3 days before the FLC!
• Crime Scene and Death Investigation (20%)
• Forensic Toxicology and Pharmacology (20%)
• Forensic Anthropology 10%
• Forensic History and Careers 10%
• Forensic Entomology 10%
• Techniques of DNA Analysis 10%
• Identification of Blood, Bloodstains, Biological Fluids and Stains 10%
• Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry 10%
HOSA Study method:
- Read slideshow primarily
- Read TB when not understand
Current Progress;
Ready to go = 8/8
Need RW = 0/8
1st Study = 0/8
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
-rw docs II
Question Tendency:
- General understanding
- Situation -> name
- Name -> situation
- Specific/important concepts (:dissimulation in Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry)
- Title concepts (:forensic anthropologists in Forensic Anthropology)
Crime Scene and Death Investigation (20%)
- Describe a Crime Scene
- Location (primary, secondary)
- Size (macro, micro)
- Type of crime (classify trauma)
- Physical location
- Criminal behaviour (mo)
- Types of Physical Evidence
- Locard’s Exchange Principle
- Corpus Delicti (corpse of victim)
- Modus Operandi (method)
- Witness Statements
- Unknown Substances
- Reconstruction of crime
- General Crime Scene Procedures
- Scene Management
- Traditional
- Crime Scene Technicians
- Major Crime Scene Squad
- Lab Crime Scene Scientist
- Collaborative Team
- Info
- Manpower
- Tech
- Logistics/Data
1. First Responding Officer (crime scene security measures)
2. Investigator (crime scene survey)
3. Documentation
a. Photography
b. Video
c. Notes
d. Sketching
e. Detailed Search (link, zone, line/strip, wheel/ray, grid, spiral)
i. Chain of custody: document -> move
- Systems of Death Investigations
- Reasoning: determine inheritance, taxes, criminal activity, public health issues
- English: coroners = government agents
- No edu/training
- In 19th century, edu required, doctors & nurses licensed?
- Forensic Pathologists: physicians of pathology (diagnosis of disease), law,
medicine (medical examiners usually trained in this; investigate sudden +
unexpected deaths)
- Idea: investigation, descriptions of scene, case histories, autopsy results
- Cause of death: injury/disease -> started chain of death
- Injury > disease (cause of death)
- Mechanism of death: biological process -> death
- Manner of death: what kind of death
- Natural
- Accidental
- Homicidal
- Suicidal
- Undetermined
- Tools of Death Investigation (same as physical evidence in trial)
- Time of death:
- Livor Mortis (discolouration)
- Algor Mortis (cooling; 37)
- Rigor Mortis (stiffening; appears 4 hrs)
- Medical history
- Witness Statements
- Scene examination
- Autopsy (next of kin respected)
- Inframammary Incision: t-shaped
- Examination of Brain
- Forensic Path. collects samples; photos; future DNA analysis
- Classifications of Death
- Traumatic Deaths:
- Mechanical: force > tension of skin
- Sharp Force = incised (bleed to death)
- Blunt Force = lacerations (brain very damaged)
- Non-firearm: car collisions
- Drowning from blood in lungs
- Contusion: lots of blood outside vessels
- Hematoma: contusion + more blood
- Firearm (high or low velocity):
- penetrating (entrance, no exit) vs perforating (entrance,
exit)
- Distance of barrel to victim:
- Skin: laceration
- Gas blacken skin
- Carbon monoxide -> bright red
- Opps: barrel to skin increase
- Thermal: breakdown mech, need maintain 37
- Hypo
- hyper
- Chemical: death from overdose (also poison)
- Central nervous system depressants - coma, then no breathing, death
- Central nervous system stimulants: seizures, high body temp, heart
quivers
- Electrical:
- Low voltage -> ventricular fibrillation
- High voltage -> defibrillation: tetany
- Poration -> loss of limbs
Asphyxia: interrupt oxygen to brain
- Manual strangulation
- Strangulation by ligature (i.e hanging
- Drowning
- Thermal
- Chemical
Forensic Toxicology and Pharmacology (20%)
- Two Phase: presumptive, confirmatory
- Toxicologists vs. Drug Analysts
- Toxic: drugs/poisons after ingestion (work with forensic path.)
- Drug: physical evidence
- Employed in 2 general ways:
- postmortem drug testing
- difficulties:
- Postmortem redistribution (concentration changes, after
death drug moves)
- Exact lethal dose not studied (ethics)
- Unknown toxins
- Workplace drug testing: explain erratic behaviour of employee
- Finite quantity: passive exposure
- Low concentrations = low precision & accuracy
- Roles of Forensic Toxicologist
- ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion)
- Meta: liver
- :analytical chemistry + pharmacokinetics (ADME, how drug moves in body)
- Toxicogenomics (a.c): genetic factors in ADME
- Meta: enzymatic (differs greatly)
- CSA (controlled substances act)
- 1984: DEA (drug enforcement administration); add drugs without legal
- SWGDRUG (Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs)
- Analytical standards
- Classify Drugs & Poisons (roles: pharmacokinetics (ADME, how drug moves in body))
- Schedule 1 : high abuse, no medical (heroid, lsd)
- Schedule 2 : high abuse, medical (morphine, cocaine)
- Schedule 3 : low abuse (anabolic steroids)
- Schedule 4&5 : decrease risk (OTC)
- Pharmacokinetics (ADME, how drug moves in body)
- Stimulant
- Amphetamines: increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing (over
counter, restrictions)
- Cocaine: similar, natural product; meta: blood, methylecgonine (+
metabolites)
- Coc. Hydrochloride: +base, extracted into organic solvent -> crack
- Depressants
- Cannabinoids: psychoactive compounds marij.
- THC: 2-6% (blood)
- T. metabolites: urine
- Euphoria, hallucinations, mood swings, paranoia (heavy use)
- Pharma:
- Polypharmacy: death from combine drugs
- Non-medicinal
- Alcohol
- Law: explicit about blood alcohol levels
- GC
- > 350mg = death
- Cyanide
- Interrupts electron transport chain in mitochondria
- Quick death
- >2500ng/ml = death
- Carbon Monoxide
- converted-Heat form
- Binds hemoglobin tightly, no oxygen transport
- >60% = death
- Hydrocarbons
- Identification of drugs
- Botanical Examinations: physical char. -> natural drugs
- Most common in lab
- Marijuana
- Cystolithic hairs
- Duquenois-Levine test (color test for THC)
- hashish
- Peyote: cactus
- Mescaline
- Button, 1inch
- Mushrooms
- Opium
- Chemical Examinations: use of wet chemical/instrumental tech
- Extraction: physical/liquid, dry washing, dry
- Infrared Spectroscopy (IR): light
- Colour tests: gives structure of drug (subjective)
- Microcrystal: solution -> unique crystal (subjective)
- Testing Methods (Toxicology + Drug Analysts): confirmatory (after examination)
- Immunoassays: antibodies react -> recognize drug
- Sad: not specific
- Thin-Layer Chromatography: drug onto organic solvent; mobile phase
- Primary method; inexpensive
- Seperation
- Gas Chromatography: carrier gas, stationary phase coating, drug first vaporized
- Retention time
- GC-Mass Spectrometry
- Common: quadrupole mass filter
- GC results -> ionized
- EI (electron impact)
- Unique, compared with existing known spectra
- LC-Mass Spectrometry
- Works well with most organic
- Best with: thermolabile + hydrophilic
- Tandem mass spectrometry: +MS, LC
- Metal Analyses (e.g lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium)
- Colorimetric Testing
- ICP-MS
Forensic Anthropology
- Define F.A and job
- :applying theory & methods of anthro to forensics (most are specialized in
physical anthropology)
- Biological profile:
- Taphonomic assessment: assessment of the body’s condition in relation
to the environment in which it was found
-
- info about postmortem period (after death)
- Perimortem period: searching trauma evi. @ time of death
- Forensic taphonomy: outdoor death scene & postmortem process
- Forensic archaeology : recovery of scattered/buried
- Job:
- Consultants to medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement
- 1977: ABFA (american board of forensic anthropology): examine &
certify at postdoctoral level
- Osteology: bones
- Odontology: teeth (for forensic)
- General locate, recover, identity remains
- Locate -> screening -> excavation -> photograph
- REcover: photographed & documented area
- Plants, insects included
- Children bodies remove with surrounding soil
- Fragile remains -> strengthened with preservatives or splints
- Identify: human vs animal bones; individual
- Biological profile: age, sex, height, race, individual features
- Age: diaphyses (long bones, infant age), deciduous dent (20), &
permanent dent. (32), bone density, osteoarthritis (joint), pubic
symphysis, cranium (older = more fusion)
- Sex: sexual dimorphism (size, muscularity, traits, dna methods)
(after puberty); skull & pelvis
- Race: impossible
- Height: dead bodies taller (allometry)
Antemortem trauma: before death
Perimortem trauma: time of death
Postmortem: after death
Equifinality: different injuries -> same bone change
- Basic Procedures Used
- Skeletal materials -> medical examiner or coroner -> forensic anthropologist
- Taphonomic Assessment:
- Taphonomic context = body condition by examine enviro around body
- Interpret condition of remains
- Postmortem (range)
- Location of death (here or not here)
- X-rays, examine soft tissue -> hidden bullet or teeth
- Impact on Criminal Justice System
- Identify in sus death cases: positive identifications needed
- DNA analysis
- Fingerprints
- Dental
- X-rays
- Medical apparatus (e.g artificial joint)
- Chain of custody
- Taphonomic assessment
- Biological profile
- Identification characteristics and interpretation
- Description of trauma
- Expert witness, follow scientific neutrality
Forensic History & Careers:
- Importance of Forensic Science
- Science + law (science techniques to judicial system), in civil or criminal evidence
- Death investigation major impact to popularity (in mid19ths)
- Generalists (in the past), Specialist (today)
- Notable names
- Victor Bathahazard: Advanced finger, firearm, and hair analysis at the time
- Developed a probability model that showed that fingerprints were unique
- photographic method (for bullet guns & firearms)
- Alphonse Bertillon
- Anthromotery (bertillonage)
- 11 measurements, identify on card
- Replaced by fingerprinting
- 1st method to identify suspects/criminals
- Sir Francis Galton
- Fingerprint classification
- Dr. Calvin Goddard
- Firearm evidence (modern tools)
- Hans gross
- First forensic tb
- Edmond Locard
- Locard’s exchange principle
- Mathieu Orfila
- Toxicology
- Sherlock
- Public image
- Modern practice
- Scientific method (empirical evidence, data -> hypothesis)
- Adversarial system: arguing, opp of s.method
- Forensics: gives data, evidence, possible results (justified explanations)
- Contrite fallibilism: humility to not knowing
- Public Lab
- Private Lab
- accreditation; proof of pro or industrial standard
- Certification; scientist award
- Legal proceedings
- Civil
- Criminal
- Prosecution (files charges)
- Defendant (accused)
- Trier of fact (jury or judge)
- Grand jury (special, evidence allows further action)
- punishments
- Felonies
- Misdemeanors
- Subpoena
- Voire dire (state qualifications)
- Direct examinations: tell how to use evidence (q & a, descriptive)
- cross-examine
- Ethics
- AAFS: code of ethics
- Honesty, complete report of work
- Prosecutorial bias
- Evidence rules, admissibility, classification
- Evidence: court-approved info
- Rules of evidence: exclusionary (irrelevant)
- Forensic evidence: reconstruction
- Admissible evidence: reliable & relevant
- tech/methods acceptable
- Frye standard: new methods are ok, large proportion of prof. Accept
- -> general acceptance
- Limits: ruling harder to define, restrictive of science innovation
- -> Federal Rules of Evidence: witness (qual, expert) if helps jury/judge better understand
- No state how witness is qualified?
Daubert Standard
- Judge responsible (gatekeeping)
- Daubert hearings (decisions made)
- Daubert trilogy: daubert case, joiner case (data -> daubert Criteria, relevance test),
kumho tire case (all relevant experts)
Legal classification:
- Inculpatory evidence: establishes guilt (favorable to either prosecution of defendant)
- Exculpatory evidence: excludes, exonerates
- Direct evidence: (e.g eye-witness)
- Circumstantial evidence: (e.g dna test from blood in crime scene)
- Reconstruction evidence: events before, during, after crime
- Associative evidence: associate/disassociate suspect (Any evidence that can link a
person to the scene) (e.g fingerprints, blood and bodily fluids, weapons, hair, fibers)
Suspect classification:
- Class characteristic
- Individual characteristic
Scientific Groupings:
- Biological Evidence
- Chemical Evidence
- Trace evidence
- Questioned documents (handwriting)
- Impression evidence
- Fingerprint evidence
- Firearm and tool mark evidence (fired bullets, cartridge casings, shells)
Forensic Entomology
- :study of insects
- Medico-legal ent. : insects with body (human/animal) in legal context
- F. path (rigor, algor, livor mortis): 24-48 hrs
- Ento works even with more time passed
- Insects colonize immediately
- Rate of development + species dynamics -> minimum time/avg rate of
development
- F. Entomology and Justice System
- Time intervals:
- Early postmortem (flies lay eggs)
- Body part
- If body was moved
- Wound sites
- Length of time neglect or abuse in living
- Animal abuse cases
- Time -> closure -> verifying witness claims -> legal implications (insurance life
policies) -> homicides (police investigation)
- Methods used for time of death estimations and other factors
- Maggot Aging (or Dipteran Larval Development)
- First flies: diptera (blow fly family)
- Female and male teens -> protein meal -> genitalia develop
- Adult females laying eggs (majority; finds by smell; no maternal
instinct afterwards)
- Corpse: enviro and temp (blowflies not active in winter)
- Maggots rely exclusively on decay (good source of protein;
blood; cold blooded)
- Successional Colonization of a Body
- Decomposing (nutritional change) -> other insects
- Needs experimental data for specific region
- Species depends on age of remains
- Insects collected
- Uses of Methods
- Time estimate: linear relationship (time vs development data); oldest
insect stage, meteorological conditions, microclimatic (temp/weather of
region) -> how long insects feeding -> how long victim died
- Less than actual time of death
- Min or avg development rates
- Unknown factors: body -> wrapped -> buried -> killed
during winter (delayed)
- Moved body (primary, secondary scene)
- When moved, body will bring insects from original site (urban ->
forest)
- # of days at death scene; # at dump scene
- Time interval for disturbance
- Wound location: no wound -> natural orifices (adult skin too tough); oldest
maggots wound -> wound area (maggot aging)
- Linking Suspect: locard’s principle
- Drug Use (entomotoxicology): qualitative; limits when quantifying -> tests
of insects (impact development
- DNA Identify: the species; human DNA from insect feeding on victim
- Abuse: unhealed wound/bed sore/drying tissue/poor personal hygiene ->
insects (myiasis: larva infect) -> length of time neglected
No insects on body: too early in year, too cold for insects, body at scene for short time
Downsides: temperature (exact is unknown), season (spring, summer and fall), no insects
Techniques of DNA Analysis
- History and Development of DNA Analysis
- Francis Crick, james watson, rosalind franklin
- Dna replication, transcription and translation
- Sir Alec Jeffreys
- CODIS (combined dna index system)
- Properties and Structure of DNA used for DNA Typing
- Long double-stranded molecule
- 23 pairs of chromosomes (info to produce characteristics)
- Coding = 3%
- Repetitive = 97%
- Interspersed repetitive sequence = not in coding, thru genome (50%)
- Satellite dna
- STRs:
- VNTrs
- Homozygosity: same # of copies at both loci (12/12)
- Heterozygosity: diff 2 copies of loci (5/12)
- Old vs modern proces
- STRs (modern; high level of variability, lengths -> identify someone)
- :repeated tetramers, four bases repeated
- 1990s (mid): 13 core loci (standard) and in CODIS
- STR: 15 phenotypes
- Older: gel based instrumentations
- New: capillary electrophoresis
- LIF (laser-induced fluorescence), copies labeled with dyes
- Analysis: peak patterns at each locus (contributions from mom
and dad)
- RFLP (old; sir alec jeffreys)
- Blood, semen, bone, hair, dry skin, 46 dna molecules
- nucleases: enzymes (degradation)
- PCR: denaturation, annealing, extension (copies: amplicons)
- mtDNA: mitochondrial dna
- Maternally linked
- Mutates faster
- Hypervariable regions (HVI, HVII, HVIII): analysis
- Sexual assault: Y-chrom strs (distinguish male from female dna; only test
unambiguously determine male contribution)
Identification of Blood, Bloodstains, Biological Fluids and Stains
- https://quizlet.com/258355082/hosa-identification-of-blood-bloodstains-biological-fluids-a
nd-stains-flash-cards/
Autolysis: destruction of RBC in water
- Methods of Bloodstains and Pattern Analysis
- Geometric analysis of human bloodstain pattern @ crime scene
- Form of crime scene reconstruction
- Ability of examiner + info available
- 2002 SWGSTAIN
- Blood properties:
- Surface tension (to create splatter, force overcome surface tension of blood)
- Viscosity
- Specific gravity (blood = 6x thicker than water)
- Maintain stability of exposed blood/ resist alteration or disruption
- Free-fall drop -> bloodstains increased diameters (<7ft)
- Hard to estimate, as volume is unknown
- Interpretation
- Target surface: (smooth: no-little spatter (tile); rough: create significant spatter
(wood)
- Directionality:
- Narrow end of elongated bloodstain = direction of travel
- Area of convergence (2d, area: string method)
- Area of origin: (3d, location: angles, string method)
- @ 90 degrees (circular); <90 elliptical
- w/l < 1 (arc sine of impact angle)
- Circular = 1; impact angle 90
- Spatter:
- Quantity of blood, force of impact, texture of surface impacted
- Secondary Mechanism (satellite spatter)
- :when striked rough surface
- Blood drop volume
- Freshness
- Surface texture
- Distance of vertical to impact
- Drip patterns (horizontal surface)
- Splashed bloodstain pattern
- Impact Mechanism (gunshot, beating/stabbing, power tools)
- Misting: minute spatters < 0.1mm (wide range)
- Can occur by: gun, explosions, high-speed machinery, and
high-speed automobile collisions
- Back spatter (entrance wound)
- Forward spatter (entrance wound < exit wound)
- Beating/Stabbing
- 1-3mm in diameter
- Exposed blood exist prior (bloodied area no need to
receive impact)
- Sharp or blunt, # of blows
- Not always possible to distinguish
- Projection Mechanism (cast-off, arterial, expirated)
- Castoff blood patterns: blows to same wound area (blood
accumulation)
- Projected bloodstain patterns occur when blood is
projected or released as the result of force exceeding that
of gravity
- Exhibits numerous spine-like projections with
narrow streaking
- Expirate bloodstain patterns (blood in lungs; might be
diluted)
- May appear diluted if mixed with sufficient saliva or
nasal
- secretions
- ● May be visible air bubbles within
- the stains from air from the
- airway called vacuoles
- ● Presumptive indicator of
- expirated blood but not
- conclusive proof
- Arterial Bloodstain Patterns: artery is breached and blood
projects from it in varying amounts
- Analyst should verify their hypothesis
- of an arterial bloodstain pattern with
- the autopsy or forensic pathologist
- Transfer Bloodstain Patterns: object wet with blood comes
into contact with an object or secondary surface,
- Determine area/location of og blood source
- Create circumstantial evidence
- Determine specific cause of death/mechanism
- Drying is accelerated by increased temperature, low
humidity, and increased airflow
- Normal clotting time is 3-15 mins in healthy individuals
- Absences of bloodstains in otherwise continuous patterns of
- staining are called void areas
- Identification of Suspect
- Whose blood is on the garment?
- How was the blood deposited onto the garment?
-
- Other possible fluids
- Forensic serology is the examination and analysis of body fluids in a legal context
- Azoospermia is semen lacking spermatozoa
- Seminal acid phosphatase (SAP)
- prostate-specific antigen
- (PSA) is the generally accepted standard for confirmatory test
- for semen
-
- Presumptive and Confirmatory tests
- Catalytic Colour Tests
- chemical oxidation of a chromogenic substance
- Benzidine (Alder Test)
- seldom used now
- Tetramethylbenzidine and Hemastix
- portable with the use of
- Hemastix for convenience and safety at crime scenes
- Phenolphthalein (Kastle-Meyer Test)
- Chemiluminescence and Fluorescence
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