Forensic Science History & Careers

Forensic Science History & Careers

• Forensic science uses scientific methods to solve legal matters, such as crimes.
• A forensic scientist focuses on collecting, examining, documenting, and reporting evidence to law enforcement. They may also testify in court about their findings.
• The forensic scientist is responsible for identifying and determining the significance of evidence.
• Forensic scientists need to collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Effective communication skills are crucial for forensic scientists to present their findings to a jury and convince them of their conclusions.
• Forensic scientists and police officers both use analytic skills— identifying a problem, isolating it, & drawing conclusions.

Significant Events in Forensic Science

• 1967: Paul Ekman found that humans make thousands of microexpressions, linked to emotions.
• 1974: Elizabeth Loftus explained how misinformation affects memory.
• 2012: Scott Fraser described the fallibility of reconstructive memory.
• 2014: Pamela Meyer published work on detecting lies.
• 2016: Interrogation techniques were modified for eyewitnesses.

Observation and Perception

• Observation is how people perceive things through their senses.
• Perception is the brain's interpretation of sensory observations.
• Our brains filter and process sensory information, leading to possible inaccuracies in perceptions.
• Eyewitnesses' perceptions can be inaccurate due to factors like anxiety, prejudice, and personal beliefs.

Eyewitness Accounts

• Eyewitness accounts of crime scenes can vary considerably.
• Memory fades over time, and brains may fill in missing details, often inaccurately.
• Forensic investigators need to differentiate between verifiable facts and personal opinions.
• Investigators try to logically sequence eyewitness facts to develop a cohesive account.

Improving Observation Skills

• People naturally filter out information, which leads to incomplete observation:
• Systematic observation of the environment can aid in more thorough observation.
• People are inclined to interpret patterns that may not exist.
• Document everything observed during observation.
• Interview techniques can aid in recalling events.

Forensic Science Timeline

• 250 BCE: Erasistratus noted that patients' pulse rates increased before death.
• 1247: Sung Tzu wrote about using medical knowledge for investigations.
• 1840: Mathieu Orfila used the Marsh test to detect arsenic.
• 1883: Alphonse Bertillon invented anthropometry.
• 1892: Sir Francis Galton classified fingerprints.
• 1910: Edmond Locard established the first police crime lab, and developed the Locard Exchange Principle.
• 1920s: Luke Way published "Identification of knives, tools, and instruments."

Forensic Science Methods & Roles

• 1937: Walter Specht developed Luminol to detect blood.
• 1950: Max Frei & Sulzer first used adhesive tape for lifting trace evidence.
• 1974: Scientists developed gunshot residue methods.
• 1984: Sir Alec Jeffreys developed DNA fingerprinting.
• Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs): Analyze crime scenes, collect evidence, and document it in reports.
• Forensic Photographers: Visually document crime scenes using various light types.
• Trace Evidence Examiners: Identify and compare physical evidence(hair, fibers, etc).
• Latent Fingerprint Examiners: Use methods to develop and lift latent fingerprints found at crime scenes, and check against databases.
• Forensic Serologists/Biologists: Examine body fluids and biological evidence.
• Forensic Toxicologists: Examine body fluids and organs to detect the presence of drugs or poisons.
• Questioned Document Examiners: Examine handwriting and typefaces to detect authenticity.
• Firearm Examiners: Examine firearms and ammunition.
• Forensic Entomologists: Analyze insect evidence to determine time of death.
• Forensic Computer Scientists: Collect and analyze digital evidence from computers & devices.
• Forensic Engineers: Investigate the origins of fires, explosions, & accidents.
• Forensic Odontologists: Use dental evidence to identify individuals.
• Forensic Pathologists: Determine the cause of death and perform autopsies.
• Criminologists: Study the behavior of criminals.

Other Important Figures and Events in Forensic Science

• Calvin Goddard: Developed firearm analysis in the U.S.
• Hans Gross: Released a textbook on forensic science.
• Victor Bathazard: Advanced fingerprint, firearm and hair analysis.
• Juan Vucitech: Used fingerprints officially.
• William Hershel: Used fingerprinting as a method of identification.
• Dr. Henry Faulds: Classified fingerprints.
• Karl Landsteiner: Discovered ABO blood typing.
• The Henry Classification System: classification for fingerprinting in Europe
• The Adversarial System: where lawyers present their cases to a jury, who determines the outcome of the case.

Forensic Ethics

• The American Academy of Forensic Sciences has a code of ethics for members.
• Annie Dookhan Boston Example: a case emphasizing the importance of ethics in forensic science
• Ethical considerations in the collection, analysis, and presentation of evidence.