Forensic Analysis & Interp

Catalog description

The forensic sciences have become a vital part of our criminal justice system over the past several decades. A rise in more sophisticated technology and several high-profile cases have helped to move forensic science out of the laboratory and into popular culture. This class will present the forensic sciences in a straightforward fashion. Basic scientific principles will be explained, and case examples used to understand how those principles are applied. An emphasis will be placed on the role of the crime scene investigator and how they preserve, record, and collect evidence at the crime scene. Specific areas of study will include how a crime scene is recorded and evidence collected, death investigations, crime scene reconstruction, fingerprints, blood spatter analysis, ballistics, fire and explosion investigations, trace evidence, and the use of DNA.