Forensics Chpt 1

Forensic science-use of science to resolve legal matters such as crimes, involves:

Collecting and examining physical evidence

Reporting results to law enforcement

Testifying in court

Steps of Forensic Science-observe, interpret, report!

First step of solving-unbiased observation and collection.

Forensics requires-GOOD COMMUNICATION!

Forensic scientists and police-OBSERVE and ANALYZE

Analytical skills are ability to-

Identify a concept or problem

Isolate component parts

Organize information for decision making

Establish criteria for evaluation

Draw appropriate conclusions

Deductive reasoning-deriving a conclusion from facts using series of logical steps

Hypothesis-possible explanation of question or problem based on prior knowledge or observation, theory

Claim Evidence Reasoning Model-

Make observations

Determine question

Make claim and assertion based on evidence/ observations

Provide evidence, evaluate evidence

Provide reasoning or justification that links claim with evidence

Paul Ekman- 1967 discovers humans are capable of >10,000 facial microexpressions with 3,000 relevant to emotion and nonverbal communication

Elizabeth Loftus- 1974 explains how misinformation can lead to false memories

Scott Fraser- 2012 describes fallibility of memory reconstruction

Pamela Meyer- 2014 publishes a work on how to detect lying

2016-Interrogation techniques modified for eyewitnesses and suspects

Observation- what a person perceived using their senses

Perception- brain’s interpretation of sensory information

How is perception limited- Brains fill in missing information, Missing word in a sentence, Short-term memory is not stored forever

Brain is good at providing info for survival- Filtering information, Filling in gaps, Applying previous knowledge to new situations

Observation skills- improve by understanding limitations

Qualitative- subjective, descriptive (e.g., color, shape)

Quantitative- objective, numerical data that is measured (e.g., weight, height)

Anna Meng- assaulted in apartment

Julius Earl Ruffin- accused of assaulting Anna Meng

Cause of Ruffins false arrest- DNA testing in early stages, not 100% conclusive

Mistaken eyewitness identifications- >75% of the 200+ wrongful convictions in US

Eyewitness- person who has seen someone or something related to a crime and can communicate their observations

Fact- statement or information that can be verified

Opinion- personal belief founded on judgement rather than experience or knowledge

Eyewitness accounts- help reconstruct events into logical pattern