Forensics Unit 1 Notes



Forensics Unit 1 Notes

Chapter 1

I. What is Forensic Science?

a. Forensic Science/Criminalistics- the examination of physical evidence.

b. Evidence- anything that tends to establish or disprove a fact.

i. Testimony

ii. Documents

iii. Weapon

iv. Chemical or Biological

v. Fiber…

c. Ballistics- the science that deals with the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles.

i. Firearms

ii. Bullets

II. Crime Labs

a. Publicly Funded

b. FBI – largest lab in the world

c. Common Divisions

i. Physical evidence (drugs, soil, grass…)

ii. Firearms- Ballistics

iii. Documents- (handwriting, checks, inks, papers)

iv. Biology- Serology (bodily fluids) Entomology (insects)

d. Larger labs have additional divisions

i. Photos

ii. Toxicology- drugs, poison

iii. Latent fingerprints

iv. Polygraphs

v. Arson

e. Counseled by outside scientists

i. Anthropology- study the human skeleton

ii. Psychiatry- study and treatment of mental disorders

iii. Odontology- bite marks and dental ID

iv. Engineering

v. Computers

vi. Pathology- study sudden, unexplained or violent death, often related to disease

vii. Geology- rock or soil

viii. Environmental Sci.

ix. Entomology- insects

x. Palynology- pollen and spores

xi. Polygraphy- “lie detector”, not admissible in court

III. Significant History Highlights- (do not memorize)

a. 700 AD: Chinese used fingerprints to establish identity of documents and clay sculptures.

b. 1149: King Richard of England introduced idea of the coroner to investigate questionable deaths.

c. 1959: James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the DNA double helix.

d. 1977: AFIS developed by the FBI; fully automated in 1996.

e. 1984: Jeffreys developed and used the first DNA tests to be applied to a criminal case.

f. 1986: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

g. 1998: DNA is indexed (CODIS)

h. 2002: CODIS used to convict

i. 2007: Largest AFIS storage operated by Department of Homeland Security

IV. Methodology

a. Scientific Method-

i. Problem statement- observation

ii. Research

iii. Hypothesis

iv. Experiment

v. Results

vi. Conclusion

b. The Locard Principle-"with contact between two items, there will be an exchange"

V. Criminal Justice and the Law

a. Statutory Law- legislative acts declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something

b. Case Law- the body of law made up of judicial opinions and precedents

c. Stare decisis- “to stand by the decision,” meaning previous legal decisions are to be followed

d. Civil Law- law that deals with noncriminal suits brought to protect or preserve a civil or private right or matter

e. Criminal Law- regulation and enforcement of rights, setting the acceptable limits of conduct in society

f. Misdemeanor- a minor crime, lass than a felony, usually punished with a fine or confinement other than in a prison

g. Felony- a serious crime, such as murder, punishable by more than one year of imprisonment up to execution

h. Probative Value-The ability of evidence to prove something that is material to a crime

i. Material- relevant and significant

j. Probable Cause- situation in which a reasonable and prudent person, viewing the available info., would conclude that a crime has been committed and that a suspect committed it

VI. Types of Crimes

a. Violation- a breach of right duty, or law

b. Infraction- violation of a rule or law that is not punishable by prison

VII. Pursuing Justice

a. Elements- in criminal law, the specific factors or parts of a crime

b. Booking- a police procedure following arrest that records basic info. About the suspect, a photo and fingerprints and perhaps a lineup

c. Miranda rights- rights guaranteed by the constitution that police must tell arrestees about especially the right to remain silent the right to an attorney

d. Arraignment- the first act in a criminal proceeding, where the defendant is brought before the court to hear charges and enter a plea

e. Bail- money that guarantees the defendant will appear

f. Nolo contendere- no contest, not confession but punished as though guilty

g. Preliminary hearing- before judge to determine if the suspect should be held for trial

h. Grand jury- group of people sworn to inquire about a crime and possibly accuse

i. Indict- formally accuse

j. Plea bargain- pleads guilty to lesser charge to avoid cost and time of trial

k. MMO- Motive, Means and Opportunity (must be established to prove guilt)

VIII. Federal Rules of Evidence

a. Material witness- has info. about subject

b. Hearsay- testimony given by what others say NOT ADMISSIBLE

c. Expert- specialist in a certain area

d. Frye standard- evidence only admissible if “sufficiently established”

e. Daubert Ruling- revision of Frye- incorporates the scientific method –error rates…

i. no “junk science”

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