Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Science Forensic Science Chapter 1: Introduction Pages 1-32

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Science Forensic Science The application of science to the criminal and civil laws enforced by police agencies in the criminal justice system –P–Principles and practices of the physical and natural sciences as they are used to study crime scene evidence

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Basic Crime Lab Units Basic Crime Lab Units Physical Science Unit –c–chemistry, physics, earth science Tests drugs, glass, paint, explosives, soils Biology Unit –b–biology, biochemistry DNA profiling, blood, hair, fiber, plant materials Firearms Unit –c–chemistry, physics Firearms, discharged bullets and ammo, discharge residues Document Examination –c–chemistry, psychometrics handwriting analysis, paper, ink Photography Unit –p–physics, chemistry digital imaging, infrared, x-ray, ultraviolet photography

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Optional Crime Lab Units Optional Crime Lab Units TT oooo xxxx iiii cccc oooo llll oooo gggg yyyy Unit –c–chemistry, biology test fluids/organs for drugs, poison usually in Medical Examiner’s Office Latent Fingerprint Unit –c–chemistry Polygraph Unit –p–physics, biology usually used during interrogation Voiceprint Analysis –p–physics use of sound spectrograph Evidence-Collection Unit –p–personnel specially trained to collect and preserve crime scene evidence

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Other Forensic Sciences Other Forensic Sciences Forensic Pathology Forensic Anthropology Forensic Entomology Forensic Psychiatry Forensic Odontology Forensic Engineering

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Pathology Forensic Pathology investigate sudden, unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths –f–forensic pathologists are MD’s that work as coroners or medical examiners –a–a–a–a uuuu tttt oooo pppp ssss yyyy – detailed examination to determine the cause of death Autopsy Room Virtual autopsy

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Signs of Death Signs of Death SSSS iiii gggg nnnn ssss o o o o ffff D D D D eeee aaaa tttt hhhh rigor mortis – muscle rigidity with out shortening (24-36 hours after death) livor mortis – blood settles in tissues turning them dark blue/purple (ends 12 hours after death) algor mortis – body temperature = ambient temperature –-–-1°F to -1.5°F per hour

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Anthropology Forensic Anthropology identification and examination of human skeletal remains –m–may reveal: approximate age race sex origin

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Entomology Forensic Entomology study of insects and their relationship to a crime scene –i–insects infest human to lay eggs –l–larvae hatch and feed on tissues –u–used to approximate time of exposure

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Psychiatry Forensic Psychiatry psychiatric specialty –d–determine competency to stand trial –e–evaluate behavior disorders –e–examine behavior patterns to build criminal behavioral profile

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Odontology Forensic Odontology identification of unidentifiable remains using dental records –c–characteristics of teeth –t–tooth alignment –m–mouth structure –b–bite mark analysis (Marv Alpert)

Updated Sept. 2005Created by C. Ippolito September, 2005 Forensic Engineering Forensic Engineering concerned with failure analysis, accident reconstruction, causes and origins of fires and explosions