65316 Criminalistics
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Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 65242 Principles of Forensic Science AND 65312 Forensic Imaging
Description
This subject expands on the skills and discipline knowledge introduced in 65242 Principles of Forensic Science and complements the topics covered in 65342 Crime Scene Investigation. In this subject, students learn how to analyse, interpret, and report on common forensic traces including fingermarks, object impressions, bullets and firearm cartridges, and biological materials. Students also build an awareness of the complex and changing nature of analysis and interpretation in the modern forensic science laboratory, which forms the foundation for subsequent subjects in their course. Students gain hands-on experience with the appropriate analysis, interpretation and reporting of forensic traces through practical mock cases and workshop exercises. At the end of the subject, students learn how to apply their knowledge to the triage and analysis sequence of different traces, fundamental concepts for 65314 Complex Cases and a career in forensic science.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe the common types of forensic traces and the basic processes that lead to their creation. |
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| 2. | Identify and explain issues in forensic science and their impact on shaping modern professional practice. |
| 3. | Select and apply the least destructive sequence of procedures to enhance and analyse the trace in a particular case scenario. |
| 4. | Interpret and evaluate the results of forensic analyses in the context of a case scenario. |
| 5. | Clearly communicate expert opinion to a lay audience in a variety of formats. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate a command of forensic science practice, including the detection, collection, and analysis of traces in order to exploit and integrate the results of analyses into investigative, evaluative and intelligence frameworks. (1.1)
- Apply investigative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to forensic science problems and design experimental methods to test hypotheses and critically analyse and interpret data. (2.1)
- Practise safe, ethical, and professional conduct with consideration for the role of forensic science in addressing current and future challenges faced by law enforcement, the legal system, security, and the wider community. (3.1)
- Apply forensic science professional skills with a high degree of personal autonomy and reflection to demonstrate initiative and innovative thinking in solving complex forensic problems. (4.1)
- Demonstrate skills in communicating experimental conclusions, expert opinion, and the justification of professional decisions related to forensic science processes effectively to expert, scientific, and non-expert audiences. (5.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Criminalistics expands on the philosophy, methods, and interpretation skills required within the forensic science discipline. It builds on prior knowledge gained in Stages 1 and 2 (65242 and 65312) and complements learning in Crime Scene Investigation (65342), detailing what happens to forensic traces once they have been collected from the scene and transported to the laboratory. Criminalistics provides students with the opportunity to develop their problem solving, technical and communication skills within a professional context.
Graduate Attribute 1: Disciplinary knowledge
Students will learn how to analyse and interpret various traces commonly encountered in modern forensic science case work that require an understanding of fundamental forensic science principles and enabling sciences. Students will learn about traces that cross course stream boundaries, exposing them to the broader picture of forensic science as a whole and a less siloed approach to case work management. This knowledge will be developed and practised throughout the teaching session through a combination of recorded lectures, interactive online learning materials, practical classes and workshops. The application of discipline knowledge is embedded in each assessment task to provide students with continued feedback and mastery opportunities.
Graduate Attribute 2: Research, inquiry, and critical thinking
Students will examine simulated exhibits, present written expert opinion, and discuss the challenges associated with presenting forensic science in a modern court room using knowledge drawn from the lectures, independent learning and workshops. By forming and testing hypotheses about the source of a trace, students will build on their problem solving and critical thinking skills alongside their understanding of scientific method. These skills will be learnt, practised and assessed throughout the semester in the practicals, with further opportunities for development during the workshop and lecture activities.
Graduate Attribute 3: Professional, ethical, and social responsibility
All learning in the practical sessions is performed in a professional team environment using instruments, techniques and processes applied in operational laboratories. Students will develop their professional, collaborative, and independent learning skills during practical and workshop sessions while working in multidisciplinary teams on trace types both within and outside their chosen major. This approach will improve their awareness of how analytical procedures can impact on other traces and prepare students for a career in an increasingly multidisciplinary and integrated professional environment. Generic skills such as time management, critical thinking, personal organisation, and self-reflection will be developed alongside discipline-specific professional skills including laboratory proficiency, interpretation, documentation, and ethical practice. Student development of these discipline-specific professional skills will be monitored and assessed in the practicals.
Graduate Attribute 4: Reflection, innovation, and creativity
Forensic science is a rapidly evolving discipline with the workplace regularly adapting to or adopting new processes, interpretation frameworks, or changing legal or accreditation requirements. Navigating and succeeding in this type of work environment requires graduates to not only be able to read and apply new techniques but also to discuss and learn from other professionals. Students in Criminalistics will practice their peer learning, discussion, and reflection capabilities formatively in practical sessions and workshops and in the adoption of feedback from their assessments.
As part of their practical skills development and assessment, students in Criminalistics will analyse realistic tracecs in a simulated case scenario. Students must work with limited background information and a trace of unknown quality, and use their knowledge, supplied instrumentation, and independent research to characterise the trace and provide an expert opinion on its potential source. Each scenario introduces the students to casework-like challenges that require different approaches to problem solving. Through this process, supported by teaching staff, students begin to develop their initiative and ability to respond to more complex situations that will form the basis of later subjects 65314 Complex Cases and 65315 Forensic Research Project. Real-time feedback opportunities are provided in the practical sessions during the formative stages of attribute development.
Graduate Attribute 5: Communication
Students will be introduced to new forensic documentation styles and ways of reporting expert opinion complementary to those learnt in 65342 Crime Scene Investigation. Emphasis is placed on the development of students' ability to communicate forensic science concepts to a non-expert audience in a written format - an important part of professional practice. Ongoing feedback is provided to students through the practical classes and linked assessments. Students will also develop their oral and written peer-to-peer scientific communication skills through collaborative learning in workshops and practical sessions.
Teaching and learning strategies
All learning materials, including recorded lectures, interactive support materials, additional multimedia and electronic copies of subject manuals can be found under Modules on Canvas. Detailed assessment task information is located under Assignments.
Recorded lectures:
There are 9 recorded lectures throughout the teaching session that students can watch in their own time during that week. The lectures provide students with the theoretical knowledge required to analyse, evaluate and interpret a variety of forensic traces, as well as introducing emerging techniques or concepts in forensic science. The topics discussed in these sessions provide the foundation for the workshops and practicals, where students apply their new knowledge. The lectures are broken into blocks of information, Q&A and application/activity. The lectures are supported by interactive online tools and summary modules in Canvas to give students an opportunity to revise and reflect on the learning materials in a student-led environment.
Workshops:
Three 2 hour workshops are scheduled during the teaching session. These workshops provide students with a smaller and supportive class environment to discuss and practise more difficult professional skills or concepts in collaborative groups and an opportunity to receive real-time feedback from peers and academic staff. Students are placed in charge of their own learning with a classroom focus on peer learning and application.
Practicals:
Practical sessions run for 3 hours and are scheduled for 9 of the 12 session weeks. The practicals allow students to gain experience with the analysis and interpretation of a variety of forensic traces in a collaborative professional setting. Teams of students are assigned simulated exhibits to examine over four 2-week periods. Early practicals focus on building foundational skill sincluding laboratory documentation, ACE-V and developing examination strategies. Students apply these skills to a mock case - from receipt of the items through to laboratory analysis, interpretation, and the preparation of an expert witness report - in the second half of the semester. These classes are student-led with one-on-one and group support provided by teaching and professional staff. Students are also encouraged to seek solutions to any issues they encounter in the laboratory or unusual results they obtain. The assessment for these cases is designed to introduce students to expert testimony formats and forensic interpretation.
Self-directed learning support:
Online learning modules, including quizzes and multimedia, that supplement the concepts learnt in face-to-face classes will be available on Canvas from week 1 onwards and can be accessed or revised at any point during the semester. This includes interactive revision modules on core skills required in the practicals that provide immediate feedback. Links to further reading, podcasts and vodcasts are also provided to students to expand their learning outside of the classroom.
Content (topics)
- Detection, capture, analysis, and interpretation of common traces encountered in forensic casework (see program for breakdown).
- What are the aims of laboratory analysis? What hypotheses and inferences can be drawn about a source or activity based on these traces?
- What analytical techniques and sequences should be employed for particular types of traces? Why are these sequences important for reliable forensic science?
- What is the ACE-V process and why is its correct implementation so important for ensuring rigorous evaluation of impression traces? Does ACE-V resemble other methodologies used in forensic science?
- What is the importance of discrimination (or failure-to-discriminate) between a trace and putative sources? What are the current issues associated with the interpretation of traces and how could probabilistic approaches address these problems?
- Can traces be used for reconstructing activities? How does laboratory analysis assist in the reconstruction or activity hypothesis testing process?
- Is it possible to sequence the collection and analysis of different types of traces in more complex scenarios? What are the advantages and potential issues of taking this kind of multidisciplinary approach?
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Fingerprint comparison
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical, and social responsibility |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 3.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | No specified length - complete the proforma available on Canvas |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on your:
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Assessment task 2: Expert certificate
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking 3. Professional, ethical, and social responsibility 4. Reflection, innovation, and creativity 5. Communication |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Please see Canvas for detailed instructions and template. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on your ability to:
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Assessment task 3: Checkpoint quizzes
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary knowledge 2. Research, inquiry, and critical thinking |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1 and 2.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Approximately 30 minutes per quiz, depending on familiarity and confidence with the topic. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed on your ability to:
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Recommended texts
Recommended texts can be accessed through the subject Reading List (linked through Canvas).