Course title

SCI

Pre-requisite

General Science or Biology or Bio/Bio-Med Recommended Geometry

Course description

COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this laboratory science students will:
Learn the proper techniques for securing a crime scene; collect evidence and storing evidence to properly convict or acquit a person accused of committing a criminal act.
Use fundamental concepts from physics; chemistry and biology to analyze evident found in a crime scene.
Topics will include: Securing and mapping out a crime scene; trace evidence; time/cause/manner of death; fingerprints; blood spatter; DNA analysis and ballistics.

PREREQUISITES:
LABORATORY EXPERIENCE: Students are expected to maintain a bound composition lab notebook divided into sections for each major class of evidence. The lab notebook will contain important information and reference exemplars for each class of evidence; consisting of drawings; photographs; and physical samples (when appropriate).
MAJOR TOPICS:
I. EVIDENCE COLLECTION
- Eyewitness Testimony
- Qualitative & Quantitative Observation
- Chain of Custody
- Locard's Principle
- Crime Scene Documentation
- Evidence Collection
- Lab Safety Equipment and Procedures
Labs/Activities: Deductive Reasoning Activity; Eyewitness Observation Activity; Facial Composite Activity; Chain of Custody Activity; Crime Scene Sketches; Evidence Collection & Labeling Activity; Class vs. Individual Characteristics Activity; Safety & Equipment Orientation
II. HAIR AND FIBER EVIDENCE
- Characteristics of Human vs. Animal Hair
- Forensic Analysis of Hair
- Physical and Chemical Properties of Textiles
Labs/Activities: Structure of Hair Lab; Human vs. Animal Lab; Physical and Chemical Properties of Hair Lab ; Natural vs. Synthetic Fiber Lab; Weave Pattern Activity; Burn Analysis of Fibers Lab
III. SOIL & GLASS
- Soil Composition & Chemistry
- Soil Collection & Analysis
- Types and Properties of Glass
- Refractive Index of Glass
- Fracture Patterns
Labs/Activities: Soil Profile; Chemical & Physical Analysis of Sand; Glass Fracture Pattern Activity; Glass Density Lab; Refractive Index Activity; Liquid Submersion Lab
IV. IMPRESSIONS EVIDENCE: Shoe Prints; Tire Treads; Bite Marks and Tool Marks
- Types of Impressions
- Impression Evidence Collection & Analysis
- Forensic Odontology
Labs/Activities: Shoe Print Casting Lab; Shoe size and Height Activity; Dental Impressions Activity; Tire Track Lab; Tool Mark Identification Lab
V. FINGERPRINTING
- History of Fingerprints
- Characteristics and Types of Fingerprints
- Latent Print Collection
- Structure of DNA
- Collection of DNA Evidence
- Analysis & Matching of DNA Evidence
Labs/Activities: Bertillonage Measurement Lab; Describe Your Fingerprint; Latent Fingerprint Collection Lab; Ten Card Activity; Fingerprint Matching Lab; Restriction Enzyme Activity; Applications of DNA Analysis Activity
VI. QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
- Handwriting Analysis
- Questioned Documents Analysis (Forgery)
- Currency Anti-counterfeiting Features
Labs/Activities: Handwriting Analysis; Chromatography Lab; Ransom Note Lab; US Currency Lab
VII. SEROLOGY AND BALLISTICS
- Composition of Blood and Blood Cell Function
- Blood Types
- Blood Stain Detection
- Blood Spatter Analysis
- Characteristics of Projectile Weapons
- Barrel Rifling and Bullet Matching
- Bullet Recovery
Labs/Activities: Blood Typing Lab; Blood Detection Lab; Blood Spatter Analysis Activity; Firing Pin Match Lab; Bullet Trajectory Lab
VIII. DEATH AND EXAMINATION OF HUMAN REMAINS
- Manners of Death
- Changes in Body Composition & Temperature
- Autopsies
- Insect Colonization and Development
- Human Characteristics from Skeletons
Labs/Activities TOD Using Rigor Mortis Activity; Insect Study; TOD Insect Analysis Lab; Age of Skull Activity; Male Vs. Female Bones Activity; Medical Examiner Activity
COURSE RESOURCES
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations – Anthony J. Bertino – Cengage Learning
Crime Scene Investigations: Real-Life Science Labs for grades 6-12 – Walker & Wood; Jossey-Bass
Forensic Science: Advanced Investigations – Brown & Davenport – Cengage Learning
Forensics and Applied Science Experiments – Holt Science
Forensic Science: An Introduction– Saferstein; Pearson Prentice Hall
Forensic Science for High School – Deslich & Funkhouser; Kendall Hunt
Basic Laboratory Exercises for Forensic Science – Saferstein; Pearson Prentice Hall
Forensic Science Strategies Workshop Handbook – Bureau of Education & Research (BER)
Investigating Chemistry: A Forensic Science Perspective – Johll; Freeman & Company
SAMPLE FORENSICS LAB

School Country

United States

School state

Arizona

School city

Marana

School Address

N/A

School zip code

85742

Requested competency code

Lab Science

Date submitted

03/24/2015

Approved

Yes

Approved competency code

• LINT
• Integrated science

Approved date

04/28/2015

Online / Virtual

No