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Forensic ScienceForensic Science

History and Development of Forensic ScienceHistory and Development of Forensic Science

�� Forensic science is the application of science to criminal Forensic science is the application of science to criminal and civil laws that are enforce by police agencies in a and civil laws that are enforce by police agencies in a criminal justice system. criminal justice system.

�� Forensic science began with those individuals who Forensic science began with those individuals who developed the principles and techniques necessary to developed the principles and techniques necessary to identify or compare physical evidence, and with those identify or compare physical evidence, and with those who recognized the necessity of merging of those who recognized the necessity of merging of those principles into a coherent discipline that practically principles into a coherent discipline that practically applied to the criminal justice system.applied to the criminal justice system.

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1.1. Many believe that Many believe that Sir Arthur Conan DoyleSir Arthur Conan Doyle, through , through his fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, popularized his fictional character, Sherlock Holmes, popularized scientific crime detection methods. It was Holmes scientific crime detection methods. It was Holmes who first applied the principles of serology the study who first applied the principles of serology the study of blood, fingerprinting, firearm identification, and of blood, fingerprinting, firearm identification, and document examination long before their value was document examination long before their value was first discovered and implemented by real life criminal first discovered and implemented by real life criminal investigators. investigators.

The following are some pioneers who made early The following are some pioneers who made early contributions to formulating the disciplines that contributions to formulating the disciplines that now constitute forensic science:now constitute forensic science:

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2.2. Mathieu Mathieu OrfilaOrfila�� ““Father of Modern Toxicology”Father of Modern Toxicology”�� Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure OrfilaOrfila

(April 24, 1787 (April 24, 1787 -- March 12, 1853) March 12, 1853) was a French toxicologist and chemist.was a French toxicologist and chemist.

�� Publications:Publications:Trait des poisonsTrait des poisons or or ToxicologieToxicologie generate (1813)*generate (1813)*Elements de Elements de chimiechimie medicatemedicate (1817)(1817)LeonsLeons de de médecinemédecine legatelegate (1823)(1823)Trait des exhumations Trait des exhumations juridiquesjuridiques (1830)(1830)RecherchesRecherches sursur lempoisonnementlempoisonnement par par lacidelacide arsenieuxarsenieux (1841)(1841)

OrfilaOrfila cont’dcont’d

His fame rests mainly on the His fame rests mainly on the firstnamedfirstnamed work, work, published when he was only in his twentypublished when he was only in his twenty--seventh year. It is a vast mine of experimental seventh year. It is a vast mine of experimental observation on the symptoms of poisoning of all observation on the symptoms of poisoning of all kinds, on the appearances which poisons leave kinds, on the appearances which poisons leave in the dead body, on their physiological action, in the dead body, on their physiological action, and on the means of detecting them. and on the means of detecting them.

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3. Alphonse Bertillon� “Father of Criminal Identification”� Alphonse Bertillon was a French policeman who

believed that people could be physically identified to a certainty by conducting a series of measurements. His theory was that by using 11 different measurements from a person's body, he could accurately establish their identity at a later date. This system of identifcation is known as Anthropometry. Today, we use photographs and fingerprints as the standard for offender identification (booking).

Alphonse Bertillon

�� ““Father of Criminal Father of Criminal Identification”. Identification”.

�� Developed a Developed a system of system of identification called identification called anthropometry.anthropometry.

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�� The areas of measurement were chosen The areas of measurement were chosen randomly. After discarding some randomly. After discarding some measurements, measurements, BertillonBertillon decided to use the decided to use the breadth of the outstretched arms, head length breadth of the outstretched arms, head length and width, left foot length, left little finger and width, left foot length, left little finger length, trunk height, body height, width and length, trunk height, body height, width and length of the right ear, length of the left length of the right ear, length of the left forearm, and the length of the left foot.forearm, and the length of the left foot.

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�� BertillonBertillon also included fingerprints as part his also included fingerprints as part his new system which he called "new system which he called "anthropometricsanthropometrics". ". Bertillon'sBertillon's system became popular with law system became popular with law enforcement during the 1880s. Offenders were enforcement during the 1880s. Offenders were measured, photographed and fingerprinted measured, photographed and fingerprinted during their booking process. However, in 1903 during their booking process. However, in 1903 something occurred which caused law something occurred which caused law enforcement to discard enforcement to discard Bertillon'sBertillon's system of system of identification. identification.

A A BertillonBertillon "booking" Card"booking" Card

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BertillonBertillon Fingerprint CardFingerprint Card

What happened to What happened to BertillonBertillon in 1903?in 1903?

�� In 1903, a prisoner by the name Will West was In 1903, a prisoner by the name Will West was sentenced to incarceration at the United States sentenced to incarceration at the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. During his Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. During his inprocessinginprocessing, the records clerk obtained Will , the records clerk obtained Will West's West's BertillonBertillon measurements and photograph. measurements and photograph. Will West denied ever being incarcerated at the Will West denied ever being incarcerated at the facility. facility.

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Will West's Will West's BertillonBertillon Measurements Measurements

�� 178.5; 187.0; 91.2; 19.7; 178.5; 187.0; 91.2; 19.7; 15.8; 14.8; 6.6; 28.2; 15.8; 14.8; 6.6; 28.2; 12.3; 9.712.3; 9.7

�� The records clerk, having referenced his The records clerk, having referenced his BertillonBertillon measurements into the system, measurements into the system, retrieved the retrieved the BertillonBertillon card for a William West. card for a William West. Will West denied that the William West card was Will West denied that the William West card was his. Subsequent investigation disclosed that his. Subsequent investigation disclosed that William West had previously been incarcerated William West had previously been incarcerated in the facility until September 9, 1901. By in the facility until September 9, 1901. By examining the photographs, one can see the examining the photographs, one can see the failure of the failure of the BertillonBertillon system. system.

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�� Compare the Compare the BertillonBertillon measurements in particular, measurements in particular, keeping in mind the various factors that would affect keeping in mind the various factors that would affect the measurements. This failure strengthened the science the measurements. This failure strengthened the science of fingerprints as the normally accepted method of of fingerprints as the normally accepted method of personal identification. The authorities compared their personal identification. The authorities compared their fingerprints and determined that Will West was not the fingerprints and determined that Will West was not the previously recorded William West. Recent opinions previously recorded William West. Recent opinions suggest that Will and William West were related, suggest that Will and William West were related, therefore the closeness in measurements and therefore the closeness in measurements and appearance. As a result of this incident, appearance. As a result of this incident, Bertillon'sBertillon's"anthropometric" identification system was quickly "anthropometric" identification system was quickly discarded in favor of fingerprints. discarded in favor of fingerprints.

Will West Will West William WestWilliam West

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4. Frances 4. Frances GaltonGalton

Frances Frances GaltonGalton undertook undertook the first definitive study of the first definitive study of fingerprints as a method of fingerprints as a method of identification. Developed a identification. Developed a methodology of classifying methodology of classifying

them in 1892. His work described the basic them in 1892. His work described the basic principles that formed the present system of principles that formed the present system of identification by fingerprints.identification by fingerprints.

Francis Francis GaltonGalton

�� Developed a method of classification for finger Developed a method of classification for finger prints.prints.

�� Publication: “Finger Prints” Publication: “Finger Prints” –– a statistical proof a statistical proof of uniqueness of finger prints of uniqueness of finger prints

�� Wrote the basic principles of the present system Wrote the basic principles of the present system of identification by finger print analysis.of identification by finger print analysis.

�� Cousin to Charles DarwinCousin to Charles Darwin

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5. Leone Lattes5. Leone Lattes

�� Furthered the work of Dr Karl Furthered the work of Dr Karl LandersteinerLandersteiner�� Leone Lattes discovered that blood can be Leone Lattes discovered that blood can be

grouped into different categories. Since 1915, grouped into different categories. Since 1915, blood types have been recognized as A, B, AB, blood types have been recognized as A, B, AB, and O. and O.

�� Developed a test to type dried blood that is used Developed a test to type dried blood that is used for criminal investigations.for criminal investigations.

�� Today, his procedure is utilized often by Today, his procedure is utilized often by forensic scientists.forensic scientists.

6. Calvin Goddard6. Calvin Goddard

�� BullisticsBullistics –– chemical analysis to tell whether a chemical analysis to tell whether a gun has been fired or not.gun has been fired or not.

�� Use of a microscope to determine if a the tool Use of a microscope to determine if a the tool marks on a fired bullet matches a specific gun.marks on a fired bullet matches a specific gun.

�� Established the comparison microscope as an Established the comparison microscope as an indispensibleindispensible tool of the fire arms examiner. tool of the fire arms examiner.

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7. Albert S. Osborn7. Albert S. Osborn

�� Fundamental Principles of Document Fundamental Principles of Document Examination. Examination.

�� Book: Questioned Documents (still used today)Book: Questioned Documents (still used today)�� Handwriting analysisHandwriting analysis�� Document Document examinantionexaminantion�� Paper examination Paper examination

8. Walter C. 8. Walter C. McCroneMcCrone

�� Microscope techniquesMicroscope techniques�� McCroneMcCrone Research Institute Research Institute –– Chicago ILChicago IL�� World renown for microscope and microscope World renown for microscope and microscope

trace evidence detection.trace evidence detection.�� Did analysis on the “Shroud of Turin”.Did analysis on the “Shroud of Turin”.

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9. Hans Gross 9. Hans Gross

�� Wrote the first treatise on Wrote the first treatise on –– Application of Application of Science Disciplines to the Field of Criminal Science Disciplines to the Field of Criminal Investigation.Investigation.

�� Book Book –– Criminal Investigation: use of Criminal Investigation: use of microscope, chemistry, mineralogy, zoology, microscope, chemistry, mineralogy, zoology, botany, and anthropometry.botany, and anthropometry.

�� Forensic Journal Forensic Journal –– to report new and improved to report new and improved methods of scientific crime detection.methods of scientific crime detection.

10. Dr. Edmond 10. Dr. Edmond LocardLocard

Established the first workableEstablished the first workablecrime lab. Founder and Directorcrime lab. Founder and Directorof the Institute of of the Institute of CriminalisticsCriminalisticsat the University of Lyons. at the University of Lyons. International Center for the studyInternational Center for the studyand research in forensic science.and research in forensic science.Wrote: Wrote: LocardsLocards Exchange Principle Exchange Principle

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LocardsLocards Exchange PrincipleExchange Principle

�� States and believes that every criminal can States and believes that every criminal can be connected to a crime scene by dust be connected to a crime scene by dust particles carried to the crime scene, transfer particles carried to the crime scene, transfer occurs whenever a criminal comes into occurs whenever a criminal comes into contact with objects or a person.contact with objects or a person.