1. Welcome to Forensics
Mr. Rizzo

2. What is forensics Science?
Use of the scientific method in the legal arena.
The transfer of scientific techniques to aid the legal process.
The use of science and technology to provide evidence.

3. When is forensics Science used?
To solve any problem whether criminal or historical in nature.

4. What is Evidence? Must be relevant to the case at hand.
Must be more probative than prejudicial on the issue.
 Probative evidence: tending to prove a particular proposition or to persuade you of the truth of an allegation

5. Forensic Evidence? IT IS NOT CSI….
Is used to establish whether a particular person or thing COULD be at a particular place at a specific time.

6. Hieronymus Bosch
an eccentric Dutch painter of religious visions who dealt in particular with the torments of hell.

7. St. John on Patmos, approx. 1485 Make three observations:

8. St. Christopher Carrying the Christ Child through a Sinful World, Bosch, c1520

9. Temptation of St Anthony

10. Temptation of St Anthony (Detail)

11. Hieronymus Bosch Madman or Medical Analyst
So we dig deeper and find that amputated limbs were saved during Bosch's time so they might be rejoined to their owners at the last judgment.
Amputation is a gangrenous prevention
The odd vegetable creature is painted in the shape of a mandrake root. Mandrake was the herb used to stanch the feverish pains of St. Anthony's Fire.
The distillery used to reduce medicinal herbs.

12. As a Forensic Scientist what are some questions you would ask?
Does he have any diagnosis medical or psychological conditions?
Apocalyptic personality?
What was also happening at that time?

13. Historians Know: What can be going on at that time?
St. Anthony's Fire was rampant.
fiery pain, hallucinations, disorientation, muscle cramps, convulsions, miscarriages, *gangrene
Today we know that St. Anthony's Fire was caused by a form of Rye/grain fungus called ergot.

14. St. Anthony’s Fire: Ergot
*Ergot of rye is produced by a lower fungus (Claviceps purpurea) that grows parasitically on rye, other grains and wild grasses.

15. Structural Analysis
ergotamine
Lysergic Acid

16. Serotonin Blocker?
Serotonin (on the left) and Lysergic Acid ( on the right)
*Serotonin is known to control mood, emotion, sleep
and appetite

17. Structural Analysis
Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Lysergic Acid
(LSD)

18. Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)
LSD is one of the most powerful known hallucinogenic drugs.
It was invented in 1938, derived from mushrooms.
SO WHO CARES?

19. Hieronymus Bosch Madman or Medical Analyst
Bosch's Paintings actually documented beliefs and medical procedures used to assist with St. Anthony’s Fire.
Amputation is a gangrenous prevention
odd vegetable creatures= mandrake root
The distillery used to reduce medicinal herbs.

20. Ergot in history
Furthermore, since ergot baked in bread dough forms LSD, the disease also led to terrifying hallucinations
Indeed there is the belief that the Salem witch-hangings that went on in Salem, Massachusetts (1692) occurred during an outbreak of rye ergot.

21. Salem Witch trials(June -September of 1692)
19 men and women were convicted of witchcraft and hung
100s of others faced accusations of witchcraft.
Dozens languished in jails. 
1 man was pressed to death under heavy stones

22. Salem witch trials (1692)
According to historian Mary Matossian in her book Poisons of the Past, she noted symptoms of the people to be sensations of:
Prickling or ants crawling on the skin
Distortions of the face
Paralysis
Hallucinations
Convulsive violent seizures
Dementia
All these symptoms were consistent with those suffering from ergotism.

23. 9/4 Do Now: Please get out and be ready to submit: Your Contract
Student Information

24. Do Now 9/4:
Identify at least six specific forensic units used to examine Senator Daschle’s letter.

25. Do Now 9/10:
Senator Daschle

26. What is forensics Science?
Use of the scientific method in the legal arena.
The transfer of scientific techniques to aid the legal process.
The use of science and technology to provide evidence.

27. Evidence? Must be relevant to the case at hand
Must be more probative than prejudicial on the issue
 Probative evidence: tending to prove a particular proposition or to persuade you of the truth of an allegation

28. Forensic Evidence?
Is used to establish whether a particular person or thing COULD be at a particular place at a specific time.

29. Forensics incorporates the use of many sciences:
Biology
Physiology, Odontology, Pathology
Chemistry
Spectrophotometry, Thin layer Chromatography
Physics
Friction, Ballistics, trajectory and motion
Geology
Archeology, Mineralogy

30. Forensics
from L. forensis "of a forum, place of assembly," from forum.
Used in sense of "pertaining to legal trials," as in forensic medicine (1845).

31. I. Introduction What is forensics Science?
Use of the scientific method in the legal arena.
The transfer of scientific techniques to aid the legal process.
The use of science and technology to provide evidence.

32. II. History and Development Major Scientists:
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
( ) influences?
Sherlock Holmes 1887:
*Used fingerprinting, firearms identification, serology,
*Used a scientific method of detection

33. Do Now : Timeframe: 10 minutes Affiliations from Court TV

34. II. History and Development Major Scientists:
Mathieu Orfila: 1814 father of forensic toxicology.
Alphonse Bertillon: 1879 father of Criminal Identification -developed Anthropometry: a series of body measurements as a means of distinguishing one individual from another.
-Used for two decades and was later replaced by fingerprinting.
Forensic Timeline

35. II. History and Development
Francis Galton: 1892 the first finger printer
Undertook the study, classification and filing of fingerprints.
DR Karl Landsteiner: 1901 (4) blood types
Leone Lattes: 1915 developed a method of determining a blood type form a dried sample.

36. II. History Calvin Goddard: analyzed Firearms and refined bullet
Identification by using a
Comparison microscope.

37. II. History and Development
Albert Osborn: 1910 developed the reference text for document examiners.
Walter C. McCrone: applied analytical problem solving techniques in solving forensic science cases by using microscopy.
Highly sought after and leading instructor that educated thousands in application microscopy.

38. II. History and Development
1893 Hans Gross: wrote one of the first comprehensive forensics texts applying the uses of many scientific disciplines.

39. II. History Edmond Locard: Developed Locard’s Exchange Principle
1910: one of the first site based forensic labs.
Founder of Institue of Crimminalistsics at the universiy of Lyons
Developed Locard’s Exchange Principle

40. What is Locards’s Exchange Principle?
Do Now :
What is Locards’s Exchange Principle?

41. II. History Locard’s Exchange Principle:
The exchange of materials between two objects that occurs whenever two objects come into contact with one another.

42. II. History Locard’s Exchange Principle:
The exchange of materials between two objects that occurs whenever two objects come into contact with one another.
First major case: Counterfeit coins
Analyzed metallic particles found in clothing, same as the counterfeit coins

43. FBI lab
1932, the FBI under J. Edger Hoover organized a national laboratory that aimed to offer forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the country. *at no expense*

44. FBI lab
One of the largest and most comprehensive forensic laboratories in the world.
Formed the FBI’s Forensics Science research and Training Center in 1981

45. Laboratory examiners provide expert witness testimony:
FBI lab
Laboratory examiners provide expert witness testimony:
In cases regarding the results of forensic examination
Special Agent and support personnel assist domestic and international law enforcement agencies in large-scale investigations and disasters

46. III. Organization of a Crime Laboratory
Why are their so many new lab?
Increase in Drug analysis and DNA profiling:
Bloodstains, semen stains, hair and saliva residue, bite marks,

47. III. Organization of a Crime Laboratory
Rapid growth yet lack of national and regional planning?
320 Public crime labs
Federal, state, county, municipal
Most placed under police dep.
Prosecutors/district attorney
Medical examiner or coroner

48. III. Organization of a Crime Laboratory
NO single law enforcement or investigative agency with unlimited jurisdiction so four major labs were set up:
FBI
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
US Postal Inspection Service

49. Senator Daschle

51. New York Post

52. Do Now 9/10:
Identify at least six specific forensic units used to examine Senator Daschle’s letter.

53. III. Organization
Some states have developed a comprehensive STATEWIDE system of regional/satellites laboratories.
Alabama, California
Illinois Michigan
New Jersey Texas
Washington Oregon
Virginia Florida
Many of the larger cities also have their own crime labs. New York

54. IV. Services of the Crime Lab
Basic services

55. Please identify the the various Services provided by Crime Labs
Basic Full service
1 Physical Science Unit 2 3 4 5
Optional Services 1 2 3 4 5

56. IV. Services of the Crime Lab
Basic Full service
Physical Science Unit
Biology Unit
Firearms Unit
Document Examination Unit
Photography Unit
Optional Services
Toxicology Unit
Latent Fingerprint Unit
Polygraph Unit
Voiceprint Analysis Unit
Evidence-Collection Unit

57. Basic Services: Physical Science Unit
Uses chemistry, physics and geology for:
Drug identification
Soil and mineral Identification
Examination of physical evidence

58. Basic Services: Biology Unit
Biologists and Biochemists are used for:
DNA identification and profiling of dried blood and other body fluids
The comparison of hairs and fibers
The comparison of Botanicals

59. Basic Services: Firearms Unit
Examination of:
Firearms and their discharged bullets
cartridge cases and shotgun shells
Garments and objects examined to determine type of gun and position of shooter.
And the comparison of marks made by tools

60. Firearms Unit
Close Contact Gunshot Wound ACP close range wound with powder burns.
Close Contact  Gunshot Wound - muzzle flash injury from a M14 fitted with a flash suppressor

61. Firearms Unit
position of the shooter!! Historical case

62. Basic Services: Document Examination Unit
Ascertain documents authenticity
Analysis of: handwriting and typewriting
ink and paper
Visible depressions
Obliterations
Erasures
Burned and charred documents

63. Basic Services: Photography Unit
A complete photographic laboratory is maintained to examine and record physical evidence.
May use: digital imaging, infrared, Ultraviolet and x-ray photography techniques
Aids in court case photographic exhibits for court presentations

64. Optional Services: Toxicology Unit
Studies bodily fluids and organs to determine presence or absence of drugs and poisons.
Blood -alcohol

65. COURT TV
In your notes, Briefly discuss how and why a “Psychic Detective”
Could be justified,
Should be excluded as an expert witness in a court of law

66. Optional Services:Latent Fingerprint Unit
Processing and examining evidence for *latent fingerprints.
Prints made by the deposit of oils and/perspiration/ It is invisible to the naked eye.

67. Optional Services: Polygraph Unit
AKA lie detector :an instrument that simultaneously records changes in physiological processes such as heartbeat, blood pressure, and respiration.
The underlying theory of the polygraph is that when people lie they also get measurably nervous about lying. The heartbeat increases, blood pressure goes up, breathing rhythms change, perspiration increases, etc.
                           

68. Optional Services: Voice Print Analysis Unit
Use sound *spectrograph to identify voices
Telephoned threats
Taped recorded messages
Even basic identity
*transforms speech into a visual graphic display, called a voiceprint.

69. Voice SCREAM Analysis Unit????

70. Optional Services: Evidence-collection Unit
Collects and preserves physical evidence that will later be processed at the crime lab.
Many officers also being train in the proper collection of evidence.

71. Other Forensic Services: Forensic Pathology
Investigation of sudden, violent or unexplained deaths
Usually preformed by a coroner
Questions sought to answer:
Who is the victim
What injuries are present
When did the injuries occur
Why and how were the injuries produced

72. Forensic Pathology
*A trajectory analysis of JFK's inshoot/outshoot head wounds,
*Shows an inconsistency with the HSCA trajectory conclusions.

73. Forensic Pathology Autopsy performed to establish cause of death.
Classifications of Death
*Natural
*Homicide
*Suicide
*Accident
*Undetermined

74. HW: Research and Identify How investigators estimate time of death..

75. Forensic Pathology 9 Ways of Estimating Actual Time of Death:
Rigor mortis
Livor mortis: (Lividity)
Algor mortis: Body Core Temperature
Potassium levels in vitreous humor + Clouding of the cornea
Stomach Contents
Evidence of Decompositional Process
Presence/absence of purge fluids
Drying of the tissue
Larval Instars

76. Forensic Pathology Estimating Time of Death
1. Rigor mortis: (L: rig- stiff; mortis—death) * Muscles become rigid
** W/I 24 hours but gone after 36 hours
“The biochemical cause of rigor mortis is hydrolysis of ATP in the muscle tissue, the chemical energy source required for movement. Myosin molecules devoid of ATP become permanently adherent to actin filaments and muscles become rigid.”

78. With the aid of an electron microscope it can be seen that each muscle fiber is made up of many smaller units, the myofibrils. Each myofibril consists of small protein filaments, known as actin and myosin filaments. The myosin filaments are slightly thicker and make up the dark band (or A-band). The actin filaments make up the light bands (I-bands) which are situated on either side of the dark band. The actin filaments are attached to the Z-line. This arrangement of actin and myosin filaments is known as a sacromere.

79. With the aid of an electron microscope it can be seen that each muscle fibre is made up of many smaller units, the myofibrils. Each myofibril consists of small protein filaments, known as actin and myosin filaments. The myosin filaments are slightly thicker and make up the dark band (or A-band). The actin filaments make up the light bands (I-bands) which are situated on either side of the dark band. The actin filaments are attached to the Z-line. This arrangement of actin and myosin filaments is known as a sacromere.

80. 2. Livor mortis or (postmortem lividity) : (L: liv-bluish)
* Is a settling of the blood in the lower portion of the body
** Causing a purplish red discoloration of the skin.
*** Discoloration does not occur in the areas of the body that are in contact with the ground or another object,

81. 3. Algor mortis (L: algor—coolness; ath)
* the reduction in body temperature following death.
** a steady decline until matching ambient temperature
*** A measured rectal temperature can give some indication of the time of death.
The Glaister equation: /2 degree F per hour
Algor mortis is usually the first sign of death, beyond the obvious, and is then followed by rigor mortis. As decomposition occurs the internal body temperature tends to rise again.
Newton's law of cooling states that the rate of cooling of a body is determined by the difference between the temperature of the body and that of its environment.

82. 4. Potassium levels in vitreous humor (ocular fluid) –
after death, cells lining the inner surface of the eye release potassium into the ocular fluid, by testing at regular intervals, the forensic pathologist can determine the rate of potassium release and use that to approximate the time of death.
5. Amount of food found in the victim's stomach can be used to determine when the last meal was consumed and rates of digestion are known and are used to help estimate time of death.

83. What is an Expert witness?
An individual whom the court determines possesses knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson

84. What MAKES an Expert witness?
Competency may be established:
Educational degrees
Formal training/ specific course work
Memberships
publications

85. Court Cases involving use of forensics in Judicial proceedings.
Frey v. United States
Rule 702
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, inc
Kumho Tire Co v. Carmichael.

86. Frey v. United States, (D.C. Cir. 1923)
Depends on general acceptance by a “meaningful segment” of the scientific community
Decision of admission of PROCEDURES, TECHNIQUES AND PRINCIPLES.
In practice , this approach required the proponent of a scientific test to present to the court a collection of experts who can testify that the procedure IS accepted by the relevant members of the “community”.

87. Frey v. United States
IS He accepted by the relevant members of the “community”.
So the standard
is only as useful
as the validity of
the community.

88. Rule 702, (1937)
Rule 702 provides: The facts or data in the particular case upon which an expert bases an opinion or inference may be those perceived by or made known to the expert at or before the hearing. If of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinion or inferences upon the subject, the facts or data need not be admissible in evidence in order for the opinion or inference to be admitted.

89. Rule 702
A more flexible standard that did not rely on General Acceptance
Technical and specialized knowledge will assist the fact to understand evidence.
Witness qualified by knowledge, skill, experience, training/education is
1. testimony is based on fact
2.testimony is the product of reliable principles+ methods
3.the witness applied the principles + methods reliably to the facts of the case.

90. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, inc
Frye standard not absolute!!
Trial judges assume the must assume the ultimate responsibility as the: Gatekeeper!!!!
Has it attracted widespread acceptance Principles must be
Tested
Peer reviewed
Low Percent error
Have a set techniques, maintenance and standard controls
Be Accepted within a relevant scientific community.

91. Kumko Tire v. Carmichael
Good for scientific testimony and to all expert testimony.
Supported Daubert decision of admission of Procedures, techniques and principles, BUT also extended gatekeeper responsibilities as to the admissibility of EXPERT TESTOMONY.
“Technical and other specialized knowledge”

93. Finis!