Introduction to
Forensic Science
FOS 706 y g
Physical & Biological Evidence
Professor Linda Rourke
Blackboard Website
Must have CUNY Portal account
Go to www.cuny.edu
Click on Log-in (lower left)
LogRegister (right side)
Enter Blackboard from JJC site
Announcements, terminology sheets, etc. will be posted throughout semester
Professional Organizations
NEAFS (Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists)
AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)
What is forensic science?
What is criminalistics?
www.aafs.org
Annual Meeting usually held during the third week in
February, various locations
NYMS
DEFINITIONS
www.neafs.org
Annual NEAFS Meeting: usually in October or November in a location in the Northeast
New York Microscopical Society www.nyms.org FORENSIC SCIENCE
De Forest, Gaensslen & Lee:
“Forensic science is the application of the natural sciences to matters of the law”
1
CRIMINALISTICS
CAC: Criminalistics is “that profession and scientific discipline directed to the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence by the application of natural sciences to lawlawscience matters.”
FORENSIC SCIENCE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
A way of thinking.
Problem Solving.
Understanding a phenomenon.
Generally, a stepwise approach.
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
LEGAL SYSTEM
Set of rules governing human interactions
& behavior to facilitate society harmony
Criminal Codes
Governs activities i which society as a whole
G
ti iti in hi h i t h l has an interest
Civil Codes
Draws upon the principles and methods of traditional sciences
Unique objectives: continuous & necessary interaction with legal system
Observation
Conjecture
Hypothesis
Testing
Theory
SCIENCE & LAW
Forensic science developed out of a
common