Forensic Science

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Forensic Science
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What is forensic science?

• The application of science to law
• It includes concepts from chemistry, physics,
  biology, and geology

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The forensic scientist

• The goal of the forensic scientist is to use all
  available information to determine the facts and
  the truth
• They examine, identify, and compare physical
  evidence
• They train law enforcement officials to
  recognize, collect and preserve physical evidence
• They may need to testify in court

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Physical evidence

• Anything that is found at the crime scene,
  including the victim and/or the suspect
• Some examples include glass and soil samples,
  tire marks, blood, hair, drugs, fibers, firearms,
  bullets and cartridges, documents, indented
  writings, erasures, burned documents, body
  fluids, fingerprints, voice prints, etc.

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Organization of Crime labs

• Crime labs exist at the local, state, and
  national levels.
• The four major national labs are with the FBI
  (Federal Bureau of Investigation), the DEA (Drug
  Enforcement Agency), ATF (Bureau of Alcohol,
  Tobacco, and Firearms), and US Postal
• The FBI is the largest crime lab in the world

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Interview link

• http//www.allcriminaljusticeschools.com/faqs/fore
  nsic-interview.php

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FBI agentDay in the life

• Training videos\training.mpg
• Training videos\training2.mpg
• Training videos\training3.mpg
• Training videos\training4.mpg

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Processing the Crime Scene

• It is the responsibility of the first arriving
  officer to preserve and protect the scene
• Only authorized personnel should be allowed on
  the scene
• Every person who enters the scene is a potential
  destroyer of viable physical evidence

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Recording the Crime Scene

• A permanent record of the scene must be taken as
  soon as possible.
• The crime scene is recorded using photographs,
  sketches, and note taking.

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Searching the Crime Scene

• Searches at the crime scene must be systematic.
• The type of search will be determined by location
  and size of the area and actions of victim and
  suspect at the scene.

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Collecting Evidence

• The physical evidence that should be collected
  include hairs, fibers, blood, glass, soil, fabric
  impressions (in a car or on furniture)
• Particular attention is paid to cross-transfer of
  evidence between the perpetrator and the weapon
  and/or victim
• Clothing from the suspect may be collected and
  must be bagged separately
• Areas of the crime scene may be vacuumed and the
  sweeping submitted to the lab for testing

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Collecting Evidence

• Physical evidence must be collected in such a way
  that prevents any change between the crime scene
  and the crime lab

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Maintaining a Chain of Custody

• A chain of custody must be maintained in order to
  admit evidence in court.
• Every individual that handled the evidence must
  be accounted for.

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Interactive Investigator

• http//www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Myst/en/in
  dex.html

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