Descriptor Details

  • Descriptor Title
    Introduction to Forensics
  • C-ID Number
    150
  • Units
    3.0
  • Date of Last Revision
    10/12/2017 04:43:52 PM PDT

General Description

This course provides an introduction to the role of forensics in criminal investigations.  It examines the methods utilized in the forensic analysis of crime scenes, pattern evidence, instruments, firearms, questioned documents and controlled substances.

Prerequisites

No information provided

Corequisites

No information provided

Advisories

No information provided

Content

Role of Forensic Science within the Criminal Justice System

Crime Scene analysis versus crime scene processing

Analysis of Pattern Evidence in Investigations

Principles of Fingerprint Identification

Analysis of Document Evidence

Firearms and tool mark analysis

Collection, Preservation and analysis of DNA evidence

Arson and Explosives evidence

Types of Controlled Substances evidence

Lab Activities

No information provided

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Identify and explain the role of forensic specialists in the Criminal Justice System.

Identify the various types of crime scenes and differentiate between crime scene process versus crime scene analysis.

Identify and differentiate the types of pattern evidence and explain their respective importance in crime scene reconstruction.

Identify and explain Personal Identification Patterns that identify a person.

Identify and explain the processes for analyzing questioned documents

Identify and explain the processes for analyzing tool mark and firearm evidence.

Identify the three methods of DNA typing.

Explain the procedures for the collection and preserving DNA evidence to prevent contamination.

Identify and Differentiate the chemical and material evidence in Arson and Explosives crime scenes.

Identify and Differentiate depressant, stimulant, hallucinogen, and narcotic substances and explain the methods of analyzing each type of substance in a forensic laboratory.

Evaluation Methods

Objective and subjective examinations/quizzes

Case analysis

Projects

Homework assignments

In class exercises/presentations

Textbooks

The Science of Crime Scenes, Houck, 2012, 1st Ed.

Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigation, Bertilo, 2016, 2nd Ed

Criminalistics: Forensic Sciences, Crime & Terrorism, Girard, 2015, 3rd Ed.

Descriptor Administration

  • Public Review Needed
    No
  • Next Descriptor Review
    No information provided
  • Resubmission Requirements for Courses
    No information provided
  • Resubmission Deadline
    No information provided
  • Comments

    No information provided

  • Notes

    No information provided

  • Keywords
    orig app year 2010