Download Forensic Science Syllabus

Forensic Science Syllabus
Ms. Danielson
[email protected]
Phone: 770-578-3200 ext 524
Course Overview
The textbook is published by South-Western Cengage Learning,
Forensic Science – Fundamentals and Investigations.
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
Tests
Labs/ Projects
Quizzes
Test Prep
Final Exam
30%
35%
10%
10%
15%
.
Materials needed:
Composition notebook
Binder
Loose leaf paper
Highlighters
Colored pencils
Pens, pencils
calculator
Project supplies when applicable
Binder should be divided into the following sections:
Class Notes
Vocabulary
Case studies
Labs
Tests
Forensic
Science –Unit
1:
Georgia
Performance
Standards
Content Standards:
Crime Scene Investigations
SFS1
Students will analyze a crime scene using proper investigative protocols.
Element: SFS1.a
Document and record the crime scene details, including setting, and physical and biological
evidence.
Element: SFS1.b
Collect, document, and maintain chain of custody for all physical evidence.
Element: SFS1.c
Reconstruct a crime scene.
Element: SFS1.d
Identify the role and duties of the crime scene investigation team members.
Element: SFS1.e
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 scence
Secondary crime scene
Trace evidence
Activities you must be able to do:
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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:
SFS2
Students will use chemical and physical separation methods to isolate and identify materials.
Element: SFS2.a
Distinguish materials using various types of microscopes.
Element: SFS2.b
Categorize glass, soil, hair, fiber, ink and paint samples using physical and chemical properties.
Element: SFS2.c
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
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
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.
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
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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
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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
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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
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
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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
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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
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Explain how glass is used as evidence
Forensic Science – Unit 3
Biological Evidence
Georgia Performance Standards
Content Standards:
SFS3
Students will analyze biological evidence found at a crime scene.
Element: SFS3.a
Reconstruct criminal behavior resulting in blood stain patterns.
Element: SFS3.b
Compare and contrast the information available in bodily fluids (no actual human body fluids will
be used).
Element: SFS3.c
Experimentally use DNA evidence to identify a suspect.
Element: SFS3.d
Explain the basis for relating breath to blood-alcohol concentration.
Element: SFS3.e
Discuss the role of anthropology in forensic science.
Element: SFS3.f
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
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
Things you must be able to do:
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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
blood-alcohol concentration.
Discuss the role of anthropology in
forensic science.
Show the importance of entomological
techniques in forensic science.
Osteoporosis
Skeletal trauma analysis
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
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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
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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
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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:
SFS4
Students will analyze various impressions from firearms, tool marks, arson, and explosive
evidence.
Element: SFS4.a
Compare and contrast firearm evidence (no firearms of live ammunition will be used).
Element: SFS4.b
Distinguish tool marks and impression evidence.
Element: SFS4.c
Relate the use of certain chemicals to arson.
Element: SFS4.d
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
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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
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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