Recording-2025-03-04T01:00:29.405Z

Paper Requirements

• Length: Minimum of five pages of content (excluding cover and works cited).

• Format: Must be in APA format, double-spaced.

• Citations: Include a minimum of three academic sources (excluding textbooks).

• In-Text Citations: Mandatory to score full points.

• Turnitin: Plagiarism check; anything over 40% may be flagged.

• Reusing Papers: Cannot use the same paper from a previous class.

Topics to Cover

• Choose up to three topics if needed, with guidelines for focusing deeply on one topic if enough material is available.

Possible Topics to Explore

• Latent Lift Recovery with Black Powder:

  • Instructions on evidence collection using black powder.

  • Historical background and effectiveness of this technique.

• Footwear Comparative Analysis:

  • How footwear impressions link evidence to suspects in a crime.

  • Scientific research backing these methodologies.

• Color Scheme and Stain Pattern Analysis:

  • Techniques for analyzing stains relating to evidence.

  • Discussion of color theory and contrast in forensics.

• Swabbing for Possible Viral Events:

  • Process for swabbing and testing for viral contamination at crime scenes.

  • Discuss the importance in tracing criminal networks or events.

• Trace Collection from Crime Scenes:

  • Steps for effective trace evidence collection.

  • Discuss methods and historical context for trace evidence in legal cases.

• Crime Scene Technology (e.g. ALS):

  • Explore the use of Alternate Light Sources in evidence recovery.

  • Discuss current advancements and peer-reviewed findings in forensic science.

Notes on Evidence Collection Techniques

Clean White Light & Alternate Light Sources (ALS)

• Importance: Essential on scene for revealing hidden evidence, especially in low light situations.

  • Critical for night shifts and during the day in shadowed areas.

• Mechanical Mechanics: Helps visualize biological items, fibers, and blood stains effectively.

  • Must ensure proper battery and maintenance for reliability.

Collection Techniques

• Fingerprint Collection:

  • Starting Search: Consider latent prints, which are invisible without processing; visible prints can be collected if easily detected.

  • Materials: Use brush and powder techniques, and small particle reagent (SPR) for wet surfaces.

  • Historical Context: Fingerprints have been utilized in criminal investigation for over 100 years.

Light Properties and Their Forensic Applications

• Types of Reactions: Light interacts with objects by reflecting, absorbing, transmitting, or converting.

  • Examples: Red objects absorb all colors except red (which reflects); white surfaces reflect all wavelengths.

• Fluorescent Techniques: ALS helps reveal substances like blood or biological materials that would otherwise go unnoticed.

  • Utilize colored filters to enhance visibility of collected evidence.

Specific Techniques for Evidence Types

• Superglue Fuming:

  • Method for enhancing latent fingerprints using cyanoacrylate, commonly in lab settings.

• Powder Techniques:

  • Use of various colored powders to enhance visibility based on the surface you're collecting from (nonporous vs. porous).

• Adhesive Tapes:

  • Proper collection methods outline necessity for a lab setting; adhere to acetate for preservation.

Conclusion

• Ensure all procedures are documented thoroughly, from collection to analysis.

• Understanding the scientific basis of all methods enhances credibility and accuracy when submitted in reports or as testimonies.

• Double-check formatting, citations, and methodology before submission to maximize potential for high scores.