Forensic Week 1

A 3-credit course covering forensic science principles.

A 1-credit course focusing on the practical use of forensic science.

Online midterms (20% each) and a final exam (short answer, 60%).

Focus on factual knowledge, understanding and critical thinking.

Lectures mostly online via LAMS, with live guest lectures.

Roderick Bates (Science) and various specialists in Forensic fields.

Course content may include graphic depictions of violence and crime.

Includes subjects like DNA profiling, drugs, questioned documents, and physical evidence.

A guilty action that needs to be demonstrated in a legal case.

A guilty mind or intention; the person's mental state regarding the crime.

Scientific evidence used in legal cases to help determine if a crime occurred.

An action does not make someone guilty unless their mind was also guilty.

Influence convincing a Jury to decide.

Scientific evidence using biological material (often saliva) to match to potential suspects in a crime or to confirm identity in various cases

Physical evidence found at a crime scene that could help police determine the details of a crime.

An admission of guilt or wrongdoing in a crime or act

Forensic evidence can help determine whether a death was a murder or suicide by analyzing injuries, wounds, and the crime scene.

Examining injuries to understand how they occurred, if they are consistent with the official account, and if they suggest a specific cause of death.

The process of using evidence to recreate the events that led to a crime, including the actions of the victim, the perpetrator, and any witnesses.

The process of deciding what crime was committed and what charges to file against a suspect based on the evidence gathered.

A real-life case where forensic evidence was used to determine whether the death of a prominent banker was murder or suicide.

Using forensic science to establish how a person died, such as natural causes, accidental death, homicide, or suicide.

The study of insects used to gather information in criminal investigations, often focused on the time of death.

The analysis of soil to identify its mineral content and chemical composition, linking a suspect or victim to a crime scene.

Examining skeletal remains to determine the identity, sex, age, and cause of death. Useful when soft tissues have decomposed.

Using skeletal remains to recreate the face of an individual, aiding in identification.

The study of teeth used for identification in criminal investigations, either by comparing dental records or analyzing bite marks.

The strength and validity of evidence used in forensic investigations, which can vary depending on the technique and context.

A unique form of forensic evidence, often used for identification by comparing bite marks on a victim with dental records or a mould.

Specialized facilities equipped for analyzing evidence using various forensic techniques, often crucial in criminal investigations.

A technique that uses light to identify and analyze substances. It reveals the unique way light interacts with the material, acting like a fingerprint.

Using microscopes to examine very small details of evidence, like fibers, hair, or paint chips, for identification and comparison.

Analyzing guns, bullets, and cartridge cases to link a weapon to a crime scene or a suspect.

Examining handwriting to verify authenticity, identify writers, or uncover alterations in documents.

A lie detector test that measures physiological responses like heart rate, breathing, and sweating to detect deception.

A unique acoustic pattern of a person's voice used for identification and comparison, similar to a fingerprint.

Analyzing a criminal's behavior and motives to help understand the crime and predict future actions.

Investigating structural failures or accidents, like bridge collapses, to determine the cause and prevent future incidents.

An airline pilot who was suspected of murdering his wife, Helle Crafts, in 1986.

A stewardess who disappeared in 1986, ultimately found to be murdered by her husband, Richard Crafts.

The name given to the murder case of Helle Crafts, where evidence suggested she was dismembered using a woodchipper.

Evidence found in the lake included human remains, a chainsaw, and hair, suggesting Helle Crafts had been dismembered and disposed of there.

Using forensic evidence, the police determined the sequence of events leading to Helle Crafts' death, including her being bludgeoned and placed in a freezer.

Richard Crafts was arrested on January 11th, 1987 after evidence indicated his involvement in the murder of his wife, with bail set at $750,000.

A term used to describe the violent attack on Helle Crafts, implying she was beaten with a blunt force object.

Richard Crafts passed a lie detector test initially, despite later being implicated in the murder of his wife.