This course will familiarize students with the basic principles and uses of forensic science in the American system of justice.  Forensic science is the study and application of science to the processes of law and involves the collection, examination, evaluation and interpretation of evidence.  This field encompasses many scientific areas, which, if used properly, can make invaluable contributions to the resolution of social and legal disputes.  The course will review the basic applications of the biological, physical, chemical, medical and behavioral sciences to questions of evidence and law.  In doing so, students should gain a basic understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the forensic sciences as they are presently practiced.

As a result of completing the course the student will be able to:

   1. Properly recognize, document and collect
      physical evidence from various types of
      crime scenes.
   2. Understand the capabilities and limitations
      of forensic examinations performed in
      federal, state and local crime laboratories.
   3. Understand the various examination and
      comparison processes that occur in crime
      laboratories.
   4. Discuss and understand courtroom procedures
      for criminal trials.
   5. Differentiate between crime scene
      processing and crime scene reconstruction.
   6. Differentiate between class characteristics
      and individual characteristics in various
      disciplines and understand their
      significance to items of evidence.

This course addresses the general education outcomes of identifying, analyzing, and evaluating social, political, historical forces and communicating effectively through speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

I.   The Crime Scene and the Collection of
     Evidence
     A.  Search for physical clues.
     B.  Preservation, marking, maintaining
         chain of evidence.
     C.  Screening of evidence: social and
         resource concerns.
     D.  Basic types of physical
         evidence/identification vs.
         individualization.
II.  Methods of Forensic Science

     A.  Physical properties
     B.  Glass and soil
     C.  Organic analysis
     D.  Analytical techniques – separation and
         identification
     E.  Inorganic analysis
     F.  Emission spectroscopy, atomic  
         absorption, neutron activation
     G.  Microscopy – five basic light microscopes
     H.  Scanning electron microscopy/x-ray
         analyzer
III. Trace Evidence: Hairs, Fibers, and Paint
     A.  The exchange principle/trace evidence
     B.  Hairs and fibers
     C.  Paint
     D.  Expressions of individuality
IV.  Drug Identification
     A.  Major drug categories/substance of abuse
     B.  Statutory control of drugs
     C.  Analytical procedures for identification
V.   Toxicology and Pathology
     A.  Alcohol, breath testing, field sobriety
         tests
     B.  Identification of drugs/poisons in body
         fluids
     C.  Determination of cause and manner of
         death
     D.  Role of medical examiner/coroner
VI.  Physical Anthropology and Odontology
     A.  Homicide investigations: race, age,
         gender, stature
     B.  Special problems posed by mass murders,
         disasters
     C.  Dental evidence: identification of human
         remains
     D.  Violent crimes and bite marks
VII. Serology and DNA Typing
     A.  Nature of blood
     B.  Dried bloodstains, forensic
         characterizations
     C.  Other body fluids
     D.  DNA typing: legal challenges/issues of
         admissibility
VIII.Finger Prints
     A.  Historical issues
     B.  Fundamental principles
     C.  Detection, preservation, development
     D.  Automated identification systems
IX.  Arson, Explosions
     A.  Recovery of evidence/reconstruction of
         fire scene
     B.  Detection of accelerants
     C.  Explosives – detection, tagging
X.   Impressions, Firearms and Toolmarks
     A.  Pattern, impression evidence
     B.  Bullet and cartridge comparisons
     C.  Toolmarks
     D.  Gunpowder patterns, residues
XI.  Document, Voice Examination, Polygraph
     A.  Handwriting, printing, typewriting
     B.  Alterations, reconstruction, ink analysis
     C.  Voice spectrograph
     D.  Polygraph – questions of validity/legal
         admissibility
XII.  Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences
     A.  Role of the psychiatrist in the legal
         system
     B.  Determination of sanity and fitness to
         stand trial
     C.  Correctional psychiatry/prediction of
         dangerousness
     D.  Social sciences and the civil law
XIII.Contemporary Issues and the Future of
     Forensic Science
     A.  Professionalizing the field
     B.  Certification of personnel
     C.  Proficiency testing and quality assurance
     D.  Ethical conflicts

Tests, a written assignment and a final exam prepared by the instructor will be used to determine the course grade, along with any other assignments required by the instructor.  The final exam will include a 20-question multiple choice assessment instrument that will count for at least 20% of the grade on the final exam.  The assessment instrument will have questions that sample the material found in the above objectives.  It is expected that writing skills will be emphasized by the incorporation of a written assignment component in the course.