Forensics 1 is an introduction to the history, development and science of crime scene investigation. We will be studying the many individual jobs of forensic scientists, the scientific techniques each specialist uses, and the value of forensic science for the U.S. judicial system.

In this course real forensic case studies and staged crime scene situations will be used to learn and practice the scientific procedures for the collection and analysis of crime scene evidence.

Crime scene processing includes: the identification and analysis of fingerprints, footprints, hair and fiber, identification of, and typing of human blood, and the collection, analysis, and preservation techniques for different types of trace evidence. Most importantly students will be learning that by using strict scientific techniques, our justice system can use forensic science to solve criminal cases.

Forensics 1 Activities:

Introduction to Forensic Science - Chapter 1
·         The history of important inventions and discoveries in forensics.
·         U.S. Judicial System - the bill of rights, types of crimes, facets of guilt.

 Evidence labs - 2
 ·         Analysis of Evidence Lab - 15 items taken from various crime scenes are used to identify types of evidence
       and how to categorize evidence as class or individual. 

Crime scene labs - 3
·         Observances testing Lab - how observant are you?
·         Physical Investigation of a mock Murder Scene Lab - documentation and collection techniques. 

Fingerprint labs - 4
·         Processing and classification of fingerprints Lab - ink pads and minutiae points
·         Processing of latent prints Lab.  - super glue tank
·         Lifting visual and latent prints Lab - brush and powder
·         What's AFIS? -  how it works and how we use it. (# of points to be considered a legal match.)

 Hair analysis labs - 5
 ·         "Murder at the Ranch" hair analysis Lab - hair as evidence - it's limited use.
 ·         Microscopic Structure of hair Lab - identification of external and internal structures.
 ·         Crime at Scott's Apartment -  species comparative hair lab

      Fiber labs - 6
         ·         Fiber collection Lab - searching for trace evidence
       ·         Identifying synthetic and natural fibers by characteristics - visual comparisons 
         ·         Burn Test of fibers Lab - ignition characteristics
         ·         Thermal Decomposition of fibers for identification Lab - low heat in test tubes
         ·         Chemical testing of Fibers Lab - chemical reactive characteristics
         ·         Identifying Fibers by Refractive Index Lab -  oil immersion 

Trace evidence labs - 9
·         Identification of metals Lab - using chemical reactions
·         Identification of white powders found at crime scene Lab-collected from crime scene
·         Lip Prints Lab - identifying patterns.
·         Lipstick Chromatography Lab - solvent results to find a match

 Blood serology labs - 10
 ·         Detection of blood Lab - using luminol and animal blood
 ·         Human versus animal blood lab - collected from crime scene
 ·         ABO/RH Blood Typing Lab - using simulated blood
 ·         Phenolphthalein -  presumptive blood test

Forensics 2 will be employing the skills learned in forensics 1 to do a more in-depth study with more advanced CSI techniques.  Areas of study: blood spatter, ballistics, human remains, entomology, DNA analysis, soil analysis, toxicology, drugs, glass, document and handwriting analysis.

Forensics 2 covers:

Blood spatter labs- Chapter 10
·         Vertical drip pattern recognition - trigonometry
·         Spatter impact angles - trajectory
·         Transfer patterns - reconstruction techniques

Ballistics labs -  
·         Comparison of  guns and bullets - plastic samples
·         Rifling grooves and lands - demo bullets
·         Bullet caliber assessment - electric caliper measurements
·         Casings - study of fired casings
·         Impact angle and trajectory - stringing and angles - trigonometry 

DNA Analysis labs - 11
·         Extraction of DNA - Isolation and spooling.
·         DNA Fingerprinting - Electrophoresis of crime scene DNA & 2 suspects.
·         DNA case 1 & 2 - Forensic uses of electrophoresis. 

Human Remains labs - 12
·         Postmortem interval - determining the time of death.
·         Forensic anthropology - human vs animal skeletal remains.
·         Determination of sex, age, height, race and cause of death.
·         Facial reconstruction - forensic uses
·         Autopsy - on line 

Soil Analysis labs - 13
·         Collecting and observing soil - hit & run case
·         Case study using soil samples 

      Entomology Labs - Museum of Science & Industry
        ·         Stages of decomposition and Insect Activity. 

Glass labs - 14
·         Observing different types of glass - Composition & physical properties.
·         Characterization of glass - density
·         Determining the refractive index - using glass fragments.
·         Analysis of fracture patterns - when glass breaks. 

Documents and Handwriting Analysis labs - 15
·         Documents as evidence -
·         Forgery
·         Handwriting analysis - angle, erasures, indenting.
·         Ink Chromatography - spectral comparison.
·         Counterfeiting - testing currency. 

Toxicology - 8
·         Poisons & alcohol - toxicity
·         Lead poisoning -
·         Alcohol Breath test - 

Drug labs - 7
·         Spot test for over the counter drug identification.
·         Presumptive test for illicit drugs.