Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science

Anth 3443 Not Offered, Fall 2005

 
 
 

---

---

---

class notes #1
class notes #2
class notes #3
class notes #4

Instructor: Jerome C. Rose, 330 Old Main, 575-5247

Office hours: each week there will be a sign-up sheet for appointments posted next to the Anthropology Department Office door - Old Main 330. Go by and sign up. E-mail jcrose@uark.edu

There is no voice mail so keep calling until you reach me.

Texts: Criminalistics (8th edition) by Richard Saferstein.

The text book does not cover Forensic Osteology so I have put The Use of Forensic Anthropology by R.B. Pickering and D.C. Bachman on two hour reserve in Mullins Library (GN69.8 .P53 1997). For in depth reading Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton edited by M. Anne Katzenberg and Shelley R. Saunders (GN70 .B55 2000) is also on 2 hour reserve. These books cover material from the lectures that is not covered in your text book. There are additional texts on reserve under this course number that cover other areas of criminalistics that you might find of interest.

Detective Science by Jim Wiese

This book contains 25 experiments that you can do at home that will illustrate the methods that we will discuss in class. We could invest thousands in a lab to illustrate these methods and concepts or we can do it at home. Remember Sherlock Holmes did all of his investigations in his own kitchen. I have tried these and a previous class has tried these experiment and they do their job. It is ok that you are far from home and your parents cannot help you, but maybe an older roommate?
Definition: Forensic Science is the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.

Course Goals:

Optimum utilization of crime laboratory services requires that criminal investigators have a knowledge of the techniques and capabilities of the crime laboratories. This course will provide a broad survey of these capabilities. This knowledge is necessary to identify what materials need to be collected from the crime scene, how to properly prepare and package the evidence, and how to make use of the information provided by the crime laboratory. Achieving this ultimate aim will entail learning or recalling the basic knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics needed to understand how the various testing procedures and laboratory equipment work. We will review the major laboratory equipment and testing procedures focusing upon their potentials and limitations for providing information critical for criminal investigation and prosecution. We will focus on the terminology which will be necessary for you, the future legal system professionals, to understand the test results as well as the testimony and advise of the scientific expert laboratory personnel and witnesses. Knowledge and vocabulary are the key to clear communication and practical understanding needed by criminal investigators, law enforcement agency administrators, government officials (including legislators), lawyers (both defense and prosecution), judges, and, last but not least, members of the press.

Use of Text:

The text for this course provides excellent basic science knowledge necessary for criminalistics and this information may not always be repeated in class because many of you will already have had the necessary courses. However, all students are responsible for knowing this information and it will be covered on the tests. The lectures will often take a different focus from the text and on many occasions they will present the material in a different way. The assumption will be made that the assigned text material will have been read. Thus, all material in the text and lectures will complement each other and will be considered important. It is recommended that the text assignments be read before the material is covered in class. An outline of the lecture material, important points, and vocabulary are given on the overheads used in class. /

Tests:

Three examinations (each worth 25%) including the final will be given. These will consist of 50 to 100 multiple choice and true-false questions.

Missed Test Make-Up Policy:

No make-up examinations will be given. If a test is missed and a written explanation with documentation is provided, then a library research term paper topic covering the material on the test will be assigned and a grade for this 20 page typ-written paper will be used in lieu of the test grade.

Assignments:

You will have 26 laboratory assignment liste below. Successful completion of 22 of these will constitute 25% of your grade. You will hand in a short report on the results of each of your experiments as well as the actual products. Please note that there are errors in the fingerprint patterns so please use your textbook for reference to fingerprints.

TOPICS READINGS Laboratory

Forensic Science and Scientists: Preface and Chapter 1

Crime Scene and Evidence: Chapters 2 and 3, Apend 1 1-3 p12; 3-1 p55; 3-2 p60

Human Identification: (Books on Reserve) 4-1 p72; 4-2 p75; 4-10 p93

Glass and Soil: Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 2-12 p49; 4-6 p 85; 4-7 p88

Hairs, Fibers, and Paint: Chapter 8 2-7 p38; 2-8 p40; 2-9 p42

Drugs and Toxicology: Chapters 9 and 10 3-4 p66; 3-3 p64;

Serology and DNA: Chapters 12 and 13, Apdx 3 4-4 p81; 2-1 p22

Fingerprints: Chapter 14 2-2 p25; 2-3 p29; 2-5 p33

Arson and Explosions: Chapter 11

Firearms and Tools: Chapter 15, Append 2 2-10 p44; 2-11 p47; 2-13 p50

Documents: Chapter 16 3-5 p68; 5-1 p98; 5-2 p99; 5-3 p102

The Future and Training: Chapter 17 and 18

Books on Reserve in Mullins Library:

Bevel, Tom and R.M. Gardner 1997 Blood Pattern Analysis. HV8077.5 .B56 B48 1997

Fisher, Barry A.J. 1993 Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation. HV 8073 .F49 1993

Haglund, William D. and M.H. Sorg 1997 Forensic Taphonomy. RA 1063.47 .F67 1997

Hilton, Ordway 1993 Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents. HV 8074 .H49 1993

Katzenberg, M. and S. R. Saunders Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton GN70 .B55 2000

Pickering, R.B. and D.C. Bachman 1997 The Use of Forensic Anthropology. GN69.8 .P53 1997

Stimson, Paul G. and C.A. Mertz 1997 Forensic Dentistry. RA 1062 .F67 1997

Recommended Readings If You Are Interested in More Forensic Osteology:

1. T. Dale Stewart Essentials of Forensic Anthropology. Chapter 1, Historical Setting

pages 5-17. Chapter 2, Role of the Expert Witness pages 18-29.

2. Kathleen J. Reichs Forensic Osteology. Introduction pages xv-xxix.

3. T.A. Rathbun and J.E. Buikstra Human Identification. Pages 5-18; 412-423.

4. Christopher Joyce and Eric Stover Witnesses from the Grave.

5. Mary H. Manhein The Bone Lady.

6. William Maples and Michael Browning Dead Men Do Tell Tales.