forensics. relating to or used in legal proceedings or argumentation
Post on 01-Apr-2015
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FORENSICS
RELATING TO OR USED IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR ARGUMENTATION
What does “FORENSIC” mean?
Comes from Latin forens
Which comes from forum Forum—ancient Roman gathering
place for legal and public business
MEDICAL EXAMINER
All sudden or unexpected deaths and all deaths that may be due entirely, or in part, to any factor other than natural disease must be reported to the ME for evaluation
AUTOPSY
CAUSE OF DEATH NATURAL HOMICIDE SUICIDE ACCIDENT UNDETERMINED
TOXICOLOGY
STUDY OF POISONS
RIGOR MORTIS
MANIFESTS WITHIN THE FIRST 24 HOURS
DISAPPEARS WITHIN 36 HOURS
MUSCLES BECOME RIGID
LIVOR MORTIS
BLOOD SETTLES IN PARTS OF THE BODY CLOSEST TO THE GROUND
APPEAR DARK BLUE OR PURPLE
ALGOR MORTIS
COOLING OF THE BODY
INFLUENCED BY FACTORS OF THE ENVIRONMENT
BLOOD STAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS
A DROP OF BLOOD WILL FORM A PERFECT CIRCLE UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS TO IT
INTRODUCE AN ANGLE AND IT BECOMES A TEAR DROP SHAPE
WHAT CAN IT TELL YOU?
Position of victim/suspectEvidence of a struggleAreas where blood isn’tSequence of events—body moved?How many impacts and from what
directionWas scene altered?
Whether stains or patterns are consistent with statements
May determine other information that eliminates other avenues of investigation
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL
TARGET SURFACE
SURFACE CAN CHANGE BLOOD SPATTERING
LOW VELOCITY SPATTER—WOUND ON ARM DRIPPING
MEDIUM VELOCITY SPATTER—BLUNT TRAUMA
HIGH VELOCITY SPATTER--GUNSHOT
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
IDENTIFICATION OF THE HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS
WHAT CAN BE DETERMINED?
AGE AT DEATH
SEX OF SKELETON
RACE AND STATURE
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
STUDY OF INSECTS
90 species of blow-flys will find a body with minutes
Entomologists understand bugs life cycle and calculate the time required to get to those stages to determine time of death
FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE LAW
FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
TEETH ARE COMPOSED OF ENAMAL, THE HARDEST SUBSTANCE IN THE BODY
HOW MANY TEETH DO WE HAVE??
ADULT-------32
CHILD-------20
ANATOMY OF A TOOTH
CROWN
NECK
ROOT
FORENSIC ENGINEERING
FAILURE ANALYSIS, ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION, CAUSES OF FIRES OR EXPLOSIONS
“YOU ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, SO YOU’D BETTER DO IT RIGHT. IN SHORT, IF YOU THINK OF IT—DO IT—OR HAVE A GOOD REASON WHY YOU DIDN’T. BECAUSE IF YOU DON’T, SOMEONE—WHO GETS PAID CONSIDERABLEY MORE THAN YOU AND BY THE HOUR—WILL ASK WHY
YOU DIDN’T. AND A JURY WILL BE WATCHING”
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