Forensic Science: Chapter 1 Review

forensic science

the application of scientific knowledge to legal investigations

unrealistic expectations the jury puts on the CSI

Explain the CSI effect.

1. In TV CSI, members do everything (collect evidence, interrogate, etc.) In real CSI, members do not do everything & tasks are delegated to people (teamwork).

2. In TV CSI, the process takes minutes. In real CSI, the process can take days, weeks, months, or even years.

3. In TV CSI, members carry guns. In real CSI, members do not carry guns.

What are three differences between real CSI and TV CSI?

Yi Yi Yu

person known for the case of the burned body

Song Ci

person known for the case of the sickle; forensic entomology

Orfila

"father of forensic toxicology"

Nichol

invented the polarizing light microscope

Bayard

set up procedure to detect sperm under the microscope

Marsh

testified in court on detection of arsenic; developed test for arsenic

1. Record images of criminals
2. Record crime scene images (evidence)

What are the forensic importances of the camera? (2)

Bertillon

founded anthropometry; "father of criminal identification"

anthropometry

taking body measurements as means of individual identification

Will West/William West case

anthropometry case that changed the way people are identified; measurements were almost identical but fingerprints were not

Faulds

wrote article in Nature magazine; used fingerprints to identify

Galton

first definitive study of fingerprints; wrote book called Finger Prints

Gross

applied other sciences into criminal investigation

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

wrote Sherlock Holmes; popularized CSI

Landsteiner

came up with blood typing (A, B, AB, O)

Osborn

wrote Questioned Documents

Lattes

discovered procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains

Jeffreys

conducted first DNA profiling test in England

Locard

set up first crime lab in the world (Lyons, France)

"every contact leaves a trace"

What is Locard's Exchange Principle?

Goddard

perfected comparison microscope for bullet/gun comparison

McCrone

applied microscopy to analytical methods for crime solving

Vollmer

set up first U.S. crime lab

Hoover

set up first FBI crime lab (national)

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
2. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
3. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF)
4. U.S. Postal Inspection Service
5. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

What are the five major crime labs?

1. Required to advise suspects of constitutional rights (right of access to counsel)
2. Increase in number of crimes
3. All illicit drugs must be confirmed in crime labs before it goes to trial
4. Advent of DNA profiling

What are the four reasons for rapid growth of crime labs?

biology unit

unit that analyzes DNA on dried bloodstains, body fluids, comparisons of hairs & fibers, etc.

document exam unit

unit that examines handwriting & typewriting on documents/computers

firearms unit

unit that examines firearms, weapons, etc

physical science unit

uses chemistry, physics, & geology to identify and compare physical evidence

latent print unit

unit that uses fingerprint analysis

toxicology unit

unit that examines body fluids/organs for presence/absence of drugs/poisons

voiceprint unit

unit that identifies threatening messages (ex: on phone)

photography unit

unit that uses digital media to record crime scenes; examines and records physical evidence and prepares photographic exhibits for courts

polygraph unit

unit that finds out if a suspect is truthful through a lie-detector

crime scene unit

unit that collects & packages evidence

forensic odontology

identifies skeletal remains based on dental records; analysis of bite mark comparisons

1. Analyze physical evidence (in lab)
2. Provide expert testimony & persuade the jury (in court)
3. Train others (police officers--to preserve evidence)

What are the three major functions of a forensic scientist?

An expert witness can give an opinion in a trial while a lay witness cannot. An expert witness is educated and has experience while a lay witness is an ordinary person.

What are the differences between and expert and lay witness?

case of the burned pig

tell if a body is alive or dead before a fire

case of the sickle

recorded the first documented use of forensic entomology (using insects to solve crimes)

1. First time DNA was used to exonerate a person
2. First time DNA was used to convict a person

What is the importance of the first DNA case in England? (2)

Frye v. U.S.

"generally accepted by a meaningful segment of the scientific community"

Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharm.

"the trial judge is the gatekeeper for scientific testimony"

Kuhmo Tire v. Carmichael

"the trial judge is the gatekeeper for ALL expert testimony"

Coppolino v. State

researchers must devise new scientific tests to solve special problems that arise in the forensic lab

Evidence: bitemarks on victims, eyewitness saw him

Modus operandi: feigned an injury, lured to car, hit over head, and handcuffed victim

Victim profiles: long hair parted in the middle (like ex-girlfriend)

Method of murder: strangled and beat with metal bar

Describe the evidence, modus operandi, victim profiles, and method of murder in Ted Bundy's case.

Evidence outside: victim's car, phone

Evidence inside: victim's keys in house, crumbled license plate, & bullets in garage with victim's blood

Describe the evidence outside and inside that was found in Steven Avery's case.

to prevent cross-contamination

Why do we wear gloves during the Locard Lab?

could lose critical evidence

Why do we not empty evidence bags over the floor in the Locard Lab?