Criminalistics: Chapter 1 Notes

The services in a crime laboratory.

Criminalistics

It the application of science to matters of law (criminal and civil). It encompasses all disciplines.

Forensic Science

Refined the techniques of a comparison microscope to examine fired bullets.

Calvin Goddard

Wrote a paper on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals, “father of Toxicology”.

Mathieu Orfila

“father of criminal Investigation”, devised a way to measure the body to make identifications, until fingerprinting replaced it.

Alphonse Bertillon

Definitive study of fingerprints and their classification.

Francis Galton

Developed a way to group blood types from dried blood. From Dr. Karl Landsteiner (discovered blood groups).

Leone Lattes

Developed the fundamental principle of document examination. This development lead to scientific acceptance of document examination in court.

Albert S. Osborn

Microscopist extraordinaire, training thousands of people in the art of microscopy.

Walter C. McCrone

Wrote the first paper describing the application of scientific disciplines (microscopy, chemistry, physics etc), to the field of criminal investigation.

Hans Gross

Locard’s exchange principle , he believed when a person come across one another person or object a cross transfer of material occurs.

Edmond Locard

With crime laboratories, where the oldest one in the nation?

Los Angeles police department (1923)

What is the largest crime laboratory established?

FBI Laboratory (1932)

When was Alabamas lab established?

1935

Some crime labs are in some parts of what? (4)

Police depart

District attorneys office

Medical examiner’s office

Universities and independent agencies (Alabama).

What are the types of labs?

Federal

State

County

City  

For the Physical Science Unit, what do they focus on?

Drugs

Glass

Paint

Explosives

Soil

What does the Biology Unit in a crime lab analyze?

DNA profiling

Blood/body fluids
hair/fibers
botanicals (wood and plants)

What does the Firearms Unit in a crime lab analyze?

Firearms
Bullets
Cartridge Cases
Shotgun shells
Ammunition
Distance determination
Toolmarks (impression evidence)

What does the Document Examination Unit in a crime lab analyze?

Handwriting
Typewriting
Authenticity
Source
Paper and ink
Obliterations
Erasures
Burned documents

What does the Photography Unit in a crime lab analyze?

Examines and records physical evidence
Uses specialized photographic techniques (IR, UV, PWL)
Prepares documents for court

What are services in Alabama for forensic science?

CODIS section
DNA (Forensic biology/casework)
Toxicology
Drug chemistry
Firearms and tool marks
Forensic pathology
ABI

What does the CODIS section in crime labs do?

Maintains a DNA database

What does the DNA (Forensic Biology/casework) do?

Where bloody/fluids are examined for the presence of DNA to exclude or include a donor

What does the Toxicology do?

Analysis of bodily fluids to determine impairment (alcohol) of amount of drugs/poison in the blood, urine, tissues, etc.

What does the Drug Chemistry do?

The analysis of powders, liquids and plant/fungal material for the Presence of drugs/controlled substances

What does the Firearms and tool marks do?

Analysis of bullets, guns, GSR, impression and tool marks to find common source or distance determination

What does the Forensic Pathology do?

Determines cause and manner of death (autopsy)

What does the ABI do?

Does fingerprints

What are the “Optional” services

Toxicology

Fingerprint unit

Polygraph Unit

Voiceprint analysis unit

Crime Scene Investigation Unit

Examines body fluids for the Prescence of drugs and poisons including alcohol

Toxicology

Examines evidence for latent fingerprints.

Fingerprint unit

used mostly by a trained interrogator, not a forensic scientist. 

Polygraph Unit

Uses the skill of a voiceprint analyst.  Your voice can be a fingerprint unique to the user. 

Voiceprint analysis unit

Document and collect evidence that will be processed later at the crime lab. 

Crime Scene Investigation Unit

What is the role of a forensic scientist?

To analyze evidence recovered from a crime scene.

What is the scientific method's role in forensic science?

To systematically collect, organize, and analyze information to test hypotheses.

What landmark case established guidelines for the admissibility of scientific evidence?

Frye v. United States.

The Supreme Court asserted that general acceptance is not an absolute prerequisite to the admissibility of scientific evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence. 

The judge at trial becomes the gatekeeper in judging the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence

Daubert

Is more flexible than Frye.  If an expert in their field testifies, they need have

• Testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data

• The testimony is the product of reliable principles and methods

• The witness has applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.

Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rule 702

What are the 3 determining admissibility of Evidence?

Frye v. United States

Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rule 702

Daubert

When providing expert testimony, forensic scientist may need to do what?

Present their methods and conclusion

In court you will be accepted as an expert witness based on what?

BUT the defense has a right to cross examine you for weakness in your declarations.  (T/F)

Education

Training

Years working in that subject. 

True

The scientist and Methodologies are useless if the physical evidence is never recovered, collected or preserved. (T/F)

People need to be trained in the proper recognition, collection and preservation of evidence. (T/F)

True

True