CHAPTER 2
FORENSIC SCIENCE AS APPLIED TO CRIME
INVESTIGATION
TOPICS
1. What is Forensic Science?
2. The Role of Forensic Science in Criminal
Investigations
3. Criminal Profiling – Getting Inside a
Criminal’s Mind
4. Importance of Forensic Science in Law
5. The Scope of Forensic Science
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
a. Understand by heart the meaning of
Forensic Science
b. How is Science applied to Criminal and Civil
Laws
c. Role of Forensic Science in Criminal
Investigations
d. How is criminal profiling done
e. Importance of Forensic Science in Law
TOPIC 1:
WHAT IS FORENSIC
SCIENCE?
FORENSIC SCIENCE
Is defined as the application of science to those criminal
and civil laws (mainly on the criminal side) that are
enforced by the police agencies in a criminal justice
system
Also known as criminalistics
Recitation:
Site example of instances wherein various discipline
of science is/are applied to legal matters (criminal
investigation)
Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Legal Medicine
TOPIC 2: THE ROLE OF
FORENSIC SCIENCE IN
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
TOPIC 3: CRIMINAL PROFILING
– GETTING INSIDE A
CRIMINAL’S MIND
CRIMINAL PROFILING – GETTING INSIDE
A CRIMINAL’S MIND
Criminal profiling dates back to 1888 and is believed to
have been originally used and adapted by the FBI
a technique used to identify the perpetrator of a violent
crime by identifying the personality and behavioral
characteristics of the offender based upon an analysis of
the crime committed
Application of Criminal Profiling
enables forensic scientist to zero down on suspects by
determining a criminal’s patterns and personality
Helps in drawing complete social and psychological
assessment of the offender
CRIMINAL PROFILING – GETTING INSIDE
A CRIMINAL’S MIND
Basic Steps of Criminal Profiling
in-depth analysis of the crime scene
Analyzing the incidence and drawing
comparisons with similar events in the past
Evaluation of the victim’s background and
activities
Considering all possible motive and preparing
a detailed description of the suspects in order
to compare it with previous cases
CRIMINAL PROFILING – GETTING INSIDE
A CRIMINAL’S MIND
FOR WHAT TYPES OF CRIMES IS
PROFILING MOST SUITABLE?
FOR WHAT TYPES OF CRIMES IS
PROFILING MOST SUITABLE?
Profilers are especially effective in cases
involving hostage takers, rapists,
arsonists, sexual murders and the
identification of writers of threatening
letters.
NOTE:
By using psychology, profiles are better
able to predict the behaviors of these criminals.
TOPIC 4: IMPORTANCE OF
FORENSIC SCIENCE IN LAW
TOPIC 5: THE SCOPE OF
FORENSIC SCIENCE
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
1. FORENSIC BIOLOGY/DNA:
> DNA profiling is commonly used forensic
technique in criminal investigation apart from fingerprints
analysis
> help forensic professionals identify or confirm an
unidentified person, or to eliminate suspects from a list of
accused
> the biological evidence most commonly used for
DNA profiling includes blood, saliva, semen, skin, urine,
and hair
> However, fingerprints are usually never used as
the single piece of evidence in the court of law. (Check
book)
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
2. FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
> helps in the identification of victims when the
body is lest in an unrecognizable state
> this is achieved through an examination of
their teeth, the alignment, and overall structure of the
mouth
> Forensic dentist or odontologist aids in the
comparative identification of a person by examining
the development and anatomy of the teeth including
restorative dental corrections such as filling
> it is often applied to criminal investigations for
bite mark analysis
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
3. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
> Chemicals that are legally recognized as
having the potential for abuse are called controlled
substances
> this includes “street drugs” such as ecstasy
or heroin and prescription drugs such as oxycodone
(opioid used in the management of moderate to
severe pain)
> the ability to detect and identify such
controlled substances plays a crucial role in aiding
law enforcement agencies in their fight against drug
abuse and drug-based violence
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
4. FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
> involves analysis of biological samples to check for the
presence of toxins and drugs
> this branch of forensic science is of prime importance
in road accidents, poisoning, sexual violence etc.
> the toxicology reports furnish key information about
the nature substances present in an individual pertaining to an
incidence
> it also determines whether the quantity of substances
is normal as per a therapeutic dosage or exceeds the
permissible level
> since newer variants of drugs are developed each day,
this branch of forensic science is ever-evolving and demands
up-to-date approach
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
5. FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
> this deals with the examination of
compromised human remains or skeletons to
help determine the age, height, gender, and
ancestry.
> it also helps establish the time since
death by identifying and examining injuries, if
any
> these analyses give valuable leads to
investigators on identifying victims, especially
in cases where the bodies are beyond
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
6. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY AND MEDICO – LEGAL
DEATH INVESTIGATION
> is a branch of pathology that helps determine the
cause of death by examining the cadaver
> involves the collection and analysis of medical samples
to deduce facts admissible in the court of law
> for instance, identification of wounds patterns can help
determine the weapon used to inflict the wound
> additionally, forensic pathologist can examine exit and
entry wounds in deaths pertaining to the use of firearms or
other projectiles
> a forensic pathologist can, therefore, draw crucial
inferences on whether the death is natural, criminal or
accidental
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
7. IMPRESSION AND PATTERN EVIDENCE
> is the evidence created when two objects come
in contact with enough force to create an “impression.”
> this could involve a two-dimensional impression
such as fingerprint or three-dimensional one such as
the marks on a bullet
> Pattern evidence analysis involves identification
and analysis of additional information within an
impression
> Impression and pattern evidence when used in
conjunction can help establish vital links between a
suspect/tool to crime scene
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
8. TRACE EVIDENCE
> evidence such as fibres, soil, hair,
gunshot residue, wood, and pollen are some of
the many examples of trace evidence
> it derives its name from its tendency to
be easily transferrable between objects, people
or the environment during a crime
> for instance, a soil sample obtained
from the shoes of victim can give critical clues
on the location of the crime and thus help in
tracing the perpetrator
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
9. CYBER FORENSICS
> cyber forensics involves the analysis of
evidence found in computers and digital
storage like pen drives, hard disks, etc.
> its major objective is identifying,
preserving, recovering, analysing, and
presenting facts and opinions about the digital
information
> although it is mostly used for the
investigation of cybercrimes, it also widely
used in civil proceedings
THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
10. BALLISTICS
> is a specialized Forensic Science that deals with the
motion, behaviour, dynamics, angular movement and effects
of projectiles, such as bullets, rockets, missiles, bombs, etc.
> the use if ballistics in forensics is mainly in criminal
investigation
> for instance, the examination of the bullet found at a
crime scene can reveal what type of gun was used to fire it
and whether it is associated with any other crime in the past
> in fact, ballistic details are documented in a large
database that is accessible by law enforcement agencies
across the globe
QUIZ
1. It is the evidence
created when two objects
come in contact with
enough force to create
mark. Example fingerprint,
marks on a bullet
QUIZ
2. It is branch of
pathology that helps
determine the cause of
death by examining the
cadaver.
QUIZ
3. This deals with the
examination of compromised
human remains or skeletons
to help determine the age
height, gender, and ancestry.
QUIZ
4. It involves analysis of
biological samples to
check for the presence of
toxins and drugs.
QUIZ
5. Chemicals that are
legally recognized as
having the potential for
abuse are called.
QUIZ
6. This is achieved
through an examination
of their teeth, the
alignment, and overall
structure of the mouth
QUIZ
7. Evidence such as
fibres, soil, hair, gunshot
residue, wood, and pollen
are some of the many
examples of
QUIZ
8. This includes blood,
saliva, semen, skin, urine,
and hair.
QUIZ
9. Is defined as the
application of science to
those criminal and civil
laws
QUIZ
10. a technique used to
identify the perpetrator of a
violent crime by identifying
the personality and behavioral
characteristics of the offender
based upon an analysis of the
crime committed