Introduction and Overview of Forensics
These notes are based on the textbook “Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science”
seventh edition by Richard Saperstein (ed. Prentice Hall, 2001 pp. 1-22)
Chapter 1
I. Introduction: Definition and Scope
II. History and Development of Forensic Science: Many believe Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had a
considerable influence on popularizing scientific crime-detection methods through his fictional
character, Sherlock Holmes. Read the quote from “A Study in Scarlet” 1887 on p.3 of “Criminalistics”
by Richard Saperstein.
"I've found it! I've found it," he shouted to my companion, running towards us with a test-tube in
his hand. "I have found a re-agent which is precipitated by haemoglobin, and by nothing else . . . .
Why, man, it is the most practical medico-legal discovery for years. Don't you see that it gives us
an infallible test for blood stains? . . . . The old guaiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. So
is the microscopic examination for blood corpuscles. The latter is valueless if the stains are a few
hours old. Now, this appears to act as well whether the blood is old or new. Had this test been
invented, there are hundreds of men now walking the earth who would long ago have paid the
penalty of their crimes. . . . Criminal cases are continually hinging upon that one point. A man is
suspected of a crime months perhaps after it has been committed. His linen or clothes are
examined and brownish stains discovered upon them. Are they blood stains, or mud stains, or rust
stains, or fruit stains, or what are they? That is a question which has puzzled many an expert, and
why? Because there was no reliable test. Now we have the Sherlock Holmes's test, and there will
no longer be any difficulty."
A. Mathieu Orfila: toxicology.
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B. Aphonse Bertillon: anthropometry.
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C. Francis Galton: fingerprints
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D. Leone Lattes: blood type
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E. Calvin Goddard:
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F. Albert S. Osborn: document analysis
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G. Hans Gross: first forensic journal, “Kriminologie”.
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H. Edmond Locard: Locard’s exchange principle
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III. Organization of a Crime Laboratory
I. Services of the Crime Laboratory
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A. Basic Services Provided by Full-Service Crime Laboratories
1. Physical Science Unit: ________________________________________________
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2. Biology Unit: ________________________________________________
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3. Firearms Unit: ________________________________________________
4.
DocumentExaminationUnit:______________________________________________
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5. Photography Unit: ________________________________________________
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B. Optional Services Provided by Full-Service Crime Labs
1. Toxicology Unit: ________________________________________________
2. Latent Fingerprint Unit: ________________________________________________
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2. Polygraph Unit: _____________________________________________________
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3. Voiceprint Analysis Unit:
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4. Evidence-Collection Unit:
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C. The Functions of The Forensic Scientist
1. Analysis of Physical Evidence: ____________________________________________
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2. Expert witness: ____________________________________________
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3. Specially trained evidence collection technicians:
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D. Other Forensic Science Services
Death can be classified into five different categories: natural death, homicide, suicide, accident or
undetermined manner of death.
1. Forensic Pathology:
a. Rigor mortis. ____________________________________________
b. Livor mortis: ____________________________________________
c. Algor mortis: ____________________________________________
E. Forensic Anthropology: ____________________________________________
F. Forensic Entomology ____________________________________________
G. Forensic Psychiatry ____________________________________________
H. Forensic Odontology: ____________________________________________
I. Forensic Engineering ____________________________________________
J. Forensic Analysis also can include organic and inorganic analytical techniques.
1. Organic analysis ____________________________________________
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2. Inorganic analysis ____________________________________________
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References:
Saperstein, Richard, “Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science,” pp. 1-22. Prentice Hall,
Inc., Upper Saddle, NJ 07458, 2001. ISBN 0-13-013827-4 (textbook with lots of background
information and figures)