FORENSIC SCIENCE

Biology ~ Advanced Studies

1

I. Forensic science backgroundA. General characteristics

*1. the application of science to the criminal & civil laws enforced by a criminal justice system

a. a.k.a. medical jurisprudence 2. Latin; forens(is): of, belonging to the

forum, public 3. Main focuses:

a. collecting evidence b. performing analysisc. publicly rendering opinions based

on research conclusions2

B. Forensic divisions1. criminalistics

a. fingerprint ID, tool mark ID, ballistics, etc.

2. digital & multimedia sciences3. engineering science4. general

a. crime scene processing5. jurisprudence

a. application of law6. odontology

a. tooth impressions, ID using dental records, etc.

3

According to the AmericanAcademy of Forensic Science

7. pathology/biologya. biological fluid ID, DNA analysis, blood

spatter, autopsies8. physical anthropology

a. studies ancient/older physical remains9. psychiatry/behavioral sciences10. questioned documents

a. forgeries - $, fake IDs/passports, etc.11. toxicology

a. breath/blood/urine analysis for chemical substances

4

C. History & Development1. BCE times

a. fingerprints left in cave paintings, clay tablets & document seals1) used by Ancient Roman &

Greek doctors & lawyers to establish evidence of crimes

5

2. China, 3rd century CE a. publication of Yi Yu Ji

1) a collection of criminal cases

2) included 1st record of a coroner determining cause of death as a murder

b. also were among first to see fingerprints as identification

6

3. 1775 – Carl Wilhelm Scheelea. devised a chemical test for detecting arsenic in corpses

4. 1798 – Francois-Emanuel Foderea. published “A Treatise on Forensic Medicine and Public

Health”

5. 1806 – Valentin Rossa. discovered method for detecting arsenic in stomach walls 7

6. 1814 – Mathieu Orfilaa. “father of forensic toxicology”b. published paper on detecting poisons and their effects

on animals

7. mid-1800s – procedures developed for using microscopes to detect cells

8. 1839 – 1st testimony about toxicology evidence used in a trial

8

9. 1853 & 1863 – tests for hemoglobin and blood developed

10. 1850s-60s – photography first used to record images of crime scenes &

prisoners

11. 1879 – Alphonse Bertillon developed anthropometrics a. identification system based on

specific body measurements

9

02/23/2017

10

12. 1880s – confirmation of fingerprints for identificationa. Thomas Taylor, Henry Faulds,

Francis Galton1) Galton published book Finger

Prints in 1892

13. 1893 – Hans Gross published book on criminal investigationa. described how various scientific fields could be of assistance to

criminal investigations11

14. Late 19th century – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle began publishing Sherlock Holmes novels

a. created public interest and detailed principles of serology,

fingerprinting, ballistics & questioned document analysis

12

15. 1901 – Dr. Karl Landsteiner identified ABO blood groups

a. aided identification of person by blood

16. 1910 – Edmond Locard developed 1st working crime laba. at Lyons, France police dept. b. developed the Principle of Exchange on material transfer

17. 1915 – Dr. Leone Lattes devised method for typing dried bloodstains

13

18. 1930 – 1st US crime lab est. @ Los Angeles County Sheriff Dept.

a. 1932 – FBI crime lab established

19. 1920s - John Larson & Leonarde Keeler = developed polygraph

machine

20. 1980 - Ray White = described technique of detecting variations in

human DNA 14

D. Fingerprints1. Anatomy

a. Caused by dermal papillae pushing up on epidermis1) creates ridge patterns

b. Form in fetus at 3-4 monthsc. Patterns do not change

1) may become altered/marred with age or injury

15 16

d. focal points are used to classify prints 1) core – center point of a print2) deltas3) bifurcations4) abruptly ending ridges5) dots6) short ridges 7) convergences8) divergences

18

3. 3 classes of fingerprints a. Arch (only 5% of all prints)

1) May be plain or tented

19

b. Loops (60-65% of all prints)1) May be radial, ulnar or double

a) Radial flows toward thumbb) Ulnar flows toward pinkiec) Double has both

20

Loop (Ulnar on left hand, Radial on right hand)

Double loop

c. Whorls (30-35% of all prints)1) May be plain, central pocket,

double loop or accidentala) Accidental = any pattern not

described or 2+ patterns in one

21 22

2. Physiologya. provide friction

1) allows grippingb. provide unique ID

1) no two individuals have been proven to have the same set

2) dactyloscopy = study of fingerprints as identification

23

3. Crime scene prints a. Visible prints (a.k.a. patent prints)

1) left in some medium that reveals them to the naked eye. a) blood, dirt, ink or grease, etc. on finger comes into contact with a smooth surface & leaves a friction ridge impression

24

b. Latent prints 1) not apparent to the naked eye

2) formed from sweat or sebaceous oils on skin

3) must be developed before they can be seen or photographed

a) made visible by dusting, fuming or chemical reagents

25

c. Plastic prints (a.k.a. impressed prints)

1) indentations left in soft pliable surfaces a) Ex: clay, wax

2) visible to the eyea) can be viewed or photographed

without development

26