Forensics and Criminal Justice
Instructors: Kim Sales, Tracy Roberts
Website: mountsihighschool.com--teachers--Sales, Kim
Course Syllabus/Requirements/Grading
Course Description:
Forensic Science is the application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law. Students will
learn about the nature of crime, law enforcement, and court proceedings. Career options will also be explored.
In addition, this course will integrate criminal law with scientific techniques performed by forensic scientists to
solve crimes. Students will take on the various roles of crime scene investigator, scientists and medical
examiner in order to collect and evaluate evidence in a problem-solving environment. Topics include DNA
technology and its uses, toxicology, anthropology, entomology, evidence law, criminalistics and career
opportunities. Fieldtrips may be offered to pertinent facilities such as King County Superior Courthouse and/or
the Medical Examiner’s Office and/or State Crime Lab.
Learning Objectives: Students will:
 Learn the importance of proper crime scene processing
 Explore the numerous career opportunities involved in the medical, law enforcement, scientific, and
legal aspects of forensic investigation.
 Know the different types and degrees of crimes such as murder, manslaughter, arson, theft and
robbery.
 Understand the trial process and how evidence is used in court.
 Understand the processes of crime-scene investigation and methods of evidence collection.
 Develop the field skills necessary to collect and maintain chain of custody of evidence such as
fingerprints, blood patterns, toxicology, and ballistics.
 Develop scientific bench techniques necessary for the handling and evaluation of evidence like
fingerprints and fibers.
 Explore the history of DNA studies and the current standard of acceptance of DNA in courts.
 Use information from class and case law in order to prepare and enact a mock trial and/or Capstone
Project
Learning Outcomes: Consist of Reasoning, Knowledge, Practical Skills, and Communication Skills
Reasoning:
 Determine appropriate conclusions based on scientific evidence. Be able propose a prediction of results
and then test predictions.
 Be able to recognize that identifying specific unknown samples can be accomplished through the use of
different scientific techniques and testing.
 Apply critical thinking skills in solving justice problems of a specific nature by discussing relevant court
cases and the impact of science within.
 Discriminate between generally accepted science and science fiction.
Knowledge:
 Take a skeptic approach to general scientific information and legal decisions.
 Describe how data influences legal decisions and shapes methods of analysis.
 Gain an introduction to physical sciences necessary for forensic science.
 Learn aspects of general chemistry, analytical chemistry (chromatography), and biology (serology)
Practical Skills:
 Write scientific reports, and follow scientific procedures to obtain standardized replicable results.
 Identify unknown samples in double blind studies.
 Describe how science is used in the criminal justice system
Communication:
 Report on importance/impact, relevancy and accuracy of forensic science methods.
 Use scientific vocabulary in defending results and active discussions about science.
Laboratory Safety: Your safety in the laboratory depends heavily on following the lab rules. If you are
engaging in unsafe practices you may be expelled from the class for the day and no make up for the lab will be
offered. Repeated infractions will deleteriously affect your grade. Laboratory goggles: Failure to wear lab
goggles is inexcusable. Goggles are mandatory for all lab session. The minimum penalty for not having or
wearing your goggles is a zero for the lab exercise and dismissal from the period with a marked absence.
Forensic Science Content Warning: Forensic science deals with events and issues that can be disturbing such
as the abuse, torture or harm of humans, animal abuse, and murder. While trying to be sensitive to the fact that
this is a high school course and using only age-appropriate material, it is necessary to use genuine photographs
of crime scenes and actual police reports. Crime scene photographs used as teaching aids in this class may
include images of blood, deceased bodies, and severe trauma. Police reports may include profanity or
derogatory language as quoted by witnesses or suspects. Students need to be aware of the content of this course
and always act in an appropriate and respectful manner while dealing with mature subject material.
Teaching Style:
Class time is a combination of lecture, lab, class discussion, and a mock trial, In addition, guest speakers from
law enforcement, legal professions, and scientists will be present. Several field trips are planned.
Curricular Materials:
Text: Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations, Anthony J. Bertino. (2012)
Supplementary materials include, but are not limited to:
Crime Scene Investigations, Walker and Wood (1998)
Criminalistics, Saferstein (2011)
Videos: TBD
Grading:
 On-line Gradebook: Grades are posted on-line through Skyward. Your login and password are the same as they were when
you were in middle-school! Students new to the district should report to the librarian for their login information.
To check grades on-line:
mountsihighschool.com Online Grades (lower left corner)
Login using the same username and password that you had in middle school
Login: ****000 (these are zeroes)
Pwd: *****
Grading (lower left again). Click on the ‘calculator icon’ to see your student’s grades!
Category
%
Tests
40 %
Quizzes
10%
Daily Work
25%
Labs
25%
Description
Formal assessments
There are no “exam re-takes”.
There will be several formative and summative quizzes each month.
Class work includes, but is not limited to:
Discussion: Whole class, small group, and/or partner work
Reading:
Individual and partner reading, note-taking content and organization
Homework and In-class assignments
Professionalism: turning in assignments when due, participation during lecture, labs and
discussion
Care of lab equipment, scientific process, teamwork, accuracy, laboratory skill, and teamwork.
Grading Scale:
A
AB+
B
BC+
=
=
=
=
=
=
93% - 100%
90% - 92.99%
87% - 89.99%
83% - 86.99%
80% - 82.99%
77% - 79.99%
C
CD+
D
F
=
=
=
=
=
73% - 76.99%
70% - 72.99%
67% - 69.99%
60% - 66.99%
0.00% - 59.99%
Communication:
Class Website: Please visit our class website! Your family can easily keep informed about what’s happening in class. The
page will have links to assignments, assignment due dates, PowerPoints and handouts.
How to Find our Class Website:
www.mountsihighschool.com Teachers  Sales  Class Website Daily Blog & Forensics Docs
Expectations and MSHS Policies:
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Behave in a manner that allows others to learn. Be considerate and respectful; don’t pollute the fountain of knowledge.
MSHS Hall Passes: The bathroom clipboard or student agenda is your hall pass; you may not leave class without it.
MSHS Tardy Policy: The MSHS penalty is a 1% reduction in your grade for EACH tardy! OUCH! You must be in your assigned
seat when the bell rings, with your work out and ready for instruction.
MSHS Absence Policy: You may have 11 excused absences after which you fail the course unless you file a formal appeal. If
you are absent, please refer to our class webpage for a list of assignments and due dates. There is no excuse for not
knowing what you missed!
Missed Exams and Assignments: Due on the next school day!
Electronic Devices: Cell phones and other electronic devices are sometimes used in the classroom. There will be instances
in which we video-tape lessons and/or take photographs. Please ASK before using any of these devices; students MUST
have permission beforehand. Students who work under a “Do now, ask permission later” principle will have their
electronic device confiscated until the end of the school day.
Course Overview
1. Criminal Justice
a. Types of Crimes (WA State)
b. Elements of Crimes
c. Classifications of Crimes
d. Parties to Crimes
e. Probable Cause and Arrest
f. Aspects of the Justice System
g. Aspects of Trials
2. Introduction to Forensic Science
a. History and Development
b. How the Brain :& Mind Work/Deductive and Inductive Reasoning
c. Observation Skills
e. The Crime Laboratory
f. Functions of the Forensic Scientist
g. Innocence Project
3. Crime Scene Investigation
a. Legal Considerations at the Crime Scene
b. Securing and Recording the Crime Scene
c. Evidence Collection Techniques
d. Chain of Custody
e. Crime Scene Photography/Proper Documentation
f. Law Enforcement: Role, Rules
4. Biological Evidence
a. Hair, Fibers, and Botanical Remains (pollen, seeds, spores, etc.)
b. Fingerprints
c. Forensic Serology (Blood and Spatter)
d. Death, Human Remains, and Entomology
e. Forensic Anthropology
f. DNA
g. Toxicology
5. Physical Evidence
a. Glass & Soil
b. Firearm and Ballistic Evidence
c. Casts & Impressions
Forensic Science/Criminal Justice-Review & Understanding of the Syllabus
(must be signed by parent/guardian and student)
Student Signature: _______________________________________ Date: ___________
Student Name (print): ____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___________
Parent/Guardian Name (print): _____________________________
Parent/Guardian e-mail (optional): _____________________________________________