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 Soil type varies from place to place

Biology Unit Analyzes DNA, blood- stains and other body fluids, compares hair and fibers, compares plant materials

Firearms Unit Examines firearms, bullets, cartridge cases, and shotgun shells Determines distance target was from weapon

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

Photography Unit Photographs evidence possibly with digital imaging, infrared, UV, or X-ray photography Helps prepare exhibits for courtroom presentations

Toxicology Unit Examines body organs and fluids to determine the presence of drugs and/or poisons

Latent Fingerprint Unit Discover, process and examine fingerprints

Polygraph Unit The “lie detector” Measures physiological changes during questioning A5BFD2DE9551/26122/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

Evidence Collection Unit Specially trained personnel collect and preserve evidence What evidence can be obtained from the anthrax letters of 2001?

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?

Is an owl attack possible?

Forensic Anthropology Identifies and examines human skeletons

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?

Blow Fly Life Cycle

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

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.

Forensic Engineering Reconstructs accidents, origin of fires or explosions

Psychological Profiling Investigates an offender’s behavior, motives, and background to help guide an investigation