...Forensic Chemistry Forensic Chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with chemical analysis of evidence found at crime sites and any other substance that may have been used during a crime. Examples would be like analyzing the weapon for DNA and fingerprints, and analyzing any substance like spit or blood that might contain the criminal's or the victim's DNA in it. Forensic Chemistry is very popular today, as it is in many famous TV shows, especially CSI, which means crime scene investigator, hence they are all forensic chemists. One could think that they know a lot about forensics and they can do it just by watching the TV show, but in reality all of the tests and clues are found by rigorous processes that are highly complicated unless they went to school for it and obtained tremendous hours of study in chemistry. An investigator might have a clue or hunch on a substance that may have been used, like drugs, and they can search the scene for that substance and test it to see if any drugs were used. A chemist would test the substance and compare chemical compounds of the unknown substance and the known drug compound. If the substance tests positive for drugs and the investigator can link the drugs to someone, then they might have found the criminal, or at least a witness. An investigator can also find various fibers of material that might link one to a crime, like clothing, and get a forensic chemist to evaluate the samples for any leads. Blood samples and other human...
Words: 759 - Pages: 4
...Dysfunctional Families: The Expectations and Realities Many readers of Cinderella and Snow White have never realized how dysfunctional the families are in these childhood fairytales. Over the years many of these stories have been revised and retold to children. Although these versions are more children appropriate, the originals contain cases of extreme dysfunctional families. Fairytales such as Cinderella and Snow White are prime examples of such. In the original Grimm’s versions of these two tales, one would definitely agree that they contain more gore and violence than the Walt Disney spin offs of the stories. Spin offs such as Ella Enchanted and the three A Cinderella Stories are more common in today’s society. But what most people don’t realize as they read these stories is that they are promoting the idea that all step mothers are evil and will make their step children the slave or maid of the house. These stories are extremely influential to children of young ages and tell children that dysfunctional families are okay in this society. In the Grimm’s tale of Cinderella, her stepmother is extremely verbally abusive towards her. When the stepmother and her two daughters move into Cinderella and her father’s home, she questions him as to why that useless creature (referring to his daughter, Cinderella) has the best room in the house, sends her to the kitchen, and claims her as the maid of the house. (Grimm 1) the stepmother in this story is one of the most common that young...
Words: 1183 - Pages: 5
...A GUIDE IN FORENSIC CHEMISTRY Forensic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the application of chemical knowledge, principles, and procedures to matters involving civil or criminal law and to all questions where control of chemical compounds, products, or processes is involved. Forensic Chemistry is an interdisciplinary field of Chemistry tasked to solve cases that can only be explained or resolved by applying analytical methods of investigation and instrumentation with chemistry as the main core of discussion. Forensic chemistry is a broad and diversified field of science. It includes all branches of chemistry and the application of its principles to solve crimes when it arise in the administration of justice. Significantly, Forensic chemistry is vital in crime detection when the components or chemical composition, structure of physical evidence/s collected from the scene of the crime are needed to support in the speedy solution of crime. Application of forensic chemistry is legally applied to the following: 1. Primarily, Forensic Chemistry deals in the recognition, identification, preservation, packaging & transportation of physical evidence collected at the crime scene. 2. In crime detection, it is applied in the identification of poisons, blood, semen, feces, urine, saliva, and other body fluids whether fresh or dried. It also include other stains of interests from ob-gynecological origin, mineral stains, fruits and/or vegetable stains. 3. It is...
Words: 14017 - Pages: 57
... Behind The chemistry of forensics Forensics means to work in investigating a scene of a crime to study how a deceased person died ,or how they were murdered or to see if it was a homicide, suicide, manslaughter or , so they can find traces for leads on who or what committed a crime. Any little detail can have traces of blood ,or even fingerprints if any evidence is found, it would be sent to a lab to be tested on to find results of what clues they find to try and find a lead. There are tools ,and chemicals that are used in a lab to help them find leads in an investigation. They also have Chem labs to identify drugs or other substances. The main job for...
Words: 790 - Pages: 4
...Forensic Chemist The trunk of a stolen car smells of decomposed flesh, a pair of Converse high tops with tiny specs of blood spatter are all alone in the back seat of the same car, and a half smoked cigarette rests softly on a freshly mowed lawn next to the driveway. These are clues of a crime scene. Each clue adds up to the story of something terrible. A crime has taken place, and law enforcement is on the scene. Whether it is a detective, county Sheriff or the FBI, the investigators will rely on their forensic teams to link all the pieces of the puzzle that don’t quite fit yet. A Forensic Chemist can make them fit by scientifically analyzing the evidence. Chemistry, biology, materials science, and genetics to analyze clue found at the scene of the crime, on the victims or in the bodies of the bad guys. Forensic Chemists go into a case with many unknow pieces of the crime scene they need to analyze to determine the nature of each sample. Most Forensic Chemists work in a lab. It is rare for private labs to do this kind of work so most of the time these labs are associated with Local, State, or Federal law enforcement agencies. From local Medical Examiner’s labs to state of the art FBI labs, Forensics Chemists often provide the strongest evidence in court against the defendants. They have many different types of test and methods they use to figure out what the samples mean. Each crime scene brings new types of clues and samples so a Forensic Chemist must always...
Words: 984 - Pages: 4
...The Relation between Forensic Science and Chemistry Isabelle Génier London Central Secondary School There is a great number of careers that involve chemistry; being a forensic scientist is one of them. What is a forensic scientist you ask? That is a very difficult question to answer. Generally they provide evidence in court to support the prosecution or defence in criminal and civil investigations. The evidence can be provided in the form of a written paper or the scientist might be called to testify during trials or hearings as an expert witness on evidence or laboratory techniques. There are different areas of forensic science such as chemistry (which involves crimes against property), biology (which involves crimes against people), and toxicology (which majorly involves drugs). Being a forensic scientist involves many tasks, they go to crime scenes to investigate and then plan what evidence they need to collect. Afterwards they return to compile, catalogue, and preserve evidence to help solve the case. They then do a sketch of the scene so that they can later reconstruct the crime scene to re-examine, test, and analyze the evidence. Now that the evidence has been assessed, it can be discussed between specialists and a report can be written based on their conclusions. The report is used during trials or hearings; however, the forensic scientist can also be called upon to personally testify as an expert witness. This career, which used to be an unknown field has now...
Words: 1354 - Pages: 6
...oday, the word "forensics" has become synonymous with crime and crime scene investigation. Immediately conjuring images of crime labs, ultra violet lights and high-tech computers, popular crimes shows like CSI have brought increased attention to the field of forensic science. They've also generated newfound interest in forensics careers. The term "forensic" comes from the Latin and means, simply, having to do with the law. Hence, any discipline that has any ties to the legal system is, in fact, forensic. This is why so many job titles within criminology, such as forensic psychologist, are preceded by the term. With regard to forensic science, the term is now commonly understood to refer to the application of scientific principles to questions...
Words: 1731 - Pages: 7
...1- INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE Quote "Every contact leaves a trace." - Edmond Locard (1877 - 1966) Learning Objective(s) At the end of this topic, you should be able to: 1. Define 'Forensic Science'; 2. Explain the limits of Forensic Science; 3. Identify the types of forensic work; 4. Describe Locard's Exchange Principle; 5. Differentiate Reconstruction & Re-enactment. Synopsis To illustrate the scope and diversity of Forensic Science, place it in its legal context, and describe the various types of forensic work. There will also be a discussion of Comparison leading to Association, Reconstruction versus Re-enactment, Locard's Exchange Principle, and the limits of Forensic Science. Various case studies will also be analysed throughout the lecture. Case Studies Felicia Lee; Walter Dinivan; Madam Jetkor Miang Singh; Roberto Calvi; Buck Ruxton & the Jigsaw Murders; Acid Bath Haigh; 2005 London Bombings; "Brides in the Bath"; Gareth Williams; The Woodchipper Murder WEEK 2- CHEMICAL ANALYSIS IN FORENSIC SCIENCE Quote "Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea" The act is not culpable unless the mind is also guilty. Learning Objective(s) At the end of this topic, you should be able to: 2A. Atomic Structure & Spectroscopy 1. Explain the structure of the atom and Bohr's model; 2. Differentiate between emission and absorption spectroscopy; 3. Explain the chemistry behind EDX and SEM-EDX; 4. Explain the chemistry in NAA; 2B. Molecular...
Words: 1646 - Pages: 7
...I would like to participate in the Derby High School Biomedical Sciences program because of the occupation I would like to pursue in my future. Pathology is my main interest though my plan B would be forensic pathology. Taking Biomedical Sciences would help push me towards either one of those career choices. I have a lot of passion for the science field including the biology, chemistry, and physics aspect of it. Becoming a pathologist has been an interest of mine for about a year now. My goals and interests to accomplish in the Biomedical Sciences program and after high school include a lot of things. In my opinion choosing pathology as a career path is difficult in many ways. Because of this, I feel as though this class will help me reach...
Words: 350 - Pages: 2
...to prove without any reasonable doubt that the convicted is guilty of the crime. Many of the techniques used are developed in the crime labs themselves to aid investigators and research into the better edges of science. So we say that this science is truly correct. We should not forget the other faces of forensic sciences in criminal research or investigations such as trace evidences, toxicology, photography, documentation, forensic imagery, forensic ID, receiving evidence, drug chemistry and ballistics just to name a few others. Many of the accomplishments of improvements with instruments and some methodologies have helped with the greatly increased accuracy thru- out the years, but many problems remain in how new and better techniques are being performed by technicians and analysts. But there is a problem in how new and better techniques are performed by technicians and analysts. Funding of agencies are a major issue, this itself can majorly upset the quality of training, lacking qualified personnel which means an increase in individual workloads, and increased backlog. Many of the strengths from the sciences and theories are flawed or are not without challenges. Forensic science is a recognizable component of policing and a determination in criminal investigations, court processes and...
Words: 485 - Pages: 2
...then realized that they had a murder case on their hands. A mystery in the case was that one of the local neighbors had mentioned seeing the woman leave through the front door of her house but the evidence says different, so investigators had to find out who left the house that morning. I am interested in this case because it was very intriguing how the forensic officers put all the pieces together and discovered the missing woman and her murderer. It was also interesting that if the forensic officers had not gone through every single hair fiber on the brush they had found, they could not have had enough evidence to convict the killer. Science and Methods Used In this case there were many different scientific methods such as an ultraviolet light test, a luminol test, an amido black test, and the use of a highly trained dog. Two main scientific methods used in the solving of this case were hair and DNA analysis and the use of mass spectrometry. When the woman was missing and the only lead the forensic officers had was the bloody pillow case; they had to use various scientific methods in order to solve the case. The forensic officers started using their methods where they suspected the crime had taken place which was in the woman’s bedroom. They noticed that woman’s bed was clean and had no blood on it. They suspected that the blood might have been cleaned up and decided to use luminol. “Luminol is the most sensitive test that is capable of presumptively detecting bloodstains...
Words: 1816 - Pages: 8
...Forensic Toxicology It was during the years of 1998 and 2001 that a very demure and innocent looking woman named Van le Thahn began her killing spree. Thahn was 49 years old at the time and was from the city of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. Van le Thahn successfully poisoned 13 people with cyanide. Named the Vietnamese Black Widow, Van would intentionally place herself in situations that would allow her to interact with people who were rich and affluent. After gaining access to the circle, Van would befriend those that she thought would be easy targets and victims to her scheme. She would cook for her new found “friends” and provide drinks that contained cyanide which ultimately ended their lives. Van did not discriminate when it came to her targets in some cases. It is estimated that Van killed thirteen people during the years of her killing spree, among the thirteen people she killed included was her mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and two ex-husbands. It is speculated that the killing of the members of Van’s extended family was due to ongoing family problems. Van’s main goal for the selection of her targets and killing them was to take their most valuables items for her possession or sell them for the money. It is estimated that Van was able to steal more than twenty thousand US dollars from her victims. Because of the nature of these killings it made finding out that Van was the killer hard. It is without a doubt that had it not been for the expertise of a Forensic Toxicologist...
Words: 1979 - Pages: 8
...When I was younger I used to go on hunting and fishing trips with my father. In scrapbooks one might see a young child around three years old on a man’s back in a baby backpack surrounded by mesquite and cacti. That baby was me. During one fishing trip, when I was about the same age as I mentioned above, my father and I had a bucket that was filled with live minnows that he intended on using as bait. I, however, had a different use for them. After a couple of minutes of tying hooks and setting up bobbers my father turned around to retrieve a couple of minnows in order for him to bait the hooks. Instead of finding minnows, he found me. Upon closer inspection he realized that I had used the minnows for my own fishing experience. I had stuffed...
Words: 621 - Pages: 3
...collection and analysis……………………….……...5 * Work plan………………………………………….……...5 6. Limitations and Conclusion………………………………..…….6 7. Reference……………………………………………..………….6 1. Introduction Crime laboratory is one of the most valuable tool for a crime investigator. It is a scientific lab using primarily forensic sciences for the purpose of examining evidence from criminal cases. It provides answers to some or all the questions asked such as how the crime was committed, who committed it, and can also determine whether a crime has been committed or not. The crime laboratory seek answers for the questions mentioned above through scientific analysis of physical material collected primarily from the scene of a crime, suspect or the person affected. It provides an even more integrated approach to the analysis of exhibits and the presentation of expert evidence. Generally the aim of the crime laboratory is to effectively prevent and combat crime. 2. History and background of crime laboratory The Forensic Science Laboratory of the South African Police Service was formed on 15 January 1971 with the Biology, Chemistry and Electronics Units. A new building complex was occupied in March 1987 when the Ballistic and Question Document Unit, which before this had resorted under the SA Criminal Bureau, were amalgamated with the FSL. Early in 2000 a decision was made to amalgamate the Explosive Investigation Service with the FSL, which realized...
Words: 1042 - Pages: 5
...Everyone at some point of their life has an ambition they want to achieve, whether it may be realistic possible or unrealistic impossible. From a young age, children desire to meet their own favorite cartoon character, such as Ariel, Elsa, Iron Man, and Spider Man. Yet, as they grow older and learn about the world around them, these dreams are replaced by ideally accepted professions, such as a police officer, ballerina, or a firefighter. Upon entering high school, some teenagers struggle through four long years to decide what profession they should pick in order to obtain a salary and support themselves. As a child, I remember envisioning myself one day in the future becoming a paleontologist because I had an obsession with dinosaurs at...
Words: 415 - Pages: 2
