Forensic Scientists

1. Forensic Scientists August 12, 2013

2. Crime-scene investigators (police) arrive to find, collect, protect, and transport evidence. (More on this later!) What happens after a crime is committed?

3. Crime-scene investigators (police) arrive to find, collect, protect, and transport evidence. (More on this later!) • Most often, the CSI will call in various experts to analyze different types of evidence. (Unlike TV where the lead investigator does nearly everything) What happens after a crime is committed?

4. A physician with special training in pathology (disease) • Collects and analyzes evidence from the victim’s body (living or dead) and determines cause of death Forensic Pathologists

5. A physician with special training in pathology (disease) • Collects and analyzes evidence from the victim’s body (living or dead) and determines cause of death • Other responsibilities: • Reviews medical history • Reviews witness statements • Performs autopsy • Collects evidence (toxicology, microscopic examination of organs, DNA analysis, etc.) • Writes a report, include an official cause of death • Provides testimony in criminal court • In complicated cases, a forensic pathologist may also be asked to examine and photograph the crime scene himself. Forensic Pathologists

6. Educational Requirements • 4 years Medical school • 4 years of post graduate work in hospital • 1 year of post graduate work in a medical examiner’s office • Many will undertake even more training in special areas (e.g. toxicology, fire arms, etc.) and a few also obtain law degrees • Salary 70K – 200K Forensic Pathologist Education & Pay

7. Coroner, medical examiner, forensic pathologist … What’s the difference?

8. The person appointed by a county to perform autopsies and determine cause of death may be either a medical examiner or a coroner. Medical Examiners vsCoroners

9. The person appointed by a county to perform autopsies and determine cause of death may be either a medical examiner or a coroner. • Medical examiners MUST BE licensed forensic pathologists • Coroners MAY BE licensed forensic pathologists, or they may be doctors with a different specialty (e.g. obstetrics), or they may not even have any medical training at all. • Most counties have adopted the newer medical examiner system, but some rural areas still employ coroners. Medical Examiners vsCoroners

10. Match the name with the job description Show me before you move on, then copy to your guided notes • Organize the jobs into groups – form 2 different job groupings, and jot down your results on your white boards -- 10 minutes -- Other Specialties Vocabulary Practice!

11. How did you divide up the jobs into different groups?

12. The forensic investigators (who study biological evidence) typically all require advanced degrees (MD or PhD). Salary: 50K – 100 K The criminalists (who study physical evidence) usually require a bachelor’s degree in science, though sometimes former police officers without formal degrees train for these specialties. Salary: 40K – 80K Education and Salary of other specialties

13. Who can be an expert witness?

14. In any case involving a death, the forensic pathologist will testify • Experts in other specialties may also be called to testify • It is the judge who decides who is qualified to be considered an expert and what evidence they are allowed to present Expert witnesses and the law

15. Frye vs. United States (1923) “Frye Standard”: expert testimony must be based on “well-recognized scientific principle” that is “sufficiently established” and has obtained “general acceptance” in the scientific community Legal precedentfor expert witnesstestimony

16. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc. (1993) “Rule 702” • Explicitly states that it is up to judge’s discretion whether to allow testimony • Offered judges the following guidelines for admissible techniques and theories • subject to testing and peer review • standardized • known error rates • Attained widespread acceptance Legal precedentfor expert witnesstestimony

17. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc. (1993) “Rule 702” • Explicitly states that it is up to judge’s discretion whether to allow testimony • Offered judges the following guidelines for admissible techniques and theories • subject to testing and peer review • standardized • known error rates • Attained widespread acceptance Legal precedentfor expert witnesstestimony What are the major differences between these standards? Stop & Jot

18. Expert witnesses are qualified before the jury What does this mean? Experts testify as to their education, experience, and other qualifications before presenting evidence. • Because they must explain complicated information, expert witnesses have much greater freedom in how they testify What does this mean? They can narrate and explain, rather than just giving short answers to questions Other rulesfor expert witnesstestimony

19. Read the article and complete the worksheet. Stop at designated points for discussion! CSI Effect

20. CSI effect worksheet if not completed in class Forensic Scientist Quiz next class! Homework

21. What were our objectives, and what did you learn? What was our learner profile trait and how did we demonstrate it? How did we address our unit statement of inquiry? Closure

22. Identify 2 ways real forensics differs from TV • Who examines blood evidence? • Name one difference between a medical examiner and a coroner. • Who decides which expert testimony is admissable? Exit Ticket