1. Intro to Forensic Science 8.20.14

2. What is Forensic Science?

3. “The application of science to the criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.” Few techniques of forensic science are unique to the field. Rather, it borrows from biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and anthropology for the above purpose.

4. Crime Investigations While Forensic Science may start at the scene of the crime, most work takes place in the crime lab.

5. Crime Laboratories First established in 1923 in LA. FBI established first federal crime lab in 1932 Most cities now have their own crime labs…why???

6. Crime Lab Services Physical Science Unit: Applies principles of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of physical evidence from crime scene.  Examples: Drugs, glass, paint, explosives, soil, fibers, etc.

7. Lab Services, cont. Biology Unit: Performs DNA analysis, identifies bloodstains and other bodily fluids, identifies and compares botanical materials, compares hairs and other natural fibers.

8. Lab Services, cont. Firearms Unit: Examines firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and ammunition.

9. Lab Services, cont. Document Examination Unit: Analyzes handwriting, paper, checks, and printers of documents.

10. Lab Services, cont. Photography Unit: Examines and records physical evidence at the crime scene, suspect’s location, and within crime lab

11. Additional Specialized Units Toxicology Unit: Examines organs and fluids to determine presence and identification of drugs or poisons. Fingerprint Unit: Processes and examines latent fingerprints.

12. Additional Specialized Units Polygraph Unit: Lie detector tests Voiceprint Analysis Unit: Analyze telephone or other vocal messages for individual, location, etc.