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Intro to Criminalistics

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Intro to Criminalistics
Lecture # 1

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
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