forensic unit of investigation
This unit of investigation will give you the chance to take your own steps inside crime laboratories and enter the world of the forensic scientist. You will explore the methods used to analyse the many different objects that are considered crime evidence: from bullets to fingerprints, blood stains to dog hairs! You will be asked to make your own conclusions throughout the lessons.
READY TO SEE HOW IT IS DONE?
READY TO SEE HOW IT IS DONE?
YouTube ESL students can access subtitles in their preferred language by pressing PLAY, then the CC button and select TRANSLATE CAPTION
The term ‘forensic’ means suitable for a court of law.
Science, is definitely the cornerstone of forensics; it allows the forensic scientist to discard what is irrelevant, and to correctly interpret what is relevant evidence from the scene of a crime and or a suspects home, car or workplace.
Many scientific investigations within chemistry, entomology (study of insects), engineering, pathology and so on help juries link a person(s) to a crime which can then lead to guilty people going to prison, or an innocent person(s) going free.
Responding correctly to a specific crime especially with an outdoor crime-scene is the only way to avoid the risk of ruining the investigation and its documentation. Identifying and then preserving the integrity of all the evidence uncovered is vital. It can often be more challenging for the investigators to keep the public from altering or destroying the evidence or missing evidence due to the weather conditions, temperature changes or lighting conditions. For this reason the investigator’s use tape to isolate the area so that they have the best chance of being thorough with their photographic and written documentation.
Many scientific investigations within chemistry, entomology (study of insects), engineering, pathology and so on help juries link a person(s) to a crime which can then lead to guilty people going to prison, or an innocent person(s) going free.
Responding correctly to a specific crime especially with an outdoor crime-scene is the only way to avoid the risk of ruining the investigation and its documentation. Identifying and then preserving the integrity of all the evidence uncovered is vital. It can often be more challenging for the investigators to keep the public from altering or destroying the evidence or missing evidence due to the weather conditions, temperature changes or lighting conditions. For this reason the investigator’s use tape to isolate the area so that they have the best chance of being thorough with their photographic and written documentation.
tape off your room every time you enter the world of forensic science
Forensic officers use tape to isolate an area so that they have the best chance of being thorough with their photographic and written documentation. Other factors that often negatively effect processing crime scenes are the length of time between the crime and its discovery and location.
Your teacher might 'Tape Off' your classroom whilst you enter the world of forensic science.
From now on, consider your classroom a forensic crime lab. Please respect that all crime labs share one important characteristic: they are places where many varied methods are used in the investigation of crimes. The evidence that the crime lab is investigating may be a strand of hair or a paint chip from a car.
Whatever the process you will be required to use and develop your observation skills, hypothesis, experimentation, data collection and be able to come to conclusions throughout the unit.
Your teacher might 'Tape Off' your classroom whilst you enter the world of forensic science.
From now on, consider your classroom a forensic crime lab. Please respect that all crime labs share one important characteristic: they are places where many varied methods are used in the investigation of crimes. The evidence that the crime lab is investigating may be a strand of hair or a paint chip from a car.
Whatever the process you will be required to use and develop your observation skills, hypothesis, experimentation, data collection and be able to come to conclusions throughout the unit.
in the lab/CLASSROOM - do's and don'Ts
DO
DON'T
- Wear disposable gloves when handling evidence, and never touch evidence with your bare hands.
- Be extremely careful with handling evidence.
- Wear a breathing mask where necessary.
DON'T
- Bring food or drinks into the areas where evidence is being handled or tested. This is because food and drinks are full of chemicals that can potentially contaminate the evidence.
- Try not to touch your face when you have gloves on.
- Leave evidence unattended.