Criminalistics

Forensic Science

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

Physical Science Unit

Chemistry, physics, and geology (trace evidence physical → when objects make contact)

Biology Unit

Performs DNA profiling and analyze bodily fluids (hair and fibers)

Firearms Unit

Examines firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, all ammunition, and discharge residue from clothing

Document Examination Unit

Analyzes handwriting, inks, paper, and typewrtiintg to check for authenticity

Photography Unit

Examines, records, and preserves physical evidence using specialized imaging techniques (also prepares photographic exhibits for court room presentations)

Toxicology Unit

Tests body fluids and organs for drugs, alcohol, and posions

Latent Fingerprint Unit

Finds, develops, and compares hidden fingerprint evidence from crime scenes to link suspects to an investigation

Polygraph Unit

Lie detector→ handled by those trained in techniques of criminal investigation and interrogation (essential tool used by investigators)

VoicePrint Analysis Unit

Involves telephones threats or tape-recorded messages; ties the recorded voice to a specific suspect

Evidence Collection Unit (CSI Unit)

Dispatches specifically trained personnel to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence that will later be processed by the lab

How many public labs are there?

400 public labs

Who was responsible for Anthropometry?

Alphonse Bertillon

Who regulates activities that affect our daily lives?

The government

Who came up with characters Sherlock Holmes

Arthur Conan Doyle

What are the 4 major crime labs

FBI (investigative powers), DEA (drugs…production, sale & transportation), ATF (alcohol, documents, weapons, explosive devices, related evidence regarding gun control), US Postal Inspection (criminal investigations relating to the postal service)

Who was the first person to use a comparison microscope?

Calvin Goddard

Criminalistics

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

What is the fastest growing field in forensic science

Digital Forensics

Who maintains the largest crime lab?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Laws continually change because of what

Advances of science and technology

According to the American Academy of Forensic Science, how many sections (lab) are there

12

What is the essential tool / and only used by investigaotrs

Locards Exchange Principle

Hiring of what… will help combat the back log of DNA

Scientists

3 avenues important for an investigation that help an investigator

Physical Evidence, Confessions, and Witnesses