I. Title of Module:

• Forensic Science

II. Author:

• Zoraida Colon

III. Grade Level:

• High School 9-12

IV. Nature of The Students:

• Urban Minority

V. Purposes and Overview: (Course Description):

Notes

Forensic science is the application of science to law.

 Agencies:

NYPD            
FBI
DEA
FDA
EPA
BATF

Services: CSI
Physical Science Unit
Biology Unit
Firearms Unit
Document Examination Unit
Photography Unit

Other Services provided by Crime Labs:
Toxicology Unit
Latent Fingerprint Unit
Polygraph Unit
Voiceprint Analysis Unit
Evidence- collection Unit

Functions of the Forensic Scientist

• * Analysis of the Physical Evidence

• * Frye Standard:  the judicial acceptance of a scientific discovery used as a technique to obtain evidence.  However, there are exceptions, thus the judge makes the final decision about forensic analyses presented in court.

• * Provision of Expert Testimony

• * Furnish training in the proper recognition, collection, and preservation of physical evidence.

Expert Forensic Services:

• Forensic Pathology

• Forensic Anthropology

• Forensic Entomology

• Forensic Psychiatry

• Forensic Odontology

• Forensic Engineering

• Forensic Serology

Text:  Criminalistics, by Richard Saferstein, Eighth Edition and Crime Scene Investigations by Walker & Wood.  Supply Kits from Ward's, Science Kit &Boreal, and Carolina Biological.

Week 1      Topic   

1. Introduction to Forensic Science:  Modus Operandi (Fingerprinting)- Students will act as suspects and officers to simulate the procedures after an arrest has been made.

2. 2-D Shoe Print Analysis and Crime Scene Analysis- Students simulate the job of an expert shoe print analyst.  They will also draw a typical crime scene diagram using the laboratory as the crime scene.        

3. Forensic Photography: Students practice photographic techniques using a digital camera.  Crime Scene Analysis continued: Students construct a crime scene and take photos of the evidence.     

4. Glass Fragment Analysis:  Students break glass to learn the properties of glass; density and refraction    

Week 2

1. Crime Scene:  Terror in Paradise:  Students solve a crime involving a potential terrorist attack, Blood Typing Analysis- Students learn ABO blood typing analysis.  

2. Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Odontology- Students make observations and take measurements using calipers of bones to determine body measurements.  They also cast their teeth and prepare dental records.  

3. Who Killed Henry Ward? Six modules- students do fingerprint, hair, bone, shoe, blood type, blood spatter analyses.   

4. Who Killed Henry Ward?  DNA analysis. Final Answer

Report of Who Killed Henry Ward due by last day.    

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Last Updated July 28, 2005 by Roz Krakowsky
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