Intro to Forensic Science

Aim Intro1:

What are some of the basic terms used to describe forensics?

Intro to Forensic ScienceForensic Science the application of science to matters of

lawCriminalistics the science responsible for asking the questions

below about any physical evidence found at a crime scene:Recognizing – what is it? Identifying – is it part of the crime scene? Individualizing – what is unique about it?Evaluating – can we use it to solve the crime?

Characteristics of Evidence

Identification The grouping or classifying of

a specific object Class characteristics are used to compare a

piece of evidence and classify or identify it Examples

make and model of a car tire

(Goodyear Wrangler GS-A’s) the caliber of a bullet (.45

cal, 9mm, etc.)

Characteristics of EvidenceIndividualization Discovery of the uniqueness of a given piece of

evidence Individualizing criteria:

NO two things ever happen the same way• The damage to two cars will always be different

NO two things are ever made the same way• Ever try buying white bathroom tile from two different

stores? NO two things ever wear the same way

• Check the bottoms of your shoes for nicks, scratches NO two things ever break the same way

• Give every student in a class a beer bottle, and have them hit each other!

Types of Evidence

Physical evidence objects found at a crime scene

Personal evidence Witness statements subjective - can change – people lie!

Example of personal evidence You are now witnesses at crime scene You must describe the suspected criminal Give his age, weight, and height Describe as many additional features as possible

Suspect Stats6’6+ 340+ 65+

6’5” 320 60-64

6’4” 300 55-59

6’3” 280 50-54

6’2” 260 45-49

6’1” 240 40-44

6’ 220 35-39

5’11” 200 30-34

5’10” 180 25-29

5’9”- 180> 25>

Question: do we really have a crime?

Scenario you walk into an alleywayA red substance covers a dumpster in the

back of a local storeBones are found on the ground near the

dumpster covered in bloodIs there a crime???

Question: do we really have a crime?

“Corpus delecti”the body of evidence (includes both of the

abovethe materials that actually make up the

crime scenephysical evidence and possibly also

personal evidence

Aim Intro 2:

What is the Early History of Forensic Science Development?

Early History Forensics

BabyloniansEarliest use of

thumbprints in business transactions“I will leave my thumbprint on this clay

check, and give you 4 ducks and a goose”

Early History Forensics 44 BC - Julius Caesar stabbed

to death in Roman senate by senators and friends, including Brutus

Case Study #1 – the first autopsyAutopsy - a post mortem exam of a body

• A physician autopsied Caesar, and found only 1 of the 23 stab wounds actually caused his death

What charges are at hand here?Significance of case – it was the first use of

an autopsy to determine cause of death and responsibility

First coroners900 ADone of the oldest

appointed public offices

Coroner - someone who takes possession of a dead person

In modern timescoroner could be

medical examiner or local mortician

1200 AD, Sung Tz’u, Chinese medical

practioner“Hsi Duan Yu” or

“A Washing Away of Wrongs”

first true forensics book Was written to help

medical people determine cases of unnatural death

Case Study #2 – The Bloody Sickle In The Washing Away of Wrongs, the first documented

forensic entomology case is reported. In 1235 A.D., a stabbing occurred in a Chinese village. By testing different blades on an animal carcass, it was

determined that the wound was caused by a sickle. After further questioning, the investigator had all the

villagers bring their sickles and lay them out before the crowd.

Blow flies were attracted to a single sickle because invisible remnants of blood and tissue still adhered to it.

The owner of the alleged sickle later broke down and confessed the crime.

Significance of case – forensic entomology (the study of insects) solved the case

Forensics Becomes a Science

Mathieu Orfilamid 1800’sfather of toxicology Toxicology – the study of poisonswrote “Toxicologie Generale”

• a text on identifying and testing poisons and their use

• showed important applications of chemistry to police investigations

Case Study #3 –

Madame Lafarge Murder Case

Who was Madame Lafarge? young and beautiful widowhusband Charles receives cake

in December while on business trip

Becomes deathly ill but recovers before returning home

Gets better – comes home and dies in January of arsenic poisoning

Madame Lafarge accused of MURDER!bought arsenic at local

pharmacy in NOVEMBERWhy was arsenic available

at pharmacy (like your local CVS)? Significance of Case - First use of expert

witnessesMathieu Orfila – for the prosecutionFrancois Raspail – for the defense But falls off horse, never testifies!

Madame Lafarge found guilty, serves 20 years

Flu shots available!

Rat Poison on Sale!

Aim Intro 3:

What is the Later

History of Forensic Development?

Alphonse Bertillon (late 1800’s)developed a method of individualization for

criminals and suspects• involved measuring various body parts (side of

skull, length of femur, height, height while sitting…)

Process called bertillonage or anthropometry

worked well until the case of the two Will Wests

Sir Francis Galton Charles Darwin’s cousin wrote equally famous book:

Fingerprints first definitive study of fingerprints

as form of identification Dr. Henry Faulds

Researcher in JapanFascinated with fingerprintsFound scientifically that

fingerprints were quite dissimilarPublished his finding in the 1800’s

in the science journal Nature

1887 - the creation of Sherlock HolmesSir Arthur Conan DoyleEnglish writeraffected the world of forensics

as much as the forensic scientists

Portrayed Holmes as a “scientific detective” who used deductive reasoning to solve crimes

Deductive reasoning: is the process of reasoning from one or more general statements (premises) to reach a logically certain conclusion

Similar to proof writing in geometry!Example – Red Headed League 4:40

Initially – even with a smoking gun in hand

witness statements were taken over physical evidence

Hans Gross - magistratefirst to actually use the scientific method

model of investigationphysical evidence was more important than

personal evidence (witness statements) Criminalistics

Forensic science coined his termThe use of science to study the physical

evidence

Aim Intro 4 – What are Non Violent Crimes?

Crimes – the Misdemeanor Defined as a “lesser” criminal act Punishment could be any of the

following:Usually a monetary fine;ProbationCommunity service Part-time imprisonment served on the

weekends Incarceration of up to one year in the

local jail

Examples of misdemeanors: disorderly conduct public intoxication DUI petty theft or larceny (under $1,000) vandalism trespassing prostitution drug possession

Crimes – the Felony

DefinitionA crime which involves a

potential punishment of one year or longer in prison

Felonies can be categorized as either violent or non-violent (property and drug)

Felons – persons committing a felony crimeTypically incarcerated in a prison, not a local

jail

Felony include, but are not limited to: burglary robbery assault battery illegal drug use/sales grand theft or larceny(over $1,000) arson rape murder

Crimes of Theft Larceny – the wrongful withholding of

another’s property Examples:

Shoplifting - removing items from a business while not employed by the business

Loan sharking - lending money at higher than normal rates (shylocking)

Auto theft – think GTAFraud - a deception deliberately practiced in order

to secure unfair or unlawful gain (shady builders)Embezzlement - theft of monies from an

organization

Crimes of Theft Burglary

breaking into a dwelling at night with the intent to commit a felony

Breaking and enteringBreaking – to enter a premises without

permissionEntering –to place either oneself or a tool inside

Robbery the wrongful withholding or theft of another’s

property while in their presenceExamples: mugging, carjacking

$%&@

Other Crimes of Property Forgery

the process of making or imitating objects, statistics, or documents

with the intent to deceiveExamples: wills, checks, valuable items

Identity theftAdapting some else’s individual information

and presenting as your own Info that allows for identity theftSocial Security #, address, stolen PIN #s,

credit card info from a skimmer

Aim Intro 5:Crimes of Violence

Crimes of Violence Assault

threat or use of force on another that reasonably makes that person fear bodily harm

Battery the use of force on another resulting in harmful contact (injury)

Aggravated assaultmade worse by more serious circumstances, such

as • deadly force• violence• or the commission of another crime

Crimes of Violence Rape

unlawful sexual intercourse with a person without their consent

An act of violence, not just sex Date rape

often involves drugs to render victim unconscious

Statutory rapehaving sex, with or without consentwith an underage minoror a person of limited mental abilities

Crimes of Violence

Arson – defined as the ignition or lighting on fire of a dwelling with malicious intent

Reasons for arsonMonetary gainVengenceAngerThrill seeking Serial arsonists

Crimes of ViolenceHomicide

the killing of one person by anotherCriminal homicide

the felonious and wrongful act of killingTwo forms

• Manslaughter - the wrongful killing of another without premeditation– Ex: drunk driver kills someone

• Murder - the wrongful killing of another with premeditated intent– Ex: drug store shooting in Medford

First Degree Murder:an intentional killing that is willful, deliberate and

premeditated• You wait in the parking lot and shoot Mr. Foley

as he gets out of his car Second Degree Murder

homicide committed by an individual as a principal or an accomplice while perpetrating a felony • You and a friend rob Mr. Foley, and your friend

bludgeons him to death Third Degree Murder

Any other murder, where the intent was not to kill, but to harm the victim• You push Mr. Foley down a stair and he dies

Innocent homicide the death of another without intent

to do harm, or lacking felonious intent.

Two types of innocent homicideExcusable homicide - homicide occurs, but is

not felonious and intent is not evident• accidental death• self defense

Justifiable homicide - an authority says homicide is legal• War• Police actions• State execution