Forensic Science

Units/Cluster(s): 

Unit 1: Professional Standards and Employer Expectations

Unit 2: Forensic Science and Career Options

Unit 3: Using Scientific Methods and Reasoning

Units/Cluster(s):

4 Hair & Fiber Analysis

5 Fingerprints & Impressions

Units/Cluster(s):  

6 Ballistics & Tool Marks

7 Documents & Handwriting

8 DNA Profiling

9 Toxicology

Units/Cluster(s):   

10 Serology

11 Blood Spatter

12 Death & Forensic Anthropology

Unit 1: Professional Standards and Employer Expectations (3 Weeks)

-The student is expected to achieve business and industry employability skills standards such as attendance, punctuality, meeting deadlines, working toward personal/team goals every day, and ethical use of technology.

-The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, conducts laboratory and/or field investigations using safe, environmentally appropriate, and ethical practices. The student is expected to:

-demonstrate safe practices during laboratory and field investigations; and

-demonstrate an understanding of the use and conservation of resources and the proper disposal or recycling of materials

Unit 2: Forensic Science and Career Options (3 Weeks)

-distinguish between criminalistics and criminology;

-identify and illustrate roles, functions, and responsibilities of different forensic science disciplines such as serology-DNA, controlled substances, toxicology, trace evidence, firearms, fingerprints, and questioned documents;

-summarize the ethical standards required of a forensic science professional;

-identify and illustrate roles, functions, and responsibilities of professionals in the criminal justice system, including crime scene investigators, criminalists, attorneys, and medical examiners;

-illustrate the history of forensic science and recognize the major contributors in the development of forensic science

-research and describe the history of science and contributions of scientists within the criminal justice system

Unit 3: Using Scientific Methods and Reasoning (3 Weeks)

-know the definition of science and understand that it has limitations, as specified in subsection (b)(4) of this section;

-know that scientific hypotheses are tentative and testable statements that must be capable of being supported or not supported by observational evidence. 

-know scientific theories are based on natural and physical phenomena and are capable of being tested by multiple independent researchers.

-distinguish between scientific hypotheses and scientific theories;

-plan and implement descriptive, comparative, and experimental investigations, including asking questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting equipment and technology;

-collect and organize qualitative and quantitative data and make measurements with accuracy and precision using tools logical specimens or structures;

-analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and predict trends from data; and

-communicate valid conclusions supported by the data through methods

(9G) Demonstrate proper techniques for collecting, packaging, and preserving physical evidence found at a crime scene while maintaining documentation, including chain of custody.

Unit 3: Glass Analysis

(2 Weeks)

(13A) Demonstrate how to collect and preserve glass evidence;

(13B) Compare the composition of various types of glass such as soda lime, borosilicate, leaded, and tempered;

(13C) Determine the direction of a projectile by examining glass fractures; and

(13D) Define refractive index and explain how it is used in forensic glass analysis.

Unit 4: Hair and Fiber Analysis

(4 Weeks)

(12A) Demonstrate how to collect hair and fiber evidence at a simulated crime scene;

(12B) Perform the analysis of hair and fiber evidence using forensic science methods such as microscopy and flame testing;

(12C) Compare the microscopic characteristics of human hair and non-human hair, including medulla, pigment distribution, and scales;

(12D) Describe and illustrate the different microscopic characteristics used to determine the origin of a human hair sample; and

(12E) Differentiate between natural and synthetic fibers.

Unit 5: Fingerprints & Impressions (4 Weeks)

(10A) Compare the three major patterns of arches, loops, and whorls

(10B) Identify the minutiae of fingerprints, including bifurcations, ending ridges, short ridges, dots, short ridges, and enclosures/islands 

(10C) Distinguish between patent, plastic, and latent impressions

(10D)  procedures for developing and lifting latent prints on nonporous surfaces using cyanoacrylate and fingerprint powders

(10E) Perform procedures for developing latent prints using chemical processes on porous and adhesive surfaces with chemicals such as ninhydrin and crystal violet and documenting the results via photography

(10F) Explain the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) and describe the implication of Next Generation Identification (NGI) systems

(11B) Analyze the class and individual characteristics of footwear impressions and the recovery and documentation of surface characteristics such as soil or organic plant material

(11C) Analyze the class and individual characteristics of tire tread impressions and the recovery documentation of surface characteristics such as soil or organic plant material

(11D) Compare impression evidence collected at a simulated crime scene with the known impression

Fall Semester Exam

(1 Week)

Unit 6: Ballistics & Toolmarks

 (2 Weeks)

(11A) Analyze the class and individual characteristics of tool mark impressions and the recovery and documentation of surface characteristics such as wood or metal

Fall CCA

(15A) Describe the mechanism of modern firearms such as long guns and handguns

(15B) Identify the components and characteristics of bullet and cartridge cases

(15C) Describe the composition of and method of analysis for gunshot residue and primer residue

(15D) Conduct and calculate trajectory analysis of bullet strikes within a simulated crime scene

(15E) Identify and recognize the type of information available through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network.

Unit 7: Documents & Handwriting (2 Weeks)

(14A) Research and explain different types of examinations performed on digital and physical evidence in a forensic laboratory such as digital data recovery, counterfeiting, ink, and paper analysis;

(14B) Investigate and describe the security features incorporated in U.S. and foreign currency to prevent counterfeiting; and

(14C) Perform handwriting comparisons of an unknown sample with exemplars by analyzing characteristics such as letter, line, and formatting.

Unit 8: DNA Analysis 

(4 Weeks)

(19C) Describe the structure of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule and its function

(19D) Explain the analytical procedure for generating a DNA profile, including extraction, quantification,  amplification, and capillary electrophoresis;

(19E) Explain the different methodologies  such as short surrounding the different types of DNA analysis such as short tandem repeats (STRs), Y-STRs, mitochondrial DNA, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs);

(19F) Interpret the components of an electropherogram;

(19G) Explore the databasing systems associated with DNA such as Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and ancestry-based databasing systems.

Unit 9: Toxicology (1 week)

(16A) Differentiate between toxicological analysis and controlled substance analysis as they relate to the method of collection and impact on the body;

(16B) Classify controlled substances using the schedules under the Controlled Substances Act; and

(16C) Identify unknown substances using presumptive and confirmatory procedures such as microchemical/color indicating reagent field tests, microscopy, chromatography, and spectrophotometry.

(17A) explain the absorption, distribution, metabolization, and elimination of toxins such as alcohol, prescription drugs, controlled substances, and carbon monoxide through the human body;

(17B) describe presumptive and confirmatory laboratory procedures as they relate to toxicological analysis such as headspace analysis, solid-phase extractions, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), color tests, and immunoassays;

(17C) interpret results from presumptive and confirmatory laboratory procedures, including GC/MS and their implications; and

(17D) explain the precautions necessary in the forensic laboratory for proper preservation of biological samples.

Unit 10: Serology (2 Weeks)

(18C) Conduct and interpret blood presumptive tests or various biological such as phenolphthalein and tetramethylbenzidine (TMB);

(19A) Identify different types of biological samples and practice proper collection and preservation techniques;

(19B) Identify the red blood cell antigens and antibodies as they relate to human blood types.

Unit 11: Blood Spatter (2 Weeks)

(18A) Analyze blood stain patterns based on surface type and appearance such as size, shape, distribution and location in order to determine the mechanism by which the patterns are created;

(18B) Explain the methods of chemically enhancing latent blood patterns using reagents such as Blue Star or Amido Black.

Unit 12: Death & Forensic Anthropology (6 Weeks)

(20A) explain the principles of rigor, algor, and livor mortis and how they apply to deceased persons;

(20B) differentiate between the types of wound patterns such as lacerations and blunt force trauma resulting from stabbings, bludgeoning, gunshots, and strangulations;

(20C) determine cause and manner of death from an autopsy report obtained through resources such as case studies, simulated autopsies, and dissections; and

(20D) determine the approximate time of death using entomology.

(21A) identify the major bones of the human skeletal system;

(21B) compare composition and structure of human and non-human bones;

(21C) describe the collection and preservation methods for bone evidence;

(21D) explain the characteristics of the human skeletal system indicative of specific biological sex and approximate range of age and height; and

(21E) explain how human remains are identified through dental records such as dentures, x-rays, and implants.

Spring CCA

(1 Week)

Required Projects:

Forensic Science Timeline 

(Unit 1)

Crime Scene Project (Unit 2)

Glass Fractures Activity (Unit 3)

Required Projects:

Microscopy Lab (Unit 4)

Fiber Analysis Lab (Unit 4)

Fingerprint Processing (Unit 5)

Required Projects:

Santa got Mugged (Unit 6)

Examining U.S. Currency Lab (Unit 7)

Gel Electrophoresis (Unit 8)

Required Projects:

El Chapo Lab (Unit 9)

Ernie’s Exit Lab (Unit 10)

Blood Spatter Analysis (Unit 11)

Fetal Pig Autopsy (Unit 12)

Getting Under Your Skin (Unit 12)

Cycle 1:

-Professionalism

-Teamwork

-Problem Solving

127.15 (2)(A)

127.15 (2)(B)

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127.15 (2)(D)

127.15 (2)(E)

127.15 (2)(F)

127.15 (2)(G)

127.15 (2)(H)

127.15 (2)(I)

127.15 (2)(J)

127.15 (2)(L)

Cycle 2:

- Job Seeking Skills

127.15 (2)(A)

127.15 (2)(H)

127.15 (2)(I)

127.15 (2)(J)

127.15 (2)(K)

127.15 (2)(L)

Cycle 3:

-Communication Skills

-Self Management Skill

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127.15 (2)(C)

127.15 (2)(D)

127.15 (2)(E)

127.15 (2)(F)

127.15 (2)(G)

127.15 (2)(H)

127.15 (2)(I)

127.15 (2)(J)

127.15 (2)(L)

Cycle 4:

-Civic and Social Responsibility

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127.15 (2)(G)

127.15 (2)(H)

127.15 (2)(I)

127.15 (2)(L)