Forensic Science History and Careers

Forensic Science History and Careers

• Forensic science uses scientific methods to solve legal issues, such as crimes.

• A forensic science investigator focuses on collecting, examining, reporting evidence to law enforcement, and potentially testifying in court about findings.

• The forensic examiner documents and determines the evidence's significance and credibility.

• Forensic scientists collect evidence, decide what's needed for collection, documentation, etc.

• This includes gathering qualitative and quantitative data.

• Scientists must be effective communicators to convince juries.

• Forensic scientists and police officers both require analytical skills to identify problems, isolate them, and draw conclusions.

Significant Events in Forensic Science

• 1967: Paul Ekman discovered that humans can make thousands of micro-expressions and non-verbal communications related to emotions.
• 1974: Elizabeth Loftus explained how misinformation leads to false memories.
• 2012: Scott Fraser described the fallibility of reconstructive memory.
• 2014: Pamela Meyer published research on detecting lies.
• 2016: Interrogation techniques were modified for witnesses and suspects.

Observation and Perception

• People perceive their surroundings using their senses.
• Instead of processing constant data, the brain filters and focuses on important details.
• Perception is the brain's interpretation of sensory observations.
• Perceptions are limited by filters in the brain and not always accurate.
• People tend to believe what they see and hear, even if inaccurate.

Eyewitness Observations

• Eyewitnesses' perceptions of crime scenes can vary significantly.
• Memory fades over time, and our brains fill in details inaccurately.
• Forensic investigators must differentiate between facts and opinions to assess accuracy.
• Anxiety and other emotions can affect witness accuracy.
• Bystanders not experiencing anxiety are more likely to provide accurate observations.

Improving Observation Skills

• Naturally, people tend to miss details and filter information, assuming some is unimportant
• consciously focusing on details is needed.
• Interpreting information when there is too little information can be inaccurate.
• Observing all details helps with accurate analysis.
• Documenting observations as complete as possible.
• Effective interview techniques help witnesses recall events more accurately.

Forensic Science Timeline

• 250: Erasistratus noted increased patient pulse rate before death.
• 1247: Sung Tzu's book provided early medical knowledge for investigations.
• 1840: Mathieu Orfila applied Marsh tests to detect arsenic.
• 1883: Alphonse Bertillon invented anthropometry for human body measurements.
• 1892: Sir Francis Galton classified fingerprints.
• 1910: Edmond Locard established the first forensic lab and proposed the Locard Exchange Principle.
• 1920s: Luke Way created a system for identifying tools and instruments at crime scenes.

Specific Forensic Science Disciplines

• 1937: Walter Specht developed luminol to detect blood.
• 1950: Max Frei-Sulzer used tape to lift trace evidence.
• 1974: Gunshot residue methods developed.
• 1984: Sir Alec Jeffreys developed DNA fingerprinting.
• Crime scene investigators analyze crime scenes, collect evidence.
• Forensic photographers document crime scenes and need knowledge of UV and infrared light.
• Trace evidence examiners identify and compare physical evidence (hair, fibers).
• Latent print examiners lift fingerprints using various techniques.
• Forensic serologists/biologists process biological evidence (blood, body fluids).
• Forensic toxicologists examine body fluids for drugs and poisons.
• Questioned document examiners examine handwriting and documents to determine authenticity.
• Firearm examiners examine firearms and discharged ammunition.
• Forensic entomologists study insects to estimate time of death.
• Forensic computer scientists analyze data from devices.
• Forensic engineers study the causes of accidents and explosions.
• Forensic odontologists use dental records to identify bodies.
• Forensic pathologists determine time of death (through autopsies.)
• Criminologists study crime and criminal behavior.

Forensic Science: Laws vs. Science

• Law strives to resolve disputes through legal processes
• Science aims to understand the natural world, evaluating by repeatable and controlled testing.
• Information needs to be credible with sound scientific processes and reproducible evidence.

Ethics in Forensic Science

• The American Academy of Forensic Sciences maintains an ethical code for scientists.
• Examples involving real case studies show that standards of ethics play a significant role in forensic science.