Units
Forensic Sciences - From Crime Scene to Court
Unit code: SCB384
Contact hours: 4.5 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
The aim of this unit is to provide you with an introduction to the theory that underpins crime scene investigations, and to give you some appreciation of the practices involved in the processing of a crime and some of the collected evidence, within the framework of the justice system.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
In this unit you will be introduced to two fundamental areas of forensic science - the crime scene and the justice system. Once a crime scene is declared a series of established procedures is invoked. The crime scene is processed for evidence and may contain many different sample types, depending on the scenario. Commonly, the crime scene is recorded on video or another method of imaging. Also, fingerprinting may be required. Crime scene evaluation and appropriate evidence collection are vital components of comprehensive forensic analysis as the quality of the evidence collected will directly affect the quality of the analysis that can be performed and the conclusions which can be drawn. Samples must be handled and maintained according to specific protocols to prevent contamination and provide continuity and traceability in order to stand up under legal argument. It is crucial for forensic scientists to have some appreciation of the law, criminology and justice, and an understanding of the principles of evidence in order to provide useful testimony to courts of law. You will be introduced to all of the above issues.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide you with an introduction to the theory that underpins crime scene investigations, and to give you some appreciation of the practices involved in the processing of a crime and some of the collected evidence, within the framework of the justice system.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit, you should:
1. Understand the procedures which must be undertaken in order to properly process a crime scene including documentation of the scene, evidence collection and handling of exhibits.
2. Understand what constitutes physical evidence, including the basic chemical structures of common evidence samples.
3. Understand the principles and analytical procedures commonly applied to physical evidence samples and be able to draw logical conclusions from analytical results.
4. Understand forensic photographic and imaging and finger t\printing techniques.
5. Understand the basic requirements of the justice system and be able to report forensic results in a manner acceptable to the courts.
Content
1. Crime Scene Examination: The principles and protocols of crime scene examination including crime scene management and sampling techniques for a range of scenarios including fire, explosion and murder.
2. Common Crime Scene Processes:
i. An overview of the techniques and skills required in forensic photography including digital and video methods.
ii. A theoretical and practical knowledge of the types of fingerprinting techniques available and their limitations.
3. Law and Criminology: An overview of legal procedures and court requirements including the law, criminology and justice and the rules of evidence.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Class contact in this unit will involve a combination of lectures and practicals / workshops / tutorials. The practicals will allow students to apply some of the methods discussed in the lectures. Practicals/workshops will also provide a hands-on learning environment and assess the student's ability to think laterally, examine mock crime scenes, collect, examine and evaluate potential evidence.
A significant proportion of the lectures in this course will be provided by invited lecturers who are forensic science practitioners, and who inject the experience and professionalism so essential to this complex and important field.
Lectures (26 hours, 2 hours per week)
Practical / workshops / tutorials (26 hours, 12 x 2- 3 hour sessions depending on activity)
Assessment
In this unit, you will be assessed by a combination of case studies, written reports on the laboratory exercises, and a final written examination.The Case Study and Laboratory/Practical summative assessment items will be critically reviewed and returned to students to provide feedback. The interactive practical and workshop sessions are designed to facilitate discussions between the staff and students and will provide further opportunities for open discussions. All practical reports and assignments are designed to improve students' written communication in general as well as to provide students with an appreciation that there are certain formal reporting requirements in context. Questions from past examination papers will be provided.
Assessment name:
Case Study
Description:
Written reports on case studies of selected topics from areas of law, criminology, justice and testimony.
Relates to objectives:
5
Weight:
10%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Weekly
Assessment name:
Laboratory/Practical
Description:
Written reports on practical/workshop sessions relating to:
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weekly
Assessment name:
Examination
Description:
Final theory examination.
Relates to objectives:
1 to 5
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Exam Period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
1. Saferstein R (2001) Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 7th edition, Prentice-Hall
Risk assessment statement
The professional practice of Chemistry requires the safe handling of Hazardous Substances. A practical laboratory program is an important part of this unit, so you will be required to handle such substances. The chemicals and procedures used in this unit are deemed to be appropriate for students at this level of the course. You will be provided with a School Health and Safety Manual in this unit (or a pre-requisite unit). Health and Safety information and precautions relevant to the particular experiment are clearly explained in the Practical Manual. Having been provided with this information, it is your responsibility to read and comply with these instructions for the safety of yourself, your fellow students and staff.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 19-Oct-2012
