Forensics

Activity: Presentations
You will do a 5+ minute VIDEO presentation on one of the following forensic topics:


 * Instructions** (doesn't need to be in this order)
 * 5+ minutes
 * video format
 * your audience is your fellow students, who probably know very little about the topic
 * explain the particular forensic topic, the science, techniques used, what eveidemntiary value (if any) it gives police in crime investigation, etc.
 * cite sources (at least 2+)
 * USE PICTURES to explain/ show what you're talking about
 * DON'T just read off the slide
 * DON'T have too much information on any one slide
 * USE A SPECIFIC CASE (if you can) that explains WHAT the police did and how it helped them
 * you can also show youtube/ other videos to supplement your work

Topics:
 * 1) **Arson investigation (how is it done, what is it used for, reliability?):** See the [|Innocence Projec] re Cameron Todd WIllingham, and [[file:CameronTodd Willingham arson investigation.pdf|read a longer article]] about his case
 * 2) Ballistics (**Guns and Bullets,** **matching with weapons, bullet comparison):**
 * 3) **DNA (what is it, how is it taken, used):**
 * 4) **Forensic anthropology (bones and skeletons- what can they tell us/ how and why evidence used):**
 * 5) **Lie Detectors (how do they work, changes over time, reliability and 'beating' it):**
 * 6) **Forensic Psychology (Criminal Behavior & Profiling- how and why used, reliability):** see [[file:Gladwell Criminal profiling and the F.B.I.pdf|this article]] which criticizes the idea of criminal profiling, and [|this discussion] between an FBI profiler and his detractors
 * 7) **Computer forensics (what can be determined, how and why used)**
 * 8) **Fingerprints/ fingerprint analysis (how taken, analyzed, compared)**
 * 9) Blood Analysis/ Blood Splatter **(blood patterns, smears, typing blood)**
 * 10) **Autopsies: (Coroner Reports- manner, cause and time of death, analysis of body, etc.)**
 * 11) Crash Investigation and reconstruction (**Impressions, tire, sneaker, how taken, how and why used)**
 * 12) Handwriting & Document Analysis (Authentication, p**aper trail, bank records, terrorist financing)**
 * 13) **Trace analysis (hair and fibers, transfers of evidence, reliability)**


 * Rubric is same as for Defense presentations**


 * Possible places to start research:**
 * 1) **Books on forensics (I have one, library has others)**
 * 2) **[|This website] (scroll down half-way to se elist. Not all links work...)**
 * 3) **[[file:FBI Handbook Forensic Services.pdf|FBI Forensic Handbook]]**
 * 4) **Here's a[[file:DNA Exonerations Forensic Science.pdf| list of cases where forensic mistakes]] led to innocent people getting convicted (most were later exonerated by DNA)**
 * I have other articles as well, depending upon what you want/ need and topics**

__** STUDENT CHOICES **__
**Remy &** ** Prashanth; ** Lie Detectors **Kyungla**: Computer Forensics **Serena**: Fingerprints **JX**: Criminal Profiling/Forensic Psychology **Anthony and Roger:** Blood Analysis **Bryan & Isaac:** Ballistics **Jimmy and Jeff:** Handwriting/ Document Analysis **Kate**: Trace Analysis
 * Caili and Jinny ** :: Arson Investigation

DNA Handwriting/ Document Analysis Forensic Anthropolgy Trace Analysis (hair, fiber, fabric) Crash Investigation
 * Unclaimed Topics**

Creating Videos:

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