Criminal Justice

Forensic scientists in the crime laboratory and crime scene investigators

Forensic scientists in the crime laboratory and crime scene investigators in the field are called upon to provide facts relating to the examination of many different types of physical evidence. The scientific examination of physical evidence involves the examination of properties or characteristics that the evidence possesses. These characteristics permit forensic scientists to identify and compare evidence. The uniqueness or commonness of these characteristics directly influences the value of the evidence in the comparison process.

Crime scene investigators are also called upon to evaluate evidence that cannot be transported back to the crime laboratory, a type of examination referred to as crime scene reconstruction. What do you do when you come upon evidence that cannot be transported back to the lab?

In this seminar, be prepared to respond to the following questions, thinking about what you learned as you completed the unit reading assignments:

·         Explain the differences between class and individual characteristics.

·         Describe the role of forensic databases in the process of forensic investigation.

·         Discuss the value of crime scene reconstruction

Additional Seminar Information

To receive credit for the seminar if you are unable to attend, you are required to write a 300 – 500 word paper on the seminar topic above.