Introduction to Forensic Science

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Introduction to Forensic Science

• A Brief Overview

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Forensic Science

• The word forensic comes from the Romans.
• A forum was a community meeting place,and a
  center for public justice

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Forensics defined

• Of, relating to, or denoting the application of
  scientific methods and technique to the
  investigation of a crime.

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Scientific Method

• Is a method of gaining, organizing, and applying
  new knowledge

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Scientific Method

• Identify the problem
• Make an educated prediction hypothesis
• Test prediction by experimentation
• Collect and analyze data
• Formulate the simplest general rule that
  organizes the hypothesis and experimental outcome.

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Professions

• Pathologists study the diseases of the human body
• Toxicologists study drugs and poisons
• Serologists study blood
• Anthropologists study mankind
• Entomologists study insects

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Not too long ago

• Identifying, capturing, and convicting criminals
  depended primarily on eyewitnesses and
  confessions.
• Communities were smaller and closely-knit.
• Strangers were noticed more.

8
Now we use

• Fingerprinting
• Firearm identification, GSR analysis, and
  ballistics
• Hair and fiber studies
• Toxicology
• Blood typing
• DNA analysis etc.

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Whos who?

• Evidence collection unit (or CSI unit) collects
  and preserves evidence from the crime scene and
  transports it to the lab. They lift fingerprints,
  collect hair and fibers, and gather any other
  evidence.
• Depending on state and local laws they may or may
  not be police.

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Whos who?

• Photography unit takes pictures of the crime
  scene, all evidence, and the body.
• This provides a blueprint for crime scene
  reconstruction.
• It also provides for clear evidence presentation
  in court.
• Smaller jurisdictions may combine this unit with
  the regular CSI unit.

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What do we do with it?

• Evidence storage This is a secure location for
  evidence.
• Main job is to preserve chain of custody.
• Generally kept at the police department or
  sheriffs office.
• Absolutely vital for presentation in court.

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The Science of Forensics

• Physical
• Trace evidence
• Firearms ID
• Document examination
• Fingerprint examination

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The Science of Forensics

• Biological
• Autopsy

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Physical

• Trace evidence any small item of evidence
  (hair, fibers, etc.) that places the suspect at
  the scene or in direct contact with the victim

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Physical

• Firearms Identification deals with the
  examination of weapons and the projectiles they
  fire, including ammunition, fired bullets, shell
  casings, and shotgun shells.
• Firearms experts use a microscope and various
  types of chemical analysis to identify the type
  of weapon used to commit a crime.

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Physical

• Document examination Whenever an important
  written documents age or authenticity is in
  doubt, a document examiner uses handwriting
  analysis to match handwriting samples to
  questioned documents or signatures.

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Physical

• Document examination may also include analyzing
  the physical and chemical properties of papers
  and inks or exposing indented writing.
• Typewritten or photocopied documents that may
  have been altered also fall under the document
  examiners area of expertise.

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Fingerprint examination

• Fingerprint examiners match prints to the
  fingers, palms, or soles of the people who left
  them at the crime scene. A print found at a crime
  scene can be compared with another taken from a
  database or from a suspect, victim, or bystander.

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Biological

• Biological evidence includes a corpse, skeletal
  remains, drugs and poisons, teeth, bite marks,
  insects, and plant materials.
• It also includes analysis of the criminal mind.

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Biological

• An autopsy may reveal the nature and cause of any
  injuries, the presence of any poisons, and
  ultimately why and how the victim died.

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The Crime Lab

• 1923 First crime lab in the United States is
  established by August Volmer of the LAPD
• 1929 First private forensics lab in the United
  States is founded in Chicago in response to the
  St. Valentines Day Massacre

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St. Valentines Day Massacre

• February 14, 1929 Chicago
• Al Scarface Capone
• George Bugs Moran
• Morans men (7) were waiting for a shipment of
  liquor
• It was a setup by Capone
• Moran arrived at the warehouse late

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Massacre

• He saw a police car pull up and 5 officers enter
  the warehouse
• Heard machine gun fire
• The cops came out and left
• Real police arrive
• All seven men dead
• Police recover over 70 shell casings

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Massacre

• An expert in firearms identification is called in
• Expert is Dr. Goddard
• Casings were from Thomson submachine guns
• Comparison microscope
• None of the casings came from police owned weapons

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Massacre

• Findings meant killers had impersonated police
  officers Capone suspected
• Police raided the home of one of Capones hit
  men.
• 2 Thomson guns are found later identified as
  two of the murder weapons.

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1932

• Dr. Goddard helps the FBI establish a national
  forensics laboratory.
• It becomes a model for all future state and local
  labs.