1. An Introduction
to Forensics

2. Definition Criminalistics
Forensic Science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

3. Criminalistics
In the crime lab the principles and techniques of the physical and natural sciences are practiced and applied to the analysis of crime-scene evidence.

4. The Importance of Forensic science
Crimes committed daily
Many people falsely accused and convicted each year
Forensic Scientists work to solve crimes, bring justice, and to convict the CORRECT people

5. History and Development of Forensic Science
Ancient Times:
No standardized forensic practices
Many criminals escaped justice
Relied on confessions, testimony, torture
Used saliva and examination of mouth and tongue to determine innocence

6. History and Development of Forensic Science
- Enlightenment: criminal investigations became more evidence based and had a rational procedure
1784: conviction of John Toms who killed Edward Culshaw with a pistol…forensics used to match pistol and pistol wad
Different tests began to develop to test blood and fingerprints

7. History and Development of Forensic Science
Jack The Ripper
1888 serial killer in London
Huge case in helping with the development of forensic science
Female prostitutes throats cut with abdominal mutilations
The killer was never found

8. History and Development of Forensic Science
Mathieu Orfila
Father of forensic toxicology, published the first scientific treatise on the detection of poisons and their affects on animals.

9. History & Development of Forensic Science
Alphonse Bertillon
Devised the first scientific system of personal identification through anthropometry, series of body measurements (later replaced by fingerprinting in 1900s).

10. History & Development of Forensic Science
Francis Galton
Undertook the first definitive study of fingerprints and developed methodology of classifying them for filing. Published Finger Prints in 1892.

12. History & Development of Forensic Science
Leone Lattes
Designed a simple procedure
for determining the blood
types A, B, and AB.
Calvin Goddard
Refined the technique of comparing bullets using a comparison microscope.

13. History & Development of Forensic Science Albert S. Osborne
Developed the fundamental
principles of document
examination. Also
authored the book,
Questioned Documents.

14. History & Development of Forensic Science
Hans Gross
Wrote the first treatise describing the application of scientific disciplines to the criminal investigation.

15. History and Development of Forensic Science
Sir Alec Jeffreys
British geneticist
Developed techniques for RNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling
1984 – DNA could be used to identify individuals and tell them apart

16. History & Development of Forensic Science
Developed a crime lab in Lyons, France in 1910, using Hans Gross‘ principles. *Considered the father of criminalistics
*Locard Exchange Postulate
Whenever two objects come into contact with each other, traces of each are exchanged.
Edmond Locard

17. J. Edgar Hoover History & Development of Forensic Science
Director of the FBI; established a national laboratory aimed at offering forensic services to all law enforcement agencies
J. Edgar Hoover

18. 21st Century
Forensic Science has become more efficient with increased technology
Laser scanners, drones, photogrammetry, reconstruction of crime or accident scenes
Larger databases

19. Organization of the Crime Lab
There are approximately 320 public crime labs operating at various levels of government.

20. Organization of the Crime Lab Four major federal crime labs
FBI
DEA
maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world
Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratories ( dept. of Justice) – analysis of drugs seized in violation of federal laws
USPS
ATF
USPIS
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (Department of Treasure) - analyzing alcoholic beverages and documents relating to tax law enforcement, as well as for examining weapons, explosive devices, and related evidences
US Postal Inspection Service- criminal investigation related to the postal service

21. Services of the Crime Lab
Physical Science Unit
Applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics and geology for identification and comparison of crime scene evidence.

22. Services of the Crime Lab
Biology Unit
Identification and DNA profiling of dried blood stains and other bodily fluids; comparison of hair and fibers and other botanical materials.

23. Services of the Crime Lab
Firearms Unit
Examination of firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells and ammunition of all types.
Also detect firearm discharge on garments and other objects.

24. Services of the Crime Lab Document Examination Unit
Study of handwriting and typewriting to ascertain authenticity and/or source.

25. Services of the Crime Lab
Photography Unit
Examine and record
physical evidence
using digital imaging,
infrared, ultraviolet
and x-ray photography.

26. Services of the Crime Lab
Toxicology Unit
Examination of body fluids and organs to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons.

27. Services of the Crime Lab
Latent Fingerprint Unit
Processing and examining evidence for latent (invisible) fingerprints.

28. Services of the Crime Lab
Polygraph Unit
The lie detector has become an essential tool to the criminal investigator.

29. Services of the Crime Lab Voiceprint Analysis Unit
A sound spectrograph transforms speech into visual graphic display called a voiceprint.

30. Services of the Crime Lab Evidence Collection Unit
Trained personnel are
dispatched to the crime
scene to preserve and
collect evidence.

31. Forensic Science Specialist
Forensic Pathologist
Uses application of microscopy to determine cellular changes in tissues
Performs autopsy
Determines time of death looking at:
Livor mortis-settling of blood in the body in areas closest to ground
Algor mortis- process in which body temp cools by 1-1½ º F per hour until reaching room temp.
Rigor Mortis- stiffening of body parts .
**Also known as the Medical Examiner

32. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic Anthropologist
Identifies and examines the human skeletal remains to determine:
Origin, Sex, Race, Age, and Injury
Also creates Facial Reconstructions.

33. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic Entomologist
Study of insects and decomposition as to their relation to a criminal investigation.
Can estimate time of death.

34. Services of the Crime Lab Forensic Psychiatry/Profiling
Evaluation of behavioral disorder and to determine whether a person is competent in civil and criminal cases.
Examines behavioral patterns of criminals as an aide in developing a suspect’s profile.

35. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic Odontology
Provide identification of victims through characteristics
of teeth, alignment, and mouth structure when compared to dental records.
Also does Bite Mark Analysis.

36. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic Engineering
Accident
Reconstruction
Failure Analysis
Causes of Fire and Explosions

37. Services of the Crime Lab
Ballistics Experts- studies everything to do with firearms
Forensic Serologists-
studies blood groups
and other bodily fluids
Services of the Crime Lab

38. Services of the Crime Lab
Fingerprint experts- dactyloscopy
(the study of fingerprints)
Crime Scene Photographers- aka identification officer
or id technician; uses
specialized cameras
Services of the Crime Lab

39. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensics Chemist
Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic Chemist
Chemical analysis of physical evidence

40. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic Artist
Forensic Sculptor
Draw the likeness of a person based solely on an eyewitness description or aging a photograph
Reconstructs with modeling clay the appearance of the face from the structure of the skull

41. Services of the Crime Lab
Forensic linguist
Analyze written and aural communications to identify who is speaking, the speakers intent, and if two communications came from the same person
Forensic Geologist
Studies soil samples