unit 1 forensics

observation

information that is picked up by your senses

perception

interpretations of these observations informed by our experiences and worldview

influences of our observations

-activity itself

-number of people

-alone or in group

-anxiety/fear

-emotional state

forensic science/criminalistics

application of scientific disciplines to the law

identifying, capturing, convincing criminals depend upon eye witnesses and confession

worlds first crime lab

france, 1910

first crime lab in U.S

Los Angeles, 1923

first FBI crime lab opened

1932

FBI laboratory

one of best known and prestigious in world

drug enforcement admin

analyzes illicit drugs

secret service

counterfeit money and credit cards, largest ink library

bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives

experts in explosives and fire analysis

IRS

questioned documents

US fish and wildlife

1st and only lab in wildlife forensics

US postal service

involves mail crimes, document analysis

trace evidence

any small piece of evidence (fibers, hairs, material on shoes)

Locards exchange principle

“every contact leaves a trace”

automated fingerprint identification system

database of fingerprints

combined DNA Index system

database of genetic material

actions of the team (7 S’s)

1. secure the scene: photographer takes over to document

2. separate the witnesses: prevents witnesses from discussing what they saw

3. scan the scene: gain overall picture of the scene, identify potential secondary scene

4. see the scene: photographer takes over to document

5. sketch the scene: scene is drawn with directions and scale

6. search for evidence: a thorough search of the scene in a patterned manner

7. secure/collect evidence: evidence collected, logged, and labeled showing chain of custody

the judge

presides over trial, maintains order, rule on evidence, instructs jury, determines facts, decides case, deliver sentence

lawyers

represent client, present claim, evidence, and reasoning

jury

examines evidence and determines if burden of proof has been met

expert witness

member of forensics team that may be called to testify

1923 Frye v. United States

the jury was responsible for determining what could be admitted as evidence

1993 daubert v. down

replaced frye

the judge is responsible for determining what could be admitted as evidence

pretrial hearings will never see the evidence that is inadmissible and remain unbiased towards it

CSI effect

reference to popular forensics TV shows that raise crime victims and jury members real world expectations of forensic science