1. Analytical Forensic Science
The adventure Begins Now

2. What is Forensic Science?
From Latin public (e.g. Roman Forum, or other fora, used for public matters)
Public speaking, or public presentation of scientific evidence
Today—science applied to legal issues 2

3. Why Take Forensic Science?
CSI-LV, NY, Miami….
Because you were told to?
Is it good, basic science?
Is it applied science?
Natural curiosity-The detective in all of us? 3

4. Forensic Science as a Career
There are scores of forensic science programs (graduate and undergraduate) in the US—more each year
Most do not lead to jobs….
But—a good science background leads to a lot of good things 4

5. Disciplines in Forensics
Life Science: anatomy, DNA, hair, bones
Chemistry: toxicology, fibers, powders, paint, arson
Physics: ballistics, blood spatter
Geology; soil analysis, casts, mapping
Math; statistics, graphing, measuring
English; writing, reports, communication
Social Studies: criminal law, justice

6. Forensic Science Lab Systems
Federal—FBI, ATF, DEA, CIA, SecServ (Tres), Postal….
State (CHP, CalDOJ) County, City
Private labs (all sizes)
Accreditation (no real rules)
Some are and some are not
ASCLD (
May affect quality, may not 6

7. Forensic Departments Physical Science experts
Biologists-specifically DNA experts
Ballistics
Document examiners
Photography unit and processing
Toxicology and drug analysis
Fingerprint lab

8. Forensic Jobs Serologist Prints examiner Anthropologist Entomologist
Odontologist
CSI
Trace evidence examiner
Firearms examiner
Tool mark examiner
Pathologist
Toxicologist
Document examiner

9. Fundamental Principle
Edmond Locard (1900)
“Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value.”

10. Locard Exchange Principle
Locard's exchange principle states that "with contact between two items, there will always be an exchange of material"
The role of the criminalist is to link the suspect to the crime scene from this exchanged material

11. Expert Testimony
The forensic specialist if often asked to testify in court on their findings.
American justice system is adversarial (Prosecution vs. Defense)
Two significant rulings on the testimony of “expert” witnesses
Frye Standard
The Daubert Ruling

12. The Frye Standard 1923 James Frye convicted of murder
To meet the Frye standard, scientific evidence presented to the court must be interpreted by the court as "generally accepted" by a meaningful segment of the associated scientific community. This applies to procedures, principles or techniques that may be presented in the proceedings of a court case.

13. The Daubert Ruling 1993 Daubert vs. Dow Pharmaceuticals
In Daubert, the Supreme Court held that federal trial judges are the “gatekeepers” of scientific evidence. Under the Daubert standard, therefore, trial judges must evaluate possible expert witnesses to determine whether their testimony is both “relevant” and “reliable”, a two-pronged test of admissibility.

14. Scandals in Forensic Science
Fred Zain – Expert gone wrong
Sandra Anderson – Planting evidence