Forensic Science in Practice
Definition of Forensic Science
Forensic - Pertaining to the courts of law
Science - a branch of knowledge or study of structure and behaviour of the natural and physical world using experimentation and observation
Conflicting Logic Paradigms due to Science uses deductive reasoning (hypothesis testing and experimentation yet Forensic Science uses an inductive reasoning (broad generalisations from specific observations drawn from previous data
Adversarial Criminal Justice System
uses abductive reasoning (is neither deductive nor inductive - incomplete observations to the likeliest explanation with no guaranteed conclusion (different system all together
It is the prosecutions duty to prove beyond reasonable doubt, it does not connect completely, its about connecting the dots
Forensic Science...Is it Science ?
Does not apply hypothesis
Does not use experiments to test findings/hypothesis
Draws on general observation from previous data
Often has a sample size of one (n=1). If you know science well, you cant do an experiment and test theories when there is only one sample
Science Research v Forensic Examination
Science Research -
Forensic Examination
Disciplines, chemistry, biology, anthropology, molecular biology, discovery of natural phenomenon. Requires research design to answer question (method, statistics, controls, error rate)
Disciplines, chemistry, biology, anthropology, molecular biology. Determination of findings (i.e) identification to source, Requires examination methods to determine findings (method, statistics, controls and error rates)
Forensic Science Divisions
Medical Analogy (Forensic Science)
Medical Research
Discovery of new illnesses, determine cure for disease, new method of treatment and diagnosis. Examples cure for cancer, new surgery methods development and testing of drugs
Medical Examination
Doctor examines patients, diagnoses condition and recommends treatment using existing knowledge. Testing is often required to determine condition but not considered as research. Testing methods are protocols have already undergone research testing
Police
State Lab
Agencies
Other agencies
click to edit
Police
Border force
State and Federal Laboratories
EPA (environment)
Workcover (extensive powers without warrant if they see a need)
Forensic medicine institutions
Coroner’s office
click to edit
Crime scenes
Fingerprints
Physical Evidence
Firearm identification
Facial identification
Document examination
DNA
Forensic photography
Analytical chemistry, botany, biochemistry (DNA, serology, toxicology) Police forensic services, crime scene investigation, DVI, Fingerprint, Document Examination, Forensic Photography, Shoe and Tyre Marks, Blood Stain, Shoeprint
Immigration, Human Sporting (IOC), Olympic Committee, Animal Sporting Associations, Council Rangers, Private Labs (paternity, genealogy and intellectual property.
Chemistry Example - blocks of cocaine, it is 50% pure, weight of each block and weight and all blocks etc - Commercial is anything over 1KG
Best in Australia - Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine
Medical - Forensic pathology, sexual assault examinations, forensic anthropology, odontology, psychiatry, entomology, radiology
Primary Functions
Intelligence vs Evidence
Forensic Intelligence
Forensic Evidence
Provide evidence (prosecution or defence for an inquiry in court, also used to exclude suspects
Provide information for an investigation, collect data and establish databases, support security, reconstruction of material and events
They are not the same, it does not have to be tested in a court of law (intelligence) They have different standards such as Facial ID used as intelligence not evidence, what starts off as intelligence may end up as evidence
Technician vs Expert
Tech for Fingerprints - Processes serious incident scenes, seized items for fingerprint development techniques (ninhydrin, cyanoacrylate etc), participant in training to become an expert - 5 years
Expert for fingerprints - Examines fingerprints for identification, provides expert certificates and is an expert witness in court. Access to AFIS
EXPERT EVIDENCE - Section 79 - Evidence Act 1995 - Exception: opinions based on specialised knowledge
1) If a person has specialised knowledge based on the persons training, study or experience, the opinion rules do not apply to evidence of an opinion of that person that is wholly or substantially based on that knowledge.
2) To avoid doubt, and without limiting subsection (1) refers to child behaviour exploitation
Forensic ID of People - Identify people appearing before a court of law, identifying deceased persons (natural causes and victims of crime) Identifying persons of interest (crime, security)
Linkage Evidence
We are trying to link someone to a scene, to a person or to an item if the item is used in a crime. Can then be used in court. May connect an object with a person of interest. Does not always determine guilt (example, fingerprint inside the car vs outside the car) It has to be connected in a logical way.
Databases
AFIS - Fingerprints
NCIDD - DNA Database
Shoemarks (Sole Mate)
Facial Biometrics (passports, drivers licenses)
Vehicle paint databases