Forensic Science Fundamentals

Study Notes

CSI is a combination of various elements, including searching, preliminary examination, collection, preservation, and documentation.

Law of Individuality: Every item involved in a crime has unique characteristics.
Principle of Exchange: When objects come into contact, they exchange traces.
Law of Progressive Change: Things change over time.
Law of Comparison: Only similar items can be compared.
Law of Analysis: The quality of analysis depends on the sample.
Law of Probability: Identification is based on probabilities.
Law of Circumstantial Fact: Facts are reliable.

Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853): Father of forensic toxicology.
Francis Galton (1822-1911): Distinguished fingerprints and their patterns.
Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914): Father of criminal detection; created a system of physical measurements for identification.
Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946): Father of questioned documents; established the credibility of documents as evidence.

The scene of occurrence is the site where a crime or incident happened.
The scene is the meeting place of involved parties.
The scene provides information about the criminal, victim and their interactions.
Evaluation includes taking photographs and 3D scans, sketching, searching, recording, and using modern aids.
Protection of the scene is paramount to maintain integrity.
Investigators should preserve the crime scene and avoid moving or altering evidence.
They should exclude unauthorized people, maintain order and ensure witnesses do not interact.

Common methods for recording are note-taking, sketching, and photography.
Modern methods incorporate videography and 3D scanning for better representation.

Zonal method (inward or outward), Strip method, Cross-hatch method, Spiral Method.
Proper equipment's is necessary, such as DSLR, Videography, and 3D cameras, body cameras, and drones.
Details of the location are necessary to maintain proper integrity of the examination and recording.

Evidence should be packaged in new, sterilized containers to prevent contamination.
Containers should be sealed and marked with investigator's signature.
Proper techniques must be used to prevent loss, tempering, or damage.

Autopsy: A surgical procedure to examine the cause of death.
- Medico-legal autopsy: For suspicious or unnatural deaths.
- Pathological autopsy: For natural deaths.
- Virtual autopsy: A technology to provide a bloodless examination.
Objectives: To determine the cause, manner, and mode of death, detect injuries, identify possible weapons of offence, time of death and the position of the body.
Postmortem changes include Livor mortis, rigor mortis and decomposition.
- Livor mortis: Discoloration due to blood settling in the body.
- Rigor mortis: Stiffening of muscles.
- Decomposition: Breakdown of tissues.
Algor mortis: Decrease in body temperature post-death.
Mummification: Dehydration of tissues.