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Official Course
Description: MCCCD Approval: 2-28-2006 |
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FOR105
2006 Fall - 9999 |
LEC 4.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load Occ LAB 0.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 2.4 Load |
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Forensic
Science: Physical Evidence |
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Scientific analysis and examination of physical evidence
for forensic purposes. Covers fingerprints, shoe prints, tool marks, glass,
soil and mineral evidence, firearms identification, paint chips, and arson
and explosive evidence. Includes the history of forensic science, functions
of the crime lab and criminalist career specialties. Prerequisites: None. Course
Attribute(s): General Education Designation: Natural Sciences
(Quantitative) - [SQ] |
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Go to Competencies Go to Outline
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MCCCD
Official Course Competencies: |
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FOR105 2006
Fall - 9999 |
Forensic Science: Physical Evidence |
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1.
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Define forensic science and criminalistics
and identify the major contributors to the development of forensic science.
(I) |
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2.
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Describe the
services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice
system and explain other fields of forensic science that require expertise in
a specialized area. (I) |
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3.
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Identify the
common types of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes and explain
their evidentiary value including the purpose physical evidence plays in
reconstructing the events surrounding the commission of a crime. (II) |
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4.
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Explain the scientific method and other critical thinking methodologies
and their use in forensic science. (III) |
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5.
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Define physical and chemical properties and ways to
measure and otherwise describe them. (III) |
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6.
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List and define
the basic units and prefixes of English and Metric systems and convert from
one system of measurement to the other. (III) |
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7.
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Observe,
measure, compare and record chemical and physical properties, including
color, dimension, volume, mass, density, attraction, refraction, ph and
boiling point and identify and "rule out" substances based upon
their chemical and physical properties. (III) |
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8.
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Record observations accurately, using appropriate forensic
science terminology. (III-IX) |
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9.
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Use scientific
measuring devices and observation to obtain chemical and physical data and
accurately record the results. (III-IX) |
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10.
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Interpret safety labels and use lab equipment properly and
safely to perform a variety of forensic procedures. (III-IX) |
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11. 12.
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Utilize
scientific techniques and critical thinking skills to identify, compare and
contrast physical evidence, paint, explosive residues, fired bullets and
"spent" cartridge casings, tool marks, obliterated serial numbers
stamped into metals, questioned documents, and visible and latent
fingerprints. (IV-IX) Use the scientific method
and other critical thinking skills for hypothesis development, experimental
design, data acquisition and analysis related to forensic issues focusing on
the identification of physical evidence. (I-IX) |
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13.
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Apply principles, concepts and methods of forensic science
to lab tests. (I-IX) |
Go to Description Go to top of
Competencies
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MCCCD
Official Course Outline: |
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FOR105 2006
Fall - 9999 |
Forensic Science: Physical Evidence |
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I. Introduction A. What is forensic
science? B. History C. Crime labs D. Career specializations II. Physical Evidence A. Common types B. Identification and
comparison C. Individual versus class
characteristics D. Crime scene
reconstruction III. Techniques of
Scientific Analysis A. The scientific method B. Physical and chemical
properties C. The metric system D. Observation, measurement
and recording E. Substance identification
and comparison IV. Glass and Soil A. Density B. Refractive index C. Crystalline versus
amorphous solids D. Refraction and
birefringence E. Light dispersion F. Glass flotation and
immersion methods G. Glass fracture patterns H. Glass evidence
collection I. Soil properties J. Mineral identification K. Density-gradient tube L. Soil evidence collection
V. Paint Evidence A. Components B. Automobile paints C. Common paint
examinations D. Paint evidence
collection VI. Arson and Explosive
Investigation A. Oxidation and energy B. Combustion and ignition
temperature C. Exothermic and
endothermic chemical reactions D. Combustion E. Arson evidence
collection F. Hydrocarbon and
explosive residue detection and identification G. Classifications of
explosives 1. Initiating versus non-initiating
2. Commercial, homemade and
military H. Lab tests for explosives
detection VII. Firearms, Tool Marks
and Shoeprints A. Rifling B. Characteristics of
bullets and casings C. Microscopic comparisons D. Caliber and gauge E. Integrated Bullet
Identification System (IBIS) F. Distance estimation G. Gunshot residue testing H. Serial number
restoration I. Collecting firearm
evidence J. Tool mark evidence K. Shoeprint evidence VIII. Documents and Voice
Examination A. Questioned documents B. Handwriting
characteristics C. Collecting handwriting
samples D. Typewriter
characteristics E. Collecting typewriter
samples F. Pen-related fraud G. Voice prints IX. Fingerprints A. History B. Characteristics C. Physiology D. Patterns E. Types 1. Visible 2. Plastic 2. Latent F. Developing 1. Powder 2. Chemical G. Preserving 1. Photographing 2. Lifting 3. "Fixing" H. Digital Enhancement |