Forensic Science

Summer 2007

Course Number: CRN: 30172 Chem194A

Credit hours: 3

Prerequisite: none

Class Hours: 

Instructor: Dr. Salim M. Diab

Office: 815-740-3855

Home: 815-730-8302

Fax: 815-740-4285

E-mail: sdiab@stfrancis.edu

Home Page: http://www.stfrancis.edu/ns/diab/etherman.htm

Course Description 

A non- majors, survey course of procedures, techniques, and applications of forensic chemistry, particularly as they relate to crime investigation and ongoing analysis of evidence obtained after a crime is committed. The nature of physical evidence is emphasized along with the limitations that technology and knowledge impose on its individualization and characterization. In order to merge theory with practice, a number of actual forensic case histories will be evaluated. Multiple sources of instructional methods will be used including formal lectures using power point presentation, internet sources, video, interactive software, and hands-on applications. 

Rationale and Objectives 

This course is designed to provide a basic foundation in the field of forensic chemistry for those students in the humanities, social sciences, or communication arts and those thinking of pursuing a criminal justice degree. Without having to major in chemistry, the student is allowed to experience the various analytical and instrumental methods used in investigating crimes.

Required Text
Forensic Science, Andrew Jackson and Julie Jackson, 2004, Prentice Hall.

Website Companion: http://www.booksites.net/jackson (contains power point lecture notes and quizzes)

Supplementary Course Material

Introduction to Forensic Science Lab Exercises, S. Diab, 2005

Lecture Notes for this course: http://www.stfrancis.edu/ns/diab/Forensic1/Lecturenotes1.html
Lecture Note for a full semester course:http://www.stfrancis.edu/ns/diab/ForensicCoursePPT/lecturenotes.html

TOPICS: Selected Topics will be Covered

• Chapter 1: Introduction to forensic science
• Chapter 2: The crime scene
• Chapter 3: Trace and contact evidence, Part I: Recoverable materials
• Chapter 4: Trace and contact evidence, Part II: Fingerprints and other marks and impressions
• Chapter 5: The examination of body fluids
• Chapter 6: The analysis of deoxyribunucleic acid (DNA): DNA profiling Guest chapter by Harry Mountain
• Chapter 7: Forensic toxicology and drugs of abuse
• Chapter 8: Questioned documents
• Chapter 9: Firearms
• Chapter 10: Fires
• Chapter 11: Explosions and explosives
• Chapter 12: The forensic examination of human remains
• Chapter 13: Forensic science in court
• Annotated weblinks

Expectations of Students

1. Attendance is required. A good attendance including the transcription of a good set of class notes will greatly improve the students' chances for achieving a satisfactory grade in this course. If you need to miss a class, please notify me.

2. Web Quizzes: Solve quizzes using the website http://www.booksites.net/jackson and e-mail them to instructor.

3. Case studies on video, (which integrate theory with practice) will be assigned on frequent basis.

4. Hands-on lab experiments

5. Academic integrity must be always preserved. Any violation will be handled according to the guidelines in the University Catalog.

6. Final Exam (TBA).

Bibliography

Baden, M. M.; Hennessee, J. A. Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner, Ballantine Books, New York, 1989.
Brewer, W. E.; Galipo, R. C.; Morgan, S. L.; Habben, K. H. "Confirmation of volatiles by solid-phase microextraction and GC/MS," J. Anal. Toxicol. 1997, 21(4), 286-290.
Davis, G. Forensic Science, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1986.
Dwyer, J.; Kocieniewski, D.; Murphy, D; Tyre, P. Two Seconds Under the World: Terror Comes to America (The Conspiracy behind the World Trade Center Bombing, Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, 1994.
Evans, C. The Casebook of Forensic Detection, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1996.
Fisher, D. Hard Evidence, Bantam DoubleDay Dell Publ. Group, NY, 1995.
Gerber, S. M., Ed., Chemistry and Crime; From Sherlock Holmes to Today's Courtroom, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1984.
Ho, M. H. Analytical Methods in Forensic Chemistry, Ellis Horwood, Ltd., London, 1990.
Hunt, S. M. Investigation of Serological Evidence: A Manual for Field Investigators, Charles C. Thomas Publ. Ltd., London, 1984.
James, R. E. Laboratory Manual for Criminalistics, Prentice Hall, NY, 1980.
Lowry, W. T. Forensic Toxicology: Controlled Substances and Dangerous Drugs, Plenum Publ. Co., NY, 1979.
Maples, W. R.; Browning, M. Dead Men Do Tell Tales, Bantam DoubleDay, NY, 1994.
Saferstein, R. Criminalistics:An Introduction to Forensic Science, 8th Ed., Prentice-Hall, Inc., NY, 2003.

Saferstein, R. Forensic Science Handbook, Vol. I-III, Regents/Prentice Hall, NJ, 1993.
Tebbett, I., Ed., Gas Chromatography in Forensic Science, Ellis Horwood, Ltd., London, 1993.
Terry, I. M.; Robertson, J. C. Instrumental Data for Drug Analysis, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1991.
Wecht, C.; Curriden, M.; Wecht, B. Grave Secrets, Penguin books USA, Inc., New York, 1996.
Widmark, E. M. P. Principles and Applications of Medico-Legal Alcohol Determination, translated from original 1932 ed., Biomedical Publications, Davis, CA, 1981.
Yinon, J., Ed., Forensic Applications of Mass Spectrometry (Modern Mass Spectrometry), CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 1995.

Web Links: http://www.stfrancis.edu/ns/diab/Forensic/sources.htm

Breakdown for Grading:

WebQuizzes - 30%

Video Case Studies - 20%

Lab Exercises - 30%

Final Exam (take-home) - 20%

Total - 100%

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirements are encouraged to register with the Office of Disability Services to discuss access issues. Please contact Pat Vivio, Tower S 210, phone number 740-3204, email:  pvivio@stfrancis.edu