Create Your Own Crime Lab
Name______________
Crime labs offer various services and can be found in Federal, State, and local
jurisdictions. In this assignment, you will create your own crime lab composed of
the factions of forensic science that you find most interesting.
Part A:
Read about the various units of a crime lab in your book on pp. 9-12. Define each
of the sections below by stating what is specifically analyzed in each section.
Physical Science Unit –
Biology Unit –
Firearms Unit –
Document Examination Unit –
Photography Unit –
Toxicology Unit –
Latent Fingerprint Unit –
Polygraph Unit –
Voiceprint Analysis Unit –
Evidence-Collection Unit –
Part B:
Review some of the various crime labs in the country, including Baltimore city. The
web sites below offer great explanations of crime lab and their capabilities. As
you are reviewing the crime laboratories find 5 other unit that are not mentioned
in your book and describe their purpose.
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/labhome.htm
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzesdp09/baltimorepolicehistorybywmhackley2/id36.html
(scroll down and there is a list of the different divisions of the Baltimore City Crime Lab)
http://www.lab.fws.gov/students.php
http://www.arkansas.gov/crimelab/sections/
http://www.lsp.org/crimelab.html
http://www.trutv.com/shows/forensic_files/index.html
(scroll down and click on Inside the Lab – you may not be able to view all sections, but
you can click on the slideshow).
Other Crime Lab Units:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Part C:
On a separate sheet of paper, design your own crime lab.
1. Pick six units of a crime lab that most interest you and organize a floor plan
that illustrates how you would set up your crime lab.
2. In each section explain what type of evidence would be analyzed
3. Indentify 3-4 pieces of equipment that you would need for the analysis.