Forensic Science 1.06

Module One: Text Questions
Review Questions
1. What is forensic science?
Forensic science, is the application of science to the criminal justice system. Forensic science is any science that is used for the purposes of the criminal justice system. Forensic scientists use forensics to help determine who committed a crime. For example, forensic scientists are able to compare fingerprints from a crime scene with databases of fingerprints in order to find who was at the scene of a crime.
2. What three tasks or responsibilities does a forensic scientist have?
Analyzing the evidence, being called to give an expert testimony, and train others.
3. What criteria might be used to establish someone as an expert witness?
An expert witness is someone who the court says has special knowledge relevant to the case, generally knowledge that an ordinary person would not have.
4. What are two of the ways that a forensic pathologist might use to help determine the time of death?
Forensic Pathology, where you can determine how long the victim has been dead by seeing if they have Rigor Mortis, Liver Mortis or even Algor Mortis.
5. What does a forensic anthropologist do?
Analyzes bodies that haven been in disasters fires, explosions, plane crashes, in general bodies burnt or mutilated.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Why do you think it is so important to use proper methods when collecting evidence from a crime scene?
I believe it is very important to use proper methods when colleting evidence because you could lose very valuable evidence and information that could be linked to a death, or even how they died. It is important that everything is taken and recorded properly as well so they don’t get mixed up with another case. Also if the information is not recorded properly it would be difficult to understand.
2. Why do you think forensic science has been increasingly used by the criminal justice system?
I think forensic science has been increasingly used by the criminal justice system because it is very accurate if it is done properly, even something as small as a hair or a blood drop can help solve parts of the crime. Using Forensic science you can tell how long a person has been dead, which is also very useful because you can interrogate suspects where the possible suspect was because you now have an approximate time.
3. Which of the forensic scientist’s responsibilities do you think would be the most challenging? Why?
The most challenging would be definitely when you analyze the evidence. I feel that it would be a huge responsibility to find out the truth and to actually make sure they are correct
4. Which of the forensic scientist’s responsibilities do you think would be the most interesting to you? Why?
I think the thing I’d find most interesting would be analyzing the data because in order to do that you would have to use special chemicals and other instruments to link the evidence to the crime. I would feel excited to work with chemicals and instruments to help me determine how the death actually occurred and even how long they were dead for.
5. Which of the specialty areas do you think you would most like to work in? Why?
I have a couple that I’m very interested in but especially Forensic Pathology because I think it is such a critical part knowing how long a person has been dead and also seeing how the body reacts after a time interests me also as I mentioned above I like using chemicals and instruments and I can imagine you do this in this specific area.
I also like Forensic Psychiatry because I have always been interested in psychology, and always wanted to take it, but my passion is science so this is both combined. I very much like the idea of trying to figure out why someone would think it is logical to take someone’s life away.