Fall Semester Period 6/7

1. x Fall Semester Period 6/7 Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

2. The History of Forensic Science Forensic Scienceisthe application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system. • Developed through use of science to convict criminals; rather 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 1

3. The Types of Forensic 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 1

4. Chapter 1Observation SkillsBy the end of this section you will be able to: • Define observation 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 1

5. What we are doing today… • Relate observation skills to their use in forensic science • Define forensic science • Practice and improve your observation skills Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

6. Notes  The forensic examiner must be able to • Find—identify the evidence • Document—record the evidence • Interpret—accurately determine the significance of the evidence Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

7. What Is Observation? How do we observe? Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

8. 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 1

9. What Is ? How information is processed in the brain Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

10. What Is Observation? Our brains fill in gaps in our perception (interpretation of sensory information) • In order to make sense of what we perceive, our brains often enrich with detail what we see, taste, hear, smell, or feel • After an event, we can believe things were part of the background even though they were not Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

11. 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 1

12. Observations by Witnesses Observations are affected by: • Their emotional states • Whether they were alone, part of a group, or near others (peers) • What type of and how much activity was going on around them(distraction) • Factual Vs Opinion Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

13. Fact Vs Opinion Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

14. Eyewitness Accounts • 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 1

15. STOP • Who Dunnit Video Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

16. How to be a Good Observer 1. Observe systematically • Start at one part of a crime scene and run your eyes slowly over every space • Look carefully at details of each piece of evidence • Do not assume you will remember everything Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

17. How to be a Good Observer 2. Turn off filters • Consciously pay attention to all details • Do not pay attention to just what you think is important • All details are potentially important Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

18. How to be a Good Observer Collect Information first, interpret data later • Look for patterns and make connections • More information yields better interpretations • Prejudices exist everywhere— • eyewitness accounts • your own thinking processes Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

19. How to be a Good Observer Documentation, Documentation, Documentation • Write down and photograph as much information as possible • Be aware that memory is faulty • Remember that our brains tend to fill in gaps in our perceptions Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

20. Observations in Forensics • Study situations • Find clues in ordinary details • Work backwards from the evidence to what led up to the crime • Be patient • Practice Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

21. The Innocence Project • Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. NeufeldBenjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, • Beginning in 1992, used DNA to examine post-conviction cases • Faulty eyewitness identifications accounted for up to 87% of the wrongful convictions Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary. . . . • The environment and our natural sensory filters affect our ability to observe • Eyewitness reports can be correct, faulty, or a little of both • Acquiring good observation skills takes practice and training Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

23. Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1

24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary • Forensic scientists: • Find and Document Evidence • Evaluate and Interpret • Provide expert testimony to courts Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 1