Description
Students will be introduced to basic concepts in criminalistics, such as identification and individualization. Among the topics for lecture and laboratory instruction are photography and other method of crime scene documentation, imprint and impression recovery, toolmark and firearm analysis, and handwriting analysis. Students are introduced to physical patterns such as bloodstain pattern analysis, bullet trajectory, and glass fracture typically found at crime scenes. Emphasis is also placed on the proper handling, packaging, and transport of physical evidence from crime scenes. Throughout the course students will gain a better understanding of the importance of minimizing bias and developing critical thinking skills during the analysis of pattern evidence. The laboratory portion of the course will culminate with a final mock crime scene where students will utilize the skills they developed during the semester to analyze the scene and generate a written report. Lecture three hours,