Forensic Scientists

Forensic ScientistsForensic Scientists

Criminalist (CSI)Criminalist (CSI)Analyzes, compares, identifies, & interprets Analyzes, compares, identifies, & interprets

physical evidence at crime scenes.physical evidence at crime scenes.

Forensic PathologyForensic Pathology Involves the investigation of sudden, Involves the investigation of sudden,

unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths.unnatural, unexplained, or violent deaths.– Typically these are the medical examiners or Typically these are the medical examiners or

coronerscoroners Answer questions: who is the victim, what Answer questions: who is the victim, what

injuries are present, when did the injuries injuries are present, when did the injuries occur, why and how were the injuries occur, why and how were the injuries produced, and what is the cause of deathproduced, and what is the cause of death

Manner of DeathManner of Death Natural: 80 year old dies of congestive Natural: 80 year old dies of congestive

heart failureheart failure Homicide: death caused by another Homicide: death caused by another

personperson Suicide: death inflicted upon selfSuicide: death inflicted upon self Accidental: unintentional and without Accidental: unintentional and without

malice, group swimming and one drownsmalice, group swimming and one drowns Undetermined: absolute cause not able Undetermined: absolute cause not able

to be determinedto be determined

Cause of DeathCause of Death AsphyxiationAsphyxiation

– StrangulationStrangulation– DrowningDrowning– Fire victimFire victim

ExsanguinationExsanguination– Major blood loss Major blood loss

Blunt force traumaBlunt force trauma Sharp force traumaSharp force trauma Chemical traumaChemical trauma

Estimated Time of DeathEstimated Time of Death Autopsy: medical dissection and Autopsy: medical dissection and

examination of a body in order to examination of a body in order to determine the cause of deathdetermine the cause of death

Rigor Mortis: medical condition that Rigor Mortis: medical condition that occurs after death and results in the occurs after death and results in the shortening of muscle tissue and the shortening of muscle tissue and the stiffening of body parts in the position stiffening of body parts in the position they are in when death occurs. Occurs they are in when death occurs. Occurs within 24 hours and gone within 36 hourswithin 24 hours and gone within 36 hours

Estimated Time of DeathEstimated Time of Death Livor Mortis or lividity: medical condition Livor Mortis or lividity: medical condition

that occurs after death and results in the that occurs after death and results in the settling of blood in areas of the body settling of blood in areas of the body closest to the ground. Begins immediately closest to the ground. Begins immediately after death and lasts for 12 hoursafter death and lasts for 12 hours

Algor Mortis: postmortem changes that Algor Mortis: postmortem changes that cause a body to lose heat. Process in cause a body to lose heat. Process in which the body continues to cool to room which the body continues to cool to room temperature. 1 – 1.5 degree/hourtemperature. 1 – 1.5 degree/hour

Evidence to be Collected at Evidence to be Collected at AutopsyAutopsy

Victim’s clothingVictim’s clothing Fingernail scrapingsFingernail scrapings Head and pubic hairsHead and pubic hairs Blood (for DNA typing)Blood (for DNA typing) Vaginal, anal, and oral swaps (sex-crimes)Vaginal, anal, and oral swaps (sex-crimes) Recovered bullets/knives from bodyRecovered bullets/knives from body Hand swabs from shooting victims (for Hand swabs from shooting victims (for

GSR GSR analysis)analysis)

Forensic AnthropologyForensic Anthropology Identification and examination of Identification and examination of

human skeletal remainshuman skeletal remains– Trying to determine origin, sex, Trying to determine origin, sex,

approximate age, race and skeletal approximate age, race and skeletal injuryinjury

– May create facial reconstructionMay create facial reconstruction– Identify victims of mass disaster such as Identify victims of mass disaster such as

plane crashplane crash

Forensic EntomologyForensic Entomology Study of insects Study of insects

and their relation to and their relation to a criminal a criminal investigationinvestigation

After decomposition After decomposition begins, insects such begins, insects such as blow flies are the as blow flies are the first to infest the first to infest the bodybody

Forensic PsychiatryForensic Psychiatry Specialized area in which the Specialized area in which the

relationship between human behavior relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings is examinedand legal proceedings is examined– Civil cases: determine whether people Civil cases: determine whether people

are competent to make decisions about are competent to make decisions about wills, refusing medical treatment, etc.wills, refusing medical treatment, etc.

– Criminal cases: determine whether Criminal cases: determine whether people are competent to stand trialpeople are competent to stand trial

– Develop suspect’s behavior profileDevelop suspect’s behavior profile

Forensic OdontologyForensic Odontology Provide information about the Provide information about the

identification of victims when the body identification of victims when the body is left in an unrecognizable stateis left in an unrecognizable state

Teeth are composed of enamel which is Teeth are composed of enamel which is the hardest substance in the bodythe hardest substance in the body

Characteristics of teeth, alignment, and Characteristics of teeth, alignment, and overall structure of the mouth provide overall structure of the mouth provide method for identificationmethod for identification

Also analyze bite marksAlso analyze bite marks

Forensic EngineeringForensic Engineering Concerned with:Concerned with:

– Failure analysisFailure analysis– Accident reconstructionAccident reconstruction– Cause and origin of fires or explosionsCause and origin of fires or explosions

Answer questions such as how did an Answer questions such as how did an accident occur or what structural accident occur or what structural failure occurredfailure occurred

Forensic NurseForensic Nurse

Provides treatment for Provides treatment for crime victims. They are crime victims. They are

especially needed in especially needed in emergency rooms to emergency rooms to gather and package gather and package criminal evidencecriminal evidence..

Forensic ToxicologistForensic ToxicologistAnalyses alcohol, drugs, & poisons in body Analyses alcohol, drugs, & poisons in body

fluids for the benefit of the courts.fluids for the benefit of the courts.

Defense Wounds #1Defense Wounds #1

Defense wounds on the hand of a victim whose assailant was attacking with a knife.

Defense Wound #2Defense Wound #2

Here is a typical "defense wound" on the forearm of Here is a typical "defense wound" on the forearm of the victim of an assault with a sharp weapon, the victim of an assault with a sharp weapon,

producing the laceration.producing the laceration.

Defense PostureDefense PostureScene illustrates mechanism for "defense wounds".Scene illustrates mechanism for "defense wounds".

Clay Model Used to Clay Model Used to Demonstrate Knife WoundsDemonstrate Knife Wounds

double edge double edge

knife woundknife wound

single edge single edge knife woundknife wound

Stab Wound: Single Edge Stab Wound: Single Edge BladeBlade

Sharp edge Sharp edge of bladeof blade

Deadly blow to head that resulted in Deadly blow to head that resulted in fractured skull and bleeding.fractured skull and bleeding.

Fractured Liver: Fractured Liver: Blunt Force InjuryBlunt Force Injury

Natural Death:Natural Death:**Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast

*Pathologist’s *Pathologist’s photo of photo of embryo embryo

(ectopic (ectopic pregnancy)pregnancy)

Forensic Pathologist’s Tools Forensic Pathologist’s Tools of the Tradeof the Trade

More autopsy tools…More autopsy tools…

Stryker Saw:Stryker Saw:good for cutting into skullgood for cutting into skull

Digital Imagery Reconstruction:Digital Imagery Reconstruction:Use of computer superimposes Use of computer superimposes photo of skull with outer skin.photo of skull with outer skin.

Facial reconstruction Facial reconstruction technique used by forensic technique used by forensic

artists.artists.