How observant are you? Honors Forensic Science T. Trimpe 2006
-
Upload
dwain-russell-pope -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
0
Transcript of How observant are you? Honors Forensic Science T. Trimpe 2006
Which is the correct penny?NO CHEATING! You cannot look at a real penny!
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15
Modern Scientific Advances
Advancements in computer technology Overall increase in knowledge Increased speed & accuracy of
common procedures Spectrophotometry Chromotography Gel electrophoresis
Extraction and analysis of DNA 1st profiling test done in 1984
Establishment of computerized databases linked via the internet
Crime Laboratories
History 1923 - Oldest contained in
LA Police Dept. 1932 – FBI offered services
to all law enforcement agencies in the country Today – FBI Crime Lab in
Quantico, VA is the world’s largest forensics lab
Performs over 1,000,000 examinations/yr
1981 – FBI’s Forensic Science Research and Training Center opened
History cont.
US has no nationalized system of labs resulting in local jurisdictions operating their own (~350 nationwide) Informal exchange of information between local
jurisdictions often occurs
Extensive growth of the # of labs and services offered in forensics labs Court decisions in the 1960’s greater stress on
securing scientific evidence Increased scientific capabilities of forensics labs Increase in crime rate drug-related arrests require
testing Advent of DNA profiling fast, accurate, ability to
extract from a multitude of sources
International Labs
Great Britain System of National
Facilities (6 for England and Wales)
Fee-for-service Police and law
enforcement agencies charged for tests
Many private labs have popped up profit
Canada Services provided
by 3 government-funded groups
Basic Services of a Crime Lab
Physical Science Unit Applies chemistry, physics, and geology to ID and
compare physical evidence Examines: drugs, glass, paint, soil, etc
Biology Unit DNA profiling
Firearms Unit Examines: firearms, discharged bullets, casings,
ammunition, etc.
Document Examination Unit Studies handwriting, typewriting Looks at ink, imprinting, erasures, etc.
Photography Unit Examines and records physical evidence Uses specialized photographic techniques
Optional Services
Toxicology Unit
Latent Fingerprint Unit
Polygraph Unit
Voiceprint Analysis Unit
Crime-scene Investigation Unit
Forensic Psychiatry
Forensic Odontology
Forensic Engineering
Forensic Computer and Digital Analysis
TPS – aka – Think-Pair-Share
Question: What are some skills/characteristics that a good forensic scientist should possess?
Think – 2 min: write your thoughts in your notes
Pair – 2 min: Discuss your list with your table
Share – Each table shares the 2 most important skills/characteristics
How good are your observation skills?You will have 30 sec to remember as much as possible from the picture that will appear. You will then be asked 5 ?s
Observation Questions
1. What time was it on the clock?
2. How many people were in the scene? How many males? females?
3. Describe the person at the front of the line. Was it a man or a woman? Was he or she wearing a hat? What kind of clothes was the person wearing? Could you tell how tall the person was? Did he or she have any distinguishing features?
4. What day of the month was it?
5. Did you notice anything unusual in the picture?
What makes a good forensic scientist?
Working knowledge of scientific methods and how to apply them to a variety of situations.
Good laboratory techniques
Analytical (focuses on facts and numbers)
Very observant
Ability to think outside of the box
Excellent communication skills
Analysis of Physical Evidence
Of all things admissible in court, physical evidence is free of inherent (unavoidable) error or bias.
Processed via scientific methods Process using strict guidelines to ensure careful, systematic
collection, organization, and analysis of information.
Frye v. United States In order for evidence to be admitted to trial, the procedure/technique/principles must be “generally accepted” by the scientific community. Is this approach still applicable in modern times when new
advances are being made rapidly? (As opposed to 1923 when the ruling was made)
Cont.’d
As decided in Daubert v. Merrell-Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: In lieu of “general acceptance”, an alternative, Rule 702 of
the Federal Rules of Evidence, allows for expert testimony. Must be based on sufficient facts or data Is the product of reliable principles and methods The witness has applied the principles and methods reliably
to the facts of the case
An expert witness is someone determined, by
the court, to possess a particular skill or
knowledge in a trade or profession that is not
expected of the average person.
Proper Recognition, Collection, and
Preservation of Evidence Remember Locard’s Exchange
Principle?
Evidence is virtually WORTHLESS if it has been contaminated, improperly documented, or tampered with!
See Appendix A, p. 674, in your text to see the guide to evidence collection. We will cover some of this
throughout the course.