Forensic Science Notes

Introduction to Forensic Science

  • Forensic Science (FOSC 2100) - Fall 2022
  • Instructor: Dr. Hamidreza Sharifan
  • Department of Natural Science, Albany State University

What is Forensic Science?

  • In general, forensic science is defined as the methods of science applied to public matters.
  • While it doesn't necessarily have to do with crime, the term has evolved to refer to the application of science to court or criminal matters.

Definition

  • Refers to science applied to criminal and civil law.
  • Any science can be a forensic science if it has some application to justice.

Crime Scene Investigators

  • Usually, but not always, police officers trained for and then assigned to the crime scene unit.
  • May or may not have a science education background.
  • Responsibilities include:
    • Recognizing evidence
    • Protecting evidence from contamination
    • Collecting evidence properly
    • Thoroughly documenting evidence location and condition
    • Maintaining chain of custody to help authenticate the evidence in court.

Criminalistics

  • The term “criminalistics” was first coined by Paul Kirk, considered to be the father of forensic science in the United States.

Forensic Pathologist

  • A medical doctor who first specialized in pathology and then in forensic pathology.
  • Determine the cause and manner of death in cases where someone dies under suspicious or other circumstances as prescribed by state law.
  • Often work for state or local medical examiners or coroners.
  • Medical examiners and coroners are appointed or elected officials who decide when a medicolegal autopsy (an autopsy in a case of suspicious death or homicide) is needed and sign death certificates.
  • Medical examiners and coroners employ forensic pathologists to perform autopsies.

Forensic Anthropologists

  • Work with skeletal remains.
  • Identify bones as being human or animal; if animal, determine the species.
  • If human, determine from what part of the body the bone originated.
  • Determine gender (if the right bones are available).
  • Approximate age, racial characteristics, and potentially estimate socioeconomic status.
  • Help determine the cause of injury or death if there is damage to the skeleton or major bones.

Odontology