Understanding the principles of trace evidence analysis, including the analysis of soil, paint, and other materials.
Introduction to Trace Evidence: This topic provides an overview of what trace evidence is, its significance in forensic analysis, and the various types of trace evidence.
Locating Trace Evidence: This topic covers methods and techniques used to identify and collect trace evidence.
Properties of Trace Evidence: This topic covers the chemical and physical properties of trace evidence, including composition, size, shape, color, and texture.
Microscopy and Spectroscopy Techniques: This topic covers the use of different microscopy and spectroscopy techniques for analyzing trace evidence, including SEM, TEM, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy.
Analysis of Hair: This topic covers the characteristics of human and animal hair, including the structure, growth phases, and the use of DNA analysis in hair identification.
Analysis of Fibers: This topic covers the different types of fibers, methods for fiber identification, and evaluation of fiber evidence in forensic analysis.
Glass Analysis: This topic covers the identification and comparison of glass fragments found at crime scenes, including the use of refractive index, density, and elemental analysis.
Soil and Sediment Analysis: This topic covers how soil and sediment can act as trace evidence, the distinguishing features of different soil types, and the use of chemical and physical methods for analysis.
Toolmarks and Impressions: This topic covers the identification and comparison of toolmarks and impressions, including methods for examining and interpreting them.
Gunshot Residue Analysis: This topic covers the identification and analysis of gunshot residues, including the use of atomic absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry techniques.
Fire Debris Analysis: This topic covers the identification and analysis of fire debris, including methods for sampling, extraction, and analysis.
Explosives Analysis: This topic covers the identification and analysis of explosives, including the use of chromatography and spectrometry techniques.
Paint and Ink Analysis: This topic covers the comparison of paint and ink samples, including the use of microscopy and spectrophotometry methods.
Forensic Entomology: This topic covers the use of insects in forensic analysis, including the determination of time of death and post-mortem interval.
Forensic Anthropology: This topic covers the identification and analysis of skeletal remains, including determining age, sex, and cause of death.
Hair: This type of trace evidence refers to any hair fibers found at a crime scene, which can provide valuable information such as the race, sex, and species of the individual who left the hair.
Fibers: These are small pieces of fabric, carpet, or insulation that can provide forensic experts with information about the type of material used in a crime.
Soil: Soil traces found at a scene can provide investigators with the location where the suspect has been, or the location where the crime happened.
Glass: Pieces of broken glass could be found at a crime scene and when analyzed, it can determine the age, source, or type of glass.
Gunshot Residue: This type of trace evidence refers to the tiny particles that are produced when a gun is fired. The residue can contain information about the type of gun used or where the gun was fired.
Blood: Blood evidence can provide critical information that can link a particular individual to a crime. Blood evidence found at a scene can also be used to determine if the blood belonged to the victim or the suspect.
DNA: DNA evidence found at a crime scene can help investigators identify the perpetrator. DNA can be found on anything that has been touched or even the smallest amount of skin tissue, saliva or sweat.
Paint chips: The paint from an automobile can be transferred to clothing, skin or a location after a collision can help link specific automobile models to the scene of the crime.
Explosive Residue: Explosive residue evidence can be tested to determine the specific type of explosive material used.
Fingerprints: Fingerprints can be found on surfaces and can be used to connect the suspect to the crime scene.
Toxins: Toxins such as poison or drugs found in the body provide valuable information.
Adhesives: Adhesives or tape could be found at a crime scene and can provide information like the manufacturer, length, and shape of the tape.
Ink: Ink stains or pen impressions could be found at a scene and can provide information about the type of pen or the handwriting style of the individual who wrote it.