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Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 11
x
Fall SemesterFall Semester
Period 6/7Period 6/7
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 12
The History of The History of Forensic ScienceForensic Science
Forensic Science is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system.
Developed through use of science to convict criminals; ratherrather than depending on witness testimony.
Sherlock Holmes (fictional) was inspired by a forensic scientist & teacher of the author
CSI, The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, etc…
B.C. Times
Archimedes may have used his principle of buoyancy
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 13
The Types of The Types of Forensic ScienceForensic Science “Forensics” can be applied to any field of work In this class we are focusing on the departments that deal
with Hair Fibers /Textiles Fingerprints DNA Serology (blood) Biological (trace such as pollen or skin) Toxicology Document Impressions
All require excellent observation and
deductive reasoning
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 14
Chapter 1Chapter 1 Observation SkillsObservation Skills By the end of this section you will be By the end of this section you will be able to:able to:
Define observationobservation and describe what changes occur in the brain
Describe examples of factors influencing eyewitness accounts of events
Compare the reliability of eyewitness testimony with what actually happened
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 15
What we are doing What we are doing today…today…
Relate observation skills to their use in forensic science
Define forensic science Practice and improve your
observation skills
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 16
The forensic examiner must be able to
1. Find —identify the evidence
2. Document —record the evidence
3. Interpret —accurately determine the significance of the evidence
Notes
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 17
What Is Observation? What Is Observation?
How do we observe?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 18
What Is Observation? What Is Observation?
Our brains can filter out information.
Point out some of the details in this photo.
Significant
Vs
Insignificant
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 19
What Is ? What Is ?
How information is How information is processed in the brainprocessed in the brain
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 110
What Is Observation?What Is Observation?
Our brains fill in gaps in our perceptionperception
(interpretation of sensory (interpretation of sensory information)information)
o In order to make sense of what we perceive, our brains often enrich with detail what we see, taste, hear, smell, or feel
o After an event, After an event, we can believe things we can believe things were part of the background even were part of the background even though they were notthough they were not
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 111
What Is Observation?What Is Observation?
Our brains apply previous knowledge to new situations
What assumptions can you make about this scene?
How might those assumptions be wrong?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 112
Observations by Observations by Witnesses Witnesses
Observations are affected by: Observations are affected by:
o Their emotionalemotional states
o Whether they were alone, part of a group, or near others ((peerspeers))
o What type of and how much activity was going on around them (distraction)(distraction)
o Factual Vs OpinionFactual Vs Opinion
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 113
Fact Vs Opinion
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 114
Eyewitness Accounts Eyewitness Accounts
o Crime-scene reports often vary, due to:
• level of interest• stress• concentration• amount and kind of distractions present• prejudices• personal beliefs • motives• any lapse in time since the event
Examples??
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 115
STOP
o Who Dunnit Video
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 116
How to be a Good How to be a Good Observer Observer
1. Observe systematically
o Start at one part of a crime scene and run your eyes slowly over every space
o Look carefully at details of each piece of evidence
o Do not assume you will remember everything
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 117
How to be a Good How to be a Good ObserverObserver
2. Turn off filters o Consciously pay attention to all details o Do not pay attention to just what you think is
importanto All details are potentially important
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 118
How to be a Good Observer How to be a Good Observer
Collect Information first, interpret data later
o Look for patterns and make connectionso More information yields better interpretationso Prejudices exist everywhere—
• eyewitness accounts• your own thinking processes
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 119
How to be a Good Observer How to be a Good Observer
Documentation, Documentation,
Documentation
o Write down and photograph as much information as possible
o Be aware that memory is faultyo Remember that our brains tend to fill in gaps in our
perceptions
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 120
Observations in Forensics Observations in Forensics
o Study situationso Find clues in ordinary detailso Work backwards from the evidence to what
led up to the crimeo Be patiento Practice
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 121
The Innocence Project The Innocence Project
o Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. NeufeldBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Law,
o Beginning in 1992, used DNA to examine post-conviction cases
o Faulty eyewitness identifications accounted for up to 87% of the wrongful convictions
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 122
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary . . . .. . . .
o The environment and our natural sensory filters affect our ability to observe
o Eyewitness reports can be correct, faulty, or a little of both
o Acquiring good observation skills takes practice and training
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 123
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 124
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary
o Forensic scientists:• Find and Document Evidence• Evaluate and Interpret• Provide expert testimony to courts