1. Introduction To F O Re N Si C S C I E N Ce Fluorine Oxygen Rhenium
Nitrogen Si
Silicon C
Carbon S
Sulfur C
Carbon I
Iodine E
Erbium N
Nitrogen Ce
Cerium

2. What is Forensic Science?
Forensic Science -The study and application of science to matters of law.
Criminalistics – the examination of physical evidence for legal purposes
Forensic Science and Criminalistics are used interchangeably.

3. Criminology
Includes the psychological angle: studying the crime scene for motive, traits, and behavior that will help to interpret the evidence

4. Why do we look to science for assistance in our legal system?
Increasing Crime Rates
New or Changed Laws
New Crimes
New Weapons
Response to Public Concerns
Response to Law Enforcement Concerns

5. What are some goals of a Forensic Scientist?
To collect, test, and preserve evidence.
To determine the cause, location, and time of death
To provide timely, accurate, and thorough information to all levels of decision makers in our criminal justice system.

6. History and development of Forensic Science
“Forensic” comes from the Latin word “forensis” meaning forum.
During the time of the Romans, a criminal charge meant presenting the case before the public.

7. History and development of Forensic Science
Both the person accused of the crime & the accuser would give speeches based on their side of the story.
The individual with the best argumentation would determine the outcome of the case.

8. History and development of Forensic Science
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle popularize crime detection methods through his fictional character Sherlock Holmes

9. History and development of Forensic Science
The character, Sherlock Holmes, first applied these principles in Doyle’s novels:
Serology (testing)
Fingerprinting
Firearm Identification
Questioned-document examination

10. History and development of Forensic Science
The following is just a brief list of those who have made the earliest contributions to the disciplines that now make up Forensic Science.

11. Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)
“Father of Anthropometry”
“Father of Personal Identification”
Developed a system to distinguish one individual person from another based on certain body measurements.

12. ANTHROPOMETRY
The science of anthropometry: a systematic method of taking body measurements
Anthropometry was eventually replaced by fingerprinting in the early 1900s

13. Francis Galton (1822-1911) “Father of Fingerprinting”
Developed fingerprinting as a way to uniquely identify individuals.
Studied fingerprints and developed a method of classifying them
Proved the uniqueness of individual fingerprints and their use for personal identification
His ideas describe the principles used today in fingerprinting

14. Hans Gross (1847-1915) “Father of Criminal Investigations”
Wrote the book on applying all the
different science disciplines to the
field of criminal investigation
leading to the concept of scientific
crime detection.

15. Leone Lattes (1887-1954) “Father of Bloodstain Identification”
He developed the first workable procedure for determining the blood type (A, B, AB, or O) of a dried blood stain.
Developed the concept that blood typing could be a useful identification tool in criminal investigation.

16. Calvin Goddard (1891-1955) “Father of Ballistics”
Developed the technique to
examine bullets, using a comparison microscope, to determine whether or not a particular gun fired the bullets.

17. Edmond Locard (1877-1966) “Father of the Crime Lab”
Strong advocate of the use of the scientific method in criminal investigation
In 1910, he started the 1st crime lab in an attic of a police station in France
With few tools, he quickly became known world-wide to forensic scientists & criminal investigators & eventually founded the Institute of Criminalistics in France.

18. Edmond Locard ( )
His most important contribution was the “Locard’s Exchange Principle”
Whenever two objects come into contact with each other, there is always a transfer of material

19. Locard’s Exchange Principle
“Every Contact Leaves a Trace.”
He believed that every criminal can be connected to a crime by particles carried from the crime scene.
When a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs.

20. Locard’s Exchange Principle Examples
Metal particles carried on clothing from a crime scene can link a suspect to a crime
Soil samples found on the vehicle of a suspect can link the suspect to a crime scene
3. Plant material found on cars or clothing can link a suspect to a crime scene

21. J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972) “Father of the FBI”
Director of Federal Bureau
of Investigation during the 1930’s
Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential administrations. His reign covered Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, & the Vietnam War.

22. J. Edgar Hoover ( )
He organized a national laboratory to provide forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

23. The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Was created in 1932
The FBI Laboratory is now the world’s largest forensic laboratory, performing over one million examinations per year

24. The Federal Bureau of Investigation
Opened the Forensic Science Research and Training Center in 1981
Center is dedicated to conducting research and developing new and reliable scientific methods that can be applied to forensic science

25. LAPD & California
The oldest forensic laboratory in the United States was established by the L.A.P.D. under Director August Vollmer
1972- California Department of
Justice created model system of
state-operated crime laboratories

26. Crime Laboratories
Crime labs can be government-run at the federal, state, or local level, or they can be private consulting businesses.

27. Crime Laboratories
1. The Police Department 2. The Prosecutors or District Attorney’s Office 3. The Coroner or Medical Examiner’s Office 4. Universities as independent testing facilities

28. Federal Crime Labs in the U.S.
Will assist any local agency that requests assistance in investigative matters

29. Federal Crime Labs in the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Housed under the Department of Justice
Largest lab
Responsibilities:
1. Broad, investigative powers that exceed jurisdictions of state and local authorities
2. Expertise and technology support for criminal investigations

30. Federal Crime Labs in the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
Housed under The Department of Justice
Responsibilities
1. Analysis of drugs seized in violation of federal laws that regulate the production, sale, and transportation of drugs in the U.S.

31. Federal Crime Labs in the U.S.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
Housed under The Department of Justice

32. Federal Crime Labs in the U.S.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
Responsibilities:
1. Analyzing alcoholic beverages and documents relating to tax law enforcement
2. Examining weapons, explosive devices, and evidence relating to the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970

33. Federal Crime Labs in the U.S.
U.S. Postal Inspection Services (USPS)
Housed under The Department of Justice
Responsibilities:
Investigates criminal acts relating to the postal service
Inspection of mail

34. Other Federal Crime Labs
FDA – Food and Drug Administration
Are responsible for protecting food, drugs, cosmetics, and other FDA regulated products from theft, counterfeiting, fraud, tampering, and false advertising.
FDA Forensics Chemistry Lab is located in Cincinnati

35. Other Federal Crime Labs
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Ashland, OR)
1st & only lab that specializes in wildlife forensics.
Prevent poaching and hunting of endangered species.

36. Other Federal Crime Labs
Department of Homeland Security
Department of the Treasury

37. Physical Science Unit This unit applies principles and techniques on
chemistry,
physics, and geology
to the identify and
compare crime scene
evidence.

38. Arson & Geology Units (Sometime within the Physical Science Unit)
Arson Unit
This unit deals with evidence from fires and looks for their causes
Geology Unit
This unit would deal with trace evidence such as sand, soil, minerals, and rocks

39. Biology Unit
Is for the purpose of identification and DNA profiling of dried blood stains and other body fluids, hairs, fibers, and botanical materials.

40. Toxicology Unit
The unit for the examination of body fluids and organs for chemicals, drugs and poisons

41. Serology Unit
The unit for the examination of blood and other bodily fluids (semen, saliva, etc.) for infection, diseases, and for diagnosis.

42. Firearms & Tool mark Unit
The unit for the examination of firearms, bullets, cases, shells, and other types of ammunition
Some also examine tool marks and other weapons for identification.
Ballistics - the science that deals with the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles, most often firearms and bullets

43. Polygraph Unit
Polygraph or lie detector used primarily as a tool of the criminal investigator
This unit is more of a tool for the criminal investigator than the forensic scientist.
Polygraph result are not admissible in court.

44. Voiceprint Analysis Unit
Cases involving telephone threats, tape-recorded messages may use unit to identify persons
Sound patterns are suppose to be unique to the person & and are captured on a voiceprint

45. Evidence Collection Unit
Trained personnel dispatched to a crime scene to collect & preserve evidence collected at the crime scene

46. Photography Unit
They examine and record physical evidence via digital imaging, infrared, ultraviolet and x-ray photography. This area also prepares photographic courtroom presentations.

47. Document Examination Unit
Ascertains authenticity and source of questioned documents and hand writing analysis, indented writings,
obliterations,
erasures,
and burned/charred
documents.

48. Latent Fingerprint Unit
Develops, evaluates, and compares latent fingerprint evidence by use of magnifier, microscope, and fingerprint comparator.
Determines identity of individuals and enters information into the Automated Fingerprint Identification System
(AFIS)

49. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Art –sketch composite drawings, age progression, image modifications, post-mortem skull reconstructions

50. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Medicine– doctors of medicine with special certification in pathology and forensic pathology. Most are M.E.s
They are concerned with determining cause
and circumstances in
cases of questioned
death.

51. Forensic Disciplines **
Forensic Anthropology – studies human skeletal remains for identification

52. Forensic Disciplines **
Forensic Psychology- evaluates behavioral patterns and how they relate to crime (profiling)

53. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Pathology -investigates the sudden, unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths. An autopsy is usually performed to obtain the answer.

54. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Odontology– examination of bite marks and dental features to identify a victim when the body is otherwise unidentifiable

55. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Entomology –studies lifecycles of insects and their relationship to crime scene investigation

56. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Palynology–studies pollen and spores

57. Forensic Disciplines
Forensic Engineering – is concerned with failure analysis, accident reconstruction, involvement of mechanical items and causes and origins of fires or explosions

58. Role of a Forensic Scientist
Analyze evidence and prepare reports on the analyses
Testify in court as an expert witness.
***The emphasis is on SCIENCE!