Forensic Science

CSI Lab and Careers

“In school, every period ends with a bell. Every sentence ends with a period. Every crime ends with a sentence.”

---- Stephen Wright, comedian

Crime Scene TeamCrime Scene TeamA group of professional investigators, each trained in a variety of special disciplines

Team members:First police officer on the sceneMedics (if necessary)InvestigatorsMedical examiner or representative (if necessary)Photographer and/or field evidence technicianLab experts:

pathologist DNA expertToxicologist fingerprint expertforensic odontologist forensic anthropologistforensic psychologist forensic entomologistfirearm examiner bomb and arson expertsdocument & handwriting experts serologist

Major Federal Crime Major Federal Crime LabsLabsThe FBI (Department of Justice) maintains the largest

crime laboratory in the world.The Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratories (Department of Justice) are responsible for the analysis of drugs seized in violation of federal laws regulating the production, sale, and transportation of drugs.The laboratories of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Department of Justice) have responsibility for analyzing alcoholic beverages and documents relating to tax law enforcement and for examining weapons, explosive devices, and related evidence received in conjunction with enforcement of the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.The U.S. Postal Inspection Service maintains laboratories concerned with criminal investigations relating to the postal service.

Basic Services Provided by the Crime LabBasic Services Provided by the Crime LabPhysical science unit

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Geology

Biology unit

Firearms and ballistics unit

Document examination unit

Photography unit

The most common types of evidence examined are drugs, firearms, and fingerprints.

Optional Services of a Crime Lab

Crime labs can be government-run at the federal, state, or local level, or they can be private consulting businesses.

Toxicology unit

Latent fingerprint unit

Polygraph unit

Voiceprint analysis unit

Evidence collection unit

Engineering

Evidence-Collection Unit

CSIs trained to collect evidence at the crime scene

What are some of the What are some of the forensic science forensic science

specialties?specialties?

Biology Unit – Analyzes DNA, blood, body fluids, hair, fibers, wood, and plants.

Forensic PathologistForensic Pathologist

A medical doctor who A medical doctor who performs autopsies to performs autopsies to

determine cause of death.determine cause of death.

Autopsies are performed during the investigation of

sudden, unnatural, unexplained, or violent

deaths. Also called Medical Examiners.

Forensic PsychologistForensic Psychologist

Forensic Psychiatry – involves the assessment and treatment of mentally abnormal offenders, as well as the legal aspects of psychiatry. This includes knowledge of the law relating to ordinary psychiatric practice, civil law and issues of criminal responsibility. Forensic Psychology - involves the application of psychological knowledge, theory and skills to the understanding and functioning of the legal and criminal justice system. Forensic psychology encompasses psychology and the law, the psychology of police and policing, corrections, parole, victim services, addiction services and family services. It also covers activities related to law enforcement and the assessment and treatment of juvenile and adult offenders.

Criminalistics or Criminology?Criminalistics or Criminology?CriminalisticsThe scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes

CriminologyIncludes the psychological angle: studying the crime scene for motive, traits, and behavior that will help to interpret the evidence

Forensic AnthropologistForensic AnthropologistIdentifies, examines and reconstructs human Identifies, examines and reconstructs human bones; determines gender, age, & cause of bones; determines gender, age, & cause of

death.death.

Forensic Odontologist (Dentist)Forensic Odontologist (Dentist) Helps identify bodies by Helps identify bodies by

looking at their teeth.looking at their teeth.

Identification of victims when the body is left in an unrecognizable state

by their teeth, the alignment, and overall structure of the mouth.

Forensic NurseForensic Nurse

Provides treatment for Provides treatment for crime victims. They are crime victims. They are

especially needed in especially needed in emergency rooms to emergency rooms to gather and package gather and package criminal evidence.criminal evidence.

Wildlife Forensic Scientist Wildlife Forensic Scientist Forensic scientists who track down criminals Forensic scientists who track down criminals

who harm wild animals.who harm wild animals.

Forensic EntomologistForensic EntomologistStudy of insects and their relation to a

criminal investigation. Uses insects that inhabit decomposing bodies to determine

time of death.

Forensic ToxicologistForensic Toxicologist

Analyses alcohol, drugs, & poisons in body Analyses alcohol, drugs, & poisons in body fluids for the benefit of the courts.fluids for the benefit of the courts.

Criminalist- Analyzes, Analyzes, compares, identifies, & compares, identifies, &

interprets physical evidence interprets physical evidence at crime scenes.at crime scenes. Physical Science Unit – Analyzes

drugs, glass, paint, explosives, and soil.

Forensic EngineerForensic EngineerInvestigates & reports on accidents or Investigates & reports on accidents or

structural failures that may have criminal structural failures that may have criminal implications.implications.

Digital Imagery Reconstruction:Digital Imagery Reconstruction:Use of computer superimposes photo of Use of computer superimposes photo of

skull with outer skin.skull with outer skin.

Facial reconstruction technique used Facial reconstruction technique used by forensic artists.by forensic artists.

Some forensic scientists Some forensic scientists participate in high profile participate in high profile

cases and become famous.cases and become famous.

Meet Dr. Henry Lee--one of the world’s Meet Dr. Henry Lee--one of the world’s most renowned forensic pathologists.most renowned forensic pathologists.

The Inspector The Inspector hopes you hopes you

enjoyed learning enjoyed learning about the world about the world

of forensic of forensic science.science.