Introduction I

UNIT OBJECTIVES

Students should be able to:

1. Name the steps of the Scientific Method.

2. Demonstrate observation skills.

3. Describe how forensic science is multidisciplinary, incorporating many areas of study.

4. Describe the various jobs performed in the area of forensic study.

5. Discuss the work of the medical examiner.

6. Understand how a crime lab works.

7. Present a timeline of events in the development of forensic science.

8. Understand the federal rules of evidence.

9. Describe the types of law in the criminal justice system.

10. Describe the various types of physical evidence and how they are collected.

11. Explain the difference between indirect and direct evidence

12. Tell individual evidence apart from class evidence.

13. Determine the significance of class evidence.

14. Access the internet for specific information.

15. Observe the relevance of classroom study to real-life situations.

ASSIGNMENTS	SPECIFICS
Forensic Science for High School By Deslich and Funkhouser	Chapters 1-2, pp. 1-36
Crime Scene by Ragle	Chapters 1-3 pp. 1-24
Criminalistics by Saferstein	Chapters 1 and 2 pp. 11-88 Chapter 10 pp. 353-411
Careers	Forensic Science as a career choice: http://aafs.org/default.asp?section_id=resources&page_id=choosing_a_career
Class Notes	PowerPoint--Click here for chapter one PowerPoint Notes Click here for Chapter two PowerPoint Notes
Activities	Questions, p. 17 Crossword puzzle, p. 20 Crime Skits Case studies Probability and Class Evidence “Can This Evidence be Individualized?” “Who’s This Face” (see URL below)http://pos.psdr3.org/science/forensics/activities/Who%27s.html Questions, p. 35
Labs	Observation Lab Intro to the Crime Scene by Kennesaw Police
Technology	Crime Scene Investigation TV series: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/ http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_miami/ http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_ny/ Forensic Education: http://www.forensicdna.com/ Autopsy: http://www.hbo.com/autopsy/index.html
Projects	Forensic Career Search (also see Education above) Sex Offender Debate, p. 36
Other	Unit Review Game
Assessments	Quizzes Written Knowledge and Analysis Test

AUTOPSY--There are two tutorials to visit that will help with an understanding of how an autopsy is conducted.

HBO--Dr. Michael Baden performs a visual autopsy.
Ed Friedlander, M.D. (pathologist)--gives a detailed account of what is done during an autopsy.

Image on the right came from Autopsy Video,

If you are interested in a career as a forensic pathologist, check out the website by Dr. Uthman. He answers many of your questions. In addition, the National Association of Medical Examiners has its own website with cases in the news that change every month. Check out those that are of interest to you.

A REASON TO KNOW YOUR BODY NAMES!

The Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyers Journal printed these questions that were actually asked of witnesses during a trial.

Lawyer: You were not shot in the fracas?

Witness: No, I was shot midway between the fracas and the navel.

Lawyer: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

Pathologist: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.

Lawyer: And Mr. Dennington was dead at the time?

Pathologist (tongue in cheek): No, he was sitting on the table wondering why I was doing an autopsy!

Lawyer: Can you describe the individual?

Witness: He was about medium height and had a beard.

Lawyer: Was this a male or a female?

CSI--Crime Scene Investigation

On the CSI website, you can navigate an interactive crime lab, look at cases that were solved on the program, and observe the forensics used to solve it. The handbook section contains information about tools, evidence and procedures. Check it out for later use.

ASK "KEMSTER"

CAN SOMEONE BE CONVICTED OF MURDER IF A BODY IS NEVER RECOVERED?

YES! Based on the various types of evidence, one can conclude that a person could not be alive. As a result, people have been arrested, charged and convicted of murder even when no actual body has been found.