Forensic Science I Course Syllabus

FORENSIC SCIENCE I - COURSE SYLLABUS

SOUTHPOINTEHIGH SCHOOL

Instructor: Mr. John Giacobbe, MA, RPA

Contacts: voice: 602.243.0600webpage:

school email:home email:

Success in Class is Based on the Following: / Grading Scale:
Science Journals/Bell-work (5%) /

A = 90 – 100%

Lab Work (25%) /

B = 80 – 89%

Daily & Homework Assignments (25%) /

C = 70 – 79%

Unit Tests & Block Exams (25%) /

D = 60 – 69% (Failing – No Credit)

Participation & Behavior (10%) /

F = 59% and below (Failing – No Credit)

Research Proposal (10%)

Course Goals and Objectives: By the end of the course each student will be familiar with:

• the history of the forensic sciences and its place in popular culture

• the roles of different types of professionals involved in evaluating a crime scene and the collected evidence

• the methodology of collectinginterpreting data, avoiding contamination, and preservation of chain of custody

• how to present evidence in a professional (courtroom) setting

Participation: Participation is everything! If I see that you are paying attention, trying your best, and getting involved in what we are doing, I will do everything I can to see that you succeed. Get involved every day and I can guarantee you will do well in my class. You will also earn participation points, so stay focused and follow instructions.

Notebook: To pass this course you will need to keep an organized notebook. This should include any handouts you get in class, lab notes, and daily lecture notes. KEEP EVERYTHING! All assessments are based on notes taken during class. Some, but not all, assessments are open notes. As you progress in your education and careers, the importance of taking good notes cannot be underestimated.

Current Events in Forensics: Each student must orally present a current events article to the class during the semester on an assigned date. No article repeats, and your article must be no older than 2005. Details will be forthcoming.

Final Research Project: [Length: 10 pages (minimum), references, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1” margins] As part of this class, you will write a research paper focusing on one branch of forensic science. It may be a field we’ve covered, or another that’s of interest to you. You should explain what the field involves, how it’s useful in forensic investigations, and illustrate its use by summarizing at least two case studies. This can include studies in which forensics was used to convict, to overturn a conviction, or to solve an historical mystery. To complete this assignment, follow these guidelines:

• Use solid information and research. Use at least two books, two web sites, and two magazine or

newspaper articles for your research. These sources should be reflected in the information of your paper and the references cited section.

• Include at least two case studiesin your discussion of the forensic branch of interest, and how they

helped solve the case. Include diagrams, charts, and pictures (though these don’t count towards the suggested length of 10 pages).

• Useprofessionalresearch skills. Use the proper references cited form (which we’ll discuss in class),

and avoid plagiarism!

• Use professional writing skills.Complete sentences, supporting statements, grammar, proofread, etc.

You can turn in one or more early drafts of your paper for my review before the due date. I will accept and review as many drafts of this paper as you like, up to three days before the due date.

Suggested topics: Toxicology, Entomology, Botany, Serology, DNA, Fingerprinting, Arson, Shoeprint and Tire Tread, Ballistics, Anthropology, Documents and Handwriting Analysis, Hair and Fiber, Glass, Soils, Paints, Bite Marks and Odontology, Explosives, Pathology and Medical Examination. Feel free to suggest another topic!

*** If you create and present a Science Fair Project related to the Forensic Sciences you are not required to complete the Final Research Project, although you may write one for extra credit.

Procedures, Rules, and How to Stay a Shiny, Happy Student with a Shiny, Happy Teacher!

Professional Attitude:

To start off, you must approach this class like a professional, adult, college-track student. That means taking personal responsibility for your coursework, and being proactive in earning your grade. For example, you must seek me out and make arrangements for missed work; do not expect me to come running after you and ask you for your assignments.

Use Your Resources:

Your syllabus is a detailed guide to your coursework. Keep it and refer to it regularly. The web page will have copies of all our PowerPoints, and most of our assignments, readings, and references. In addition, extra credit, links to additional materials (like those you will have to use in your Final Research Project), and various images and video will be presented on the web. Use this resource. If you don’t have an internet connection at home, make some arrangements to use our computer lab.

Late Work:

First, if you want an “A,” don’t turn in work late. If something forces you to turn in an assignment late, know that for each day it’s late, you’ll receive one grade lower than you would’ve received if it had been on time. After two days, you’ll receive a zero for that assignment, PERIOD. No acceptations, unless you die and rise from the dead. If you were absent when the assignment was given, then the clock starts the day you return. If you were present when the assignment was given out, but absent when it is due, you get one day extra to turn in the assignment.

Progress Reports:

Progress reports are given out every week, and must be returned signed by the following week. If you do not receive a progress report, you can always email me for a copy or use the school PASS system.

Absences:

You know the rules. If you miss five days, you get no credit. I have no power to reverse this rule, and students (including those who earned an “A”) fail each block because of absences!

Classroom Operation:

When you enter the classroom, take your seat, and get ready for action and adventure.
If you need assistance for any reason, get my attention and wait to be called on.
If you need to leave the classroom for any reason, you must get my permission and use the hall pass.
At the end of class, please put your chairs back, throw your trash away, replace your references and any equipment used, and wait for me to dismiss you.
Honesty: Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable and totally uncool. Truly dreadful things will happen to you if I find you cheating or plagiarizing.
Cell Phones: Not. If you use one in class, I may take the phone and give it to the roaches, who will probably call their families back in Madagascar, Africa.

Classroom Consequences:

1st Offense – Verbal Warning

2nd Offense – Loss of Participation Points for the Day and a Phone Call Home

3rd Offense – Visit with the Dean of Students, Loss of Privileges, Suspension, or Dismemberment

Forensic Science Course Review and Outline

Course Topics and Perspective

Forensic science is the application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law.This course is a lab-based, hands-on course that will explore what forensic scientists do. You will learn modern forensic methods and use scientific methods to solve legal problems.

This course will focus on collection and analysis of crime scene evidence (such as serology, toxicology, entomology, odontology and trace evidence), and explore lab analysis techniques, (such as chromatography, DNA analysis, fingerprinting, and hair and footprint analysis).

Forensic scientists are also required to testify in court about their methods and analysis of evidence. To make a convincing case, you need to be able to clearly and concisely explain the results of the labs and techniques you use, and explain the significance of your results in lab reports.

Finally, mock crime scenes will be investigated and real case studies analyzed.

Interdisciplinary Relationships

Forensics is a diverse field, and rarely are forensic scientists “generalists” – people who specialize in all aspects of forensic science. Forget what you see on CSI (insert city here). Forensic scientists don’t wear pumps to a crime scene, they rarely interview suspects or make arrests, and they are not experts in all areas of forensic investigations. Rather, forensic experts usually specialize in one or two branches of forensic investigation.

A botanist may be an expert in forensic botany. An entomologist may be an expert in forensic entomology. Chemists may specialize in forensic toxicology or arson and bomb analysis. People with expertise in physics may focus on firearms and ballistics or blood spatter analysis.

It would be impossible to survey all areas of forensic science in a semester long high school course. Rather, we will explore a range of fields, topics and methodologies to give you a sense of the diverse fields of study in forensics.

Nevertheless, forensic science is an applied scientific discipline, and your success in this course will require you to apply your basic understanding of physics, chemistry, biology and even math to explore the range of topics surveyed.

Forensic Science Course Outline

(Sections are Subject Area Divisions, Not in Sequence)

SectionI. Introduction

1. Introduction to the Forensic Sciences

History and Development of Forensic Science

Deductive Reasoning
Organization of a Crime Laboratory

Services of the Crime Laboratory

Functions of the Forensic Scientist

Other Forensic Science Services

Case Study: Detection of Curare in the Jascalevich Murder Trial

2. The Crime Scene

Legal Considerations at the Crime Scene

Securing and Recording the Crime Scene

Evidence Collection Techniques

Chain of Custody

Crime Scene Photography: Proper Documentation of a Crime Scene

PhotographicEvidence and Log Recording – Mock Crime Scene Photography

Forensic Archaeology and Buried Remains Recovery

Case Study: The Enrique Camarena Case: A Forensic Nightmare

Mock Crime Scene: Combine Techniques to Process and Document a Crime Scene

3. Forensic Use of the Microscope

The Compound Microscope

The Comparison Microscope

The Stereoscopic Microscope

The Polarizing Microscope

The Microspectrophotometer

The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

Case Study: Microscopic Trace Evidence

The Overlooked Clue: Arthur Koehler, Wood Detective

4. Criminal Justice

Aspects of the Justice System

Aspects of Trials

Section II. Biological Evidence

1. Identifying Human Remains

Identifying the Body: Human or Nonhuman?

Skin Coloration

Defensive Wounds and Other Visible Marks

Postmortem Lividity

Rigor Mortis

Processes of Decay

Bodies Underwater

2. The Medical Examiner and the Autopsy

The Autopsy in History

Defining the Parameters of the Autopsy

Reviewing Autopsy Reports

3. Forensic Anthropology

Introduction to Forensic Anthropology

Human Bone vs. Animal Bone

Skeletal Comparison of Human Males & Females

Ancestry from Skeletal Remains

Determining Types of Trauma from Skeletal Remains

Forensic Odontology

4. Forensic Entomology

Introduction to Forensic Entomology

5. Hair, Fiber and Botanical Remains

Identification and Comparison of Hair

Collection and Preservation of Hair Evidence

Types of Fibers

Identification and Comparison of Manufactured Fibers

Collection and Preservation of Fiber Evidence

Botanical Remains: Pollen, Seeds, and Other Remains

6. Organic Materials Analysis

Selecting an Analytical Technique

Chromatography

Spectrophotometry

Mass Spectrometry

7. Forensic Toxicology

Toxicology of Alcohol

The Role of the Toxicologist

Techniques Used in Toxicology

The Significance of Toxicological Findings

The Drug Recognition Expert

8. Forensic Serology

The Nature of Blood

Immunoassay Techniques

Forensic Characterization of Bloodstains

Stain Patterns of Blood

Principles of Heredity

Forensic Characterization of Semen

Collection of Rape Evidence

9. DNA: The Indispensable Forensic Science Tool

Recombinant DNA: Cutting and Splicing DNA

DNA Typing

Mitochondrial DNA

The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)

Case Study: The Forensic Community's Response to September 11

10. Fingerprints

Fundamental Principles of Fingerprints

Classification of Fingerprints

Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems

Preservation of Developed Prints

Digital Imaging for Fingerprint Enhancement

11. Forensic Psychology

Mental Deviance

Criminal Profiling

Polygraph Analysis

Section III. Physical Evidence

1. Physical Evidence

The Significance of Physical Evidence

Forensic Databases

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Case Study: Fiber Evidence and the Wayne Williams Trial

2. Physical Properties: Glass and Soil

Physical Properties

Comparing Glass Fragments

Glass Fractures

Collection and Preservation of Glass Evidence

Forensic Characteristics of Soil

Collection and Preservation of Soil Evidence

3. Firearm and Ballistic Evidence

Determining Caliber & Gun Type from Bullets & Shell Casings

Determining Weapons Firing from Gunshot Residue

4. Inorganic Materials Analysis

Evidence in the Assassination of President Kennedy

The Emission Spectrum of Elements

Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

The Origin of Emission and Absorption Spectra

Neutron Activation Analysis

X-Ray Diffraction

5. Paint

Forensic Examination of Paint

Collection and Preservation of Paint Evidence

6. Drug Analysis

Narcotic Drugs

Hallucinogens

Depressants

Stimulants

Club Drugs

Anabolic Steroids

Drug-Control Laws

Drug Identification

Collection and Preservation of Drug Evidence

7. Forensic Aspects of Arson and Explosion Investigations

Searching the Fire Scene

Collection and Preservation of Arson Evidence

Analysis of Flammable Residues

Types of Explosives

Collection and Analysis of Explosives

8. Firearms, Tool Marks, and Other Impressions

Cartridge Cases

Automated Firearms Search Systems

Gunpowder Residues

Primer Residues on the Hands

Serial Number Restoration

Collection and Preservation of Firearms Evidence

Tool Marks

Other Impressions

9. Document and Voice Examination

Collection of Handwriting Exemplars

Typescript Comparisons

Inks and Papers

Photocopier, Printer, and Fax Examination

Alterations, Erasures, and Obliterations