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About This Course
Enjoy these benefits and Start Your First Steps into an Exciting Career in Forensic Science and Profiling Today!
  • Understand the basics of Forensic Science and Profiling
  • The importance of DNA in today’s criminal investigations
  • Learn how to collect prints and how to process these
  • Learn how Forensic Dentistry is used in identifying remains
  • The proper way to collect and process hair and fibers
  • A detailed look into crime scenes, how to secure the location, provide security, and documentation
  • Overview of the autopsy process, what happens to the body, and when an autopsy is required
  • Learn how forensic toxicology can provide clues to investigators
  • Understand how psychological profiling helps in identifying possible suspects 

Study Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course and Discover How and Entire Investigation Process is Brought Together

Our Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course starts off in the area of forensic science and profiling. This course is aimed at newcomers looking to learn the details of how forensic science works. This will discuss the roles performed by a range of professionals as they attempt to attain justice for victims. It can be explored by using genuine case studies. Please keep in mind that the case studies utilized in this course are predominantly those involving violent crime and homicide.

This Forensic Science and Profiling course teaches you how to put together a comprehensive investigative procedure in order to bring a case to trial. This is a thought-provoking course that will provide students with an understanding of the criminal mentality.

Why You Need This Course

This thought-provoking course provides an introduction to forensic science and teaches you new skills in criminal profiling. You will learn from industry experts about the entire investigation process, from the crime scene to the courtroom. The course covers a brief history of forensic science, the various types of crimes and their corresponding forensic science techniques, and the ethical implications of forensic science.

As a student, you will also learn about criminal behavior analysis, geographic profiling, and forensic psychology, including the assessment of mental illness and the marsh test. In addition, our expert teaching staff will provide an overview of the DNA profiling process and the use of expert testimony.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate of achievement and/or certificate of completion in Forensic Science and Profiling. This certificate is ideal for those seeking continuing education credits or those interested in expanding their knowledge of forensic science and criminal profiling.

Our training program is specifically designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in forensic science, crime scene investigations, law enforcement, special agents, criminal investigators, criminal profilers, and private investigations.

At Courses for Success, we understand the importance of personal development and continuous learning. Our online certificate courses and certificate programs are aimed at providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their chosen career.

Enroll today and take the first step towards becoming a forensic scientist or crime scene investigator.

Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course – Requirements

This course is designed for people with little or no prior experience. The course is delivered 100 percent online 24/7 and only takes a few hours of study to complete.

To successfully complete this course, a student must:

      Have access to the internet and the necessary technical skills to navigate the online learning resources

      Have access to any mobile device with internet connectivity (laptop, desktop, tablet)

      Be a self-directed learner

      Possess sound language and literacy skills

Quick Course Facts
  1. Course content is structured for easy comprehension

  2. Registered students gain unrestricted access to the Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course

  3. All course material is available online 24/7 and can be accessed using any device

  4. Study online from anywhere in your own time at your own pace

  5. All students who complete the course will be awarded with a certificate of completion

Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Forensic Science

We'll define and examine the topic of forensic science and profiling in this introduction, as well as review some of the other disciplines involved. A brief history of forensic science, as well as some significant equipment and technologies employed in the area, will be discussed after that. Finally, we'll take a look at the field's diversity.

Defining Forensic Science

The application of science to criminal or civil laws is known as forensic science, often known as criminalistics. In criminal investigations, it is more routinely used.

Disciplines

While practically any discipline of science can be applied forensically, particular areas of the profession have evolved through time to meet the most prevalent forensically involved instances.

While there are dozens of subdivisions, some notable ones include:

      Forensic biology: analysis of biological or genetic samples from suspects, crime scenes, or individuals attempting to resolve civil disputes such as parentage, etc.

      Forensic anthropology: applies physical anthropology techniques, usually in the recovery and identification of skeletal remains

      Forensic odontology: the study of the teeth

Brief History

In the ancient world, standardized forensic science was nonexistent, and criminal investigations depended mainly on forced confessions and witness evidence. The oldest documented examples of modern-day forensics, on the other hand, date back to 1248 CE.

Other antecedents were different ways for determining guilt or innocence by monitoring and studying the mouth and saliva. In a sense, these approaches were the forerunners of the polygraph tests that are being employed today.

In Europe in the 16th century, modern forensic sciences began to take shape. Ambroise Paré, a French army physician, looked into the effects of violent death on the organs in considerable detail. Meanwhile, Italian surgeons Fortunato Fidelis and Paolo Zacchia investigated disease-related alterations in the body.

Key Equipment and Technology

Forensic scientists use hundreds, if not thousands, of different tools. The following are some of the most important and often utilized equipment and technologies used during investigations:

      Mass spectrometer: used to determine the composition of trace evidence in order to examine it.

      High-powered microscope: aids in the analysis of trace evidence's minute details.

Diversity and Inclusion

Forensic science, like all STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), is characterized by a lack of diversity, which can exacerbate systemic prejudices in courtrooms. It is not because of a lack of skill or enthusiasm that there are so few people of color, women, and other disadvantaged individuals working in STEM professions.

Module 2: DNA

We'll talk about deoxyribonucleic acid, sometimes known as DNA, and how it's used in forensic science in Module 2. DNA profiling has also influenced modern policing and strengthened the scientific basis for convictions based on crime scene evidence, according to experts.

What is DNA?

DNA is a type of genetic information that may be used to identify living or once-living organisms. Blood, body fluids, hair, bone, and tissue are all sources of it. There is only.01 percent of our DNA that is exclusive to us. A DNA profile may be built using this little fraction. DNA profiling is often depicted as a graph with specific properties for various markers.

Mitochondrial DNA

Within the mitochondria, mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid is a tiny circular shaped chromosome. mtDNA is another name for this kind of DNA. These are handed on from mother to child. They're found in the cell's energy-producing portion. Individual identifications based on this sort of DNA are impossible because everyone on the same maternal lineage has the same mtDNA.

Nuclear DNA

nDNA is another name for nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid. nDNA testing is often preferred over other forms of testing since it can distinguish one person from another. This indicates that, unlike mtDNA, nDNA may be utilized as a case-specific identification. A kind of nDNA testing having a paternal foundation is Y-chromosome DNA testing.

DNA Profiling

It is a complete depiction of a person's look and attributes that is known as a DNA profile. A DNA profile is commonly used to assist in the identification of a criminal or an individual's parentage.

Collection and Analysis

The processes for testing DNA are usually as follows:

Extract: There will be many cells in the DNA sample. The cell is usually isolated from the rest of the cell. In a particular chemical liquid, DNA is inserted to separate from the other components, and the surplus material is removed, leaving just the DNA to be extracted

Quantify: The sample must now be evaluated as the following stage in the procedure. The sample's evaluation confirms that the retrieved DNA came from a person. They must create the markers on the DNA graphing once it has been confirmed that the sample is usable.

Amplify: The DNA is replicated in this phase.

Separate: They spilt up the amplified DNA using a procedure known as capillary electrophoresis. This is done so that the identification in the last phase may take place.

Analyze: Analyzing the sample is usually the final stage in the procedure. Scientists do everything they can to find certain indicators in the DNA sample.

DNA Database

DNA databases may be found in practically every police department and government agency. When numerous people's DNA is on file for whatever reason, this is known as a DNA database.

Crime Scene DNA Testing

Testing DNA recovered at the crime scene begins with establishing whether or not the sample is sufficient to generate a partial or complete profile. Using personal protective equipment and an evidence collection kit, a DNA sample is usually collected. The cells will then be preserved by forensics technicians and sent to a forensics lab.

Ethics and Wrongful Convictions

If done appropriately, DNA storage and usage might be considered ethical. Privacy problems and prejudice questions, on the other hand, will always exist. In the criminal justice system, racial prejudice is a distinct problem. Many innocent persons of color were exonerated when DNA profiling was initially found. In a criminal prosecution, DNA testing is significantly more objective than witness testimony or other criteria.

Case Study: Lynette White

Lynette White and the men falsely accused of her 1988 murder appeared to be denied justice. DNA technology was eventually created, and it changed the way police investigations were conducted. Even evidence that had been stored for years could now be studied on a whole new level.

Modern technology was released in 2002 and was used to track out the genuine killer. The three guys had been imprisoned and convicted without reason; it became evident.

The technology eventually identified a youngster who was too young to have committed the crime. DNA samples were gathered from his family, and they had a match—the boy's uncle—which led to the discovery. The uncle confessed and was sentenced to life in prison in 2003.

Module 3: Identifying Prints

The numerous sorts of identifying prints that may be present at crime scenes are discussed in Module 3. The fingerprint is the most well-known, however this discipline encompasses a wide range of topics.

Fingerprints

A fingerprint is a one-of-a-kind identifier. It's called a biometric because it's so simple to recognize a person. Fingerprints are formed in the womb as a result of pressure, and the fingers grow throughout the gestational period as well. Friction ridges are a collection of ridges seen in fingerprints. Underneath the epidermis, each ridge contains sweat glands. Fingerprints are left on almost everything you touch as a result of perspiration.

Collection of Prints

Detectives will photograph any prints they locate at the crime scene extensively. They may be able to make a copy at the scene to refer to at the lab if the print is clear enough.

Identifying Suspects

Detectives frequently remove fingerprints or have prints in evidence at the crime site. To assist identify the suspected culprit, they are then provided to forensic experts. They match the prints recovered at the scene to the police's fingerprint database.

Other Identifying Prints

Other distinct portions of the body or environmental impressions that can be relevant during an inquiry can be significant during an investigation. Despite the fact that these aren't as reliable as fingerprints, they might help to contextualize the entire evidence discovered at the crime scene.

Ear Scans

Ear scans are made up of a camera picture that depicts the form, size, and structure of the ear. Ear scans are commonly used to identify ear prints. There's a chance that an ear print was left on the ground if someone fell at the scene of a crime.

Palm Prints

The palm of your hand, like fingerprints, has the same sort of printing accessible. For fear of being discovered or leaving enough evidence to be convicted, criminals will go to great lengths to conceal any kind of identity.

Footprints

Your footprint, like fingerprints, has a characteristic pattern on the toes and a distinct pattern on the foot with ridges. Comparing the suspect's footprint to the imprints made at birth is one approach to ensure that it is theirs.

Tire Marks

Tire prints can be left on a scene in paint, dirt, mud, snow, concrete, or any other substance. Tire prints might be from a bike, automobile, truck, boat trailer, or other vehicle.

Shoe Prints

A boot, dress shoe, sandal, or other shoe type's imprint normally does not appear the same. These, like footprints, can be left in a variety of materials, most often mud or soil.

Voiceprints

A voiceprint is a characteristic that may be linked to a certain individual. A dedicated computer that computes a mathematical formula particular to that person is frequently used to fulfill this task.

Module 4: Forensic Dentistry

The practice of forensic dentistry, also known as odontology, will be discussed in Module 4. Human remains that cannot be identified using other means such as fingerprints are studied in odontology.

Scope of Odontology

For mass deaths like flooding, earthquakes, or aircraft disasters, odontology is essential. Attesting in situations of dental malpractice, verifying the origin of bite mark injuries in cases of abuse/assault, and estimating the age of skeletal remains are all additional obligations.

Responsibilities

Forensic dentistry is generally used to identify victims, particularly in situations involving large numbers of people, such as natural disasters or murders. Dental records, bite marks found at the site of a crime, or witness testimony are examples of data available to these specialists.

Dental Patterns

Dental designs are frequently used in odontology. Teeth are frequently employed as identifiers since no two mouth cavities are the same because teeth are so durable.

Features that may play a role in analysis include:

      Variations in the size and shape of teeth

      Missing teeth or crowns

      Wear patterns

Obtaining Records

The authorities contact the victim's legal next of kin and request the names of doctors or dentists who saw the victim in order to collect their dental records. The medical office will give the patient's charting, legends, x-rays, and any other records upon receipt of a medical release letter.

Identification Process

Teeth are sometimes the sole identification that may be used. Even if other portions of a victim's body are injured beyond recognition, they can live.

Bite Analysis

Bite-mark analysis is a branch of forensic odontology. This area of expertise focuses on recognizing bite marks seen at a crime scene. Marks on a body or a bit of gum are two examples. A suspect or a victim might leave these markings. In self-defense, a victim may have bit the suspect.

Case Study: Ted Bundy

Let's look at Theodore Robert Bundy, also known as Ted Bundy, a serial murderer. Ted Bundy graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in psychology in 1972. However, he was accepted to a law school in Utah, but he never completed his studies. Because bite marks were discovered on one of Bundy's final victims from the Chi Omega Sorority House, Lisa Levy, bite markings became a big aspect of his prosecution. Ted Bundy's culpability was established by the bite marks.

His overall charges were three counts of first-degree attempted murder, two instances of first-degree murder, and two counts of burglary. On January 24, 1989, Ted Bundy was killed by electric chair.

Module 5: Hair

Module 5 is now open. The role of hair in forensic analysis will be the subject of this unit. Particularly in situations involving serious crime, hair is frequently utilized as biological evidence. Investigators frequently refer to hair as hair evidence. It can aid in the investigation of a crime scene or give vital DNA evidence.

Hair Collection

During physical touch, hair may readily migrate to persons and objects. Hair can be discovered on furniture, floors, victims' clothing, and other items. It is advisable to acquire a significant sample of hair while collecting hair samples. The color of hair on a person's head might vary (especially if chemically treated). Cut, length, texture, composition, and form are all important considerations.

Testing Hair Evidence

Microscopy is used to examine hair evidence. Forensic scientists can identify whether the hair was removed by force, chemically treated with colors or bleaches, or whether the hair was infected during a hair inspection. On the basis of hair analysis, it is possible to identify where the hair evidence was found on the body, as well as whether the person was under the influence of drugs or poisons. Hair evidence can often reveal genetic information as well. The hair evidence in issue must have a root or shaft from the scalp to ascertain DNA and blood type information during hair microscopy. The sample can be examined for DNA if scientists discover that a hair from the evidence obtained includes a root.

The Drawbacks of Hair Testing

The public assumes microscopic hair analysis is flawless because to famous forensic television series, but it isn't. DNA testing is sometimes mistaken with microscopic comparison. Comparison microscopes can offer information on hair shape, color, density, texture, damage, and history to skilled examiners and investigators, but they cannot determine personal identity.

Case Study: John McCormick and Santae Tribble

An unjustly convicted 17-year-old kid was convicted in 1978 of killing a taxi driver who resided in his immediate area. A single gunshot struck the victim, John McCormick, on his front porch. The only thing left at the crime site was a mask that the perpetrator had left behind. There were 13 hairs on the mask. Investigators got information that Santae Tribble, a 17-year-old kid, had a pistol thought to have murdered McCormick. Tribble was asked for a hair sample by the investigators.

Module 6: Fibers

Fiber evidence and textile materials that may be present at crime scenes will be discussed in this section of the course.

Fiber Evidence

It is a type of trace evidence that is made up of natural or synthetic textile materials. When it comes to victims' clothes, it's frequently discovered in the tiniest unit of a textile substance. During a crime, fibers are frequently transferred from the clothing, carpet, bed, or furniture of a suspect to the clothing of a victim.

Fibers in Investigation

During investigations, investigators seek for fiber evidence when gathering trace evidence. They're looking for matching between fibers found on the body and fabric from a suspect's stash. On a victim's clothes and object fibers, fiber evidence is compared to those of known suspects. In the event that there is any link between a suspect's fabric and fiber evidence found on a victim, the link is valued.

Most Common Types of Fibers

Natural and man-made fibers are the two sorts of fibers. Plants and animals produce natural fibers. Cotton, flax (linen), ramie, sisal, jute, hemp, kapok, and coir are examples of plant-based textile fibers. While cotton fiber is widely utilized in textile manufacture, flax, ramie, sisal, jute, hemp, kapok, and coir are less prevalent. Finding proof of fiber transfers between a victim and a suspect of these uncommon plant-based fibers is regarded highly noteworthy. Wool is the most often used animal fiber in textiles. Sheep are the most prevalent source of wool fibers. Camel, alpaca, cashmere goats, angora goats (mohair), and other animals can be used to manufacture woolen fibers for textiles.

Linking Fibers to a Person

The color, content, and kind of fabric are all important aspects in evaluating the evidence's association value when tying fibers to a suspect. Color is one of the most crucial factors to consider. To give a fiber its intended color, dyes are frequently combined together. Before being spun into yarn, individual fibers can be colored. Yarn, on the other hand, can be coloured after it has been created.

Challenges

Cotton is extensively utilized in the creation of clothing garments, as previously stated. When it comes to determining the association values of fabric evidence using color and fiber type, the mass manufacture of white cotton blends and blue denim might present a unique difficulty to investigators. Multiple textile makers can readily recreate the blue and white colors used in cotton garments and denim. As a result, recognizing cotton threads in blue or white variants is not uncommon.

Module 7: Crime Scenes

When securing, maintaining, and analyzing a crime scene, this module describes the processes that should be done. We'll go over each step-in detail and explain why it's crucial. You'll also learn about evidence preservation and the problems that come with gathering evidence.

Securing a Scene

Each crime scene is unique. As a result, the technique to examining them differs. The location of the crime, as well as the crime itself, are two aspects to examine.

Identifying Scene Dimensions

Establishing the dimensions where the crime happened is the first stage in conducting a good crime scene investigation. The dimensions of a crime scene are usually determined from the center outwards.

Establishing Security

It's critical to protect the space after determining the scene proportions. If the crime occurs outside, yellow tape is frequently used to guard the perimeter, signifying that no one other than qualified professionals should cross the line. It's critical to determine where firemen, medical responders, or other employees are authorized to go if they're also present at the crime scene. As far as reasonably practicable, some essential sectors should be left to law enforcement.

Communication and Coordination

It is not a one-man investigation. A crime scene investigation involves a large number of persons. When dealing with evidence, the entire team should be in continual communication and work together well. To begin, everyone participating in the investigation should speculate on the sort of crime that happened. This can't be done by just one or two individuals, and it needs to be done in a group to get the best outcomes. The ability to determine what sort of evidence to search for at the crime scene is aided by having a theory about the type of crime. The team should come up with the most applicable method for gathering evidence once the preliminary presumption about a crime has been established.

Documenting and Processing Crime Scenes

The team begins examining the crime site once a plan for gathering evidence has been created. The scene is captured at this point using picture and video cameras, sketching, and any other means considered necessary. For the investigators to avoid mistakenly altering or damaging the evidence, a specific set of protocols must be followed when gathering evidence. Because biological evidence is simple to mishandle and potentially taint, making it essentially worthless for the inquiry, this is especially troubling.

Secondary Surveys

A secondary walkthrough is undertaken as quality control after the crime scene has been fully inspected and all potential evidence acquired or collected.

Recordkeeping

The final phase in the crime scene investigation is to establish an inventory log. This contains extensive explanations of each piece of evidence gathered, as well as images taken at the crime scene that match the descriptions.

Methods to Preserve Evidence

Bodily fluids, latent prints, trace materials, narcotics, digital media, and other forms of evidence can all be found at a crime scene. Blood, hair, different tissues, and physiological fluids are examples of biological evidence. On how to handle these various sorts of evidence, there are tight procedures in place. Blood and other body fluids are one of the most essential forms of evidence since they may be accurately linked to the originating individual. For blood collection from the crime scene, dry and moist blood have distinct criteria. The object stained with dried blood should be brought to a lab as soon as possible.

Identification of Victims

In the event that a victim's body is lost for a long time, it will begin to decompose minutes after death. Fugitive scientists and physicians find it difficult to identify the deceased and pinpoint the reason of death the longer the procedure goes on. The decomposition process is only exacerbated by environmental elements like high heat or wetness, making it more difficult for investigators to identify the victims' remains. Investigators use a variety of methods to try to identify the deceased when human remains are damaged.

Module 8: The Autopsy Process

The autopsy procedure, as well as the specialists involved and the certifications necessary, will be discussed in detail in this session. We'll also go through what happens to the body, why an autopsy is required, and the circumstances that might influence the outcome.

Defining Autopsies

The state frequently orders an autopsy, or medical examination of a corpse after death. Private parties, such as the deceased's loved ones, can also request one. A county coroner, who may or may not be a doctor, can do some autopsies. Clinical and forensic autopsies are the two types of autopsies.

State Law

When an autopsy is necessary, each state has its own set of rules, and the grounds for requiring one vary greatly.

The Autopsy Process

The corpse of the deceased is extensively inspected on the outer, interior, and chemical level during an autopsy. Beginning with a visual examination of the corpse, any exterior injuries or other clues that might indicate the cause of death are discovered. The corpse is then sliced open, and all of the organs and internal tissues are inspected meticulously. For additional lab testing, each excised organ is weighed and tiny samples obtained.

Reliability of Results

Because it depends on scientific data gathered from the deceased's corpse, an autopsy performed by a certified individual is often very trustworthy under normal conditions. Autopsy results, on the other hand, are regularly disputed in court. This is especially true if authorities are accused of misconduct. In underdeveloped nations or corrupt institutions where fatalities are covered up, tampering and incorrect autopsy are common.

Module 9: Forensic Toxicology

Fugitive toxicology is a highly significant subsection of the area of forensic science, and this lesson examines it. Toxicity will be explained, as well as when it is employed and what information it might provide to investigators. Our next step will be to look at the development and use of the Marsh test in greater depth in order to have a deeper understanding of the field.

Definition

To detect drugs or substances that may be present in the body, forensic toxicology entails performing scientific tests on bodily fluids, tissue samples, and other biological materials. These tests are frequently carried out utilizing cutting-edge technology, chemical reagents, and exact techniques that have been established throughout time.

Scope of Practice

On teams investigating any type of crime where there is suspicion of drug, poison, or other chemicals, toxicologists are typically involved. Doubtful or violent fatalities, DUIs, assaults, and a number of other scenarios are examples of this type of situation. Toxicology is not just used in criminal investigations; it also has other applications. Solicitation of substance use for employers and drivers has just been included to the forensic toxicology list of services.

Substances

A biological sample can be isolated and identified using forensic toxicological testing, which can isolate and identify any compounds that may have been involved in a crime, dispute, or pollution.

The Marsh Test: History and Use

In 1832, John Bodle was jailed for reportedly smothering his grandfather's coffee with arsenic, a common and lethal chemical. The prosecution summoned James Marsh, a chemist, to testify in the case. Marsh put up a sample of the reportedly poisoned coffee with hydrogen sulfide and hydrochloric acid, using the conventional test of the time. The tell-tale yellow reaction confirming arsenic was visible at the time of the test, but by the time the jury saw the sample, the yellow had deteriorated.

Module 10: Psychological Profiling

In this subject, you'll learn about psychological profiling, a contentious branch of forensic science. Forensic psychology, offender profiling, and criminal profiling are all terms used to describe it. An explanation of this area, a brief history of the practice, and when it is employed will be included in the following parts.

Definition

Psychological profiling is a way of identifying suspects in criminal investigations that uses available facts to determine a suspect's mental, emotional, and personality qualities. In order to establish and narrow down a pool of prospective suspects, it's a relatively new investigative approach. When many crimes are thought to have been committed by the same culprit, profiling is frequently utilized. While psychological profiling is seen as an important and teachable component of criminal investigations, it has not received the same level of scientific backing as most other forensic science subfields.

History

The first criminal to be profiled by criminal detectives was Jack the Ripper, who perpetrated serial killings of sex workers in London during the 1880s. The matter was sent to Thomas Bond, a surgeon who worked for the Metropolitan Police, who was requested to consult and provide professional advice. Bond's profile indicated that the perpetrator must have been a male based on the severity and particular nature of the victims' mutilation. The suspect, he surmised, would be cool-headed and eager to take chances. A form of madness tied to sexual pleasure and violence was most likely the reason.

Scope of Practice

A psychological profile can be used in any criminal case, but repeated offences are the most prevalent. Repeat crimes that are similar or linked are common in these cases. Profiling can also be employed in circumstances where no other leads are available. In the 1980s, many academics assumed that profiling was primarily applicable to crimes with a sexual component. However, research supporting its use to arson, terrorism, and burglary cases has just been published.

Recognition & Accreditation

Upon successful completion of this course and achieving a passing score for the assessment, you will be issued with an international continuing education credit (CEU) certificate.

This Certificate is applicable worldwide, which demonstrates your commitment to learning new skills. You can share the certificate with your friends, relatives, co-workers, and potential employers. Also, include it in your resume/CV, professional social media profiles and job applications.

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Units of Study

Module 1: Introduction to Forensic Science

  • Defining Forensic Science
  • Disciplines
  • Brief History
  • Key Equipment and Technology
  • Diversity and Inclusion

Module 2: DNA

  • What is DNA?
  • Mitochondrial DNA
  • Nuclear DNA
  • DNA Profiling
  • Collection and Analysis
  • DNA Database
  • Crime Scene DNA Testing
  • Ethics and Wrongful Convictions
  • Case Study: Lynette White

Module 3: Identifying Prints

  • Fingerprints
  • Collection of Prints
  • Identifying Suspects
  • Other Identifying Prints
  • Ear Scans
  • Palm Prints
  • Footprints
  • Tire Marks
  • Shoe Prints
  • Voiceprints

Module 4: Forensic Dentistry

  • Scope of Odontology
  • Responsibilities
  • Dental Patterns
  • Obtaining Records
  • Identification Process
  • Bite Analysis
  • Case Study: Ted Bundy

Module 5: Hair

  • Hair Collection
  • Testing Hair Evidence
  • The Drawbacks of Hair Testing
  • Case Study: John McCormick and Santae Tribble

Module 6: Fibers

  • Fiber Evidence
  • Fibers in Investigation
  • Most Common Types of Fibers
  • Linking Fibers to a Person
  • Challenges

Module 7: Crime Scenes

  • Securing a Scene
  • Identifying Scene Dimensions
  • Establishing Security
  • Communication and Coordination
  • Documenting and Processing Crime Scenes
  • Secondary Surveys
  • Recordkeeping
  • Methods to Preserve Evidence
  • Identification of Victims

Module 8: The Autopsy Process

  • Defining Autopsies
  • State Law
  • The Autopsy Process
  • Reliability of Results

Module 9: Forensic Toxicology

  • Definition
  • Scope of Practice
  • Substances
  • The Marsh Test: History and Use

Module 10: Psychological Profiling

  • Definition
  • History
  • Scope of Practice
  • Controversy

Module 11: Types of Offenders

  • Profile Reliability
  • Social Influences
  • Technology
  • Child Sex Offenders
  • Rapists
  • Relationship to Victims
  • Motivations

Module 12: Careers

  • Focus Areas
  • Education Required: Forensic Science
  • Education Required: Profiling
  • Law Enforcement
  • Research Positions
  • Careers in Private Investigations
Requirements

Entry requirements

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Minimum education

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

Windows:

Microsoft Windows XP, or laterModern and up to date Browser (Internet Explorer 8 or later, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

MAC/iOS

OSX/iOS 6 or laterModern and up to date Browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

All systems

Internet bandwidth of 1Mb or fasterFlash player or a browser with HTML5 video capabilities(Currently Internet Explorer 9, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

Students will also need access the following applications:

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Requirements

Entry requirements:

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.


Minimum education:

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.


Device requirements:

Students will need access to a computer/any device and the internet.

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Our Forensic Science and Profiling course teach you how to put together a comprehensive investigative procedure in order to bring a case to trial. This is a thought-provoking course that will provide students with an understanding of the criminal mentality.

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Course Summary

  • Delivery: Online
  • Access: Unlimited Lifetime
  • Time: Study at your own pace
  • Duration:20 Hours
  • Assessments: Yes
  • Qualification: Certificate
About This Course
Enjoy these benefits and Start Your First Steps into an Exciting Career in Forensic Science and Profiling Today!
  • Understand the basics of Forensic Science and Profiling
  • The importance of DNA in today’s criminal investigations
  • Learn how to collect prints and how to process these
  • Learn how Forensic Dentistry is used in identifying remains
  • The proper way to collect and process hair and fibers
  • A detailed look into crime scenes, how to secure the location, provide security, and documentation
  • Overview of the autopsy process, what happens to the body, and when an autopsy is required
  • Learn how forensic toxicology can provide clues to investigators
  • Understand how psychological profiling helps in identifying possible suspects 

Study Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course and Discover How and Entire Investigation Process is Brought Together

Our Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course starts off in the area of forensic science and profiling. This course is aimed at newcomers looking to learn the details of how forensic science works. This will discuss the roles performed by a range of professionals as they attempt to attain justice for victims. It can be explored by using genuine case studies. Please keep in mind that the case studies utilized in this course are predominantly those involving violent crime and homicide.

This Forensic Science and Profiling course teaches you how to put together a comprehensive investigative procedure in order to bring a case to trial. This is a thought-provoking course that will provide students with an understanding of the criminal mentality.

Why You Need This Course

This thought-provoking course provides an introduction to forensic science and teaches you new skills in criminal profiling. You will learn from industry experts about the entire investigation process, from the crime scene to the courtroom. The course covers a brief history of forensic science, the various types of crimes and their corresponding forensic science techniques, and the ethical implications of forensic science.

As a student, you will also learn about criminal behavior analysis, geographic profiling, and forensic psychology, including the assessment of mental illness and the marsh test. In addition, our expert teaching staff will provide an overview of the DNA profiling process and the use of expert testimony.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a certificate of achievement and/or certificate of completion in Forensic Science and Profiling. This certificate is ideal for those seeking continuing education credits or those interested in expanding their knowledge of forensic science and criminal profiling.

Our training program is specifically designed for individuals interested in pursuing a career in forensic science, crime scene investigations, law enforcement, special agents, criminal investigators, criminal profilers, and private investigations.

At Courses for Success, we understand the importance of personal development and continuous learning. Our online certificate courses and certificate programs are aimed at providing students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in their chosen career.

Enroll today and take the first step towards becoming a forensic scientist or crime scene investigator.

Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course – Requirements

This course is designed for people with little or no prior experience. The course is delivered 100 percent online 24/7 and only takes a few hours of study to complete.

To successfully complete this course, a student must:

      Have access to the internet and the necessary technical skills to navigate the online learning resources

      Have access to any mobile device with internet connectivity (laptop, desktop, tablet)

      Be a self-directed learner

      Possess sound language and literacy skills

Quick Course Facts
  1. Course content is structured for easy comprehension

  2. Registered students gain unrestricted access to the Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course

  3. All course material is available online 24/7 and can be accessed using any device

  4. Study online from anywhere in your own time at your own pace

  5. All students who complete the course will be awarded with a certificate of completion

Forensic Science and Profiling Online Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Forensic Science

We'll define and examine the topic of forensic science and profiling in this introduction, as well as review some of the other disciplines involved. A brief history of forensic science, as well as some significant equipment and technologies employed in the area, will be discussed after that. Finally, we'll take a look at the field's diversity.

Defining Forensic Science

The application of science to criminal or civil laws is known as forensic science, often known as criminalistics. In criminal investigations, it is more routinely used.

Disciplines

While practically any discipline of science can be applied forensically, particular areas of the profession have evolved through time to meet the most prevalent forensically involved instances.

While there are dozens of subdivisions, some notable ones include:

      Forensic biology: analysis of biological or genetic samples from suspects, crime scenes, or individuals attempting to resolve civil disputes such as parentage, etc.

      Forensic anthropology: applies physical anthropology techniques, usually in the recovery and identification of skeletal remains

      Forensic odontology: the study of the teeth

Brief History

In the ancient world, standardized forensic science was nonexistent, and criminal investigations depended mainly on forced confessions and witness evidence. The oldest documented examples of modern-day forensics, on the other hand, date back to 1248 CE.

Other antecedents were different ways for determining guilt or innocence by monitoring and studying the mouth and saliva. In a sense, these approaches were the forerunners of the polygraph tests that are being employed today.

In Europe in the 16th century, modern forensic sciences began to take shape. Ambroise Paré, a French army physician, looked into the effects of violent death on the organs in considerable detail. Meanwhile, Italian surgeons Fortunato Fidelis and Paolo Zacchia investigated disease-related alterations in the body.

Key Equipment and Technology

Forensic scientists use hundreds, if not thousands, of different tools. The following are some of the most important and often utilized equipment and technologies used during investigations:

      Mass spectrometer: used to determine the composition of trace evidence in order to examine it.

      High-powered microscope: aids in the analysis of trace evidence's minute details.

Diversity and Inclusion

Forensic science, like all STEM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), is characterized by a lack of diversity, which can exacerbate systemic prejudices in courtrooms. It is not because of a lack of skill or enthusiasm that there are so few people of color, women, and other disadvantaged individuals working in STEM professions.

Module 2: DNA

We'll talk about deoxyribonucleic acid, sometimes known as DNA, and how it's used in forensic science in Module 2. DNA profiling has also influenced modern policing and strengthened the scientific basis for convictions based on crime scene evidence, according to experts.

What is DNA?

DNA is a type of genetic information that may be used to identify living or once-living organisms. Blood, body fluids, hair, bone, and tissue are all sources of it. There is only.01 percent of our DNA that is exclusive to us. A DNA profile may be built using this little fraction. DNA profiling is often depicted as a graph with specific properties for various markers.

Mitochondrial DNA

Within the mitochondria, mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid is a tiny circular shaped chromosome. mtDNA is another name for this kind of DNA. These are handed on from mother to child. They're found in the cell's energy-producing portion. Individual identifications based on this sort of DNA are impossible because everyone on the same maternal lineage has the same mtDNA.

Nuclear DNA

nDNA is another name for nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid. nDNA testing is often preferred over other forms of testing since it can distinguish one person from another. This indicates that, unlike mtDNA, nDNA may be utilized as a case-specific identification. A kind of nDNA testing having a paternal foundation is Y-chromosome DNA testing.

DNA Profiling

It is a complete depiction of a person's look and attributes that is known as a DNA profile. A DNA profile is commonly used to assist in the identification of a criminal or an individual's parentage.

Collection and Analysis

The processes for testing DNA are usually as follows:

Extract: There will be many cells in the DNA sample. The cell is usually isolated from the rest of the cell. In a particular chemical liquid, DNA is inserted to separate from the other components, and the surplus material is removed, leaving just the DNA to be extracted

Quantify: The sample must now be evaluated as the following stage in the procedure. The sample's evaluation confirms that the retrieved DNA came from a person. They must create the markers on the DNA graphing once it has been confirmed that the sample is usable.

Amplify: The DNA is replicated in this phase.

Separate: They spilt up the amplified DNA using a procedure known as capillary electrophoresis. This is done so that the identification in the last phase may take place.

Analyze: Analyzing the sample is usually the final stage in the procedure. Scientists do everything they can to find certain indicators in the DNA sample.

DNA Database

DNA databases may be found in practically every police department and government agency. When numerous people's DNA is on file for whatever reason, this is known as a DNA database.

Crime Scene DNA Testing

Testing DNA recovered at the crime scene begins with establishing whether or not the sample is sufficient to generate a partial or complete profile. Using personal protective equipment and an evidence collection kit, a DNA sample is usually collected. The cells will then be preserved by forensics technicians and sent to a forensics lab.

Ethics and Wrongful Convictions

If done appropriately, DNA storage and usage might be considered ethical. Privacy problems and prejudice questions, on the other hand, will always exist. In the criminal justice system, racial prejudice is a distinct problem. Many innocent persons of color were exonerated when DNA profiling was initially found. In a criminal prosecution, DNA testing is significantly more objective than witness testimony or other criteria.

Case Study: Lynette White

Lynette White and the men falsely accused of her 1988 murder appeared to be denied justice. DNA technology was eventually created, and it changed the way police investigations were conducted. Even evidence that had been stored for years could now be studied on a whole new level.

Modern technology was released in 2002 and was used to track out the genuine killer. The three guys had been imprisoned and convicted without reason; it became evident.

The technology eventually identified a youngster who was too young to have committed the crime. DNA samples were gathered from his family, and they had a match—the boy's uncle—which led to the discovery. The uncle confessed and was sentenced to life in prison in 2003.

Module 3: Identifying Prints

The numerous sorts of identifying prints that may be present at crime scenes are discussed in Module 3. The fingerprint is the most well-known, however this discipline encompasses a wide range of topics.

Fingerprints

A fingerprint is a one-of-a-kind identifier. It's called a biometric because it's so simple to recognize a person. Fingerprints are formed in the womb as a result of pressure, and the fingers grow throughout the gestational period as well. Friction ridges are a collection of ridges seen in fingerprints. Underneath the epidermis, each ridge contains sweat glands. Fingerprints are left on almost everything you touch as a result of perspiration.

Collection of Prints

Detectives will photograph any prints they locate at the crime scene extensively. They may be able to make a copy at the scene to refer to at the lab if the print is clear enough.

Identifying Suspects

Detectives frequently remove fingerprints or have prints in evidence at the crime site. To assist identify the suspected culprit, they are then provided to forensic experts. They match the prints recovered at the scene to the police's fingerprint database.

Other Identifying Prints

Other distinct portions of the body or environmental impressions that can be relevant during an inquiry can be significant during an investigation. Despite the fact that these aren't as reliable as fingerprints, they might help to contextualize the entire evidence discovered at the crime scene.

Ear Scans

Ear scans are made up of a camera picture that depicts the form, size, and structure of the ear. Ear scans are commonly used to identify ear prints. There's a chance that an ear print was left on the ground if someone fell at the scene of a crime.

Palm Prints

The palm of your hand, like fingerprints, has the same sort of printing accessible. For fear of being discovered or leaving enough evidence to be convicted, criminals will go to great lengths to conceal any kind of identity.

Footprints

Your footprint, like fingerprints, has a characteristic pattern on the toes and a distinct pattern on the foot with ridges. Comparing the suspect's footprint to the imprints made at birth is one approach to ensure that it is theirs.

Tire Marks

Tire prints can be left on a scene in paint, dirt, mud, snow, concrete, or any other substance. Tire prints might be from a bike, automobile, truck, boat trailer, or other vehicle.

Shoe Prints

A boot, dress shoe, sandal, or other shoe type's imprint normally does not appear the same. These, like footprints, can be left in a variety of materials, most often mud or soil.

Voiceprints

A voiceprint is a characteristic that may be linked to a certain individual. A dedicated computer that computes a mathematical formula particular to that person is frequently used to fulfill this task.

Module 4: Forensic Dentistry

The practice of forensic dentistry, also known as odontology, will be discussed in Module 4. Human remains that cannot be identified using other means such as fingerprints are studied in odontology.

Scope of Odontology

For mass deaths like flooding, earthquakes, or aircraft disasters, odontology is essential. Attesting in situations of dental malpractice, verifying the origin of bite mark injuries in cases of abuse/assault, and estimating the age of skeletal remains are all additional obligations.

Responsibilities

Forensic dentistry is generally used to identify victims, particularly in situations involving large numbers of people, such as natural disasters or murders. Dental records, bite marks found at the site of a crime, or witness testimony are examples of data available to these specialists.

Dental Patterns

Dental designs are frequently used in odontology. Teeth are frequently employed as identifiers since no two mouth cavities are the same because teeth are so durable.

Features that may play a role in analysis include:

      Variations in the size and shape of teeth

      Missing teeth or crowns

      Wear patterns

Obtaining Records

The authorities contact the victim's legal next of kin and request the names of doctors or dentists who saw the victim in order to collect their dental records. The medical office will give the patient's charting, legends, x-rays, and any other records upon receipt of a medical release letter.

Identification Process

Teeth are sometimes the sole identification that may be used. Even if other portions of a victim's body are injured beyond recognition, they can live.

Bite Analysis

Bite-mark analysis is a branch of forensic odontology. This area of expertise focuses on recognizing bite marks seen at a crime scene. Marks on a body or a bit of gum are two examples. A suspect or a victim might leave these markings. In self-defense, a victim may have bit the suspect.

Case Study: Ted Bundy

Let's look at Theodore Robert Bundy, also known as Ted Bundy, a serial murderer. Ted Bundy graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in psychology in 1972. However, he was accepted to a law school in Utah, but he never completed his studies. Because bite marks were discovered on one of Bundy's final victims from the Chi Omega Sorority House, Lisa Levy, bite markings became a big aspect of his prosecution. Ted Bundy's culpability was established by the bite marks.

His overall charges were three counts of first-degree attempted murder, two instances of first-degree murder, and two counts of burglary. On January 24, 1989, Ted Bundy was killed by electric chair.

Module 5: Hair

Module 5 is now open. The role of hair in forensic analysis will be the subject of this unit. Particularly in situations involving serious crime, hair is frequently utilized as biological evidence. Investigators frequently refer to hair as hair evidence. It can aid in the investigation of a crime scene or give vital DNA evidence.

Hair Collection

During physical touch, hair may readily migrate to persons and objects. Hair can be discovered on furniture, floors, victims' clothing, and other items. It is advisable to acquire a significant sample of hair while collecting hair samples. The color of hair on a person's head might vary (especially if chemically treated). Cut, length, texture, composition, and form are all important considerations.

Testing Hair Evidence

Microscopy is used to examine hair evidence. Forensic scientists can identify whether the hair was removed by force, chemically treated with colors or bleaches, or whether the hair was infected during a hair inspection. On the basis of hair analysis, it is possible to identify where the hair evidence was found on the body, as well as whether the person was under the influence of drugs or poisons. Hair evidence can often reveal genetic information as well. The hair evidence in issue must have a root or shaft from the scalp to ascertain DNA and blood type information during hair microscopy. The sample can be examined for DNA if scientists discover that a hair from the evidence obtained includes a root.

The Drawbacks of Hair Testing

The public assumes microscopic hair analysis is flawless because to famous forensic television series, but it isn't. DNA testing is sometimes mistaken with microscopic comparison. Comparison microscopes can offer information on hair shape, color, density, texture, damage, and history to skilled examiners and investigators, but they cannot determine personal identity.

Case Study: John McCormick and Santae Tribble

An unjustly convicted 17-year-old kid was convicted in 1978 of killing a taxi driver who resided in his immediate area. A single gunshot struck the victim, John McCormick, on his front porch. The only thing left at the crime site was a mask that the perpetrator had left behind. There were 13 hairs on the mask. Investigators got information that Santae Tribble, a 17-year-old kid, had a pistol thought to have murdered McCormick. Tribble was asked for a hair sample by the investigators.

Module 6: Fibers

Fiber evidence and textile materials that may be present at crime scenes will be discussed in this section of the course.

Fiber Evidence

It is a type of trace evidence that is made up of natural or synthetic textile materials. When it comes to victims' clothes, it's frequently discovered in the tiniest unit of a textile substance. During a crime, fibers are frequently transferred from the clothing, carpet, bed, or furniture of a suspect to the clothing of a victim.

Fibers in Investigation

During investigations, investigators seek for fiber evidence when gathering trace evidence. They're looking for matching between fibers found on the body and fabric from a suspect's stash. On a victim's clothes and object fibers, fiber evidence is compared to those of known suspects. In the event that there is any link between a suspect's fabric and fiber evidence found on a victim, the link is valued.

Most Common Types of Fibers

Natural and man-made fibers are the two sorts of fibers. Plants and animals produce natural fibers. Cotton, flax (linen), ramie, sisal, jute, hemp, kapok, and coir are examples of plant-based textile fibers. While cotton fiber is widely utilized in textile manufacture, flax, ramie, sisal, jute, hemp, kapok, and coir are less prevalent. Finding proof of fiber transfers between a victim and a suspect of these uncommon plant-based fibers is regarded highly noteworthy. Wool is the most often used animal fiber in textiles. Sheep are the most prevalent source of wool fibers. Camel, alpaca, cashmere goats, angora goats (mohair), and other animals can be used to manufacture woolen fibers for textiles.

Linking Fibers to a Person

The color, content, and kind of fabric are all important aspects in evaluating the evidence's association value when tying fibers to a suspect. Color is one of the most crucial factors to consider. To give a fiber its intended color, dyes are frequently combined together. Before being spun into yarn, individual fibers can be colored. Yarn, on the other hand, can be coloured after it has been created.

Challenges

Cotton is extensively utilized in the creation of clothing garments, as previously stated. When it comes to determining the association values of fabric evidence using color and fiber type, the mass manufacture of white cotton blends and blue denim might present a unique difficulty to investigators. Multiple textile makers can readily recreate the blue and white colors used in cotton garments and denim. As a result, recognizing cotton threads in blue or white variants is not uncommon.

Module 7: Crime Scenes

When securing, maintaining, and analyzing a crime scene, this module describes the processes that should be done. We'll go over each step-in detail and explain why it's crucial. You'll also learn about evidence preservation and the problems that come with gathering evidence.

Securing a Scene

Each crime scene is unique. As a result, the technique to examining them differs. The location of the crime, as well as the crime itself, are two aspects to examine.

Identifying Scene Dimensions

Establishing the dimensions where the crime happened is the first stage in conducting a good crime scene investigation. The dimensions of a crime scene are usually determined from the center outwards.

Establishing Security

It's critical to protect the space after determining the scene proportions. If the crime occurs outside, yellow tape is frequently used to guard the perimeter, signifying that no one other than qualified professionals should cross the line. It's critical to determine where firemen, medical responders, or other employees are authorized to go if they're also present at the crime scene. As far as reasonably practicable, some essential sectors should be left to law enforcement.

Communication and Coordination

It is not a one-man investigation. A crime scene investigation involves a large number of persons. When dealing with evidence, the entire team should be in continual communication and work together well. To begin, everyone participating in the investigation should speculate on the sort of crime that happened. This can't be done by just one or two individuals, and it needs to be done in a group to get the best outcomes. The ability to determine what sort of evidence to search for at the crime scene is aided by having a theory about the type of crime. The team should come up with the most applicable method for gathering evidence once the preliminary presumption about a crime has been established.

Documenting and Processing Crime Scenes

The team begins examining the crime site once a plan for gathering evidence has been created. The scene is captured at this point using picture and video cameras, sketching, and any other means considered necessary. For the investigators to avoid mistakenly altering or damaging the evidence, a specific set of protocols must be followed when gathering evidence. Because biological evidence is simple to mishandle and potentially taint, making it essentially worthless for the inquiry, this is especially troubling.

Secondary Surveys

A secondary walkthrough is undertaken as quality control after the crime scene has been fully inspected and all potential evidence acquired or collected.

Recordkeeping

The final phase in the crime scene investigation is to establish an inventory log. This contains extensive explanations of each piece of evidence gathered, as well as images taken at the crime scene that match the descriptions.

Methods to Preserve Evidence

Bodily fluids, latent prints, trace materials, narcotics, digital media, and other forms of evidence can all be found at a crime scene. Blood, hair, different tissues, and physiological fluids are examples of biological evidence. On how to handle these various sorts of evidence, there are tight procedures in place. Blood and other body fluids are one of the most essential forms of evidence since they may be accurately linked to the originating individual. For blood collection from the crime scene, dry and moist blood have distinct criteria. The object stained with dried blood should be brought to a lab as soon as possible.

Identification of Victims

In the event that a victim's body is lost for a long time, it will begin to decompose minutes after death. Fugitive scientists and physicians find it difficult to identify the deceased and pinpoint the reason of death the longer the procedure goes on. The decomposition process is only exacerbated by environmental elements like high heat or wetness, making it more difficult for investigators to identify the victims' remains. Investigators use a variety of methods to try to identify the deceased when human remains are damaged.

Module 8: The Autopsy Process

The autopsy procedure, as well as the specialists involved and the certifications necessary, will be discussed in detail in this session. We'll also go through what happens to the body, why an autopsy is required, and the circumstances that might influence the outcome.

Defining Autopsies

The state frequently orders an autopsy, or medical examination of a corpse after death. Private parties, such as the deceased's loved ones, can also request one. A county coroner, who may or may not be a doctor, can do some autopsies. Clinical and forensic autopsies are the two types of autopsies.

State Law

When an autopsy is necessary, each state has its own set of rules, and the grounds for requiring one vary greatly.

The Autopsy Process

The corpse of the deceased is extensively inspected on the outer, interior, and chemical level during an autopsy. Beginning with a visual examination of the corpse, any exterior injuries or other clues that might indicate the cause of death are discovered. The corpse is then sliced open, and all of the organs and internal tissues are inspected meticulously. For additional lab testing, each excised organ is weighed and tiny samples obtained.

Reliability of Results

Because it depends on scientific data gathered from the deceased's corpse, an autopsy performed by a certified individual is often very trustworthy under normal conditions. Autopsy results, on the other hand, are regularly disputed in court. This is especially true if authorities are accused of misconduct. In underdeveloped nations or corrupt institutions where fatalities are covered up, tampering and incorrect autopsy are common.

Module 9: Forensic Toxicology

Fugitive toxicology is a highly significant subsection of the area of forensic science, and this lesson examines it. Toxicity will be explained, as well as when it is employed and what information it might provide to investigators. Our next step will be to look at the development and use of the Marsh test in greater depth in order to have a deeper understanding of the field.

Definition

To detect drugs or substances that may be present in the body, forensic toxicology entails performing scientific tests on bodily fluids, tissue samples, and other biological materials. These tests are frequently carried out utilizing cutting-edge technology, chemical reagents, and exact techniques that have been established throughout time.

Scope of Practice

On teams investigating any type of crime where there is suspicion of drug, poison, or other chemicals, toxicologists are typically involved. Doubtful or violent fatalities, DUIs, assaults, and a number of other scenarios are examples of this type of situation. Toxicology is not just used in criminal investigations; it also has other applications. Solicitation of substance use for employers and drivers has just been included to the forensic toxicology list of services.

Substances

A biological sample can be isolated and identified using forensic toxicological testing, which can isolate and identify any compounds that may have been involved in a crime, dispute, or pollution.

The Marsh Test: History and Use

In 1832, John Bodle was jailed for reportedly smothering his grandfather's coffee with arsenic, a common and lethal chemical. The prosecution summoned James Marsh, a chemist, to testify in the case. Marsh put up a sample of the reportedly poisoned coffee with hydrogen sulfide and hydrochloric acid, using the conventional test of the time. The tell-tale yellow reaction confirming arsenic was visible at the time of the test, but by the time the jury saw the sample, the yellow had deteriorated.

Module 10: Psychological Profiling

In this subject, you'll learn about psychological profiling, a contentious branch of forensic science. Forensic psychology, offender profiling, and criminal profiling are all terms used to describe it. An explanation of this area, a brief history of the practice, and when it is employed will be included in the following parts.

Definition

Psychological profiling is a way of identifying suspects in criminal investigations that uses available facts to determine a suspect's mental, emotional, and personality qualities. In order to establish and narrow down a pool of prospective suspects, it's a relatively new investigative approach. When many crimes are thought to have been committed by the same culprit, profiling is frequently utilized. While psychological profiling is seen as an important and teachable component of criminal investigations, it has not received the same level of scientific backing as most other forensic science subfields.

History

The first criminal to be profiled by criminal detectives was Jack the Ripper, who perpetrated serial killings of sex workers in London during the 1880s. The matter was sent to Thomas Bond, a surgeon who worked for the Metropolitan Police, who was requested to consult and provide professional advice. Bond's profile indicated that the perpetrator must have been a male based on the severity and particular nature of the victims' mutilation. The suspect, he surmised, would be cool-headed and eager to take chances. A form of madness tied to sexual pleasure and violence was most likely the reason.

Scope of Practice

A psychological profile can be used in any criminal case, but repeated offences are the most prevalent. Repeat crimes that are similar or linked are common in these cases. Profiling can also be employed in circumstances where no other leads are available. In the 1980s, many academics assumed that profiling was primarily applicable to crimes with a sexual component. However, research supporting its use to arson, terrorism, and burglary cases has just been published.

Recognition & Accreditation

Upon successful completion of this course and achieving a passing score for the assessment, you will be issued with an international continuing education credit (CEU) certificate.

This Certificate is applicable worldwide, which demonstrates your commitment to learning new skills. You can share the certificate with your friends, relatives, co-workers, and potential employers. Also, include it in your resume/CV, professional social media profiles and job applications.

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Units of Study

Module 1: Introduction to Forensic Science

  • Defining Forensic Science
  • Disciplines
  • Brief History
  • Key Equipment and Technology
  • Diversity and Inclusion

Module 2: DNA

  • What is DNA?
  • Mitochondrial DNA
  • Nuclear DNA
  • DNA Profiling
  • Collection and Analysis
  • DNA Database
  • Crime Scene DNA Testing
  • Ethics and Wrongful Convictions
  • Case Study: Lynette White

Module 3: Identifying Prints

  • Fingerprints
  • Collection of Prints
  • Identifying Suspects
  • Other Identifying Prints
  • Ear Scans
  • Palm Prints
  • Footprints
  • Tire Marks
  • Shoe Prints
  • Voiceprints

Module 4: Forensic Dentistry

  • Scope of Odontology
  • Responsibilities
  • Dental Patterns
  • Obtaining Records
  • Identification Process
  • Bite Analysis
  • Case Study: Ted Bundy

Module 5: Hair

  • Hair Collection
  • Testing Hair Evidence
  • The Drawbacks of Hair Testing
  • Case Study: John McCormick and Santae Tribble

Module 6: Fibers

  • Fiber Evidence
  • Fibers in Investigation
  • Most Common Types of Fibers
  • Linking Fibers to a Person
  • Challenges

Module 7: Crime Scenes

  • Securing a Scene
  • Identifying Scene Dimensions
  • Establishing Security
  • Communication and Coordination
  • Documenting and Processing Crime Scenes
  • Secondary Surveys
  • Recordkeeping
  • Methods to Preserve Evidence
  • Identification of Victims

Module 8: The Autopsy Process

  • Defining Autopsies
  • State Law
  • The Autopsy Process
  • Reliability of Results

Module 9: Forensic Toxicology

  • Definition
  • Scope of Practice
  • Substances
  • The Marsh Test: History and Use

Module 10: Psychological Profiling

  • Definition
  • History
  • Scope of Practice
  • Controversy

Module 11: Types of Offenders

  • Profile Reliability
  • Social Influences
  • Technology
  • Child Sex Offenders
  • Rapists
  • Relationship to Victims
  • Motivations

Module 12: Careers

  • Focus Areas
  • Education Required: Forensic Science
  • Education Required: Profiling
  • Law Enforcement
  • Research Positions
  • Careers in Private Investigations
Requirements

Entry requirements

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Minimum education

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

Windows:

Microsoft Windows XP, or laterModern and up to date Browser (Internet Explorer 8 or later, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

MAC/iOS

OSX/iOS 6 or laterModern and up to date Browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

All systems

Internet bandwidth of 1Mb or fasterFlash player or a browser with HTML5 video capabilities(Currently Internet Explorer 9, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

Students will also need access the following applications:

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Requirements

Entry requirements:

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.


Minimum education:

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.


Device requirements:

Students will need access to a computer/any device and the internet.

FAQS

1.  Who are Courses For Success?

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By studying an online course, the usual boundaries caused by location and time constraints are eliminated, meaning you are free to study where and when you want at your own pace.

Of course, you will need to be able to self-manage your time and be organized, but with our help, you’ll soon find yourself settling into a comfortable rhythm of study.

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