Enduring Understanding # 1: Scientific inquiry affords all learners opportunities to make observations, pose questions, develop hypotheses, design and conduct investigations, and analyze data to draw conclusions.

Forensic Science Benchmarks

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Essential Questions

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1.1 The ability to supply to the criminal justice system, accurate and objective information that reflects the events that occurred at a crime is an essential skill for the forensic scientist.

-As the accused, can I be sure that my trial is based on accurate, precise, complete, scientific evidence? -What skills does an investigator need to solve a crime?

-Define and contrast individual and class evidence. -Distinguish between presumptive and confirmatory testing of evidence. -The purpose physical evidence plays in reconstructing the events surrounding the commission of a crime.

-Formulate question, develop hypothesis and conduct scientific investigations. -Calculate the “value” of class evidence as it relates to a criminal investigation. -Recognize, identify and individualize evidence.

1.2 Forensic investigation requires strict protocols from trained professionals for securing crime scenes and gathering, processing and analyzing evidence of a crime. 1.3 Forensic Science is not based upon assumptions and instinct; rather, it is substantiated by valid, reproducible evidence leading to logical conclusions.

-What are the procedures for preserving crime scenes and gathering evidence, and why? -Are the results of all forensic tests admissible in court? -How does a forensic scientist detect trace evidence at a crime scene?

-Define and identify the significance of the concept of chain of custody. -Rules of procedure and evidence are designed to maximize reliability and efficiency. -Responsibilities of the first police officer who arrives at a crime scene. -Steps to be taken to thoroughly record a crime scene. -What I see on TV is not real.

-Model the roles and/or duties required of crime scene investigators. -Model proper procedure for processing a crime scene. -Collect and package evidence using proper forensic procedures. -Analyze evidence in a manner which meets the guidelines of the Frey Standard and/or the Daubert Ruling. -Design and set up a realistic crime scene using the knowledge and techniques throughout the year. -Use findings from collected evidence to accurately reconstruct a crime scene. -Investigate a realistic crime scene following correct crime scene investigation procedures. -Correctly document all aspects of the crime scene investigation process. -Prepare and present oral and written scientific reports which defend the results of processed evidence. - Conduct labs and analyze data. -Properly handle evidence without altering or destroying the evidence. -Communicate results through written and oral reports.

Create a cold case. Process at least one mock crime scene following ALL accepted procedures.

Enduring Understanding # 2: Exploring systems, order, and organizations in our natural and designed world are integral to understanding the scientific disciplines and their interdependence.

Forensic Science Benchmarks

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Essential Questions

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2.1 Fingerprint evidence is unique and individual evidence.

-How do we know that all fingerprints are unique? -Do identical twins have identical fingerprints?

-The process of human fingerprint analysis by describing how individual human fingerprints are made and/or collected, as well as identifying basic fingerprint ridge patterns.

-Individualize a fingerprint using accepted forensic science techniques. -Include and exclude suspects based using the three major patterns and all subclasses. -Properly process and collect latent fingerprints using accepted techniques.

8-12 minutiae

2.2 Documents, when analyzed can often lead investigators to a single person.

-How can ransom notes or suicide letters be helpful to forensic scientists?

-Common individual characteristics are associated with handwriting.

-Conduct document analysis techniques such as handwriting analysis and chromatography of inks as they are used to analyze questioned documents.

Document Examination

2.3 Impressions can lead forensic scientists to a specific individual.

-How do scientists know that the shoe that made a footwear impression was my shoe, not one like mine? -How can scientists tell that a specific tool created a mark, not one like it?

-Forensic Significance of class and individual characteristics used to compare tool marks, footwear and tire impressions. -Footwear and tool impressions can be both class and individual evidence.

-Distinguish among similar tools and tool marks in order to individualize one particular tool. -Demonstrate an understanding of how footwear evidence is compared and analyzed.

Tool and other impressions.

Forensic Science Benchmarks

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Essential Questions

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2.4 Nuclear DNA is unique and individual evidence, blood as a whole is not.

-All blood looks the same, how do they know it is my blood not my relative’s blood?

-Outline the four basic human blood types and identify the significance of the Rh factor in human blood types. -The basic biochemistry and immunology of the ABO blood group system. -Explain the steps involved in the identification of an unknown blood sample through the process of blood sample testing. -Different types of DNA (nuclear and mitochondrial) exist and have different uses in forensic science.

-Perform testing to distinguish blood from other types of stains. -Perform an experiment that identifies the four basic blood types. -Identify various unknown blood samples. -Outline the basic molecular structure and function of the DNA molecule. -Discriminate between mitochondrial and nuclear DNA profiling and the information provided by each method. -Identify the steps involved in the creation of a DNA print. -Analyze a DNA fingerprint in order to individualize a DNA fingerprint to a person. -Create and compare DNA profiles of individuals in a hypothetical crime.

Presumptive blood tests Blood Typing DNA fingerprint analysis

2.5 Blood can be useful to reconstruct a crime scene.

-How can a Forensic Scientist reconstruct a crime scene when they weren’t there when it happened?

-Understand how blood patterns can be used as evidence at the crime scene. -Height affects the size of a blood drop. -When blood drops hit a surface at an angle, it leaves a pattern which can be analyzed mathematically to determine the angle at which the blood hit the surface. -Blood behaves differently when it hits different surfaces. -Blood behaves differently when it hits a surface at different velocities.

-Create blood spatter patterns that represent the following: Various heights Various angles Various speeds -Interpret the significance of various basic types of blood spatter/stain evidence. -Determine such properties as height, angle, and origin by examining blood spatter evidence. -Calculate the angle of impact for a variety of given samples. -Determine relative velocity of blood spatter pattern. -Reconstruct the events leading to the creation of the blood spatter pattern.

Blood Spatter Analysis

Forensic Science Benchmarks

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Essential Questions

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2.6 Drugs, even those legally obtained can be involved with crimes and crime scenes and forensic scientists are able to identify these. 2.7 Toxicologists detect and identify drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues and organs.

-How do forensic scientists know that substances are actually drugs? -How can a forensic scientist know what killed Heath Ledger, Anna Nichole Smith and others with similar situations?

-Commonly abused drugs. -Difference between a presumptive and confirmatory test. -Laboratory tests that are normally used to perform routine drug identification analysis. -Understand quantitative data associated with toxicology.

-Chemically identify illicit drug types. -Analyze IR, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and GC-MS, and explain how they are used in forensic science -Interpret data with graphs.

Drugs & Toxicology

2.8 Hair samples are common pieces of trace evidence and can be of assistance.

-How can a forensic scientist use hair and fiber to help them solve a crime?

-Unique (microscopic) characteristics that distinguish human hair from animal hair. -Difference between natural and manufactured fibers.

-Perform microscopic analysis of hair, determining its origin, and all other identifiable characteristics. -Perform burn tests and chemical tests on a variety of fibers in order to classify and identify them.

Hair and Fibers

Enduring Understanding # 3: Both contemporary and historical scientific understandings inform technological, ethical, cultural and life decisions.

Forensic Science Benchmarks

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Essential Questions

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3.1 Historically, forensic science is a relatively new science.

-When did forensic science begin and how did it develop into an important component of criminal investigation?

-Techniques used in the past are still useful today.

-Summarize the historical impact of scientific and technological advances in the area of forensic science.

3.2 Science, with new discoveries and developments in technology, impacts everyday life, including solving crimes.

-How have forensic science advancements affected the rights of individuals?

-Forensic science is used to solve crimes and what scientific limitations still exist.

-Suggest alternative ways of explaining data and criticize arguments in which data, explanations or conclusions are represented as the only ones worthy of consideration.

3.3 Forensic Science is a relatively new science and is constantly evolving.

-How can individuals be wrongly convicted?

-Understand how technology has revolutionized forensic science. -Accused individuals and wrongly imprisoned individuals can be exonerated with scientific results.

-Name discoveries and critical individuals involved in forensic science. -Analyze how forensic science has changed the quality of life in the United States.

3.4 The ability to make GOOD observations is the foundation of all forensic science.

-Where is the skill of observation used in Montana, outside of forensic science?

-Native Americans use(d) observations in daily life. -Footwear/impression analysis may be a modern form of Native American tracking.