Criminalistics
Teacher
Mr. Sanjeev S Koni
Category
Core Courses
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Course Name : Criminalistics
Code(Credit) : BSFS0407(4-2-0)
Course Objectives
To gain knowledge about crime scene and its processing including securing, searching and documentation as well as collection and packaging of evidences.
Learning Outcomes
- The methods of securing, searching and documenting crime scenes.
The art of collecting, packaging and preserving different types of physical and trace evidence at crime scenes.
The legal importance of chain of custody.
The tools and techniques for analysis of different types of crime scene evidence.
Course Syllabus
Module I: ( 12 hrs)
Crime Scene Management
Types of crime scenes – indoor and outdoor. Securing and isolating the crime scene.
Crime scene search methods. Safety measures at crime scenes. Documentation of crime scenes – photography, videography, sketching and recording notes.
Duties of first responders at crime scenes. Coordination between police personnel and forensic scientists at crime scenes. The evaluation of 5Ws (who?, what?, when?, where?, why?) and 1H (how?). Crime scene logs.
Module II: (10 hrs)
Crime Scene Evidence
Classification of crime scene evidence – physical and trace evidence. Locard principle.
Collection, labeling, sealing of evidence. Hazardous evidence. Preservation of evidence.
Chain of custody. Reconstruction of crime scene.
Module III: ( 15 hrs)
Forensic Physics
Glass evidence – collection, packaging, analysis. Matching of glass samples by mechanical fit and refractive index measurements. Analysis by spectroscopic methods. Fracture analysis and direction of impact.
Paint evidence – collection, packaging and preservation. Analysis by destructive and non-destructive methods. Importance of paint evidence in hit and run cases.
Fibre evidence – artificial and man-made fibres. Collection of fibre evidence. Identification and comparison of fibres.
Soil evidence – importance, location, collection and comparison of soil samples.
Cloth evidence – importance, collection, analysis of adhering material. Matching of pieces.
Toolmark evidence. Classification of toolmarks. Forensic importance of toolmarks. Collection, preservation and matching of toolmarks. Restoration of erased serial numbers and engraved marks. Forensic gemmology.
Criminalistics Lab
To prepare a report on evaluation of crime scene.
To reconstruct a crime scene (outdoor and indoor).
To compare soil samples by density gradient method.
To compare paint samples by physical matching method.
To compare paint samples by thin layer chromatography method.
To compare glass samples by refractive index method.
Text Books:
1. M. Byrd, Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence, CRC Press, Boca Raton (2001).
Reference Books:
1. T.J. Gardener and T.M. Anderson, Criminal Evidence, 4th Ed., Wadsworth, Belmont (2001).
2. S.H. James and J.J. Nordby, Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques, 2nd Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton (2005).
3. W.J. Tilstone, M.L. Hastrup and C. Hald, Fisher’s, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, CRC Press, Boca Raton (2013).
Session Plan
Session 1
Session 2
| Types of crime scenes – indoor and outdoor. Securing and isolating the crime scene |
Session 3
| Crime scene search methods |
Session 4
| Safety measures at crime scenes |
Session 5
| Documentation of crime scenes – photography, videography, sketching and recording notes. |
Session 6
| Documentation of crime scenes – photography, videography. |
Session 7
| Documentation of crime scenes - sketching and recording notes. |
Session 8
| Duties of first responders at crime scenes |
Session 9
| Coordination between police personnel and forensic scientists at crime scenes |
Session 10
| The evaluation of 5Ws (who?, what?, when?, where?, why?) and 1H (how?). Crime scene logs. |
Session 12
| Classification of crime scene evidence – physical and trace evidence |
Session 14
| Collection, labeling, sealing of evidence. |
Session 15
| Hazardous evidence |
Session 16
| Preservation of evidence |
Session 17
| Chain of custody. |
Session 18
Session 19
| Reconstruction of crime scene |
Session 20
| Reconstruction of crime scene |
Session 21
| Forensic Physics |
Session 23
| Matching of glass samples by mechanical fit and refractive index measurements. |
Session 24
| Analysis by spectroscopic methods. Fracture analysis and direction of impact. |
Session 25
Session 26
| collection, packaging and preservation |
Session 27
| Analysis by destructive and non-destructive methods. |
Session 28
| Importance of paint evidence in hit and run cases. |
Session 29
| Fibre evidence – artificial and man-made fibres |
Session 30
| Collection of fibre evidence |
Session 31
| Identification and comparison of fibres. |
Session 32
Session 33
| Soil evidence – location, collection and comparison of soil samples |
Session 35
| Cloth evidence – collection, analysis of adhering material. Matching of pieces. |
Session 36
Session 37
| Forensic importance of toolmarks. Collection, preservation and matching of toolmarks. |
Session 38
| Restoration of erased serial numbers and engraved marks. Forensic gemmology. |
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