In Preparing these slides
I made a few assumptions:
• You have an interest in forensic science
• You are a fan of forensic shows on TV
• You follow criminal cases on TV, newspaper, or radio
• You are considering a career in the legal, judicial, or
forensics field
• You love reading mystery stories
• You are simply curious by nature
• And finally…you chose this class because you
thought it was cool…
The Evolution of Criminal
Investigation
Understanding the history of
forensics
Forensic Science
• The word itself stems from the Latin
word forum, which simply means “law”
• Forensic Science is simply the
application of scientific principles to
law
• However, forensics has not been accepted for
very long
1750
• Henry Fielding – established the “Bow
Street Runners”
• Fielding’s runners literally ran to a crime
scene to informally investigate the scene
• The gathered information (much of it useless)
and reported it to anyone who cared
• The gained the reputation and
acknowledgement as the first modern
detective force
1829
• British Parliament passed the Metropolitan Police
Act and created one of the first legally organized
police forces
• This force was stationed at the world renowned
Scotland Yard (the location of the modern London
Police Department)
• The Scotland Yard was established and the force
was selected by Sir Robert Peel
• This accomplishment has earned Sir Peel as the
father of modern policing.
Scotland Yard
• The department was headed by Sir
Peel, but two commissioners were
chosen: Sir Charles Rowan and Sir
Richard Mayne
• The department made up of several
officers, office staff, and the
administration occupied 4 Whitehall
Place which opened up to the famous
Scotland Yard
1857
• The New York Police Department
organized a picture gallery of known
criminals – Rogues Gallery
• Photos lined the walls like an art gallery
so the public would know criminals
identities
• Pictures were arranged first by height,
and then by criminal specialty
1883
• Alphonse Bertillon – established a
method of identifying criminals
• Taking various body measurements to
establish a profile of a criminal
• This system was very inaccurate and was
abandoned at the advent of dactylography
(the study of fingerprints)
1900
• Francis Galton – wrote the book
Fingerprints after extensive research
finding solitary identity in a fingerprint
• In 1900, the Henry System was
accepted and used as a system of
criminal investigation
Homework Assignment
• Do some research and write a ½ page
summary of the Henry System used in
fingerprinting
• Be sure to explain why the system is no
longer used
1908
• The United States Congress passed a
bill enacting an investigative entity
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation was
established under its original name of Bureau
of Investigation (name changed in 1924)
1987
• The discovery and mapping of DNA
was a huge milestone for Forensics
• You all know the individuality and
importance of DNA
• DNA profiling was first used in a case
in 1988, but was still considered new
and controversial
Becoming a Professional
CAREERS IN FORENSIC
SCIENCE
What does it take?
• Most, but not all require at least a
bachelor's degree
• Recommended majors: Chemistry, Biology,
Physics, or Criminal Justice…unless
specialized
• A lot of “on-call” time…you never know
when a criminal might strike
Forensic Toxicologist
• Must hold at least a master’s
degree in forensic
toxicology
• Ph.D. preferred
• Detect toxic substances in
the bodies being
investigated
• Seek employment in:
•
•
•
•
Crime laboratories
Medical Examiners Offices
Police departments
Criminal defense and
prosecution attorneys
• Hospital and Clinical
Chemistry Laboratories
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• High school science teachers
Crime Scene Investigator
• Minimal 2 year
associates degree but
bachelor’s degree
preferred
• On-site training
• Tasks vary from drug
identification to
footprint examination to
chemical identification
• Seek employment in:
• Crime lab
• Police/Sheriff departments
• State/Federal Investigation
Offices
Forensic Nurse
• Licensed Nurse or
Registered Nurse (LPN
or RN)
• Specialized graduate
degree or on-site
training
• Examine rape victims,
testify on behalf of
medical examiner
• Seek employment in:
• Hospital Emergency
Rooms
• State Medical Examiner’s
Office
• FBI
Forensic Odontologist
• Doctor of Dentistry
required with
specialization in
forensic science
• Examine bite marks and
dental molds to identify
victims and suspects
• Seek Employment in :
•
•
•
•
Crime labs
State Offices
FBI
Medical Examiner’s Office
Document Examiner
• Bachelors Degree
required
• On-site training
• Investigate forgery,
document originality,
handwriting
comparisons
• Seek Employment in:
• Crime labs
• Local law enforcement
offices
• State/Federal
Investigations
Forensic Pathologist
• Also known as medical
examiner
• MD required, highly
specialized training and
years of medical experience
• Perform autopsies and
examine bodies involved in
unexpected and violent
deaths
• Seek employment with:
• State Offices
• Federal Bureau of
Investigation
Forensic Psychologist
• Must have doctorate in
counseling or forensic
psychologist and
complete
fellowship/internship in
forensic psychology
• Determine the ability of
a suspect or victim to
mentally be able to
withstand trial
• Seek employment in:
• State and local agencies
• Private practice
Forensic Anthropologist
• Ph.D. required
• Usually work in a
college or university
• Identify bones and
bone structures
Forensic Chemist
• Bachelor’s degree
or higher degree in
Chemistry,
Biochemistry,
Toxicology, or
Pharmacology
• Identify unknown
substances, drug
residue
• Work in crime labs
or private labs
Forensic Entomologist
• Ph.D. Required
• Work in college or
university
• Identify time of
death based on
presence of insects
and other
organisms
Dactylographer
• 2 year associates
degree or higher
• On-site training
• Identify suspects
based on latent
prints
• Work in:
• Private labs
• Crime labs
• Local
departments/offices
Serologist
• Bachelor’s degree
with coursework in
biochemistry,
statistics, genetics,
& molecular biology
• Identify and
examine body fluids
• Work in:
• Crime labs
• Private labs