Chapter 1.1 Notes

Definition and Scope

Objectives

1. Define and distinguish forensic science and criminalistics.

2. Recognize the major contributors to the development of forensic science.

3. Account for the rapid growth of forensic laboratories in the past forty years.

Forensic science

Applies the knowledge and technology of science to criminal and civil laws that are enforced by the police agencies in the criminal justice system

Criminalistics – a term sometimes used for describing the services of a crime lab

Civil law deals with relationships between individuals (property, contracts)

Criminal law deals with offenses against an individual that are deemed offensive to society

History of Forensic Science

3rd century China – earliest records Coroner solved murder case

1814 – Mathieu Orfilia – father of forensic toxicology Published 1st treatise on detection of poison Established forensics toxicology as legitimate science

1839 – Henri-Louis Bayard – 1st procedures for microscopic detection of sperm

1839 – James Marsh – first expert testimony in a trial

1879 – Alphonse Bertillon – 1st system of personal identification Anthropometry –series of body measurements as a

means of distinguishing individuals 1892 – Francis Galton – published book

supporting uniqueness of fingerprints 1893 – Hans Gross – advocated the application

of science to criminal investigation 1887 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock

Holmes – important forensics concepts, such as serology

1901 – Karl Landsteiner – discovered blood types

1915 – Leone Lattes – devised procedure for determining blood group from dried bloodstain

1910 – Albert Osborn – development principles of document examination

1910 – Edmond Locard – exchange principle

Locard’s Exchange

when two objects come into contact with each other, a cross-transfer of materials occurs

1925 – Calvin Goddard – used a comparison between bullets test fired and suspect’s gun

1960s – Walter McCrone – application of microscopic techniques

1985 – Sir Alec Jeffreys – 1st DNA profiling test

Crime Labs

1923 – Los Angeles Police Department established 1st crime lab

1932 – National Laboratory organized by FBI to provide forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the country. Now the world’s largest forensic lab Performs >1 million exams a year

In-Class Assignment/Homework

Read pages 1-7 1.1 Review Questions – answer the

following questions on your own sheet of paper using today’s notes and the textbook