1. History & Development of Forensic Science

2. When in Rome…
“Forensic” comes from the Latin word “forum” meaning ‘a market place’.
During the time of the Romans, a criminal charge meant presenting the case before the public.
Both the person accused of the crime & the accuser would give speeches based on their side of the story.
The individual with the best argumentation would determine the outcome of the case.

3. Forensic as term
For many years the term 'forensic' had a restricted definition and denoted a legal investigation but it is now commonly used for any detailed analysis of past events i.e. when one looks for evidence
‘Forensic biology' is defined broadly as 'the application of the science of biology to legal investigations' and therefore covers human anatomy and physiology, organisms ranging from viruses to vertebrates and topics from murder to the trade in protected plant species

4. A bit of history
Early origins of ‘forensics’ appear in ancient Egypt and later in Mesopotamia.
In the 6th century first book in forensic medicine in China, followed by the first forensic textbook in 12th century
Office of the coroner was established in England in the 9th century

5. Some known and less known historic figures in development of forensics
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sci-fi author in late 1800’s
Popularized scientific crime-detection methods through his hi his fictional character.
Mathieu Orfila the father of toxicology
Wrote about the detection of poisons & their effects on animals.
Alphonse Bertillon the father of Anthropometry
Developed a system to distinguish one individual person from another based on certain body measurements.

6. Some known and less known historic figures in development of forensics
Francis Galton “Father of Fingerprinting”
Developed fingerprinting as a way to uniquely identify individuals.
Leone Lattes
He developed a procedure for determining the blood type (A, B, AB, or O) of a dried blood stain
Calvin Goddard
Developed the technique to examine bullets, using a comparison microscope, to determine whether or not a particular gun fired the bullets

7. Edmond Locard “Father of the Crime Lab”
In 1910, he started the 1st crime lab in an attic of a police station.
With few tools, he quickly became known world- wide to forensic scientists & criminal investigators & eventually founded the Institute of Criminalistics in France.
His most important contribution was the “Locard’s Exchange Principle”

8. Locard’s Exchange Principle
“Every Contact Leaves a Trace.”
He believed that every criminal can be connected to a crime by particles carried from the crime scene.
When a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs.
Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value.
- Professor Edmond Locard

9. J. Edgar Hoover
Director of Federal Bureau of Investigation during the 1930’s
Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential administrations. His reign covered Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, & the Vietnam War.
He organized a national laboratory to offer forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the U.S.
VERY CONTROVERSIAL
He exceeded & abused his authority with unjustified investigations & illegal wiretaps based on political beliefs rather than suspected criminal activity
FBI directors are now limited to 10-year terms

10. Applications of Forensic Science
Identification of Criminals or Victims
Solving Mysteries
Past crimes (unsolved or wrongfully convicted)
Cause, Location, Time of Death
Paternity cases
Cyber crimes
Corporate Crimes (Enron)
Voice Analysis
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SUSPECTS WHOSE DNA MAY MATCH EVIDENCE LEFT AT CRIME SCENES
EXONERATE PERSONS WRONGLY ACCUSED OF CRIMES
IDENTIFY CRIME & CATSTROPHE VICITIMS
ESTABLISH PATERNITY AND OTHER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

11. Applications of Forensic Science
Application of DNA as evidence
Prevention vs. Reaction
Catastrophes & Wars
ID remains of victims (either civilian or soldiers)
ex. Holocaust or Katrina
Military & International Forensics
Terrorism
The search for WMD’s
Stockpiled or stored weapons from past wars
IDENTIFY POTENTIAL SUSPECTS WHOSE DNA MAY MATCH EVIDENCE LEFT AT CRIME SCENES
EXONERATE PERSONS WRONGLY ACCUSED OF CRIMES
IDENTIFY CRIME & CATSTROPHE VICITIMS
ESTABLISH PATERNITY AND OTHER FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

12. Biological Evidence
Limitations but very useful in answering some of the questions of suspicious deaths
Is the body human?
Who is the victim?
What was cause of death?
How long ago did the victim die?
Did the victim die immediately or after period of time?
Did the person die at the spot where the body was discovered?
Did the person die of natural causes, an accident or criminal act?
If the person was killed, who did it?

13. Biological Evidence Used in other types of investigations
Wildlife crimes
Miss-selling of animal products
Food contamination
Identification of genetically modified crops/food

14. The Forensic Test- ideal case
Accurate: results stand up to scrutiny of court
Sensitive: to be able to deal with small samples
Specific: no cross reactivity
Quick: timely answers so it doesn’t impede investigation
Simple: complicated tests are prone to mistakes
Reliable and reproducible: to be repeated by other labs
Affordable: expensive tests cannot be used routinely
Readily available equipment and reagents

15. The Forensic is Not…..