Lesson Structure: Introduction to Forensic Science BSC114

There are 10 lessons to complete: 1  Nature of Forensic Science

• Introduction
• What is Forensic Science?
• Laboratory Sciences
• Field sciences
• Digital services
• Forensic medicine
• Origins and Principles of Forensic Science
• Toxicology
• Anthropology
• Fingerprinting
• Bloodstains
• Ballistics
• Documents
• Criminalistics
• DNA Profiling
• Underlying Principles
• Expert Witness

2  Forensic Science and Law

• Introduction
• Scientific Principles
• Validity
• Feature Comparison Methods
• Problems with Validity
• Application of Forensic Science to Law
• Use of Evidence
• Relationship With Law
• Ways of categorising crimes
• What is Evidence: Direct evidence, Circumstantial evidence
• Introduction to Types of Physical and Biological Evidence

3  Evidence Collection

• Introduction
• Chain of Custody
• Crime Scene Investigations
• First Respondents
• Initial Assessment of the Scene
• Processing the Scene
• Collection of Samples
• Completion of Crime Scene Investigation

4  Analysis of Evidence

• Introduction
• The Purpose of Analysis
• Principles Underlying Analysis
• Statistical Analysis
• Human/User Error
• Correlation vs Causation
• Univariate Analysis
• Types of Evidence
• Laboratory Analysis
• Fingerprints
• DNA
• Blood
• Drugs & Toxicology
• Use of Laboratory Evidence

5  Specialist Forensics

• Introduction
• Civil vs Criminal Courts
• Types of Forensics Used
• Digital & Electronic Forensics
• Gathering Evidence
• Order of Volatility
• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Psychology
• Training in Forensic Psychology
• What does a forensic psychologist do?

6  Criminology

• Introduction
• Psychological Theories
• Psychodynamic Theory
• Behavioural Theory
• Social Learning Theory
• Cognitive Theory
• Moral Development
• Personality and Crime
• Intelligence and Crime
• Children and Crime
• Violence in Children
• Age of Criminal Responsibility

7  Psychological Disorders and Crime

• Introduction
• What Do We Mean By Mental Health Disorder
• Mental Health and Criminal Offences
• Causality
• Legal Aspects
• Types of Disorders and Crime
• Psychoses
• Personality Disorders
• Psychopathy
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Schizoid Personality Disorder
• Substance Use
• Mental Health in Children and Crime
• Conduct Disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

8  Criminal Profiling and Intelligence

• Introduction
• Criminal Profiling
• Role of Forensic Psychologists & Psychiatrists in Profiling
• Police Profiling
• Statistical Profiling
• Applications of Profiling
• Profiling Typologies
• Problems with Profiling
• Intelligence
• Intelligence Gathering
• Surveillance
• Tracking Offenders
• Crime Analysis

9  Presenting Evidence in Court

• Introduction
• Evidence
• Burden of Proof
• Admissibility of Evidence
• Admissibility and Forensic Evidence
• Witnesses and Delivering Testimony
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Eye Witness Testimonies

10 Ethical Issues

• Introduction
• Legislation vs. Legislature
• The Purpose of the Law
• The Purpose of Ethics
• Exercise: The Plank of Carneades
• Ethical Practice and Forensic Science
• Ethics as Protective
• A Note on Jury Tainting
• Chain of Custody
• Forensic Practice and Ethics
• Professional Responsibilities for the Psychology and Counsellor
• Conflicts of Interest
• Duty of Care
• Sexual Exploitation
• Group Counselling
• Children and Persons with Diminished Capacity
• Multicultural Issues and Respect
• Client Records and Confidentiality
• Dual Relationships
• Professional Consultation
• Mental Health and Psychology
• Labelling and Mental Health
• Ethical implications In Forensic Psychology
• Confidentiality
• Best Interests

Learning Goals: Introduction to Forensic Science BSC114

1. Define forensic science and its various offshoots.
2. Describe the application of forensic science to investigation of crimes and legal process.
3. Explain crime scene investigations, different categories of evidence, and their collection procedures.
4. Explain how different types of evidence are tested and analysed on site and in the laboratory.
5. Discuss how evidence may be used and/or interpreted.
6. To explain the roles of individuals working in specialist forensic sciences and the services they provide.
7. To explain the difference between civil and criminal court.
8. Understand theories underlying criminal behaviour in men, women and children.
9. Understand the link between mental health disorders and criminal behaviour.
10. To explain how assessment and data collection is used in forensic sciences, law enforcement and psychology to profile criminal offenders and provide intelligence.
11. Understand how evidence is presented in court and issues surrounding eye witness testimonies.
12. Explain what ethics are, and why they are important in forensic science.
13. Explain the importance of ethics in the concept of protection of a person or persons within the court system.
14. Explain how ethical issues can influence collection of evidence, use of data and profiling.

Set Practical Tasks: Introduction to Forensic Science BSC114

1. Carry out searches online for job vacancies in forensic sciences or specialist forensic fields. Try to find at least five (if possible), but no more than ten. Prepare a list of: Where the jobs are located e.g. laboratory, university, police, plus what the job role entails.
2. Conduct research online, in a library or using texts and other literature you have access to. Investigate one person mentioned in this lesson who has made a significant contribution to forensic science (or choose someone else who you are aware of but who is not mentioned here).
3. Try to find out their background, their area of work, and any significant contributions they have made to forensic science.
4. Conduct research online, in a library or using texts and other literature you have access to. Investigate the validity of forensic science evidence. Consider: a) How can foundational validity and applied validity be a help or hindrance to forensic science? b) What measures could be taken to enhance acceptance of forensic techniques?
5. Go online and watch several short videos concerning two different methods of forensic fingerprint collection. Search using phrases such as “latent fingerprint collection video”, “forensics video lifting fingerprints” or “patent fingerprint collection forensics video”. Spend about half an hour doing this and make notes.
6. Go online, search in a library, or use any texts you have access to. Conduct research into any two of the following trace evidence collection procedures: Take whole object, Take part of permanent object, Take scraping from permanent object e.g. paint from car, Collect soil or rock sample, Swab a surface. Make notes.
7. Select three types of substances screened for in drug and toxicology testing. Research screening techniques for these substances. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.
8. Research the Law of Circumstantial Analysis and circumstantial evidence. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.
9. Research types of DNA analysis. Select 2 types, and read about this in depth. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.
10. Select one of the following, and research its procedures and application in forensic sciences. You may wish to create a table or other diagram to organise your research. Spend no more than 90 minutes on this task. • Forensic odontology • Forensic palynology • Forensic ballistics • Forensic toxicology • Other sub-area of your choice.
11. Investigate the types of analysis performed by a forensic anthropologist. Take notes. Spend no more than 30 minutes on this task.
12. Carry out online research into a famous criminal. You may choose someone like Ted Bundy, Al Capone, Charles Manson, Jim Jones, Fred West, Rosemary West, Myra Hindley or anyone who interests you. Find out more about what they did.
13. Research the age of criminal responsibility in the country in which you live. Spend no more than 30 minutes on this task.
14. Carry out research into child criminals. Choose a case that interests you and carry out research.
15. Research potential criticisms of the psychological theories explored in this lesson. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.
16. Conduct research online, in a library or using any relevant texts and printed material you have access to. Find out: a) What the law is in relation to convicting people with mental disorders of crimes in your locality or jurisdiction i.e. are mentally ill people usually diverted into treatment programs or imprisoned? If they are imprisoned, what treatment options are available to them? b) If there are any differences in the treatment of mentally ill offenders depending on the type of mental illness they have. c) If there are any differences in the treatment of mentally ill offenders depending on the type of crime or severity of crime.
17. Conduct research online, in a library or using any relevant texts and printed material you have access to. Find out about psychopathy and violent crime.
18. Go online and watch a short video or two on criminal profiling. You could use you tube or a search engine. Search using phrases such as “introduction to offender profiling video”, “criminal profiling video”, “video what is offender profiling?” Make notes.
19. Research a case that interests you online or at your local library. Think about the forensic evidence discussed, and why it is relevant or important to the case. (If the evidence in your case is not discussed, make a note of this, and think about desirable evidence.) Spend no more than 90 minutes on this task.
20. Research what constitutes admissible evidence in your area. Take notes. Spend no more than 30 minutes on this task.
21. Research the reliability of either eye witness testimony or expert witness testimony. Take notes. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.
22. Visit websites, such as the American Psychological Association, British Psychological Society, Australian Psychological Society or a similar organisation in your local area. Find out what their ethical guidelines are in terms of forensic psychology. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.
23. Research ethical quandaries and thought experiments online. Think about potential outcomes, and how they fit with your understanding of morality, then how they fit with your understanding of the legal system in your country. Spend no more than 1 hour on this task.

What is Forensic Science?

The term ‘forensic’ relates to the use of scientific techniques and methods to investigate crimes. The word forensic is derived from the Latin word ‘forensis’, meaning an open court or forum. In Ancient Rome, this was where the law courts were held, and aspects of law were debated by the judiciary. Modern day forensic science is concerned with the application of science to the administration of law. The goal of forensic science is to match:

• Suspect to crime scene
• Suspect to victim
• Victim to crime scene
• Victim to suspect
• Crime scene to crime scene

Forensic science is not a single science as such but is an umbrella term for many different scientific methods of analysing evidence. To be a competent forensic scientist you first must be good at science and understand areas such as –

• Biology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Computer science

There are several specialist fields within forensic science which focus on examining different types of evidence. These include things like –

• fingerprint analysis
• firearms and ballistics
• drug testing.

On the periphery of forensic science are some specialised fields of investigation. These include things like –

• forensic entomology (study of insects at crime scenes)
• odontology (forensic dentistry)
• palynology (study of pollen and spore evidence).

In the United States, the criminal justice system is often divided into criminology and criminalistics and a lot of other countries share a similar viewpoint. Criminalistics is a term used to refer to a specialist form of forensic science which involves analysing the physical evidence from crime scenes. As well as analysis it includes –

• recording evidence
• documenting evidence
• preserving evidence

Criminalistics might also include crime scene investigations, and these are often undertaken by police or CSI but may be undertaken by forensic scientists. However, forensic scientists in the United States mostly work in laboratories where they are supplied with evidence to analyse.

Criminology is concerned with the psychological side of crime. That is, the motives, behaviour, or traits of the perpetrator. Criminology also includes methods of crime prevention. It encompasses the behavioural sciences, most notably –

• anthropology
• sociology
• psychology

Forensic psychology is the branch of psychology which concerns the study or practice of psychology and the law to understand more about criminal behaviour and the people who commit crimes.

The extent to which different laboratories (or crime scene labs as they are often referred to) in different countries conduct particular types of analyses varies considerably. It may depend on the population of the city in which it is located, whether it is government or privately funded, and the training standards of personnel. Some labs offer a wide range of tests, but others may only offer several.

The division of forensic science into laboratory investigations and crime scene investigations has not always existed. In fact, there are those who would like to see less division of forensic investigations and see a more unified approach. It should also be noted that the degree of separation of different modes of enquiry and specialisation varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and country to country. In Australia, for example, forensic science is loosely grouped as:

•  Laboratory sciences –
•  Drugs
•  Toxicology
•  Documents
•  Marks and impressions
•  Biology
•  Chemistry
•  Field sciences –
•  Fingerprinting
•  Firearms
•  Crimes against person or property
•  Digital services –
•  Audio video analysis
•  Voice recognition
•  Facial comparison
•  Computer forensics
•  Forensic medicine –
•  Pathology
•  Forensic psychiatry
•  Forensic psychology
•  Odontology
•  Anthropology
•  Entomology

These divisions are not formal and there is overlap. They do however cover the range of disciplines and services provided in most countries.

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