History & Development History & Development of Forensic Scienceof Forensic Science

When in Rome…When in Rome…““Forensic” comes from the Forensic” comes from the LatinLatin word word

““forensisforensis” meaning forum. ” meaning forum. During the time of the During the time of the RomansRomans, a , a

criminal charge meant presenting the criminal charge meant presenting the case before the public.case before the public.

Both the person accused of the crime Both the person accused of the crime & the accuser would give speeches & the accuser would give speeches based on their side of the story. based on their side of the story.

The individual with the best The individual with the best argumentation would determine the argumentation would determine the outcome of the case. outcome of the case.

Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sci-fi author in late 1800’sSci-fi author in late 1800’s

Popularized scientific crime-detection Popularized scientific crime-detection methods through his fictional character methods through his fictional character ‘‘Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes’.’.

Mathieu OrfilaMathieu Orfila(1787-1853)(1787-1853)

““Father of Father of ToxicologyToxicology””

Wrote about the detection of poisons Wrote about the detection of poisons & their effects on animals.& their effects on animals.

Alphonse BertillonAlphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)(1853-1914) ““Father of Father of AnthropometryAnthropometry”” Developed a system to distinguish one Developed a system to distinguish one

individual person from another based on individual person from another based on certain body measurementscertain body measurements

Anthropometry Anthropometry is the study of measurements and proportions of the human body...

Francis GaltonFrancis Galton(1822-1911)(1822-1911)

““Father of Father of FingerprintingFingerprinting””

Developed fingerprinting as a way to Developed fingerprinting as a way to uniquely identify individuals.uniquely identify individuals.

Leone LattesLeone Lattes(1887-1954)(1887-1954)

““Father of Father of BloodstainBloodstain Identification” Identification”

He developed a procedure for He developed a procedure for determining the blood type determining the blood type (A, B, AB, or O)(A, B, AB, or O) of a dried blood stain.of a dried blood stain.

Winner of the 1928 Nobel Prize in Winner of the 1928 Nobel Prize in MedicineMedicine

Calvin GoddardCalvin Goddard(1891-1955)(1891-1955)

““Father of Father of BallisticsBallistics”” Developed the technique to examine Developed the technique to examine

bullets, using a comparison bullets, using a comparison microscope, to determine whether or microscope, to determine whether or not a particular gun fired the bullets. not a particular gun fired the bullets.

Albert OsbornAlbert Osborn(1858-1946)(1858-1946)

““Father of Father of DocumentDocument Examination” Examination”

His work led to the acceptance of His work led to the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by documents as scientific evidence by the courts. the courts.

Walter McCroneWalter McCrone(1916-2002)(1916-2002)

““Father of Father of MicroscopicMicroscopic Forensics” Forensics”

He developed & applied his He developed & applied his microscope techniques to examine microscope techniques to examine evidence in countless court cases.evidence in countless court cases.

Hans GrossHans Gross(1847-1915)(1847-1915)

““Father of Forensic Publications”Father of Forensic Publications”

Wrote the book on applying all the Wrote the book on applying all the different science disciplines to the field different science disciplines to the field of criminal investigation.of criminal investigation.

Edmond LocardEdmond Locard(1877-1966)(1877-1966)

• ““Father of the Crime Lab”Father of the Crime Lab”• In 1910, he started the In 1910, he started the 11stst crime lab in an attic of crime lab in an attic of

a police station.a police station.• With few tools, he quickly became known world-With few tools, he quickly became known world-

wide to forensic scientists & criminal wide to forensic scientists & criminal investigators & eventually founded the investigators & eventually founded the Institute Institute of Criminalisticsof Criminalistics in France. in France.

• His most important contribution was the His most important contribution was the ““Locard’sLocard’s ExchangeExchange PrinciplePrinciple””

Locard’s Exchange PrincipleLocard’s Exchange Principle

• ““Every Contact Leaves a TraceEvery Contact Leaves a Trace.”.”

• He believed that every criminal can be He believed that every criminal can be connected to a crime by particles carried connected to a crime by particles carried from the crime scene.from the crime scene.

• When a criminal comes in contact with an When a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs. evidence occurs.

J. Edgar HooverJ. Edgar Hoover ““Father of the Father of the FBIFBI” - Director of Federal Bureau of ” - Director of Federal Bureau of

Investigation during the 1930’sInvestigation during the 1930’s

Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential Hoover's leadership spanned 48 yrs & 8 presidential administrations. His reign covered Prohibition, the administrations. His reign covered Prohibition, the Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold Great Depression, WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War, & the Vietnam War. War, & the Vietnam War.

He organized a He organized a nationalnational laboratory to offer forensic laboratory to offer forensic services to services to allall law enforcement agencies in the U.S. law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

VERY CONTROVERSIALVERY CONTROVERSIAL– He exceeded & abused his authority with unjustified He exceeded & abused his authority with unjustified

investigations & illegal wiretaps based on political beliefs investigations & illegal wiretaps based on political beliefs rather than suspected criminal activityrather than suspected criminal activity

– FBI directors are now limited to 10-year terms FBI directors are now limited to 10-year terms

Alec Jeffreys (1950-):Alec Jeffreys (1950-): Invented DNA profilingInvented DNA profiling

William M. Bass (1928–)William M. Bass (1928–)

Developed the Body Farm to study Developed the Body Farm to study how human bodies decomposehow human bodies decompose

THE BODY FARM• PRIMARY GOAL: To understand the processes

& timetable of postmortem decay, primarily to improve determining the "time since death" in murder cases.

• The Body Farm is a simulation of various crime scenes using real human bodies.

• Started in 1970-80’s to study Forensic Anthropology (the study of human decomposition after death).

Security is a high priority. Fences, padlocks, video surveillance cameras, & police patrols

safeguard the world’s only human-decomposition research facility.

One research study examined the effects of the elevated temperatures—and limited insect access—to which a body in a car

would be subjected.

Corpse 1-81 was an elderly white male; he became part of a pioneering study of insect

activity in human corpses.

Closeup of a recent research subject. After only a few weeks in the Tennessee summer, the skull is completely bare & many

vertebrae are exposed. The rib cage & pelvis are covered with dried, leathery skin, but the soft tissues beneath are

gone, consumed by insects & bacteria.

Close-up of a human femur & hip bone, containing an artificial hip implant. Such orthopedic devices can help identify an

unknown crime victim.

An aerial view of the Body Farm, taken from Patricia Cornwell’s helicopter. The large wooden tripods are

used for hoisting & weighing bodies as part of a research study of weight loss during

decomposition.

A jaw from a research subject held by the founder of the Body Farm.

Types of Research

How does the decomp rate compare in:– sunshine vs shade?– In cool weather vs hot weather? – In a shallow grave vs on the ground? – In water? – Inside a car? – What effect do other variables have—

humidity, insect activity, clothing, body weight, and so on?

Why is TSD(time since death) so important?• 1st question at most murder scenes: "How

long has this person been dead?“

• It's crucial to know when the crime was committed.– it can help narrow the search for a suspect or– it can help rule out potential suspects who

had alibis at the time the victim was killed.

The Frye Standard

• The Frye Standard• The 1923 Frye v. United States decision set guidelines

for determining the admissibility of scientific evidence into the courtroom.

• To meet the Frye standard, the evidence in question must be “generally accepted” by the scientific community.

• However, in the 1993 case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court asserted that the Frye standard is not an absolute prerequisite to the admissibility of scientific evidence.

• Trial judges were said to be ultimately responsible as “gatekeepers” for the admissibility and validity of scientific evidence presented in their courts, as well as all expert testimony.