint matches a fingerprint on record
Use the process of lifting a latent print
Describe 12 types of handwriting exemplars that can be analyzed in a document
Demonstrate an example of each of the 12 exemplars of handwriting traits
Identify the major goals of a forensic handwriting analysis
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Describe some of the technology used in handwriting analysis
Distinguish between the terms forgery and fraudulence
Identify several ways in which businesses prevent check forgery
Describe four features of paper currency that are used to detect counterfeit bills
Recognize various soil types and describe some methods for examining soil samples
Distinguish sand samples by size, color and composition
Perform a soil analysis, including macroscopic and microscopic examination, as well as chemical and
physical analysis
Explain how soil evidence can link suspects to crime scenes
Explain how glass is formed
List characteristics of glass
Provide examples of different types of glass
Calculate the density of glass
Use the refractive index to identify different types of glass
Describe how glass fractures
Analyze glass fracture patterns to determine how glass was broken
Explain how glass is used as evidence
Forensic Science – Unit 3
Biological Evidence
Performance Standards
Content Standards:
Students will analyze biological evidence found at a crime scene.
Reconstruct criminal behavior resulting in blood stain patterns.
Compare and contrast the information available in bodily fluids (no actual human body fluids will be used).
Experimentally use DNA evidence to identify a suspect.
Explain the basis for relating breath to blood-alcohol concentration.
Discuss the role of anthropology in forensic science.
Show the importance of entomological techniques in forensic science.
Vocabulary you must know:
Allele; Gene; Chromosome
DNA fingerprint; DNA probe
Electrophoresis
PCR; STR; VNTR
Restriction enzyme
Antibodies; Agglutination
Antigen-antibody response
Cell surface protein
Lines of convergence; Point of origin
Red blood cells; White blood cells
Satellite drop of blood
Controlled substance
Drug; narcotic; poison
Things you must be able to do:
Toxicity; toxin
Algor mortis: rigor mortis; livor mortis
Autolysis
Cause of death, death; manner of death;
Mechanism of death
Decomposition
Forensic entomology
Instar; larva; pupa
Anthropology; Epiphysis; Forensic anthropology
Joints; Mitochondrial DNA
Ossification
Osteobioography; Osteoblast; Osteoclast; Osteocyte
Osteoporosis
Skeletal trauma analysis
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Analyze biological evidence
Reconstruct criminal behavior resulting in
blood stain patterns.
Compare and contrast the information
available in bodily fluids
Experimentally use DNA evidence to identify
a suspect.
Explain the basis for relating breath to bloodalcohol concentration.
Discuss the role of anthropology in forensic
science.
Show the importance of entomological
techniques in forensic science.
Learning goals for Unit 3
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Explain how crime scene evidence is collected for DNA analysis
Describe how crime scene evidence is processed to obtain DNA
Describe how radioactive probes are used in DNA fingerprinting
Explain how DNA evidence is compared for matching
Explain how DNA fingerprinting is used to determine if specimens come from related or unrelated
individuals
Explain how to use DNA fingerprinting to identify DNA from a parent, child or relative of another person
Explain the composition of blood
Describe the functions of blood cells
Describe a brief history of the use of blood and blood spatter analysis in forensics
Describe how to determine the blood type of a sample of blood
Calculate the probability of certain blood types within a population
Conduct a blood spatter analysis
Examine stab wounds and describes the nature of the weapon
Use blood spatter evidence to recreate the events at a crime scene
Identify the five types of controlled substances
Relate signs an symptoms of overdose with a specific class of drugs or toxins
Describe the role of various types of toxins in causing death
Discuss agents that may be used in bioterrorism
Define and describe the goals and practice of toxicology
Discuss the definition of death
Distinguish between four manners of death: natural, accidental, homicide, suicide
Distinguish between cause, manner, mechanisms of death
Explain how the development of rigor, algor and livor mortis occurs following death
Describe the stages of decomposition of a corpse
Use evidence of rigor, algor and livor mortis to calculate the approximate time of death
Describe the stages of decomposition of a corpse
Use evidence from the autopsy’s report on stomach contents to estimate time of death
Explain how time of death can be estimated using insect evidence
Provide an example of the succession of different types of insects that are found a body as it decompose
Given insect evidence, livor, rigor, and algor mortis data, be able to estimate time of death
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Describe how bone is formed
Distinguish between male and female skeletal remains based on skull, jaw, brow, pelvis, and femur
Describe how bones contain a record of injuries and disease
Describe how a person’s approximate age could be determined by examining his or her bones
Explain the differences in facial structures among different races
Describe the role of mitochondrial DNA in bone identification
Forensic Science – Unit 4
Impressions
Stage 1 - Desired Results
Content Standards:
Students will analyze various impressions from firearms, tool marks, arson, and explosive evidence.
Compare and contrast firearm evidence (no firearms of live ammunition will be used).
Distinguish tool marks and impression evidence.
Relate the use of certain chemicals to arson.
Outline types of explosives and their signatures found at crime scenes.
Vocabulary words you must know:
latent impressions; patent impressions
plastic impressions
sole
tire groove
tire rib
tire ridge
track width
tread pattern
turning diameter
wheelbase
abrasion mark;
cutting mark
indentation mark
tool mark
Ballistics
Bullet
Caliber
cartridge
barrel, breech; muzzle; pistol
firearm; revolver; rifle
fully automatic
gunshot residue (GSR)
lands and grooves
rifling
semiautomatic
shell casing
trajectory
Things you must be able to do:
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Analyze various impressions from firearms,
tool marks, arson, and explosive evidence.
Compare and contrast firearm evidence
Distinguish tool marks and impression
evidence.
Relate the use of certain chemicals to arson.
Outline types of explosives and their
signatures found at crime scenes.
Learning goals for Unit 4
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Distinguish between latent, patent, and plastic impressions
Explain how various types of impression can by used as trace evidence
Describe how to make foot, shoe, and tire impressions
Use track width and wheelbase information to identify vehicles
Prepare dental impressions and match them with bite marks
Discuss the significance of tool mark impression in criminal investigations
Describe three major types of tool mark impressions
Describe variations in tool surface characteristics that are used to identify individual tools
Summarize the steps of a tool mark examination and analysis
Summarize how technology is helping tool experts in criminal investigations
Match tool marks with the instrument that produced them
Describe how tool mark evidence is collected, preserved, and documented
Distinguish the differences between a handgun, rifle, and shotgun
Distinguish between a bullet and a cartridge
Discuss rifling on a gun barrel and how it affects the flight of the projectile
Explain the relationship between barrel size and caliber
Explain how bullets are test fired and matched
Discuss the role of ballistics recovery and examination at the crime scene
Determine the position of the shooter based on bullet trajectory