jimtrue.com : school : CJT2141 : 01: Introduction to Forensics
Posted by Jim True on January 13, 2003 6:00 AM. Last Updated October 22, 2006 9:23 PM
Disclaimer for all material noted here is at the bottom of this web page.
Criminalistics - Category of techniques used by a Full Service Crime Lab,
including but not limited to DNA, Ballistics, Trace Analysis.
AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Science), National Organization of 10
departments:
1. Criminalistics
2. Pathology
3. Toxicology
4. Psychiatry
5. Engineering
6. Anthropology
7. General
8. Odontology
9. Jurisprudence
10. Questioned Documents
Fingerprints are part of the International Association of Identification
We will be covering the departments in a full service crime lab:
Sections of a Full Service Crime Lab -
1. Chemistry
2. Biology/DNA
3. Trace/MicroAnalysis
4. Firearms/ID (Toolmarks)
5. Toxicology (Blood/Alcohol)
6. Latent Prints (Not covering)
7. Questioned Documents (FDLE Eliminated)
8. Photography
9. Crime Scene (Evidence Scene Response Units)
Contracted Out:
Pathology (ME/Coroner)
Odontology
Anthropology
Psychiatry
Engineering
Florida Laboratories and the way they're divided:
Local State Federal
7 Limited & Full 7 St Fire Marshall DEA (Miami)
Service Havana (Tallahassee)
only fire debris analysis
16 crime labs in Florida
Colleges:
SPC
UF Toxicology
UCF Masters DNa
FIU Chemistry
FGCU
Federal:
9 DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency 9 Labs - Largest
Drug Analysis
Fingerprints
Photography
Computer
FBI - Full Service Crime Lab (1)
ATF - Alcohol, Tobacco & Fire Arms (3)
Fire Arms
Chemistry
Trace Analysis
Fire Debris, Explosives
Customs - Full Service Crime Lab (4)
US Postal Inspector (3)
Documents Examination
1 Full Service
Secret Service - Questioned Documents
FDA - Food Drug Administration (Chemistry)
US Wildlife Service - Poaching
Military - Army - Army or Air Force Personnel
Navy - San Diego/Norfolk - Navy Marines
Coast Guard (Customs)
FAA
Independent Labs
Difference Between Civil & Criminal Courts
Criminal (Jail) Civil
- Incarceration - Money
- Beyond Reasonable Doubt - More Reasonable than Not
90% or more 50% or more
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Father of Forensics)
1. Locard - Exchange Principle, whenever you enter an environment you take
ssomething with you and leave something behind.
2. Goddard - Father of Firearms Investigation
3. Kirk - Father of Forensic Education, (Problems w/Blood Spatter Analysis
w/Shepard Case)
Forensic Scientist
- Helper to the trier of fact (Judge or Juries)
2. Court Decisions - Can methods be accepted and brought into court (General
Acceptance)
1. Frye - 1800's - Is this method general accepted by the Scientific community?
General Acceptance, can be brought in as evidence. Polygraph
2. Daubert v Merrel Dow - Federal Rules of Evidence (Expert Evidence)
5 criteria (pg 13), makes Questioned Documents & Latent Fingerprints
questionable.
a. scientific theory can be (and has been) tested
b. has theory been subjected to peer review and publication
c. technique's potential rate of error
d. existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique's
operation
e. whether theory has widespread acceptance
Drug causing birth defects.
Lay Witness - Testify to anything you can contribute to your senses.
Expert Witness - Render an opinion based on observation of these senses and
application.
Research Papers - 4-7 pages, double-spaced, 3 references YOU CAN USE the book
That you've done the research, general view that you've read and you at least
partially understand. Applications using that scientific method for that
particular physical evidence.
Disclaimer: These are MY notes taken from classroom lectures while I'm in the classroom. While I'm perfectly happy to share my notes with my classmates and I know I take very good notes, you should still make every effort to attend the class and TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES. I will not transcribe everything the instructor says in the classroom, and I will NEVER post pre-exam reviews. My notes will not replace the value of actually attending class and taking your own class notes.I also cannot attest to their accuracy, other than they are what was provided in the lecture; you should not reference my notes as "expert opionion" by any means, and if you notice an error or omission, please do me the favor of e-mailing me with the correction and I will re-post my notes. End of Disclaimer.