FORENSIC SCIENCE INTRODUCTION

2 FIRST SEMESTER *Introduction *Physical Evidence *DNA *Documentation *Biology *Introduction *Prints *Toxicology *Trace Evidence *Serology SECOND SEMESTER UNITS

3 Forensic Science Application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. The business of providing timely, accurate, and thorough information to all levels of decisions makers in our criminal justice system.

Complex Reasoning In Forensic Science Deductive and Inductive Reasoning Classifying Comparing and contrasting Problem Solving Analyzing Perspectives Constructing Support Error Analysis

5 CRITICAL THINKING When Mrs. Jackson came back from lunch, there were several messages on her desk. By changing each digit of the phone numbers to one of the three corresponding letters on the telephone buttons, can you determine from whom each message came? Which type(s) of critical thinking skill (s) are you using?

6 Answers to Critical Thinking â dentist â(222) accountant â printer â husband â airline â teacher

7 CORPUS DELICTI “Body of the Crime” You must prove : âthat a crime occurred âthat the person charged with the crime was responsible for the crime Top Reasons for Committing a Crime âMoney âRevenge âSex âEmotion--love, hate, anger Source of Evidence âBody âPrimary and/or Secondary Crime Scene âSuspect(s)

8 FACETS OF GUILT âMeans--the ability of have committed the crime âMotive--the reason for committing the crime. (This doesn’t have to be proven or presented in a court of law, but its what everyone wants to know.) âOpportunity--time or availability to have committed the crime.

9 Murder Charges *1st Degree Murder--premeditated *2nd Degree Murder--killed intentionally, but not thought out as much ahead of time *Voluntary Manslaughter--usually involves sudden passion (fear, rage, anger, terror) *Involuntary Manslaughter (criminally negligent homicide)--killed someone, but unintentionally

10 Crime Scene Team As a group of professional investigators, each trained in a variety of special disciplines, you and your team will stage a crime scene for the other members of your class. Each of you will have a specific job. Choose from the following: Team Members ãFirst Police Officer on the scene ãLead Investigator(s) ãField Evidence Technician ãWitness(s)--Possible suspects ãVictim

11 Lead Investigator (for the staged crime scene) âWill escort the team of investigators to the crime scene âWill introduce the first officer âWill help lead the team through the questioning of the witness(s)

12 First Officer (for the staged crime scene) âDiscuss what you saw when you arrived. âHave a set time: âfor call to police âfor arrival of police âwitness(es) last seeing the victim âGive a body temperature (algor mortis). âState the body rigor. âDiscuss livor mortis and/or blanching.

13 Witnesses (for the staged crime scene) ãWill explain their part of the scene ãGive enough information to lead the team to a conclusion about what happened at this crime scene ãBe sure that there could be more than one possible solution.

14 Evidence Technician ãWill set up numbers at the 10 pieces of evidence ãOne piece of evidence must come from each of the units in this semester. ãWill help the other team collect evidence ãHave the necessary equipment ãForceps ãBags--paper and plastic ãEnvelopes ãJars and Q-tips ãProperly collect all evidence

15 Physical Evidence Be sure to include various types of evidence, in particular ones that we will be studying and working with this semester. You will have to draw the crime scene to scale. Please do not include more than 10 pieces of evidence.

16 Evidence Characteristics Class--common to a group of objects or persons Individual--can be identified with a particular person or source. ABO Blood TypingBlood DNA Typing

17 Crime Scene Sketch Date: August 14, 2001Criminalist: Ann Wilson Time: 11:35Location: 4358 Rockledge Dr St. Louis, Mo. A. Couch/sofa B. Female body C. Knife D. Over turned Lamp E. Chairs F. Table G. Fireplace c D E E E E E A G F

18 Medical Examiner’s Responsibilities ãIdentify the deceased ãEstablish the time and date of death ãDetermine a medical cause of death -- the injury or disease that resulted in the person dying ãDetermine the mechanism of death -- the physiological reason that the person died ãClassify the manner of death ãNatural ãAccidental ãSuicide ãHomicide ãUndetermined ãNotify the next of kin

19 EYEWITNESS Crazy Criminal Suspect Falters Over Account of Robberies Robbery suspect Frank Margary can’t seem to keep his mouth shut. In some subtle statements, he has confessed to a series of robberies. When questioned about a November robbery at Lakeside Dili and Mini Market, he told detectives: “There’s no way the clerk could identify me, I had my hat down over my eyes.”

20 Remember: “HOW PLUS WHY EQUALS WHO” --John Douglas, former FBI profiler Keep this in mind as you set up your crime scene and work up your lab.

21 History-- Repeating Itself? *1840 William Henry Harrison--died in office *1860 Abraham Lincoln--assassinated *1880 James A. Garfield--assassinated *1900 William McKinley--assassinated *1920 Warren G. Harding--died in office *1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt--died in office *1960 John F. Kennedy--assassinated *1980 Ronald Reagan--survived assassination attempt *2000 George Bush--KIND OF SCARY?