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Lecture 1 Introduction to Forensic Science

What is Science? - Knowledge attained through study, observation, experimentation, investigation and
analysis

Forensic Science: Is the application of science to matters pertaining to law

Forensic Science attempts to answer: who, what, where, why and when

The Scientific Method


 Formulate a question worthy of investigation.
 Formulate a reasonable hypothesis to answer the question.
 Test the hypothesis through experimentation.
 Upon validation of the hypothesis, it becomes suitable as scientific evidence.

Locard's principle:
• holds that the perpetrator of a crime will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something
from it, and that both can be used as forensic evidence

 Crime Scene Investigation involves: recognizing what is evidence, collecting evidence, preserving
evidence, documenting, photographing evidence, maintaining chain of custody, field tests, some
analysis, e.g. fingerprint evidence

 Crime Scene Investigation:


 In Canada - Performed mostly by police, forensic identification officers
 Medical Examiners, Coroners
 Fire Investigators

 3 Broad Functions in Forensic Science:


 Analyze the evidence
 Prepare reports
 Present their findings in Court

 Forensic Scientists/Technologists receive specialized in-house training at their laboratory


 In Canada ,usually specialize in one area: e.g. Toxicology or Biology (Serology and DNA)
 Forensic Scientists have a combination of Education & Formal In-house Training.
 Education:
 -40+ undergraduate programs offer a bachelor’s degree with some level of forensic emphasis
 -12 graduate level programs offer degrees (MA, MS, PhD) in forensic science
 -Usually a minimum Bachelor’s degree in science is required to work in Forensics
 -Programs focus on the application of science to forensic work and aspects of law, criminal investigation,
and the criminal justice process
 -Research component is also required as a skill in forensic examinations.
 -Educational programs are not designed to directly prepare graduates for immediate work on cases

 Formal In house Training :

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Lecture 1 Introduction to Forensic Science

 -New scientists receive formal training once hired by a forensic science laboratory. They are hired as a
specialist in one or a group of related areas. Their training encompasses a period of apprenticeship with
an experienced scientist. Time of training varies with discipline and laboratory. The training usually
involves mock case work and assisting in real cases. It may end with proficiency testing and mock trials.

 Types of analysis conducted by Forensic Scientists:


 DNA typing
 Serology- identification of body fluids
 Toxicology – Drugs and Alcohol
 Questioned documents
 Firearms
 Analysis of trace evidence- hair, fibres, glass, paint
 Fire debris - arson

 Paul Kirk, father of forensic science in the U.S., coined the term “criminalistics”.
 Refers to comparative forensic sciences such as fingerprints, questioned documents, firearms and tool
mark identification
 Also refers to evidence at crime scenes- illicit drugs, blood, explosives, hairs, fiber, glass, soil, paints,
bullets, casings, and plastics

Other areas of forensic science:


Pathology
 Forensic pathologists determine cause and manner of death.
 Cause of death- how did the person die, e.g. natural causes, trauma, drug/alcohol intoxication
 Manner of death: Natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, undetermined

Odontology: Dentistry
 Forensic odontologists
 examine bite marks
 use dental records for identification
 very useful in mass disasters

Forensic engineers:
 Assess mechanical or structural collapses
 Accident reconstruction, speed of travel, direction of impact

Entomology
Forensic entomologists:
 Study presence of insects on corpses
 Evaluate life stages of insects
 May be able to estimate post-mortem interval of death

Behavioral Science
Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology:

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Lecture 1 Introduction to Forensic Science

 Why and what kind of people commit crimes


 Mental capacity or state of mind to commit crimes
Psychological profiling

 Computer Science
 Computer forensics or digital forensics:
 Child porn
 Identity theft
 Financial fraud
 Video analysis
 Computer hacking

History and Development of Forensic Science


 In the late 1800s Henry Faulds, Frances Galton and Sir Edward Henry developed use of fingerprints
 France developed first detective force in 1810, the Surete of Paris
 First crime lab by Edmund Locard in France in 1910 He is famous in the world of Forensic Science for his
Principle of Exchange Theory where “every contact leaves a trace”.

 The 1st Breathalyser used in law enforcement developed in the 1950s

What is an Expert Witness?


 A person who has knowledge and/or skills derived from their education and/or experience
 This qualifies that person to take a set of facts/observations/findings and reach conclusions/opinions not
attainable by the average person (judge and jury)

What is a lay witness?


 A person who was an eyewitness to a crime
 The complainant (victim) of a crime
 Someone who knows something about the accused or the crime
 They are only allowed to testify about what they saw, touched, heard, smelled or tasted
 They are not allowed to make conclusions or form opinions about what they witnessed

Types of forensic laboratories in Canada


 1st type: Forensic Identification Laboratory
 typically housed in Police facilities
 Activities include: fingerprint analysis, organizing photographs, sorting and preparation of evidence to be
submitted to forensic laboratory, digital evidence analysis

2nd type: Specialized laboratories


 Medical Examiner/Coroner Laboratories
 -only conduct drug and alcohol analysis for death investigations
 - Alberta, Manitoba and B.C have specialized Medical Examiner laboratories
 Street drug analysis laboratory:
-Health Protection Branch - Canadian Government

3rd Type: Full service Forensic Laboratory

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Lecture 1 Introduction to Forensic Science

-every forensic laboratory, regardless of type or where in the world it is located has a few things in
common:
i)Evidence Intake
All forensic science laboratories have a system for receiving evidence
• One or more employees assigned to this unit
• Evidence is stored in a secured area
• Evidence is delivered to the laboratory, contents are described on a form, and a unique
laboratory identification number is assigned to the case and each item of evidence
• Electronic systems are often used to track evidence through the laboratory
Chain of Custody: documentation of the location of evidence from the time it is obtained to the time it is
presented in court
ii)Analytical Sections
• Evidence is assigned to forensic scientists for analysis in a logical order
• Analytical Sections may include: Photography, Biology/DNA, Chemistry, Firearms and Toolmarks,
Footwear and Tire Treads, Questioned Documents, Toxicology, and Trace Evidence. This can vary
from lab to lab.

The examination of physical evidence by a forensic scientist is usually for:


Identification to determine the physical or chemical identity of a substance.
Comparison analysis subjects a suspect specimen and a standard/reference specimen to the same tests and
examinations for the ultimate purpose of determining whether or not they have a common origin.

Individual Characteristics
Evidence that can be associated to a common source with an extremely high degree of probability is said
to possess individual characteristics.
Examples: DNA, fingerprints, markings on bullets, irregular wears patterns in footwear

Evidence associated only with a group is said to have class characteristics.


Evidence is said to possess class characteristics when it can be associated only with a group and never with a
single source.
E.g. car paint chips, glass, fibers, brand new shoe tread

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