1. Chapter 1: Introduction to Forensic Science
Forensic science – the application of scientific knowledge and technology to crime-solving.
As scientific technologies increase, law enforcement agencies look more and more to the scientific community for advice and support
Science’s role is to supply accurate & objective information reflecting events that have occurred at a crime

2. History and Development of Forensic Science:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle popularized scientific crime-detection methods through his fictional character Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes applied the newly developing principles of serology (topics relating to blood), fingerprinting, firearm ID, and document examination long before they were used for real investigations.

4. **Insert slides about historical figures**

5. Services of a Crime Lab Basic Services:
1. Physical Science Unit – uses chemical tests and analytical instruments to exam drugs, glass, paint, explosives, soil.

6. 2. Biology Unit – blood stain and other body fluids analysis, hair and fibers analysis, plant identification

7. 3. Firearms Unit – ballistics, firearm discharge residue
4. Document Examination Unit – checking authenticity

8. 5. Photography Unit – may use specialized photography, such as infrared or X-ray.

9. Optional Services
1. Toxicology Unit – analyze biological specimens for drugs, poisons

10. 2. Latent Fingerprint Unit – analyze fingerprints left on a surface
3. Polygraph Unit – lie detection

11. 4. Voiceprint Analysis Unit – analyzes recordings for an individual’s unique sound patterns

12. 5. Evidence Collection Unit – they collect and preserve physical evidence found at a crime scene

13. Specialized Forensic Science Services (outside the crime laboratory)
1. Forensic Pathology – the investigation of sudden, unnatural, unexplained or violent deaths.
Medical examiners perform autopsies to establish the cause of death – 5 categories:
- natural, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined

14. Time of death is established by looking at:
- rigor mortis - stiffening that starts within 24 hours after death and disappears within 36 hours
- livor mortis – the settling of blood in areas of the body closest to the ground – begins immediately after death and lasts for up to 12 hours
- algor mortis – the process of body temp. continually cooling after death. The rate is about 1 to 1.5°F per hour

15. 2. Forensic Anthropology – the identification and examination of human skeletal remains

16. 3. Forensic Entomology – the study of insects and their relation to a criminal investigation
- insects such a blow flies are the first to infest a dead body
- the stage of development of the fly larvae can approximate the time of death

17. 4. Forensic Psychiatry – the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings
For ex., determining whether people are competent to stand trial

18. 5. Forensic Odontology – examination of teeth
- can identify a person
- bite mark analysis

19. 6. Forensic Engineering – accident reconstruction, failure analysis, fires, and explosions