Forensic Science - Chapter 1 Review:)

The application of science to criminal and civil laws. - Emphasizes the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a justice system.

Polices agencies in a justice system.

Some of them are: Bertillon, Galton, Lattes, Goddard, Osborn, and Locard. - They have developed the principles and techniques needed to identify or compare physical evidence.

The Father of forensic toxicology (the study of drugs, alcohol, and poisons in the body to determine their effects on people).

Devised the first scientific system of personal identification in 1879.

Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification.

Developed a procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains.

Used a comparison microscope to determine if a particular gun fired a bullet.

Developed the fundamental principles of document examination.

Utilized microscopy and other analytical methodologies to examine evidence.

Wrote the 1st treatise describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation.

Incorporated Gross’ principles within a workable crime laboratory.

States that when a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs.

• Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s: Forced police to put greater emphasis on evidence that was scientifically tested and proven. • Drug abuse problem: Labs were overwhelmed with drug samples that needed to be analyzed as drug crime increased. • DNA profiling: The discovery and use of DNA technology created the need for labs that could handle this new and powerful type of evidence.

National or Regional.

Today there are about 411 public crime labs across different levels of government: Federal, State, County, Municipal (City).

• Physical Science Unit: Uses chemistry, physics, geology to test materials like glass, soil, paint, and drugs. • Biology Unit: Studies blood, DNA, body fluids, hair, fibers, plants. • Firearms Unit: Examines bullets, cartridge cases, weapons, and tool marks. • Document Unit: Analyzes handwriting, ink, typewriting, and forgeries. • Photographic Unit: Applies specialized photographic techniques for recording and examining physical evidence.

• Toxicology: Checks body fluids and organs for drugs, alcohol, and poisons. • Latent Fingerprint Unit: Finds and analyzes hidden fingerprints. • Polygraph Unit: Lie detector tests (not evidence but investigate tools). • Voiceprint Analysis: Matches recorded voices to suspects. • Evidence-Collection Unit: Trained teams that go to crime scenes to collect and preserve evidence.

• Formulate a question worthy of investigation. • Formulate a reasonable hypothesis to answer the question. • Test the hypothesis through experimentation. • Upon validation of the hypothesis, it became suitable as scientific evidence.

• Core Role • Courtroom Testimony • Expressing Opinions • Case Examples

• Must be skilled in applying physical and natural science principles to analyze evidence (blood, bullets, fingerprints, fibers, DNA, etc). • Their work supports criminal investigators by identifying, comparing, and interpreting physical evidence.

Forensic scientists often serve as expert witnesses. - Defined as someone the court recognizes as having specialized knowledge not expected of the average person. - They present scientific findings clearly and objectively to help the jury and judge understand technical evidence.

They must remain neutral - not an advocate for persecution or defense, but simply presenting the scientific facts.

Education, training, experience, publications, and professional recognitions.