Download Pascack Valley High School, Hillsdale, New Jersey

Pascack Valley Regional High School District
Pascack Hills High School, Montvale, New Jersey
Pascack Valley High School, Hillsdale, New Jersey
Course Name:
Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA)
Forensic Science
Overview of SUPA Forensic Science Curriculum
1. Introduction to Forensic Science
2. Analysis of the Crime Scene
3. Types of Physical Evidence
4. Physical Properties of Glass and Soil
5. Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds
6. Hair, Fibers, and Paint Analysis
7. Forensic Toxicology
8. Arson and Explosion Investigation
9. Forensic Serology
10. DNA Evidence
11. Fingerprint Analysis
12. Firearms, Tool Marks, and Other Impressions
13. Forensic Specialties
14. Document and Voice Examination
COURSE DESCRIPTION: SUPA Forensic Science
This course is intended to provide an introduction to understanding the science behind crime detection. This will be
accomplished by providing a rational basis for interpreting the scientific analysis of forensic evidence and through
occasional relevant case studies. Laboratory exercises will include techniques commonly employed in forensic
investigations.
SUPA Forensic Science is focused upon the application of scientific methods and techniques to crime and law. Recent
advances in scientific methods and principles have had an enormous impact upon law enforcement and the entire criminal
justice system. In this course, scientific methods specifically relevant to crime detection and analysis will be presented.
Topics included are blood analysis, organic and inorganic evidence analysis, microscopic investigations, hair analysis, DNA,
drug chemistry and toxicology, fiber comparisons, paints, glass compositions and fragmentation, fingerprints, soil
comparisons, and arson investigations, among others.
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT I – Introduction to Forensic
Science
After Unit I, the student will be able
to:
1. Formulate a definition for
forensic science or
criminalistics
2. Provide examples of typical
crime laboratories as they
exist on the national, state, and
local levels of government
3. Analyze the services of a
typical comprehensive crime
laboratory
4. Explain the roles and
responsibilities of an expert
witness
5. Classify specialized areas of
forensic science
The student will:
1. Research an introductory
case study involving
forensic science
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
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.2.12A.1
5.2.12B.1
5.2.12B.2
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT II – Analysis of the Crime
Scene
After Unit II, the student will be able The student will:
to:
1. Identify and classify physical
evidence
2. Formulate steps to be taken to
thoroughly record the crime
scene
3. Describe the proper
procedures for conducting a
systematic search of crime
scenes for physical evidence
4. Review the proper collection
and packaging of physical
evidence
5. Research and explain the
chain of custody
1. Process a mock crime
scene
2. Package and handle
physical evidence
3. Record pertinent
information in a crime
scene
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
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12A.1
5.1.12A.2
5.1.12A.3
5.1.12A.4
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT III – Types of Physical
Evidence
After Unit III, the student will be
able to:
1. Assess common types of
physical evidence found at a
crime scene
2. Differentiate between
identification and comparison
of physical evidence
3. Compare and contrast the
difference between class and
individualistic evidence and
describe the significance of
each
4. Explain the importance of
physical evidence in
reconstructing a crime
The student will:
1. Collect examples of
physical evidence
2. Determine whether
physical evidence is class
or individualistic evidence
3. Reconstruct a crime scene
based on physical evidence
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
Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT IV – Physical Properties of
Glass and Soil
After Unit IV, the student will be
able to:
1. Compare and contrast physical
and chemical properties
2. Calculate density
3. Define and calculate refractive
index in transparent materials
4. Differentiate between double
refraction and birefringence
5. Compare floatation and
immersion methods for
comparison of glass
specimens
6. Determine the direction of
impact of a projectile through
glass
7. List the important forensic
properties of soil
The student will:
1. Examine glass fractures to
determine the direction of
impact
2. Utilize floatation and
immersion methods for
determining glass
refractive index
3. Utilize a density gradient
tube technique to determine
the density of objects
4. Properly collect glass and
soil evidence
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

Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.3.12C.1
5.3.12D.1
5.4.12A.1
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT V –Analysis of Organic and
Inorganic Compounds
After Unit V, the student will be able The student will:
to:
1. Distinguish between organic
and inorganic compounds
2. Describe the process of
chromatography
3. Describe the parts of a gas
chromatograph
4. Differentiate between thin
layer and gas chromatography
5. Explain the meaning Rf value
6. Perform electrophoresis
7. Demonstrate the concept of
mass spectrometry
8. Formulate the usefulness of
trace elements for forensic
comparison
9. Identify the parts of a simple
emission spectrograph
1. Perform chromatography to
distinguish different pen
inks
2. Identify an unknown
chromatogram from a set
of standards
3. Analyze emission
spectrographs of various
materials
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

Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.3.12C.1
5.3.12D.1
5.4.12A.1
5.6.12A.7
5.6.12B.1
5.6.12C.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT VI – Hair, Fibers, and Paint
Analysis
After Unit VI, the student will be
able to:
1. Analyze and identify the parts
of a hair shaft
2. Discover hair features that are
useful for the microscopic
comparison of human hair
3. Research the phases of hair
growth
4. Describe the role of DNA
typing in hair comparisons
5. Classify fibers and list the
properties that are most useful
for forensic comparison
6. Describe the components of
paint and distinguish between
different types of paint
The student will:
1. Properly collect and
analyze hair, fiber, and
paint evidence
2. Observe, compare, and
record differences in
animal and human hair
3. Make hair impressions to
observe the unique
variations in hair scales
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

Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT VII – Forensic Toxicology
After Unit VII, the student will be
able to:
1. Classify the commonly abused
drugs
2. Describe the schedules of the
Controlled Substances Act
3. Describe the laboratory tests
to determine the drug
identification scheme
4. Formulate and describe the
proper collection and
preservation of drug evidence
5. Define forensic toxicology
6. Explain how alcohol is
absorbed, transported, and
eliminated from the body
7. Summarize common
laboratory procedures for
measuring blood alcohol
content
8. Generalize the role of a
forensic toxicologist
The student will:
1. Research and present all
pertinent information on a
selected drugs
2. Calculate the Blood alcohol
content in various
hypothetical situations
3. Conduct a field sobriety
test with the aid of the
school resource officer
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

Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.3.12C.1
5.3.12D.1
5.4.12A.1
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT VIII – Arson and Explosion
Investigation
After Unit VIII, the student will be
able to:
1. Determine the requirements
necessary to initiate and
sustain combustion
2. Assess how physical evidence
must be collected at an arson
or explosion scene
3. Describe the laboratory
procedures used for the
detection and identification of
hydrocarbon and explosive
residues
4. Classify different types of
explosives
The student will:
1. Research the findings of
forensic scientists during
the September 11th
investigation
2. Compare chromatograms
from various volatile
chemicals
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


Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.6.12A.7
5.6.12B.1
5.6.12C.1
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT IX – Forensic Serology
After Unit IX, the student will be
able to:
1. Analyze the characteristics of
blood
2. Research the tests used to
characterize a stain as blood
3. Explain how to properly
collect and preserve blood
evidence
4. Analyze blood stain pattern
5. List the laboratory tests to
characterize seminal stains
6. Describe the collection of
physical evidence related to a
rape investigation
The student will:
1. Observe agglutination
during blood typing
2. Perform presumptive tests
for blood
3. Determine the height,
angle, and origin of blood
splatter
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


Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.5
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12C.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT X – DNA Evidence
After Unit X, the student will be able
to:
The student will:
1. Summarize the importance of
DNA
2. Describe the process of typing
DNA by the RFLP technique
3. Describe how the DNA band
patterns are interpreted
4. Perform the process of PCR
and explain its importance to
forensic science
5. Explain Short Tandem Repeat
analysis
6. Compare and contrast nuclear
DNA and mitochondrial DNA
7. Explain the application of a
DNA computerized database
to criminal investigation
8. Determine the necessary
procedures for DNA evidence
collection and preservation
1. Extract and isolate DNA
from living cells
2. Perform DNA
fingerprinting using gel
electrophoresis to aid in
suspect identification
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


Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.5.12C.1
5.5.12C.3
5.4.12.A.1
5.4.12.B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT XI – Fingerprint Analysis
After Unit XI, the student will be
able to:
1. Compare and contrast
fingerprint pattern types
2. Formulate fingerprint ridge
characteristics
3. Explain why fingerprints are a
permanent feature of human
anatomy
4. Classify fingerprints by the
primary classification of the
Henry System
5. Differentiate between visual,
plastic, and latent fingerprints
6. Describe the techniques for
developing different types of
fingerprints
7. Apply the proper procedures
when collecting and
preserving fingerprint
evidence
The student will:
1. Students will perform a
variety of fingerprint
activities such as:
a. Completing an FBI
card
b. Collect and analyze
fingerprint evidence
c. Developing latent
fingerprints
d. Using an unknown
fingerprint to identify
a suspect
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

Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12A.1
5.2.12B.1
5.2.12B.2
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT XII – Firearms, Tool Marks,
and Other Impressions
After Unit XII the student will be
able to:
1. Identify and describe the
unique marks made by the
interior of a firearm
2. Classify individual
characteristics of bullets and
cartridge cases
3. Explain the IBIS system
4. Measure and calculate the
distance to a target
5. Describe the laboratory tests
to determine if an individual
has fired a weapon
6. Create procedures for the
proper collection and
preservation of firearm
evidence
7. Summarize the relationship of
tools and tool marks
8. Explain the importance of
footwear evidence and its
method of collection
The student will:
1. Observe and compare
bullets and spent cartridges
for their individual and
class characteristics
2. Restore serial numbers on
metal
3. Restore tool mark
impressions on wood
4. Identify tools based on
latent tool marks
5. Conduct a shoe-print
analysis activity
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

Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT XIII – Forensic Specialties
After Unit XIII, the student will be
able to:
1. Describe the role of a forensic
pathologist
2. Rank the stages of a body’s
decomposition
3. Assess the significance of an
autopsy
4. Describe the role of a forensic
entomologist
5. Relate the growth and
colonization of various insects
to the time of death
6. Describe the role of a forensic
odontologist
7. Describe the role of a forensic
anthropologist
8. Compare and contrast the
traits between individuals of
different sexes, races, and age
The student will:
1. Examine tooth impressions
to identify a suspect
2. Model the blowfish life
cycle and relate to the
human body’s
decomposition
3. Observe differences in
skeletal structures of
people of different sexes,
races, and ages
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


Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2
5.3.12B.1
OBJECTIVES
ACTIVITIES &
EXPERIENCES
EVALUATION
N.J.C.C.C.S.
UNIT IVX –Document and Voice
Examination
After Unit IVX, the student will be
able to:
1. Explore the different types of
document analysis
2. Describe some common
individual characteristics
associated with handwriting
3. Summarize the important
guidelines for the collection of
standards for comparison for
questioned document
4. Perform some of the
techniques utilized by
document examiners for
uncovering alterations and
variations in pen inks
5. Assess the methods for
identifying forgeries
6. Decide on the three
parameters for speech that a
voice print represents
The student will:
1. Conduct a handwriting
comparison activity
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


Homework
Quizzes
Tests
Hands-on
laboratory
activities
 Presentations
 Participation
 Webquests
5.1.12B.1
5.1.12B.2
5.1.12C.1
5.1.12C.2
5.2.12B.2