Download What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

What Do You Want to Be
When You Grow Up?
Careers in Forensic Science
Forensic Scientists
• Use scientific methods to collect physical
evidence, deduct reasons, and apply
different techniques of criminal
investigation in order to search the cause
of crime.
• Apply science to criminal and civil laws.
Can you match each scientist
with his or her job?
A. Geologist
B. Entomologist
C. Odontologist
D. Pathologist
E. Psychologist
F. Botanist
G. Toxicologist
H. Serologist
I. Anthropologist
1. Examines body tissue to determine
cause of death.
2. Analyzes dental records and dental work
3. Analyzes insect evidence
4. Analyzes skeletal remains
5. Provides personality profiles
6. Analyzes blood evidence
7. Looks for signs of drugs or poisons
8. Examines plant evidence
9. Works with soil samples
Physical Science Unit
• Chemists, physicists,
and geologists
identify and compare
crime scene evidence
• They could look at
drugs, glass, paint,
explosives and soil
http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/soils/images/soil_change/soil_samples.jpg
Soil type varies from place
to place
Biology Unit
• Analyzes DNA, bloodstains and other body
fluids, compares hair
and fibers, compares
plant materials
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/on-line/genes/images/1-3-4-3-1-1-0-0-0-0-0.jpg
http://www.crimescene-forensics.com/images/Blood_Spatter_001B.gif
Firearms Unit
• Examines firearms,
bullets, cartridge
cases, and shotgun
shells
• Determines distance
target was from
weapon
http://www.norreg.dk/forensic0504j.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2318074275_fbf413e1fc.jpg
Document Examination Unit
• Examines handwriting
and typewriting of
questioned
documents, examines
ink and paper,
examines
indentations, as well
as obliterations,
erasures, and burned
documents
The zodiac killer and
suspect Arthur Leigh
Allen
http://www.zodiackiller.com/AZWriting.html
Photography Unit
• Photographs
evidence possibly
with digital imaging,
infrared, UV, or X-ray
photography
• Helps prepare
exhibits for courtroom
presentations
http://www.nypost.com/photos/galleries/entertainment/pp_20081018_xray/photo05.htm
http://www.browninvestigations.com/images/vehcsi.jpg
Toxicology Unit
• Examines body
organs and fluids to
determine the
presence of drugs
and/or poisons
http://forensicfact.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/vi_b_323.jpg
Latent Fingerprint Unit
• Discover, process
and examine
fingerprints
http://www.gov.im/lib/images/dha/police/csi/fingerprinting.jpg
Polygraph Unit
• The “lie detector”
• Measures
physiological changes
during questioning
http://buymyown.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/polygraph.jpg
http://neurocog.psy.tufts.edu/courses/images/polygraph-eeg-tracing.gif
http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/8656C96A-B092-4C81-83E9A5BFD2DE9551/26122/image003.jpg
Voiceprint Analysis Unit
• Investigators can conduct voice
comparisons in cases of telephone threats
or other recorded messages
• A sound spectrograph turns speech into a
visual display called a voiceprint
http://creativeforensic.com/spectro3.jpg
Evidence Collection Unit
• Specially trained
personnel collect and
preserve evidence
• What evidence can
be obtained from the
anthrax letters of
2001?
http://www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/kits/kit9501.jpg
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/terror/page16.jpg
Forensic Pathology
• Investigates sudden, unnatural,
unexplained, or violent deaths
• A forensic pathologist asks….
- who is this person?
- what are the injuries?
- when were the injuries produced?
- why and how were the injuries
produced?
Michael Peterson
• In 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found
dead at the bottom of the flight of stairs in
the family home. How did she die?
http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/08/19/ctv.novelist.trial/
http://www.vanceholmes.com/court/mpwriter.jpg
Is an owl attack possible?
Forensic Anthropology
• Identifies and
examines human
skeletons
http://www.bumc.bu.edu/forensicanthro/files/2008/10/dscn01881.jpg
Forensic Entomology
• Time of death can be
determined based on
life cycle phase of
insects
• Why do you think the
issue is complicated
by geography and
weather?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Calliphora_(Blow-fly).jpg
http://users.usachoice.net/~swb/forensics/Mgt.jpg
Blow Fly Life Cycle
http://www.monarchlabs.com/images/maggotLifeCycleSmall.gif
Forensic Psychiatry
• Determine whether
people are competent
to make decisions
(such as wills,
refusing medical
treatment)
• Determine whether a
person is competent
to stand trial
• In 2007, Ee Lee was
found incompetent to
stand trial in the killing
of her infant daughter
by reason of mental
retardation
http://cdntn.madison.com/images/articles/tct/2008/10/06/87215.jpg
Forensic Odontology
• Helps identify remains
through teeth
• Helps with bite mark
analysis
• In 2003, 3 women were found
beaten to death in Switzerland.
One had a bite mark on her
shoulder. Scientists were able
to prove to the jury the suspect
made the mark.
http://images.pennnet.com/articles/rdh/thm/th_239689.png
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs/media/detailed/vi_c_301.jpg
Forensic Engineering
• Reconstructs
accidents, origin of
fires or explosions
http://www.dallasfirerescue.com/arsonaction.jpg
http://www.crashrecon.com/img/sceneDiagram_big.gif
Psychological Profiling
• Investigates an
offender’s behavior,
motives, and
background to help
guide an investigation
http://ccmnr.com/files/Brain_MRI_Sagittal.jpg