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TV forensic dramas have caused the CSI effect CSI effect: unrealistic expectations portrayed by TV shows that assume every crime scene will yield forensic evidence that will aid in solving a crime
In TV shows members of CSI team: Collect evidence at crime scenes Recreate crime scene Process all evidence Takes minutes/hours to be processed Question witnesses Interrogate suspects Carry out search warrants Testify in court Real world: Tasks delegated to different people in different parts of the criminal justice system Tasks/Evidence processing takes weeks, months, even years to be completed Major back-log of evidence processing
Forensic comes from Latin word forum meaning in open court/public An umbrella term encompassing many professions that use their skills to aid law enforcement in conducting investigations Forensic science: relating the application of science to law/the criminal justice system
10 sections (American Academy of Forensic Science) Criminalistics (aka forensic scientist) Digital & Multimedia sciences Engineering sciences Jurisprudence (theory/philosophy of law) Odontology (teeth) Pathology/Biology (diagnosis of diseases based on laboratory analysis) Physical Anthropology (human biological & physiological characteristics/development) Psychiatry/Behavioral Science (mental disorders/human behavior) Questioned Documents Toxicology (drugs & poisons) Does not include skills such as fingerprint examination, firearm & tool mark examination, & photography
3 rd century China One of the earliest records of applying forensics to solve a criminal case Woman suspected of murdering husband & burning body Claimed he died in accidental fire Coroner noticed no ashes in husband s mouth Tested his theory by burning 2 pigs (1 alive, 1 dead) Checked for ashes in mouths Ashes found in mouth of pig burned alive No ashes found in mouth of pig dead before burned Meant husband was dead (not breathing) before fire Woman later admitted to crime
Activity 1.1 Photos 1,2,3 1.2
Observation: what a person perceives using his or her senses We constantly gather info about surroundings via senses Sight, Taste, Hearing, Smell, & Touch Brain selectively takes in information Unconsciously apply filters Paying attention to details of surroundings requires a conscious effort Ex. Sitting in a room with everything still vs. a movement or loud noise
Perception: information received from the senses Limited, faulty, and not always an accurate representation of reality The way we view our surroundings may not accurately reflect what is really there Brain may fill in missing info Brain may apply pre-existing knowledge Ex. Pink dessert is perceived to be strawberry even though it is vanilla
Observations made by witnesses can play a key component to an investigation Observations are affected by: Emotional state (happy, sad, anxious, scared) Amount of people witness is with Number of people in the area The type and amount of activity happening around you Level of interest and concentration
Eyewitness: a person who has seen someone or something related to a crime and can communicate his or her observations Eyewitness accounts are affected by: Prejudices and personal beliefs Motives Any lapse in time since the event Activity 1.2
Founded by Barry Scheck & Peter Neufeld in 1992 Used DNA to examine post-conviction cases to exclusively decide guilt or innocence Faulty eyewitness identification accounted for up to 87% of wrongful convictions
January 2000 Death row inmate Frank Lee Smith dies of cancer behind bars Convicted of crime in 1986 with no physical evidence Eyewitness testimony placed him at crime scene 4 years later eyewitness changed story DNA exonerated him August 2003 Michael Evans & Paul Terry Charges (life in prison) dropped against 2 men wrongly convicted Had spent 27 years behind bars Eyewitness testimony convicted them, DNA exonerated them
Observe systematically: Start at one part of the crime scene & run your eyes slowly over every space Examine evidence closely
Turn off filters Concentrate on gather all available info Leave interpretation until all evidence is collected Avoid jumping to conclusions Compensate for faulty memories Write down & photograph as much info as possible Document everything as you go Properly document verbal testimony
Forensic Science is strictly concerned with uncovering evidence that stands as fact Fact: a statement or information that can be verified Opinion: personal belief founded on judgement rather than on direct experience or knowledge
A forensic investigator: Is not interested in making the suspect look guilty Is only interested in collecting & examining evidence Can reports evidence to investigators and courts A forensic investigator must be able to clearly: Observe Interpret (without judgement) Report - Be a persuasive communicator who is able to convince a jury that his/her analysis is both reliable and accurate