Forensics Chapter 1 R. Hamblin

Definition and Scope Forensic science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforce by police agencies in a criminal system. The focus of forensic science is the Crime Lab – using the principles and techniques of the following disciplines:

Biology

Chemistry

Geology

Anthropology “Ouch!!!”

History and Development of Forensics

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930) Scottish physician and writer created Sherlock Holmes

Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853 The “father of forensic toxicology”, wrote the first treatise on poisons & their effects in 1814

Aphonse Bertillon (1853-1914) Devised the first scientific system of personal identification Body measurement known as anthropometry

Francis Galton (1822-1911) Undertook the first definitive study of fingerprints Developed a method of classifying fingerprints

Leone Lattes (1887-1954 from a dried blood stain Devised a simple procedure for determining / restoring blood type from a dried blood stain

Calvin Goddard (1891-1955) Comparison Microscope First to use a comparison microscope to determine if a bullet was fired from a specific gun Comparison Microscope

Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946) Developed fundamental principles of document analysis Is credited for the use of documents as scientific evidence in courts

Hans Gross (1847-1915) Application of scientific disciplines to the field of investigation Microscopy Chemistry Physics Mineralogy Zoology Botany Anthropometry Fingerprinting Author, also created first forensic journal Kriminologie

Edmond Locard (1877-1966) “Sherlock Holmes of France” Incorporated Gross’ principles into a crime lab founded the Institute of Criminalistics in Lyons, France

Locard’s Exchange Principle: Every criminal can be connected to a crime by dust particles carried from the crime scene “Whenever two objects come into contact with one another, there is exchange of materials between them.”

FBI LABORATORY J. Edgar Hoover (1895-1972)