Introduction to Forensics

Forensics application of science to law

Branches of Forensics Pathology Pathology Fingerprints Fingerprints Toxicology Toxicology Entomology Entomology Anthropology Anthropology Botany Botany Odontology Odontology Serology Serology DNA electrophoresis DNA electrophoresis Document examination Document examination Impression evidence Impression evidence Toolmarks Toolmarks Tire prints Tire prints Shoe prints Shoe prints Computer analysis Computer analysis Arson Arson

Branches of Forensics Profiling Profiling Environmental forensics Environmental forensics Wildlife forensics Wildlife forensics Firearms/Ballistics Firearms/Ballistics Trace Evidence Trace Evidence Hair, Fibers, Soil, Glass Hair, Fibers, Soil, Glass Engineering Engineering Photography Photography Polygraphs Polygraphs Audio specialists/Voicep rints Audio specialists/Voicep rints Video analysis Video analysis

Branches of Forensics Psychiatry Psychiatry Competence (Insanity defense) Competence (Insanity defense) State of mind (crime of passion) State of mind (crime of passion) profiling profiling

History of Forensics Mathiew Orfila – Father of Toxicology – 1814 wrote paper on how to detect poisons in animals Mathiew Orfila – Father of Toxicology – 1814 wrote paper on how to detect poisons in animals Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes Study in Scarlet – 1887 Study in Scarlet – 1887 Alphonse Bertillon – Father of Criminal Investigation – 1 st method of personal identification – used for about 20 years – 1888: Chicago 1 st US city to use method of Identification Alphonse Bertillon – Father of Criminal Investigation – 1 st method of personal identification – used for about 20 years – 1888: Chicago 1 st US city to use method of Identification Francis Galton – Father of Finger prints – 1892 wrote book Finger prints Francis Galton – Father of Finger prints – 1892 wrote book Finger prints

History continued…. Dr. Karl Landsteiner – 1901 discovered Blood grouping (A, B, AB, & O) Dr. Karl Landsteiner – 1901 discovered Blood grouping (A, B, AB, & O) Leone Lattes – devised the procedure for determining blood grouping of a dried blood stain – still used today Leone Lattes – devised the procedure for determining blood grouping of a dried blood stain – still used today Calvin Goddard Calvin Goddard US Army Colonel – refined technology of bullet comparison established the comparison microscope as an indispensable tool for firearm examination

History continued…. Hans Gross – public prosecutor and Judge in Austria Hans Gross – public prosecutor and Judge in Austria 1893 wrote a paper on the application of science disciplines to the field of criminal investigation (microscopy, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, zoology, botany, etc.) Edmond Locard Edmond Locard Took Gross ’ s ideas and made them real Lyons, France – Lyons Police Department – 2 attic room and 2 assistants – Founder and Director of Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons Locard ’ s Exchange Principle – He believed in cross transfer Locard ’ s Exchange Principle – He believed in cross transfer

Locard Exchange Principle When two objects come into contact, material is exchanged, there will be a cross transfer of evidence When two objects come into contact, material is exchanged, there will be a cross transfer of evidence (i.e. hair, prints, blood, etc.).

History continued… – LAPD oldest lab in the US 1923 – LAPD oldest lab in the US Chief August Vollmer from Berkeley, CA headed the 1st US university institute for criminology and criminalistics at the University of California, Berkeley 1932 – Federal Bureau of Investigation – J. Edgar Hoover built the world ’ s largest lab 1932 – Federal Bureau of Investigation – J. Edgar Hoover built the world ’ s largest lab

Increase in number of Labs Since the 1960 ’ s number of labs has increased 3 fold. Since the 1960 ’ s number of labs has increased 3 fold. Many court decisions caused this growth Many court decisions caused this growth Miranda Rights Miranda Rights Among these rights is the right to a fair and speedy trial Drug cases out numbered any other type of cases Drug cases out numbered any other type of cases DNA profiling has had the greatest impact on Forensic Science since the 1960s DNA profiling has had the greatest impact on Forensic Science since the 1960s

Who runs forensic labs? privatePolice coroner/medical examiner stateuniversity Secret Service FBIATF

Four major federal crime labs FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation - (Department of Justice) largest crime lab in the world (est by Pres. T. Roosevelt) FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation - (Department of Justice) largest crime lab in the world (est by Pres. T. Roosevelt) DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration - (Department of Justice) drug analysis violation – production, sale and transportation (est by Pres. R. Nixon) DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration - (Department of Justice) drug analysis violation – production, sale and transportation (est by Pres. R. Nixon)

Four major federal crime labs ATF – (now ATF & E) Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) - (Department of Treasury – est to help pay off the Revolutionary War debts) alcoholic beverages and documentation relating to tax law, enforcement as well as examination of weapons, explosive devices and related to evidence related to Gun Control Act (1968) and OCC or Organized Crime Control Act (1970) ATF – (now ATF & E) Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) - (Department of Treasury – est to help pay off the Revolutionary War debts) alcoholic beverages and documentation relating to tax law, enforcement as well as examination of weapons, explosive devices and related to evidence related to Gun Control Act (1968) and OCC or Organized Crime Control Act (1970)

Four major federal crime labs US Postal Inspection Service maintains labs concerned with criminal investigations relating to the postal service. US Postal Inspection Service maintains labs concerned with criminal investigations relating to the postal service. State, County and larger cities have labs. State, County and larger cities have labs.

Types of Services Not all are “ full service ” Not all are “ full service ” Different capabilities and function of the organization to which a lab is attached Different capabilities and function of the organization to which a lab is attached Budgetary $$$$ and staffing limitations Budgetary $$$$ and staffing limitations Full Service Lab Includes (page 9) Full Service Lab Includes (page 9) Physical Science Unit – diverse – glass, drugs, paint, explosives, soil, etc. Physical Science Unit – diverse – glass, drugs, paint, explosives, soil, etc.

Types of Services continued.. Firearms – firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge, cases, shot gun shells and ammo of all types Firearms – firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge, cases, shot gun shells and ammo of all types GSR – Gun Shot Residue Tool Marks Document examination handwriting and typewriting on questioned documents Document examination handwriting and typewriting on questioned documents Paper, ink, obliterations, erasures, burned/charred documents Paper, ink, obliterations, erasures, burned/charred documents Photography Unit – digital imaging, IR, UV and X- rays – aids for court Photography Unit – digital imaging, IR, UV and X- rays – aids for court

Types of Services continued… Other Options: Other Options: Toxicology Unit – bodily fluids, organs, etc. Toxicology Unit – bodily fluids, organs, etc. Latent Fingerprints Latent Fingerprints Polygraphs – lie detector Polygraphs – lie detector Voiceprint Analysis Voiceprint Analysis Evidence Collection Evidence Collection

Witnesses Expert - Allowed to offer an opinion during testimony Expert - Allowed to offer an opinion during testimony Lay or Eye – testimony on events or observations – JUST THE FACTS Lay or Eye – testimony on events or observations – JUST THE FACTS 1923 Frye Standard (general acceptance) 1923 Frye Standard (general acceptance) 1993 Daubert Standard 1993 Daubert Standard

Daubert vs Merrell Dow morning sickness drug caused birth defects morning sickness drug caused birth defects plaintiffs had many experts plaintiffs had many experts court ruled against the experts saying the methods were not generally accepted within the profession court ruled against the experts saying the methods were not generally accepted within the profession

Daubert standards Judge determines who is an expert: Judge determines who is an expert: A) Has the expert ’ s scientific method been tested? A) Has the expert ’ s scientific method been tested? B) Has the expert ’ s method been the subject of peer review and testing B) Has the expert ’ s method been the subject of peer review and testing C) What is the actual or potential rate of error? C) What is the actual or potential rate of error? D) do other scientists generally accept the expert ’ s methods? D) do other scientists generally accept the expert ’ s methods?

What keeps crime labs the busiest? 1. Drug Analysis 2. DNA