1. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

2. Work with a partner to do the following:
What do you believe was the most important evidence in convicting the suspect? List your top 3:
What tools did the investigators use to gather evidence?
What skills do you feel the investigators used?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

3. Chapter 1: Observation Skills Introduction
The forensic examiner must be able to
find—identify the evidence
document—record the evidence
interpret—accurately determine the significance of the evidence
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

4. Our brains can filter out information.
What Is Observation?
Our brains can filter out information.
Point out some of the details in this photo.
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

5. How information is processed in the brain
What Is Observation?
How information is processed in the brain
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

6. What Is Observation? Our brains fill in gaps in our perception
In order to make sense of what we perceive, our brains often enrich with detail what we see, taste, hear, smell, or feel
After an event, we can believe things were part of the background even though they were not
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

7. What Is Observation?
Our brains apply previous knowledge to new situations
What assumptions can you make about this scene?
How might those assumptions be wrong?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

8. We will now test your observation skills
Get out a piece of scrap paper
Go to slide 23 for activity

9. Observations by Witnesses
Observations are affected by:
Their emotional states
Whether they were alone, part of a group, or near others
What type of and how much activity was going on around them
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

10. Eyewitness Accounts Crime-scene reports often vary, due to:
level of interest
stress
concentration
amount and kind of distractions present
prejudices
personal beliefs
motives
any lapse in time since the event
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

11. The Case of Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton
What can happen?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

12. The Innocence Project
Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law,
Beginning in 1992, used DNA to examine post-conviction cases
Faulty eyewitness identifications accounted for up to 87% of the wrongful convictions
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

13. The Innocence Project Eyewitness errors include:
Mistakes in describing the age and facial distinctiveness of the suspect
These mistakes can arise from
disguised appearances
brief sightings of the perpetrator
cross-gender and cross-racial bias
changes in viewing environment (from c.s. to police lineup)
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

14. When evaluating eyewitness testimony, the investigator must:
Discriminate between FACT and OPINION
Piece together the events preceding the crime into a LOGICAL pattern
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

15. How to be a Good Observer
Observe systematically
Start at one part of a crime scene and run your eyes slowly over every space
Look carefully at details of each piece of evidence
Do not assume you will remember everything
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

16. How to be a Good Observer
Turn off filters
Consciously pay attention to all details
Do not pay attention to just what you think is important
All details are potentially important
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

17. How to be a Good Observer
Collect Information first, interpret data later
Look for patterns and make connections
More information yields better interpretations
Prejudices exist everywhere—
eyewitness accounts
your own thinking processes
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

18. Activity 1-2 You’re the Eyewitness
We will do this in another powerpoint
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

19. How to be a Good Observer
Documentation, Documentation, Documentation
Write down and photograph as much information as possible
Be aware that memory is faulty
Remember that our brains tend to fill in gaps in our perceptions
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

20. Observations in Forensics
Study situations
Find clues in ordinary details
Work backwards from the evidence to what led up to the crime
Be patient
Practice
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

21. Summary
The environment and our natural sensory filters affect our ability to observe
Eyewitness reports can be correct, faulty, or a little of both
Acquiring good observation skills takes practice and training
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary Forensic scientists:
Find and Document Evidence
Evaluate and Interpret
Provide expert testimony to courts
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

23. Observational Skills ACTIVITY 1-1 LEARNING TO SEE
Directions: Study Photograph 1 for 15 seconds. When instructed by your teacher, answer as many of the questions as you can. You will have three minutes. Repeat the process for Photographs 2 and 3.

24. Photograph #1

25. At what location was the photograph taken?
How many cars are pictured?
What color are the cars?
What types of offices are located in the building?
How many small trees are in the picture?
The photograph was taken New York State during which season?
How many people are in the photograph?

26. At what location was the photograph taken? Glenville Municipal Center
How many cars are pictured? 2
What color are the cars? Tan & gray
What types of offices are located in the building? Town, police and court offices
How many small trees are in the picture? 2
The photograph was taken New York State during which season? Spring or summer
How many people are in the photograph? None

27. Photograph #2

28. What is pictured in Photograph #2?
Describe the shape of the object pictured?
What are the colors of the object?
What color edged the top of the object?
Upon what is the object displayed?
Describe or sketch the design on the object?
What is the approximate size of the object?

29. What is pictured in Photograph #2? Urn or pot
Describe the shape of the object pictured? Like a flowerpot
What are the colors of the object? Red, green, tan, blue, white brown
What color edged the top of the object? Blue
Upon what is the object displayed? A wooden chair
Describe or sketch the design on the object? See above
What is the approximate size of the object? ~12”-14” wide, ~ 16” tall

30. Photograph #3

31. How many people are in Photograph #3?
What is the sex of the person in the picture?
What is the approximate age of the person in the photograph?
What color is the person’s hair?
Does the person have long hair or short hair?
Does the person have any distinguishing features? Glasses?
Can you describe the person’s clothing?
Is the person wearing any jewelry? If so, describe it.
Can you describe where the picture was taken?
Based on evidence in the photograph, can you form a hypothesis about the person’s occupation?
Is it possible to identify the interests of the person based upon evidence in the room?
Do you think it is easier to answer questions about a photograph if a person is in the picture?

32. How many people are in Photograph #3? One
What is the sex of the person in the picture? Female
What is the approximate age of the person in the photograph? 55
What color is the person’s hair? Blonde (dyed)
Does the person have long hair or short hair? Short
Does the person have any distinguishing features? Glasses? Yes
Can you describe the person’s clothing? See photograph above for description
Is the person wearing any jewelry? If so, describe it. Gold necklace and earings
Can you describe where the picture was taken? School room or office
Based on evidence in the photograph, can you form a hypothesis about the person’s occupation? Teacher
Is it possible to identify the interests of the person based upon evidence in the room? Forensics and biology books imply this might be a science teacher
Do you think it is easier to answer questions about a photograph if a person is in the picture? Yes because we can recognize familiar surroundings and situations.

33. Discussion Questions
1. Did everyone answer all of the questions correctly?
2. If everyone viewed the same photograph, what are some possible reasons why answers differed.

34. Discussion Questions
3. Do you think it is easier to answer questions about a photograph if a person is in the picture? Why or why not?
4. Did your ability to see more detail and answer more questions correctly improve with practice?

35. Summary discussion questions
Do you consider yourself a good observer?
Explain your answer.