FRSC 8104 – Criminalistics II
Lecture: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1:00 – 1:50
SPRING 2014
PHS 322
Lab: Wednesday 2:00-4:50
PHS 320/321
Instructor:
Wayne Bensley, Office – PHS 306, benslewd@alfredstate.edu, 587-4558
Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11:00-Noon, Thursday 9:30 – 11:00 or by Appointment
(Note that I have an Open Door Policy for meeting with students)
Course Website:
http://web.alfredstate.edu/benslewd/Homepage.htm
Required Text:
Fundamentals of Forensic Science, 2nd Edition, (Houck and Siegel)
Laboratory Manual for Criminalistics (Bensley)
Optional Text:
Fundamentals of Forensic DNA Typing (John M. Butler)
Class Information/:
Announcements
Announcements regarding schedule changes or other developments will be made in class at the earliest
possible time. Announcements or reminders will also be posted on the course website. You are
responsible for any announcements posted to the web site so make sure you check it often.
Course Description: This course is a continuation of FRSC 7104 (Criminalistics I). The students’ repertoire of forensic
techniques is extended into the general areas of chemical and biological evidence as well as the
introduction of special topics in forensic science. Specific topical focus includes recovery and analysis of
arson and explosive evidence; recovery and analysis of toxicological evidence; chemistry and analysis of
controlled substances; legal issues connected to controlled substance analysis; recovery and analysis of
blood and body fluid evidence; basic blood spatter evidence interpretation; principles and techniques of
serology and forensic DNA analysis; and an introduction to forensic anthropology, entomology,
odontology and computer and digital evidence.
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate proficiency in chemical and instrumental techniques involved in the recovery,
extraction, and analysis of arson and explosive evidence.
2. Describe the proper techniques for collection and preservation of drug, biological, and toxicological
evidence.
3. Apply proper methods of instrumental analysis to the analysis of alcohol and drugs of abuse in
biological samples.
4. Describe the physiological effects and the chemical and physical properties of major drugs of abuse
including marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription narcotics.
5. Construct a valid analytical scheme for the detection, identification and quantitative analysis of
selected controlled substances, using both presumptive tests and confirmatory instrumental tests.
6. Describe the basic principles of a serological analysis and analyze various body fluids that may be
encountered in a rape or sexual assault examination.
7. Describe and illustrate blood spatter evidence to include a determination of the direction of travel,
impact angle and origin of spatter.
8. Evaluate the significance and limitations of DNA evidence in a criminal investigation.
9. Describe the theory and processes of various forms of DNA typing, operate various instrumentation
involved in the analysis of DNA evidence, and interpret the statistical significance of these
examinations.
10. Explain the fundamental concepts of forensic anthropology, entomology, and odontology, and
describe their respective roles in identification processes
11. Explain the fundamental concepts of the forensic analysis of computer and digital evidence, and
describe the role of such evidence in criminal and civil cases
Attendance:
As with the real-life example of holding a job, you are expected to attend each lecture and arrive ONTIME at 1PM. Please note that a late arrival is equivalent to an absence for the lecture on that
given day. Only absences of the type described in Academic Regulations 503 of the 1994 Student
Handbook will be accepted.
Civic Engagement
Assignment:
In accordance with the civic engagement initiative of Alfred State College, all members of this class will
participate as a worker/judge in the school’s annual Science and Technology Fair to be held on April 4,
2014. Students are required to serve on that day as judges for science fair projects prepared by area
children. The class will also be responsible for preparing and running an interactive display highlighting
the forensic science program that will be shown on that day. Note that you MUST participate in this
assignment to pass the course.
Laboratory:
You are expected to attend each weekly laboratory session. Should you need to miss a session for
illness or for reasons mentioned in Academic Regulation 503 of the Student Handbook, you MUST
notify the instructor in advance so arrangements can be made for you to make up the missed work. If
you fail to notify the instructor in advance, you will NOT be allowed to make up missed work and will
receive a grade of zero for that lab assignment. If you miss two or more scheduled lab sessions the
entire semester for non-allowed reasons, then you fail the lab section of this course and thus fail
the course. A large portion of your grade for this class (30%) will be based on your ability to construct
well-written lab reports following each week’s laboratory session. Each report will be due at 1PM on
the MODAY after it is assigned unless announced otherwise in class. The exact information and format
of each laboratory report will vary from week to week and you will receive further details in the
laboratory sessions. Unless you are specifically told otherwise, all laboratory reports are
INDIVIDUAL assignments. These assignments will be considered to be the equivalent of a courtordered laboratory report and as such absolutely no late assignments will be accepted. Any
assignment not turned in on time will automatically receive a grade of zero (0).
Written Exams:
There will be three (3) written exams on the dates listed on the schedule. Note that three written exams
may take longer than 50 minutes to complete and you are allowed a maximum of ninety (90) minutes to
complete each. As such, you should plan your personal schedule accordingly. Any exam missed
without a valid reason will be counted as a zero at the instructor’s discretion. You must contact the
instructor ahead of time if you will miss a scheduled exam to arrange for a make-up.
Final Exam:
There will also be a cumulative final exam for this course to be held during the week of May 12-16. The
exact date and time of this exam will be scheduled as per the campus-wide Final Exam matrix schedule.
Grading:
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Laboratory Grade
30%
Exam One Grade (2/21)
Civic Engagement Project
5%
Exam Two Grade (3/28)
Cumulative Final Exam Grade
20%
Exam Three Grade (5/2)
Final letter grades will be assigned as follows:
A: 90.0-100%
B+: 87.0-89.9%
B: 80.0-86.9%
C: 70.0-76.9%
D+: 67.0-69.9%
D: 60.0-66.9%
15%
15%
15%
C+: 77.0-79.9%
F: 0-59.9%
Class Expectations / Hints for Success
What you can expect from me:
 I will treat you with civility and respect in accordance with the Alfred State Principles of Community.
http://www.alfredstate.edu/principles-of-community/principles-of-community
 If you have a documented learning disability, I will make appropriate accommodations for you if you contact me and
the Student Learning Center at the beginning of the semester.
 I am a resource for you and I will assist you in meeting the objectives of this course in all possible reasonable means.
 Should you have a concern with a fellow student, with me, or with anything else pertinent to the class and/or course, I
will listen to your concern and will address your concern to the best of my ability without fear of reprisal.
 I will treat students in a fair but firm manner. I have high (but reasonable) expectations of the students in my classes.
 I will respond to all forms of communication in a timely manner. Please note that I do not check e-mails at 2AM and
thus you should not expect an immediate response at all times of the day.
What I expect from you:
 You will treat your classmates and me with civility and respect in accordance with the Alfred State Principles of
Community. http://www.alfredstate.edu/principles-of-community/principles-of-community This includes refraining
from the use of obscene, harassing, and/or intimidating language. Please demonstrate respect for yourself, your
classmates, the facilities and equipment of this college, all college staff members, and your professors by speaking and
behaving as befits adults in an academic environment. If you exhibit repeated immature or disrespectful behavior, I
reserve the right to eject you from class permanently.
 You will refrain from the use of cell phones and other unapproved electronic devices during class. Any electronic
device (other than a calculator) seen on or within the reach of a student during a quiz or examination will lead to an
automatic grade of zero on that quiz or examination.
 You will not disrupt class and you will respect the speakers. Off-topic chatter with your neighbors is considered
disruptive and rude and will not be tolerated. After an initial warning, all parties will be instructed to leave the
classroom.
 You will abide by the Alfred State academic integrity code. Academic dishonesty in any form will NOT be
tolerated. This includes but is not limited to plagiarism on any material submitted. Should you decide to cheat
or plagiarize, you will receive a grade of zero on that assignment without appeal. Should you choose to ignore
this policy, you will be referred to the Academic Integrity Committee for possible additional sanctions.
https://my.alfredstate.edu/academic-affairs/academic-integrity-code
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You will ask questions and seek out help when you need it. I have an open door policy - if I’m in my office and the
door is open, I am available to meet with students.
You will communicate openly with me. I am more than willing to work with students who face unforeseen obstacles
during the semester but only if I am aware of the issue ahead of time.
You will spend approximately 6 - 8 hours outside of class each week reviewing in class material, reading the textbook,
preparing for class, and completing any laboratory assignments. If you choose not to devote this amount of time
solely to this class, you will likely not be as successful as those who do.
You will come to class prepared in advance to actively participate, you will arrive on time, and you will not pack up
your materials until the class is dismissed.
You will perform to the best of your ability in this class.
You will have fun and learn something new!
Tentative Lecture Schedule
Week #
Dates
Class Topic
Textbook Reading
1
2
3
4
5
1/20-24
Course Mechanics, Separation Methods
Chapter 6
1/27-31
Separation Methods, History of Drugs and Drug Laws
Chapter 6
2/3-7
Drug Evidence
Chapter 13
2/10-14
Drug Evidence
Chapter 13
2/17-21
Drug Evidence and Toxicology
Chapters 13 and 14
2/21
EXAMINATION #1 – Chapters 6 and 13
6
2/24-28
Toxicology
Chapter 14
7
3/3-7
Toxicology
Chapter 14
8
3/10-14
Fire and Explosion Evidence
Chapter 18
3/17-21
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
9
3/24-28
Fire and Explosion Evidence / Serology
Chapters 18 and 10
3/28
EXAMINATION #2 – Chapters 14 and 18
10
3/31-4/4
Serology
Chapter 10
4/4
Science and Technology Fair
11
4/7-11
Serology / Blood Spatter Evidence
Chapter 10
12
4/14-18
Blood Spatter Evidence / DNA Evidence
Chapters 10 and 11
13
4/21-25
DNA Evidence
Chapter 11
14
4/28-5/2
DNA Evidence
Chapter 11
5/2
EXAMINATION #3 – Chapters 10 and 11
15
5/5-9
Forensic Pathology, Entomology, and Anthropology Topics
Chapters 7-9 (selected pgs.)
5/12-16
FINAL EXAM WEEK
NOTE: Supplemental reading assignments in addition to your textbook readings for most topics may also be assigned.
Week #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Date
Tentative Laboratory Schedule
Laboratory Topic
1/22
1/29
2/5
2/12
2/19
2/26
3/5
3/12
3/19
3/26
4/2
4/9
4/16
4/23
4/30
5/7
Exercise #17 – Making Nylon 6,10
Separation Techniques (Handout)
Exercise #22 – Quantitative Analysis of Ethanol by GC-FID
Exercise #20 – Presumptive Testing in Controlled Substance Analysis
Exercise #21 – Confirmatory Testing in Controlled Substance Analysis – Part I
Exercise #21 – Confirmatory Testing in Controlled Substance Analysis – Part II
Exercise #19 – Internal Standard Caffeine Quantitation by GC-FID
Exercise #23 – UV-Vis Spectroscopy and the Quantitative Analysis of Salicylates
NO LAB – SPRING BREAK
Exercise #18 – GC/MS Analysis of Accelerants – Part I
Exercise #18 – GC/MS Analysis of Accelerants – Part II
Exercise #24 – Introduction to Forensic Biology (Serology)
Exercise #25 – Blood Spatter: Angles of Impact and Origin Determinations
Population Genetics Workshop
Exercise #26 – PCR Based VNTR Human DNA Typing – Part I
Exercise #26 – PCR Based VNTR Human DNA Typing – Part II
While every effort is made by the professor/instructor to cover all the material in the syllabus, the order, content and/or
evaluation may change in the event of special circumstances (e.g. time constraints due to inclement weather, sickness, College
closure, technology/equipment problems or changes, etc.). In any case, students will be given appropriate notification in
writing, with approval from the department chair (or designate).