Midterm Intro To Forensic Science

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Definition and scope of forensic science

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*Application of science to law

*Scientist ability to supply accurate and objective information that reflects the events that have occurred at a crime scene

* forensic science is the application of science to the criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system

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American Academy of forensic science

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Criminalists, digital and multimedia science, engineering science, General, jurisprudence, odontology, pathology/biology, physical Anthropology, Psychiatry /Behavioral science, questioned documents, toxicology.

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What is science

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The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation and theoretical explanation of phenomenon

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Empiricism

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The view that experience, especially of the senses, is the only source of knowledge.

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scientific method

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A process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection organization and analysis information

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Example in history

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Locard's exchange principles : Whenever two objects come into contact with one another materials are exchanged between them

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Fictional Inspiration

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1887-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes- serology (bodily fluids)

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Deductive Reasoning

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Deductive Reasoning: specific conclusions are arrived at from general principles.

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Inductive Reasoning

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Inductive Reasoning: General conclusions are arrived at from specific examples. Probability.

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1984-Sir Alec Jeffreys

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1984-Sir Alec Jeffreys-DNA profiling.

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Computerized databases

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Computerized databases- *Fingerprints (AFIS) *Bullet and Casing Markings, *DNA (CODIS) and * (cold case files)

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Crime Laboratories in the United States

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FBIDEAATFUS Postal ServiceStateRegionalBig Cities (NYPD) M.E. Museum

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Basic Services Provided by Full Service Lab

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Physical Science Unit-

chemistry, physics, geology.

Biology Unit-

biologists, biochemists, botanists.

Firearms Unit

Document Examination Unit, handwriting, watermarks, type fonts.

Photography Unit-

digital enhancement, filtering.

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Additional lab services

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Toxicology Unit- body fluids and organs. Latent Fingerprint Unit- AFIS quality, present and capable of emerging or developing but not now visible, obvious, active, or symptomaticPolygraph Unit- investigations, illicit confessions. Voice Print Analysis Unit-sound spectrographCSI Unit-collect and preserve.

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Other Forensic Science Services

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Forensic Psychiatry- suspect profile, defendant competency. Forensic OdontologyForensic EngineeringForensic Computer and Digital AnalysisForensic Entomology

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Scientific Method

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A process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information.

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Frye v. United States

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Frye v. United States: or general acceptance test is a test to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence. It provides that expert opinion based on a scientific technique is admissible only where the technique is generally accepted as reliable in the relevant scientific community.

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Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals

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In Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993), the Supreme Court held that the Federal Rules of Evidence superseded Frye as the standard for admissibility of expert evidence in federal courts.[1] Some states, however, still adhere to the Frye standard.Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals, is a United States Supreme Court case determining the standard for admitting expert testimony in federal courts. The Daubert Court held that the enactment of the Federal Rules of Evidence implicitly overturned the Frye standard; the standard that the Court articulated is referred to as the Daubert standard.

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Daubert

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Daubert- Judges act as “gatekeepers” This could open the door to absurd and irrational pseudoscience.

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1999-Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael

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1999-Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael: judges gatekeeping role not only applied to scientific testimony but to expert testimony as well.

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Coppolino v. State

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Coppolino v. State: a new and unprecedented scientific method for finding and analyzing evidence could be admissible.

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Providing Expert Testimony

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Experts are asked to evaluate and give opinion.

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Securing the Crime Scene

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Priorities: Safety, clearing scene of potential threats. Medical assistance to victims.

First Priority: Medical Assistance.

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Boundaries

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Boundaries: Taping off the area. Expand as much as possible. Better to go too large than to go too small. Note people and vehicles. Record victim’s statement and direct EMTs to record victim’s statements in transport to hospital. Why?Call for backup and investigation team if needed. Why? Don’t jeopardize case.