Chapter 1 Introduction to Forensic Science and the Law “In school, every period ends with a bell. Every sentence ends with a period. Every crime ends with a sentence.” —Stephen Wright, comedian

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Chapter 1 Forensic Science The study and application of science to law “Forensis” means forum Public place where, in Roman times, senators and others debated and held judicial proceedings Forensics is also called “criminalistics” Forensic scientist – study different types of evidence; may have to testify as “expert witness” Expert witness – a person who is a specialist in a subject; presents an expert opinion without witnessing any occurrence related to the case Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

Criminalistics vs Criminology the scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes Criminology includes the psychological angle, studying the crime scene for motive, traits, and behavior that will help to interpret the evidence Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Crime Lab—Basic Services Chapter 1 Crime Lab—Basic Services Physical Science Unit Chemistry Physics Geology Biology Unit Firearms Unit Document Examination Unit Photography Unit Where forensic scientists examine evidence - can be Federal, State, or Local Physical Science Unit – drugs, soil, glass, paint, blood spatter patterns, other trace physical evidence Biology – body fluids, DNA, hair, fibers, etc. Firearms (Ballistics) – motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles (firearms + bullets) Document Analysis – handwriting, typewriting, word processing, paper + ink Photography – take photos of crime scene Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

Crime Lab—Optional Services Chapter 1 Crime Lab—Optional Services Toxicology Unit Latent Fingerprint Unit Polygraph Unit Voiceprint Analysis Unit Evidence Collection Unit Toxicology – poisons Polygraph – lie detector Voiceprint Analysis – telephone threats or tape-recorded messages Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

Other Forensic Science Services Chapter 1 Other Forensic Science Services Forensic Pathology Forensic Entomology Forensic Psychiatry Forensic Odontology Forensic Palynology May also consult experts in: Pathology – investigation of sudden unexplained or violent death Entomology – study of insects Odontology – bite marks and dental ID Palynology – pollen and spores Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

Major Crime Laboratories Chapter 1 Major Crime Laboratories FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms) FWS (Fish & Wildlife Service) USPS (United States Postal Service) FBI – largest crime lab in the world DEA – drug-related crimes ATF – crimes involving alcohol, weapons, explosives, & organized crime FWS – violations of wildlife laws USPS – crimes involving mail Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Crime Lab History First police crime lab in the world France in 1910 by Edmond Locard First police crime lab in the U.S. 1923 in Los Angeles The first FBI crime lab opened in 1932 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Major Developments in Forensic Science History 700s AD—Chinese used fingerprints to establish identity of documents and clay sculptures ~1000—Roman courts determined that bloody palm prints were used to frame a man in his brother’s murder 1149—King Richard of England introduced the idea of the coroner to investigate questionable death 1200s—A murder in China is solved when flies were attracted to invisible blood residue on a sword of a man in the community Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Major Developments in Forensic Science History 1670—Anton Van Leeuwenhoek constructed the first high-powered microscope 1776—Paul Revere identified the body of General Joseph Warren based on the false teeth he had made for him 1784—John Toms convicted of murder on basis of torn edge of wad of paper in pistol matching a piece of paper in his pocket 1864—Crime scene photography developed Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Major Developments in Forensic Science History 1879—Alphonse Bertillon developed a system to identify people using particular body measurements 1896—Edward Henry developed first classification system for fingerprint identification 1900—Karl Landsteiner identified human blood groups 1904—Edmond Locard formulated his famous principle, “Every contact leaves a trace.” Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Major Developments in Forensic Science History Chapter 1 Major Developments in Forensic Science History 1959—James Watson and Francis Crick discover the DNA double helix 1977—AFIS developed by FBI, fully automated in 1996 1984—Alec Jeffreys developed and used first DNA tests to be applied to a criminal case AFIS – Automated Fingerprint Identification System Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

People of Historical Significance Edmond Locard (1877-1966) French professor Considered the father of forensics Built the world’s first forensic laboratory in France in 1910 Locard Exchange Principle Whenever two objects come into contact with each other, traces of each are exchanged Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company