Maricopa Community Colleges  AJS245   20064-99999 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 02/28/06
AJS245 20064-99999 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Forensic Pathology: Advanced Death Investigation
An advanced examination of the role of the medical examiner in crime scene investigations, mass disasters, motor vehicle accidents, and other unnatural deaths. Covers basic forensic biomechanics, advanced forensic anthropology and the role of the medical examiner as an expert court witness. Prerequisites: AJS223.
Cross-References: FOR245
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
AJS245   20064-99999 Forensic Pathology: Advanced Death Investigation
1. Explain the procedures used by the medical examiner during crime scene investigations. (I)
2. Explain basic principles of kinematics and kinetics. (II)
3. Explain biological tissue response to loading and deformation during trauma. (III)
4. Explain and demonstrate crime scene investigation procedures. (IV)
5. Explain basic concepts in momentum, force, time and the impulse equation. (V)
6. Describe techniques of forensic anthropology. (VI)
7. Describe protocols used by law enforcement agencies involved in a mass disaster response. (VII)
8. Describe the ways forensic pathology can aid in the investigation of motor vehicle accidents. (VIII)
9. Describe protocols used in the investigation of child abuse and rape. (IX)
10. Describe the role of the medical examiner in court. (X)
11. Discuss the uses of forensic pathology on live patients. (XI)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
AJS245   20064-99999 Forensic Pathology: Advanced Death Investigation
    I. Crime Scene Investigation
        A. Role of the forensic investigator
        C. Documenting the crime scene
      II. Forensic Biomechanics: Kinematics and Kinetics
          A. Kinematics
          B. Kinetics
          C. Case studies
        III. Forensic Biomechanics: Biological Tissue Response
            A. Response to loading
            B. Loads and Deformation
            C. Case studies
          IV. Crime Scene Investigation Procedures
            V. Forensic Biomechanics: Basic Concepts
                A. Basic concepts in momentum, force and time
                B. The impulse equation
                C. Case studies
              VI. The Role of Forensic Anthropology in Identification of Human Remains
                  A. Determination of gender
                  B. Determination of age
                  C. Determination of race
                VII. Mass Disasters: Interagency Functions and the Role of the Medical Examiner
                    A. Special problems encountered during mass disasters
                    B. Identification efforts following hurricanes, e.g. Katrina
                    C. Protocols used by law enforcement agencies
                  VIII. Motor Vehicle Accidents
                      A. Pattern injuries
                      B. Scene investigation
                    IX. Death and Abuse in Children
                        A. Investigation of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) vs. Infanticide
                        B. Investigation of child abuse
                          1. Battered children
                          2. Neglected children
                          3. Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy
                      X. Role of the Medical Examiner as an Expert Witness in Court
                        XI. Forensic Pathology on Live Patients and Rape Homicides
                            A. Investigation of sexual assault
                              1. The rape kit
                              2. Protocols
                              3. The rape-homicide
                            B. Evaluation of injuries on live patients
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