1. Introduction to Forensics
Chapter 1

2. Forensics
Forensic Science: The study and application of science in the matters of law
Sciences included but not limited to
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Math
Psychology
Antropology

3. History and Development of Forensics
1149- King Richard of England introduced a coroner to investigate questionable deaths
1670- Anton Van Leeuwenhoek constructed first high powered microscope
1879- Alphonse Bertillon developed a system to identify people using body measurements (More to come later)
1896- Edward Henry developed first classification system for fingerprint identification
1904- Edmond Locard formulated his famous Locard’s Exchange Principal (More to come later)

4. History and Development of Forensics
1959- James Watson and Francis Crick discover the DNA double helix
1977- AFIS developed by FBI
AFIS: Identification method that uses digital imaging technology to obtain and analyze finger print data
1984- Jeffreys developed and used first DNA test to be applied to a criminal
Watson and Crick with DNA model

5. People of Historical Significance
Alphonse Bertillon ( ): Developed the system of anthropometry
Anthropometry: Personal identification system based on body measurements
Used for 2 decades before being replaced by fingerprinting

6. People of Historical Significance
Leone Lattes( ): Discovered that blood can be grouped into different categories
Type A, Type B, Type AB and Type O blood
Calvin Goddard( ): Refined the technique of examining bullets to see if they had been fired from a particular gun
Revolutionized Ballistic Science

7. People of Historical Significance
Edmond Locard( ): French investigator who pioneered the use of forensic science in practical application to criminal cases
Locard’s Exchange Principal: Every criminal will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something from it

8. Check For Understanding 1
Constructed the first high powered microscope
What is Forensic Science
Revolutionized ballistic science
Identification system based on body measurements
Explain Locard’s Exchange Principal
Discovered the DNA double helix
Developed anthropometry
Categorized blood into 4 type

9. Crime Lab Services
Crime labs will have a variety of services due to local laws, capabilities of the agency and budget limitations
A “full-service” lab would include the following
Physical Science Unit: incorporates chemistry, physics and geology to identify and compare physical evidence
Biology Unit: investigates blood samples, body fluids, hair and fiber samples and DNA profiling

10. Crime Lab Services Continued
Firearms Unit: investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, and ammunition. Also includes comparison of tool marks, tire treads and shoe prints
Documentation Unit: handwriting analysis, and analyzes paper, ink and burned or charred documents
Photography Unit: Use of digital imaging, infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray photography to make invisible information visible to the naked eye

11. Crime Lab Services
Optional crime lab services would include the following
Toxicology Unit: examines body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons
Latent Fingerprint Unit: processes and examines evidence for latent fingerprints
Polygraph Unit: Conducts polygraph test
Voiceprint Analysis Unit: Attempts to tie a recorded voice to a particular suspect
Evidence-Collection Unit: Sends out specially trained personal to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence

12. Check For Understanding 2
Investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, and ammunition
Incorporates chemistry, physics and geology to identify and compare physical evidence
Examines body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons
Investigates blood samples, body fluids, hair and fiber samples and DNA profiling
Sends out specially trained personal to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence
Handwriting analysis, and analyzes paper, ink and burned or charred documents

13. Forensic Pathology
Forensic Pathology: field of medicine concerned with determining the cause of death (homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, or unknown) and examination of injuries related to crimes
Forensic Pathologist: medical doctors who specialize in Forensic Pathology
Usually in school for 12 years (4 undergrad, 4 med school, at least 4 years of a pathology residency and 1 year forensic pathology fellowship program)

14. Forensic Pathology Role of a Forensic Pathologist
Determine Cause of Death: homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, or unknown
Proximate cause of death: initial injury that led to a sequence of events which caused the death of the victim
Immediate cause of death: injury or disease that finally killed the victim
Example: A man burned extensively as a result of a house fire dies two weeks later due to sepsis. Proximate cause of death is his burns which lead to sepsis, the immediate cause of death is the sepsis.

15. Forensic Pathology Role of Forensic Pathologist Continued
Mechanism of Death: the actual physiological change, or variation in the body’s inner workings which caused the death
Example: Someone who dies of a skull fracture (cause of death) can die from several mechanisms
Cerebral contusion (direct trauma to the brain)
Intracerebral bleed (bleeding into the brain itself)
Subdural or Epidural Hematoma (bleeding around the brain)

16. Forensic Pathology Role of Forensic Pathologist Continued
Determining Manner of Death: the root cause of the sequence of events that lead to death
4 manners of death
Homicide: deaths caused by someone else other than the victim (aka murder)
Suicide: deaths caused by the victim themselves; victim has the intention of killing themselves
Accidental: death results from an unplanned and unforeseeable sequence of events (falls, car accidents, electrocutions)
Natural: death results from a natural process (heart attacks, old age, cancer, etc)

17. Check For Understanding 3
Medical doctor who specializes in forensic pathology
The root cause of the sequence of events that lead to death
The actual physiological change, or variation in the body’s inner workings which caused the death
Injury or disease that finally killed the victim
Deaths caused by someone else other than the victim
Initial injury that led to a sequence of events which caused the death of the victim

18. Forensic Pathology
Trauma: Terms used to describe traumatic lesions, more specific than terms used in surgery and internal medicine
Laceration: tearing injury due to friction or impact with a blunt object
Typical laceration has edges which are ragged, bruised and/or abraded
Puncture: penetrating injury due to pointed object without a blade; ice pick, nail, etc.
Abrasion: friction injury removing superficial layers of skin

19. Forensic Pathology Trauma Continued
Contusion: bruise due to rupture or penetration of small blood vessels
Can be seen on the surface of organs (brain, heart, etc.) and on the skin
Gunshot wound: 4 types of determinations can be made on the body from a gunshot wound
Type of firearm used (shotgun, handgun/rifle, etc.)
Distance of the gun from the victim at the time of firing
If the wound is an entrance or exit wound
Track of the projectile through the body

20. Image C (left) – Turf burn is considered an Abrasion wound
Image A (left) – deep laceration of the right arm. Indicative of a defensive wound receive from an attacker with a knife.
Image B (left) – Puncture wound on the hand, possibly caused by a nail gun
Image C (left) – Turf burn is considered an Abrasion wound
Image D (left) – Contusion also known as a bruise

21. Forensic Pathology Trauma Continued Gunshot wound continued:
Wounds are classified by distance
Contact Wound: muzzle of the gun was applied to skin at the time of the shooting
Close range(6-8 inches): entrance wound is surrounded soot that travels for a short distance from the gun barrel to be deposited on the skin
Intermediate range(6-8 inches to feet): No soot, burning gunpowder follows the bullet to the victim causing burns around the entrance wound
Distant(greater than feet): No soot or burning, the entrance wound margins are clean

22. Image G (above) – Distant range gun shot
Image E (left) – Contact Wound
Image F (left) – Contact wound gunshot entrance wound; grey-black discoloration from the burned powder
Image G (above) – Distant range gun shot
Image I (above) – Intermediate range gun shot; stippling caused by hot gun powder
Image H (above) – Stippling and soot deposition surrounding a close range gunshot wound.

23. Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Anthropology: the examination of human skeletal remains to determine the identity of unidentified bones.
Subfields:
Forensic Osteology: study of the skeleton
Forensic Archeology: controlled collection and excavation of human remains and evidence from the scene
Forensic Taphonomy: study of changes occurring to human remains at the time of and after death(trauma and decomposition)

24. Check For Understanding 4
Friction injury removing superficial layers of skin
The 4 types of determinations can be made on the body from a gunshot wound
No soot, burning gunpowder follows the bullet to the victim causing burns
Examination of human skeletal remains to determine the identity of unidentified bones
Tearing injury due to friction or impact with a blunt object
Entrance wound is surrounded by soot