Introduction to Forensic Science · 06/02/2017 · Science in the Service of the Law O Forensic...
Transcript of Introduction to Forensic Science · 06/02/2017 · Science in the Service of the Law O Forensic...
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Introduction to Forensic Science
What is Forensic Science?Taken from Chapter 1 Introduction to
Forensic Science by Gaensslen, Harris and Lee
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What is Forensic Science?O A broad definition: “science in the service of
the law”O Forensic means having to do with the lawO Forensics is NOT the same!
O Means debating, not science
O A narrower definition involves criminalisticsO Scientific examination of evidence for legal
purposes
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Science in the Service of the Law
O Forensic science is science usually applied to criminal cases
O Forensic science can also involve civil and administrative matters:O Product failure liability, disputed paternity,
and so onO Most “expert witnesses” actually work on
civil matters, not criminal cases
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Value of Forensic ScienceO Most public forensic science labs are funded by
local, state or federal governmentO The scientists must provide government with
reasons for funding their programsO Corpus delicti – “elements of a crime”O Support disprove statementsO Identify substancesO Identify personsO Provide investigative leadsO Establish linkages or exclusions
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History of Forensic ScienceO Some date the specialty back to China AD
1250O Most historians think it began in the
Western world between 1800 and 1850O Advancement of chemistry as a scienceO New technology like the microscopeO More advanced medical programs
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History of Forensic ScienceO Mathiu Orfila (1787-
1853)O Best known medico
legalist (looking at death cases)
O PhysicianO “father of forensic
toxicology”
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History of Forensic ScienceO Alphonse Bertillon
(1853-1914)O First scientific
system of personal identification
O Series of body measurements
O Used until fingerprints evolved in early 1900’s
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History of Forensic ScienceO Francis Galton
(1833-1911)O First to study
fingerprints and apply them to identification
O Still the most used method for identification today