Unit One Introduction: Criminalistics

What is Forensic Science

The application of science to criminal and civil laws thats are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

What is Criminalistics

Focus on the services of the crime lab, where the principles and techniques of the physical and natural sciences are practiced and applied to the analysis of crime scene evidence

How many public labs are there?

approx. 400

Oldest forensic laboratory

LAPD

Who developed Anthropology?

Alphonse Bertillion

What are the 4 major crime labs?

- FBI ( investigation powers)

- DEA (drugs...production, sale & transportation)

- ATF ( alcohol, documents, weapons, explosive devices, related evidence regarding gun control)

- U.S. Postal Inspection

Who was the first person to use the comparison microscope?

Calvin Goddard

Who maintains the world's largest lab?

FBI

Why do laws continually change?

- To counter the increase in crime rates

- Because of public concern

What is an essential tool & only tool used by investigators?

Their observations

What are the 3 avenues that help an investigator?

- confessions

- eyewitness accounts by victims and witnesses

- the evolution of physical evidence retrieved from the crime scene.

The hiring of WHAT will be the backlog the law of DNA?

Forensic Scientists and DNA analysis

Who regulates activities that influence our daily lives?

The government

Who came up with the character of Sherlock homes?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

What is the fastest growing field in forensic science?

Digital Forenstics

How many sections in the labs according to the American Academy of forensic science?

11

What are the elven sections?

- Criminalistics

- Digital and Multimedia Sciences

- Engineering Sciences

- General

- Jurisprudence

- Odontology

- Pathology/ Biology

- Physical Anthropology

- Psychiatry/Behavioral Sciences

- Questions Documents

- Toxicology

What is the CSI effect?

- Dramatization of forensics on TV

- Yielding forensic evidence

- Unrealistic expectations

Who was the father of toxicology?

Mathieu Orfila

What is the reason for the rapid growth for crime labs?

- increase in drug addiction

- advent of DNA profiling

- supreme court decision in the 1960s

- staggering increase in crime

What is the physical science unit?

- chemistry

- physics

- geology

What is the biology unit?

- identification and DNA profiling of dried blood stains

- comparisons of hair and fibers

- identification and comparison of botanical materials such as wood and plants

What is the firearms unit?

Examination of:

- firearms

- discharged bullets

- cartridge cases

- shotgun shells

- all ammunition

- discharge residue from clothing

What is the document examination unit?

Examination of:

-handwriting and typewriting on questioned documents

-analysis of paper and ink

-examination of indented writings

-obliterations, erasures and burned or charred documents

What is the photography unit?

- to examine and record physical evidence

- use of digital imaging, infrared, ultraviolet and x-ray photography to make visible to the naked eye

- preparation of photographic

exhibits for court room

presentations.

What is the toxicology unit?

- Examine body fluids and organs to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons

What is the latent fingerprint unit?

- responsible for processing and examining evidence of latent impressions submitted in conjunction with other evidence or laboratory examinations.

what is the polygraph unit?

- Lie detector

-an essential tool used by investigators

-handled by those trained in techniques of criminal investigation and interrogation

What is the voiceprint analysis unit?

- Involves telephoned threats or tape-recorded messages, ties the voice to the suspect with the use of a spectrograph - voiceprint

What is the evidence collection unit (CSI Unit)?

- dispatches specially trained personnel to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence that will later be processed by the lab