Blood Spatter/Assignment work

Today we will be EITHER

• Completing sections of evidence sheets we've already started

OR

• Creating a word document about blood spatter evidence.

For the topics we've done so far - DNA fingerprinting, fingerprints, footprints, fibres - You can research using old links from this page or try here for information - http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/CollectingEvidenceCategory.html .  If this doesn't have what you need, feel free to search for the information you do need.

The new topic for today that we will look at is Blood spatter.  Include answers to the following questions in your work:
What evidence can it give investigators?
How is this evidence collected?
What equipment is needed?
What conclusions can be reached with this evidence?
Are there any problems with tis type of evidence?

Use these links to help you - Basic outline of evidence provided - http://www.enotes.com/blood-spatter-reference/blood-spatter
LOTS of good information about blood spatter analysis - http://science.howstuffworks.com/bloodstain-pattern-analysis.htm

Fingerprints

Today we'll be working on fingerprints for the assignment.  Answer the following questions, which we will print and submit to meet the criteria for assignment 2.

1. What evidence can fingerprints give in crimes?
2. What equipment do you need to take a fingerprint properly?
3. Explain the stesp involved in taking fingerprints:
4. What different types of fingerprints are there? Are they the same for all of a person's fingers?
5. What evidence can fingerprints give investigators?

Use these sites to help you find your information -
http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/fingerprints.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00206/text_nts_fingerprinting.htm
video on steps involved - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOdPirQQh9Q

Make sure you save and try to print off whatever you have completed by the end of the lesson.

Giving evidence in Court

Forensic investigators need to be able to think clearly and remember many important details about cases they are working on.  They are oftern required to give evidence long after working on a case, and can let guilty criminals go free if they can't remember everything clearly. 
Try the activities on the following links to practice your observational skills:
http://forensics.rice.edu/html/picture_begin.html
http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/grafs/demos/15.html
http://forensics.rice.edu/html/comparison.html

Once you've completed these, answer the following questions in your books:

1. Why is it important for forensic investigators to remember small details accurately?
2. Why do you think that about 42% of people don't see the gorilla first time?
3. Why might lawyers try and prove that forensic scientists have bad memories?
4. Give one reason from TODAY's lesson why photographing crime scenes is important
5. Explain what the chain of custody is and how it would help forensic investigators convince a jury in court that they have acted correctly around evidence (use the link - http://www.strathclydeforensics.co.uk/custody.htm)

Once youre finished try this - http://www.trutv.com/shows/forensic_files/games/hiddenmine/index.html