CHEM 106 LECTURE 1 INTRODUCTION (1)

Forensic Science Overview

• Definition: The application of science to criminal and civil laws enforced by police agencies.

• Key Elements:

  • Association of people, places, and things involved in criminal activities.

  • Systematic methodologies for understanding the physical world.

  • Forensic scientists answer court-related questions through reports and testimonies.

Development of Forensic Science

• Sherlock Holmes Influence: Popularized physical detection methods in crime scenes (by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887).

• Key Figures:

  • Mathieu Orfila (1814): Father of Forensic Toxicology; wrote a treatise on detection of poisons.

  • Francis Galton (1892): Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints.

  • Alphonse Bertillon (1879): Devised anthropometry, a system of personal identification.

  • Leone Lattes (early 1900s): Developed a procedure for determining blood types (A, B, O, AB) from dried bloodstains.

  • Calvin Goddard: Used comparison microscopes to link bullets to specific firearms.

  • Albert S. Osborn (1910): Developed document examination principles and acceptance of documents as scientific evidence.

  • Edmond Locard: Known for Locard's exchange principle, establishing the basis for crime lab practices.

Organization of Crime Laboratories

• Growth since the 1960s due to a demand for scientifically evaluated evidence from the courts.

• Current Status: Approximately 350 crime laboratories in the U.S., focusing on drug-related crimes and DNA profiling.

• Bureau of Forensics:

  • Established by J. Edgar Hoover in 1932.

  • Oldest forensics lab located in Los Angeles, California (1923).

Basic Services of Full-Service Crime Labs

• Crime Lab Units:

  • Biology Unit: Analyzes blood, body fluids, hairs, and DNA.

  • Firearms Unit: Examines bullets, firearms, and related evidence.

  • Document Examination Unit: Analyzes handwriting and documents.

  • Photography Unit: Records evidence at crime scenes.

• Optional Services:

  • Toxicology Unit: Tests body fluids for drugs and poisons.

  • Latent Fingerprint Unit: Processes surfaces for fingerprints.

  • Voiceprint Analysis Unit: Connects audio messages to suspects.

  • Evidence Collection Unit: Ensures comprehensive evidence chain.

Role of the Forensic Scientist

• Experts in physical and natural sciences to identify types of evidence.

• Skilled in recognizing, collecting, and preserving evidence.

• Serve as expert witnesses in court.

Other Forensic Disciplines

• Forensic Pathology: Determines cause and manner of death via autopsies, classifying deaths (natural, homicide, suicide, etc.).

• Forensic Anthropology: Identifies skeletal remains and gathers information on ethnicity, age, and manner of death.

• Forensic Entomology: Analyzes insect life cycles to estimate time of death.

• Forensic Psychiatry: Studies behavior for legal proceedings and establishes psychological profiles.

• Forensic Odontology: Matches bite marks to dental records for identification.

• Forensic Engineering: Investigates accidents and failures in construction and fire scenarios.

Forensic Analysis Techniques

• Includes organic (e.g., chromatography, spectrophotometry) and inorganic methods (e.g., atomic absorption).

• Criminalistics focuses on collecting and analyzing physical evidence.

Laboratory Evidence Intake

• Chain of Custody (COC): Ensures accountability for evidence handling and analysis from crime scene to court.

• Labs must meet standard security and quality assurance requirements for accreditation.

Summary of Forensic Scientist Qualifications

• Responsible for performing scientific analyses and offering expert testimony.

• Educational background typically includes BS, MS, or PhD in relevant scientific fields.

Next Steps

• Prepare for Lecture 2: Crime Scene Investigation.

• Complete assigned worksheets pertaining to Lectures 1 & 2.