Forensics Unit 1

• Henry —> implemented fingerprint classification system at Scotland Yard
• Balthazard —> medical examiner for Paris; scientific study of fingerprints, bullets, hair
• Gross —> coined criminalistic; applied scientific method
• Locard —> set up first crime lab in Lyone
• purpose of sketching —> shows relationship of evidence to each other, measurement of items allows for recreation later
• goal of crime scene searching --> make sure no evidence goes undiscovered
• goal of evidence collection --> do not lose evidence due to improper packaging, don't cross contaminate, maintain chain of custody for court admissibility
• direct evidence: no need for interpretation
• real evidence: physical objects at crime scene
• circumstantial: implies guilt of defendant, but can't be strictly proven
• Fyre v US --> general acceptance test
• Daubert v Merkel Down Pharm --> judges are gatekeeper of admissibility
• FBI crime lab was established n 1932
• LAPD was first crime lab in US in 1923
• first crime lab was in Europe in 1910
• traditional: use of patrol officers and detectives as crime scene techs
• crime scene techs: specially trained, full-time civilian employees