Introduction to Forensic Science

I. Definition and Scope of Forensic Science A. Forensic Science- is the application of science to law. It is also referred to as criminalistics. Science is merging more closely with civil and criminal law.

Science plays an important and unique role in the criminal justice system: A role that relates to the scientist’s ability to supply accurate and objective information that reflects the events that have occurred at a crime.

Branches of science used in forensics: Chemistry Biology Physics Geology These fields are extremely useful in determining the evidential value of crime-scene and related evidence--omitting any reference to medicine or law.

Forensic pathology, psychology, and odontology are other fields of science that practice on the medical and law enforcement side of forensics.

B. The Crime Laboratory: The lab is where the principles and techniques of the physical and natural sciences are practiced and applied to the analysis of crime-scene evidence.

II. History and Development of Forensic Science Forensic science originated by those individuals who developed the principles and techniques needed to identify or compare physical evidence. 1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle- Author of the fictional character, Sherlock Holmes. Many believe he had considerable influence on popularizing scientific crime-detection methods.

3. Alphonse Bertillion- 1853-1914 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published the first Sherlock Holmes novel, “Study in Scarlet” in 1887. 2. Mathieu Orfila- 1787-1853 Father of forensic toxicology. In 1814 he published the first scientific thesis on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals. 3. Alphonse Bertillion- 1853-1914 The father of Criminal Identification.

Devised the first scientific system of personal identification Devised the first scientific system of personal identification. In 1879 he began to develop the science of anthropometry. Anthropometry is a systematic procedure of taking a series of body measurements as a means of distinguishing one individual from another. Anthropometry was replaced by fingerprinting in the early 1900’s.

4. Francis Galton- 1822-1911 5. Leone Lattes- 1887-1954 Undertook the first definitive study of finger prints and developed a methodology of classifying them for filing. He published a book called “Finger Prints” in 1882 which contained the first statistical proof of supporting his method of personal ID. 5. Leone Lattes- 1887-1954 Devised a procedure for determining the blood group of a dried bloodstain. These blood groups or types are now recognized as A, B, AB and O.

6. Calvin Godard- 1891-1955 Refined the technique of firearms examination by utilizing the comparison microscope. His expertise established the comparison scope as the indispensable tool of the modern firearms examiner.

7. Albert S. Osborn- 1858-1946 Developed the fundamental principles of document examination. His work was responsible for the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by the courts. He published the book “Questioned Documents” in 1910. This book is still considered a primary reference for document examiners.

8. Hans Gross- 1847-1915 Wrote the first thesis describing the application of scientific disciplines to the field of criminal investigation. He published “Handbuch fur Unterschungsrichter” AKA. “Criminal Investigation”, which detailed the assistance that investigators could expect from the fields of microscopy, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, zoology, botany, anthropometry, and fingerprinting.

He also published a forensic journal “Kriminologie”, which still serves as a medium for reporting improved methods of scientific crime detection. 9. Edmond Locard- 1877-1966 Educated both in medicine and law. In 1910 he started a police laboratory in the attic of the Lyons Police Dept. He became the founder and director of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons which became the leading international center for study and research in forensic science.

10. Federal Bureau of Investigation- Locard’s Exchange Principle- Locard believed that when a criminal came in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurred. 10. Federal Bureau of Investigation- In 1932, the FBI under direction of J. Edgar Hoover, organized a national laboratory. The FBI’s laboratory is now the world’s largest forensic laboratory. The FBI’s Forensic Science Research and Training Center opened in 1981.

11. Los Angeles Police Department- Houses the oldest forensic laboratory in the U.S., developed in 1923 by August Vollmer. Vollmer headed the first U.S. university institute for criminology and criminalistics at UC Berkeley. It later became the School of Criminology, headed by famous criminalist Paul Kirk.

The End. for now.