Final

CCJS101 INTRODUCTION TO INVESTIGATIVE FORENSICS

FINAL EXAMINATION

INSTRUCTIONS: Please complete all 9 questions. Make sure that you fully answer all the questions and all parts of each question. Use either the question or the rubric under each question to make sure that you fully answer each question.

You should answer your questions on this page, making sure not to delete the rubrics that should appear at the end of each of your answers.

You may use information provided in the LEO classroom (reading assignments, conferences, webliography and weekly overviews) or from other sources to help you answer your questions with four (4) caveats. 1. Your outside source CANNOT be Wikipedia. If you use Wikipedia, you will receive a ZERO for that question. 2. You must use citations and references to indicate your outside sources. 3. You cannot use ANY quotations; all of your answers MUST BE only in your OWN WORDS. 4. You cannot collaborate with anyone else: while you can use outside sources, those sources cannot be persons.

You have the entire week to complete the exam; ensure that you thoroughly respond to all parts of the question to earn the maximum points available.

NAME:

1. What is the CSI Effect? Make sure you explain in detail how it affects prosecutors, police and scientists in the field as well as the criminal justice system. Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
1 (worth 10 points)	Description of the CSI Effect?	2
	Description of how it affects prosecutors	2
	Description of how it affects police	2
	Description of how it affects scientists in the field	2
	Description of how it affects the criminal justice system	2

2. With regard to the CSI Effect, what would be some advantages to using professional (paid) juries? What would be some disadvantages? Should the US keep a jury summons system where it is an expected public service for those selected to participate? Discuss and describe another option for a jury system? Please defend all answers to these questions. Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
2 (worth 10 points)	Description of some advantages to using professional (paid) juries? Defended?	3
	Description of some disadvantages to using professional (paid) juries? Defended?	3
	Explanation of whether or not the US should keep a jury summons system? Defended?	2
	Explanation of another option which might be available? Defended?	2

3. What is an Ethical Code? What are the most important aspects or considerations to an Ethical Code? Why? Pretending you are a forensic science employer, please develop and discuss four important requirements (codes) for an Ethical Code for forensic scientists. Worth 10 points

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
3 (worth 10 points)	Explanation of an Ethical Code	2
	Description of the most important aspects to an Ethical Code	2
	Description of why are these aspects important	2
	Development and discussion of four important requirements (codes) for an Ethical Code for forensic scientists	4

4. Please describe three ways in which a forensic lab can help ensure the ethical behavior of its scientists. As, these methods should be realistic, please explain why your methods are realistic. Also, in light of the fact that most forensic labs are public labs and therefore funded by taxpayers, these methods should be cost effective as well. Please discuss these methods, why they would work and their cost effectiveness. Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
4 (worth 10 points)	Description of three ways in which a forensic lab can help ensure the ethical behavior of its scientists	2.5
	Explanation of how they are realistic?	2.5
	Explanation of how they are cost-effective?	2.5
	Explanation of why these methods would work?	2.5

5. Describe the steps of the Scientific Method and then describe its application to the field of forensic science? Be sure to describe how each step is applied to forensic science. You can use a concrete example, such as an item of evidence or a crime scene, as part of your explanation. Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
5 (worth 10 points)	Description of all 5 steps to the scientific method	5
	Description of the application of all 5 steps to forensic science	5

6. Please look at the crime scene photos and read the background material in the attached .pdf file (CCJS 101 Final Exam Question 6 – Bank Robbery Photographs.pdf).  Thinking of the first step of the Scientific Method, please describe the crime scene.  Next, determine and describe three items from this scene that should be collected.  Using the Scientific Method, which forensic test s should be performed on your three items of evidence (you probably should have more than one test per item of evidence)?  Which results would you hope to find on those three items of evidence (what results, if you received them, would be the “perfect” results)?  If you received those results, what types of conclusions can you draw about this crime and the crime scene? Worth 20 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
6 (worth 20 points)	Description of the crime scene (using scientific method step 1)	5
	Description of 3 items of evidence to be collected	3
	Description of testing to be performed on each item of evidence	6
	Description of the “perfect” results	3
	Conclusions that can be drawn about crime scene	3

7. Describe the rulings of both Frye v. US and Daubert v. Merrell Dow (do not describe the case facts: explain the rulings). Describe how the rulings in Frye v. US and Daubert v. Merrell Dow have affected forensic sciences and the court systems. Make sure you discuss the effects of both rulings. Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
7 (worth 10 points)	Description of Frye	2
	Description of Daubert	2
	Description of how both affected forensic sciences	3
	Description of how both affected court system	3

8. What is the methodology of having a new scientific technique accepted into a court of law? Choose one of the applicable major case laws (Frye or Daubert). Explain the ruling and how a new scientific technique would be introduced into court using that technique. Then describe how a scientist would ensure they can answer all the applicable questions regarding their scientific technique to allow that technique to be admitted into a courtroom? Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
8 (worth 10 points)	Choose 1 of major case laws	2
	Explanation of case law rulings	2
	Explanation of how new scientific technique introduced into court	3
	Explanation of how forensic scientist can prepare for court	3

9. Forensic science involves many sub-disciplines. Name 5 of these forensic science sub-disciplines and describe what the area of focus of each sub-discipline is about, including what type of evidence would be examined by that sub-discipline and what type of results that sub-discipline could produce. Worth 10 points.

ANSWER:

Question #	Question Part Rubric	Point Value	Points Given
9 (worth 10 points)	Sub-discipline 1: chosen, focus, types of evidence, types of results	2
	Sub-discipline 2: chosen, focus, types of evidence, types of results	2
	Sub-discipline 3: chosen, focus, types of evidence, types of results	2
	Sub-discipline 4: chosen, focus, types of evidence, types of results	2
	Sub-discipline 5: chosen, focus, types of evidence, types of results	2