1. & Functions of the Forensic Scientist
Crime Laboratories
& Functions of the Forensic Scientist

2. History of Crime Labs in United States
1923 (oldest) University Institute for Criminology and Criminalistics at Univ. of California
1932 FBI Laboratory- forensic services to law enforcement agencies, currently worlds largest forensic laboratory
1981- FBI Forensic Science Research and Training Center
Local law enforcement jurisdictions have independent crime labs
Approx 400 Crime Labs in United States overall

3. Rapid Growth of Crime Laboratories
Greater demand of scientific evidence
Confessions have decreased due to requirement to tell suspects their constitutional rights
New technology
Increase In crime rates
Drug related arrests- chemical analysis must be done on all drug seizures
before adjudication
DNA profiling- blood, semen, hair, saliva, etc

4. 4 Major Federal Crime Laboratories
FBI Forensic Science Crime Laboratory- Quantico, Virginia; largest crime laboratory
Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratories- investigates drug seizures
Laboratories of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives- investigates alcohol, documents, firearms, weapons, explosives, etc
US Postal Inspection Service Laboratories- crime investigations dealing with postal service

5. Functions of the Forensic Scientist
Analyze Physical Evidence
Present evidence findings to jury

6. Analyzing Physical Evidence
Scientific Method – A process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information.
1. QUESTION to investigate
2. HYPOTHESIS- a reasonable explanation proposed to answer a question
3. PROCEDURE – testing your hypothesis through experimentation.
4. DATA – recording the results
5. CONCLUSION – analyzing the results
Unbiased Scientific Approach - Cannot ignore contrary evidence

7. Determining Admissibility of Evidence
Frye v. United States - For evidence to be admissible in court, the procedure technique or principles must be “generally accepted” by the scientific community.
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, inc. “general acceptance is not an absolute prerequisite”. Rule 702 from the Federal Rules of Evidence assigns the trial judge the task of ensuring an experts testimony rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant to the case. The trial judge is a “gate keeper”
Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. V. Carmichael – the “gatekeeping role” applies to expert scientific testimony AND any other expert testimony.
Coppolino v. State - shows wide discretion of what can be admitted for evidence

8. CASE FILES: Dr. Coppolino’s Deadly House Calls
Shows wide discretion given to trial judges
It was questioned if the results of a new procedure could be admitted as evidence EVEN THOUGH they had not been widely accepted in the scientific community
Trial judge allowed evidence to be admissible which led to Dr. Coppolino being convicted of 2nd degree murder.

9. Providing Expert Testimony
Expert Witness – An individual whom the court determines to possess knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson.
An expert witness may be asked questions to demonstrate competence.
Expert witness defends own techniques and conclusions of analysis.
Cannot be biased in any way
Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts & Crawford v. Washington – requires the expert witness to be present in the courtroom to allow for cross examination and for the suspect to confront the witness testifying against him/her (cannot just use affidavit or recorded statement).

10. Crime Lab Units Choose one of the following units for your activity.
Physical Science Unit – Chemistry, Physics and Geology to compare crime scene evidence
Biology Unit- biologists and biochemists examine DNA profiling
Firearms Unit- analyzes firearms, bullets cartridge cases, shells, ammunitions, etc
Document Examination Unit- examines handwriting and typewriting, paper, ink, and indented writing
Photography Unit- uses photographic techniques to record physical evidence

11. Optional Services of Crime Laboratories You can also choose from these units
Toxicology Unit- analyzes body fluids and organs to check for drugs and poisons
Latent Fingerprint Unit- processes latent fingerprints
Polygraph Unit- lie detectors
Voiceprint Analysis Unit- uses telephoned threats and taped messages to link voice to suspect
Crime Scene Investigation Unit- concerned with collection of evidence from crime scene to take to laboratories

12. Other Forensic Science Services You can also choose one of these units!!
Forensic Psychiatry-typically determine if defendant is competent to stand trial
Forensic Odontology- use dental evidence to identify victim
Forensic Engineering- accident reconstruction, causes of explosions, etc
Forensic Computer and Digital Analysis-analyzing information from computers
Forensic Pathology - Studies the causes and effects of diseases. Determines the cause of death by examining a corpse.
Forensic Anthropology - Examination of human skeletal remains to determine the identity of unidentified remains.
Forensic Entomology – use of insects and arthropod relatives that inhavbt decomposing remains to aid legal investigations.

13. Crime Lab Activity
Follow directions found on your table tent.

14. Physical Science Unit

15. Biology Unit

16. Firearms Unit

17. Document Examination Unit

18. Photography Unit

19. Toxicology Unit

20. Fingerprint Unit

21. Polygraph Unit

22. Voiceprint Analysis Unit

23. Forensic Odontology

24. Forensic Engineering

25. Crime-Scene Investigation Unit

26. Forensic Psychiatry

27. Forensic Computer and Digital Analysis

28. Forensic Pathology

29. Forensic Anthropology

30. Forensic Entomology

31. This PowerPoint will be on my website