CMJ 217 - Criminalistics II Syllabus - Fall 2014

CMJ 217 - Criminalistics II Syllabus - Fall 2014 "Any action of an individual, and obviously, the violent actions of a crime, cannot occur without leaving a trace." Edmond Locard-"La police et les methodes sceientifiques"(1934) Instructor: Samuel Woods, Adjunct Prof. Work Phone: See email (messages will be checked frequently) E-mail: samuelwoods@skipjack.chesapeake.edu Office: Queen Anne s Technical Building, Room 101 Office Hours: By appointment only Class Meets: Thursdays 6:30 PM to 9:15 PM Location: Queen Anne s Technical Building, Room 101 Course Textbooks: (C) Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 11 th Edition, by Richard Saferstein, Pearson Publishing, ISBN: 0133458822 (P) Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, 1 st Edition, by Ross M. Gardner, CRC Press, ISBN: 0849320437 Course Description: This course is a continued study of criminalistics. Focus is on advanced forensic/crime scene investigation. Topics will include question documents, forensic photography, forensic psychology, and forensic pathology. Three hours lecture per week. 3 CREDITS Course Objectives: The objectives of this course are to provide students with an opportunity to: 1. Understand and demonstrate the basic skills necessary to process a basic crime scene and develop the evidence in a way that it can be processed further at a crime laboratory or brought into a courtroom for presentation. 2. Identify and understand the various kinds of evidence that can be found at any crime scene. CMJ 217 Fall 2014 1

3. Identify the tools and understand the practical uses of basic crime scene processing equipment. 4. Understand the significance of crime scene analysis and reconstruction and the factors relevant to preserving the integrity of the scene. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. Identify the goals of a first responding officer to any crime scene, the methodology and priority of evidence to be processed and understand the reasons for their importance. 2. Properly document a crime scene and the actions of a crime scene investigator with understandable notes followed up by a well written crime scene report and diagrams. 3. Explain and demonstrate the proper way to collect various items of evidence and secure them for transport to the crime lab with specific consideration for maintaining the chain of evidence. 4. Identify health and safety issues at a crime scene and the precautions to prevent exposure or injury. 5. Explain Locard s Exchange Principle. Course Grades: Three (3) research assignments = 20 % Mock Crime Scene Project = 20 % Two quizzes = 10 % Midterm Exam = 20 % Final Exam = 20 % Class Attendance and Participation = 10 % Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Assignments: Assignments will be distributed in classes on the dates noted. *Late assignments will be docked 10% per 24 hour period it is late. If you are submitting it late, send by e-mail to: samuelwoods@skipjack.chesapeake.edu. You will receive credit when it is received. Do NOT turn in late assignments to my mailbox, as I do not check it frequently. 90-100% = A 80-90% = B 70-80% = C 60-70% = D <60% = F NOTE: Monday November 17, 2014 is the last day to drop the class with a W or change to audit status. CMJ 217 Fall 2014 2

Absences: Please do not miss class. If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting any notes and assignments online or from a classmate. If an assignment or reading material is distributed on a night you miss class, it is your responsibility to e-mail me to get what you missed. If an assignment is due in class that you have missed and your absence is excused, you are responsible for turning in you assignment the following day and any documentation regarding your absence. If your absence is unexcused, your assignment will be docked 10% for each day it is late. Make up exams will only be allowed if the instructor is notified prior to the exam. Exams must be made up within one week of the originally scheduled date. The instructor reserves the right to change the format of any make-up tests. Excused Absences: It is the student s responsibility to inform the instructor prior to class that they will not be there and why via e-mail. An excused absence is based on the following: Illness with documentation of illness from a health care professional provided the following class. Death of a family member with documentation of funeral card provided the following class. Class Participation: Students are responsible for reading course material when assigned and should be prepared to discuss the material the day of the lecture. Dedicated Time Outside of the Classroom Students are expected to do a minimum of two hours of work outside of class for every hour in class. Some Assignments may require more time. Cell Phones: Cell phones will be placed in silent mode or turned off during the class. No texting during class. No cell phone use will be tolerated during tests. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CHESAPEAKE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: Academic Dishonesty: Academic misconduct is prohibited and may result in disciplinary action. Attempts to commit acts of academic dishonesty or encouraging or assisting others to commit such acts are prohibited and may be punished to the same extent as if one had committed the prohibited behavior. CMJ 217 Fall 2014 3

Definition: Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Cheating or examinations 2. Plagiarism, the representing of another s ideas or writing as one s own, including but not limited to: a. Presenting all or part of another person s work as something one has written; b. Paraphrasing or summarizing another s writing without proper acknowledgement; c. Representing another s artistic or technical work or creation as one s own. 3. Willingly collaborating with others in any of the above action(s) which result(s) in work being submitted which is not the student s own. 4. Stealing examinations, falsifying academic records, and other such offenses. 5. Submitting work previously presented in another course without permission of the instructor. 6. Unauthorized duplication of computer software. 7. Unauthorized use of copyrighted or published material. Disciplinary Action: If, based on substantial evidence, a student is deemed guilty of academic dishonesty; the college may initiate disciplinary action as follows: 1. The student may be required to repeat the assignment or the examination. 2. The student may be given a failing grade for the assignment or the examination. 3. The student may be given a failing grade for the course. 4. The student may be suspended or dismissed from the college. Academic Instruction Emergency Management Plan In the event that Chesapeake College needs to close for an extended period of time due to a flu pandemic, severe weather event, or other emergency situation, consideration will be given to the timing and duration of the closure as follows: 1. Closure during the semester for up to one week there will be an opportunity to make up work missed without significant alteration to the semester calendar. 2. Closure extending beyond one week (or in situations where classes are cancelled on the same days/evenings over multiple weeks) the college may extend the length of the semester. Depending on the timing of the closure, scheduled breaks, end of semester dates, and /or the processing of final grades might be impacted. Students can acquire information about closures on the college website or by calling 410-822-5400 or 410-228-4360. Chesapeake College courses held at off campus sites will follow the protocol of the host facility. CMJ 217 Fall 2014 4

Academic Support (Tutoring) The Academic Support Center is located in L-105 of the Learning Resource Center in Wye Mills and in the Multi-Service Center in Cambridge. Tutors will work with you oneon-one or in small groups to provide assistance with a variety of disciplines, including writing (e.g., style, organization, content, voice, grammar, and documentation (including MLA and APA formats)), math, science, technology, and more. In addition to your notes and work so far, bring your assignment to your session. To make an appointment, call 410.827.5854, or click the Tutoring link in MyCampus Quicklinks. Check their website for current hours. Group Writing Assignments The Academic Support Center is available to help with group papers, presentations, and projects. Writing tutors can assist your group with organization and collaboration in addition to other aspects of writing such as style, content, and grammar. All group members must be present for work on a group project. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Students with Disabilities seeking services or accommodations through Chesapeake College must disclose the need for these services or accommodations to the Office of Disability Services. Given sufficient notice and proper documentation, the College will provide reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and related services required by persons with disabilities to allow access to our programs and services, if it is not an undue burden to do so. Students requiring accommodations are urged to submit requests at least 14 days in advance of the need to use them. To be eligible for academic accommodations through Chesapeake College, a student must have a documented disability as defined by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. For information on eligibility, contact: Judy Gordon Developmental Studies Case Manager/ADA Coordinator jgordon@chesapeake.edu. Phone: (410) 827-5805 FAX: (410)827-5233. CANVAS Canvas is being used as a supplementary site in this course. To access course content in Canvas you will need to have access to a computer with an internet connection (other requirements may apply). Computers that meet these requirements are available in computer labs on campus. Format for submitted papers: Papers should include a cover sheet with the student s name, date, assignment title, course with course number, and semester. Text should be single-spaced with one-inch margins using 12 font. Print-outs of papers will be accepted at the beginning of class on the date they are due. If submitting papers electronically, via email, papers should be in Microsoft Word or in pdf format and will be due prior to the start time of class on the date they are due. CMJ 217 Fall 2014 5

Research Assignments: Research Assignment #1: Profile a profession within the Criminal Justice Forensics field that interests you. Research Assignment #2: Choose two articles from the Forensic Magazine website (http://www.forensicmag.com) and two articles from the Crime Scene Investigator Network website (http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net) that are related to crime scene investigations and prepare a summary for each using the following format: Title, Author, Date Article Posted, and Summary. Research Assignment #3: A specific violent crime will be assigned to you and you should review multiple newspaper articles to conduct a complete case review and analysis of the event and subsequent investigation. Mock Crime Scene Assignment: 1) Create a simulated crime scene using a minimum of three items of physical evidence. The scene may be at your home or other suitable location, either indoor or outdoor. Assume that you are the evidence technician responsible for processing the entire scene. You may select another person to assist you, however, it CANNOT be another student in this course or a police officer. 2) Take appropriate field notes. Notes should be handwritten and begin with notification of crime, specific actions upon arrival, and a clear and detailed record of you observations and actions taken while at the scene. Refer to chapter 8 on investigative notes. 3) Photograph the scene taking necessary overall, mid-range, and close-up photos. Photographs should be submitted. 4) SIMULATE the collection and packaging of physical evidence. Students should use standard envelopes for their evidence containers. Follow all guidelines for packaging physical evidence and record the necessary information on the envelope(s). DO NOT submit any actual evidence; simulate that your evidence is packaged in the envelope you are submitting. 5) Complete a chain of custody form. 6) Prepare both a rough sketch and finished sketch. Sketches should include physical evidence, measurements, title block, key/legend and compass direction. The finished sketch does not have to be a scaled diagram. 7) Prepare a measurement log, typed, for the evidence illustrated in your sketch. (Refer to Chapter 7 for assistance) 8) Submit a crime scene entry log (if necessary). 9) Prepare a narrative report, typed, describing the case facts, observations and actions taken at the scene (ie: time/date of notification/arrival, location/address, case number, facts of the case, the CMJ 217 Fall 2014 6

characteristics and conditions of the scene, and tasks performed). Refer to chapter 8 on crime scene reports. 10) This report should be submitted as a complete, well-organized case file. Paperwork should be submitted in a manila envelope or file folder. Please Note: Classroom instruction and reading assignments are meant to complement each other, but will, at times, be unrelated. Changes to the course schedule may be made at any time during the semester to allow additional time for particular topics, to review material, inclement weather or your instructor no being available for class. Changes to the schedule will be announced in class and on-line. Helpful Resources: American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) http://www.ascld.org/ American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) http://www.aafs.org/ Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Sciences (MAAFS) http://www.maafs.org/ International Association of Identification (IAI) http://www.theiai.org/ IAI Chesapeake Bay Division http://cbdiai.org/ National Institute of Justice (NIJ) http://www.nij.gov/pages/welcome.aspx West Virginia University Forensic Sciences Initiative (FSI) http://fsi.research.wvu.edu/ Crime Scene Investigator Network http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/ Forensic Magazine http://www.forensicmag.com/ Evidence Technology Magazine http://www.evidencemagazine.com/ Harvard Associates in Police Science http://harvardpolicescience.org/ CMJ 217 Fall 2014 7

COURSE SCHEDULE FALL 2014: (subject to change) Week 1 August 27 Review of Syllabus and Course. Crime Scene Equipment & Hazards Text C: Chap. 1 - Intro Chap. 2 Crime Scene Chap. 3 Physical Evidence Bring to next class: 2 aluminum drinking cans, plastic drinking bottles or glass drinking bottles. Week 2 September 3 Review reading with questions. Latent Fingerprinting Exercise. Text P: Chap. 3 Actions of Initial Ofc. Chap. 4 Processing Methodology If students have a DSLR camera please bring to next class. Week 3 September 10 Review reading with questions. Crime Scene Photography Text P: Chap. 5 Assessing the Scene Chap. 6 CS Photography If students have a DSLR camera please bring to next class. Week 4 September 17 Research assignment #1 due Quiz #1 Review reading with questions Technical Photography* Shoe Print Exercise Text P: Chap. 7 CS Sketching & Mapping Week 5 September 24 Review reading with questions Crime Scene Sketching* Scene Searching and Sketching Exercise Text P: Chap. 9 Basic Skills Text C: Chap 6 - Fingerprints Wear clothing that can get dirty next class. Week 6 October 1 Review reading and questions Fingerprinting Exercise Selected Reading Handouts on Fingerprints CMJ 217 Fall 2014 8

Week 7 October 8 Research assignment #2 due Review reading and questions Scene of the Crime - video Midterm Review Week 8 October 15 Midterm Exam Text C: Chap. 10 Hairs & Fibers Chap. 13 Glass, Paints & Soil Chap. 17 Questioned Documents Week 9 October 22 Review reading and questions Firearms and Toolmarks Text C: Chap. 14 Serology Chap. 15 - DNA Wear clothing that can get dirty next class. Week 10 October 29 Week 11 November 5 Week 12 November 12 Week 13 November 19 Review reading and questions Blood spatter analysis* Text C: Chap. 4 Bloodstain Patterns Text P: Chap. 10 pgs. 267-289 Review reading and questions Death Investigations* Text C: Chap. 8 Firearms & Toolmarks Text P: Chap. 10 pgs. 289-308 Research assignment #3 due Review reading and questions Quiz #2 Unique Scene Considerations Tire Tread Exercise Text C: Chap. 16 Fire/Explosion Invest. Text P: Chap. 11 Special Considerations Review reading and questions Arsons* Alternate Light Source Exercise Text C: Chap. 5 - Death Investigations Text P: Chap. 8 Narrative Descriptions Handout Readings on Courtroom Testimony CMJ 217 Fall 2014 9

Week 14 November 26 Week 15 December 3 Week 16 December 10 No Class Thanksgiving Break Mock Crime Scene Assignment due The Real CSI video Final Review Final Exam *: Possible guest speaker CMJ 217 Fall 2014 10

CMJ 217 CRIMINALISTICS II Fall 2014 I,, have read the syllabus for this (Please print your name clearly) course on and completely understand the syllabus. (Date) (Signature) CMJ 217 Fall 2014 11