65342 Crime Scene Investigation
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 65242 Principles of Forensic Science AND 65312 Forensic Imaging
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
This subject provides students with an in-depth knowledge of the ideas underlying forensic science at the crime scene. It is designed to introduce the principles and concepts peculiar to a crime scene, focusing on the concept of the trace and its uses. Practical skills are taught alongside the concepts of scene examination. Online Canvas learning materials are complemented by practical sessions in the Crime Scene Simulation Facility.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Understand and apply principles and techniques from the Canvas learning materials to the examination of physical and biological evidence at a crime scene |
|---|---|
| 2. | Develop a strategy for how to approach the examination of a crime scene and how to decide whether an item/trace should be collected as potential evidence |
| 3. | Systematically search and document a crime scene through note taking, sketching and photography |
| 4. | Recognise the types of items and/or traces available at a crime scene and understand the decision making processes that underpin whether they should be collected |
| 5. | Assess the relevance and significance of the types of items and/or traces available at a crime scene and what potential evidence they might provide for court |
| 6. | Collect the relevant items and/or traces at a crime scene in an appropriate manner and packaging that minimised contamination, relocation and destruction |
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
1.0 Disciplinary Knowledge
Students will develop a working knowledge of forensic science practice, collection of traces and integration of the derived information with the legal system in Canvas learning materials and the practical sessions. Students will be introduced to the forensic investigative process of crime scene analysis and interpretation in the practical classes. Students will be assessed on their knowledge of these concepts and topics through quizzes (Assessment Task 3) and on the application of their knowledge in four of the practical sessions (Assessment Task 1).
2.0 Research, Inquiry and Critical Thinking
Students will develop their investigative and problem-solving skills through the exercises presented during the practical sessions. Students will apply the Baysian approach to the the crime scene sessions, where students are expected to use the framework of the Hierarchy of Propositions to inform their decision making at the crime scene with respect to assessing whether an item or trace should be recovered as potential evidence. Students will be assessed on their ability to use problem solving skills and to make justifiably informed decisions in the crime scene sessions.
3.0 Professional, Ethical and Social Responsibility
Students are assisted through the practical exercises to learn to consider the right questions on the basis of context to help inform their decision making. Students are provided the opportunity to collect and report forensic traces using scientific instrumentation and procedures that translate directly to professional practice. Students are also taught the theory of scientific instrumentation relevant to crime scene investigation. These procedures are assessed in the practical sessions (Assessment Tasks 1 & 2), while the student's understanding of the theoretical basis for these practices is assessed in the quizzes (Assessment Task 3).
During all the practical sessions, students will learn to collect and validate the results of crime scene analysis, and their ability to work both independently and as part of a team is developed. They will also gain an understanding of appropriate workplace health and safety practices. Students will be assessed on their ability to analyse a crime scene, as well as on their teamwork and individual efficiency, and on their ability to identify both personal safety requirements and that of others, in the crime scene sessions (Assessment Task 2).
Providing timely, accurate and unbiased information to the criminal justice system is a core requirement of forensic science. Students will develop their ability to assist the justice system in the practical exercises. Students will be assessed on their accuracy and unbiased evidence interpretation in the crime scenes (Assessment Task 2).
4.0 Reflection, Innovation, Creativity
When developing the foundational skills needed to examine and process a crime scene, students will apply these professional skills during their practical classes both within their groups and independently. Through the latter, students will develop a high degree of personal autonomy, particularly with respect to note taking and sketching of the scene and decision making during the scene examination. Making decisions, such as how to search a scene, which items/traces to collect as potential evidence, and what techniques to use, requires initiative and innovative thinking. Crime scenes differ resulting in different contextual and layout challenges to face. As students gain experience with different scenes through the session, they will need to reflect and learn from their experiences to improve their skills in processing a scene. These skills will be assessed in Assessment Tasks 1 and 2.
5.0 Communication
Students will learn various methods of documenting and communicating crime scene observations from the online Canvas materials. Students will further develop effective written communication skills in the practical sessions, at an intermediate level. Students will develop their reasoning ability by working through the scenarios presented and record their results from the practical sessions in contemporaneous notes. Knowledge of the theoretical basis of the documentation methods is assessed through the quizzes (Assessment Task 3), while application of documentation methods is assessed in the practical exercises (Assessment Task 1) and in the crime scenes (Assessment Task 2).
Teaching and learning strategies
Asynchronous learning via Canvas:
Announcements, assessment information, and mandatory subject materials and activities will be made available on Canvas. Students will learn asynchronously through use of videos, activities and readings provided on Canvas. These materials introduce and explain key principles in crime scene investigation and relate the concepts to modern professional practice. Discussion Boards on Canvas also offer opportunities for questioning and clarification of the subject material. To develop a complete understanding of the content and make the most of the practical classes, it is strongly recommended that the online materials are completed prior to the practical classes. A Canvas module on careers within various forensic roles is also provided; these materials contribute to students' understanding of professional practice and industry expectations of graduates. Quizzes will assess the understanding and application of the key principles as Assessment Task 3.
Practical classes:
The practical classes will take place on campus in the Crime Scene Simulation Facility, where students will put into practice the knowledge gained from the Canvas materials, and consolidate how to conduct key practical techniques that are crucial to every Crime Scene Examiner. There will be formative feedback provided throughout the practical sessions, with four exercises being assessed (Assessment Task 1), which lay the foundation for both the full crime scene examination (Assessment Task 2) and the more advanced crime scene subjects. This ensures that all forensic science students, regardless of their major, have a solid foundational understanding of crime scene investigation, given that this is the first stage in any forensic science investigation. Students will usually work in groups to develop important practical skills that are highly sought-after by future employers, including an understanding of teamwork in a pressured environment. Attendance for the practical sessions and crime scenes is strongly recommended, and the completion of pre-laboratory exercises delivered online is crucial for all students before entering the laboratory sessions.
Content (topics)
- Introduction and key concepts
- Scene note taking and sketching
- Photography at the scene
- Fingerprinting at the scene
- DNA considerations
- Marks and traces
- Documents and digital traces
- Item and trace recovery and packaging
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA)
- From scene to court
- Practical application of skills to crime scene examinations
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Practical Sessions
| 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, Creativity 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 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% |
| Criteria: | - Application of theoretical knowledge developed from the Canvas learning materials |
Assessment task 2: Assessed Crime Scene
| 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 5. Communication skills |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Criteria: | - Teamwork and efficiency |
Assessment task 3: Quizzes
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: 1. Disciplinary Knowledge 2. Research, inquiry and critical thinking 5. Communication |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Criteria: | Quizzes will be marked based on accuracy of answers. |
Minimum requirements
You are strongly encouraged to complete all online Canvas learning materials and attend all practical sessions during the session.
Practical classes in subjects offered by the Faculty of Science are an important and integral part of your learning in this subject. In addition to assisting your understanding of application of concepts, practical classes develop hands-on crime scene skills and
experience, including skills and specialised techniques related to the assessment tasks. These also contribute to the
development of essential graduate attributes desired by employers. Thus, you are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled
practical sessions.
If you cannot attend a scheduled practical session, please contact your Subject Coordinator as soon as possible to discuss your
situation. As the many of the practical sessions in this subject are assessed, then please make sure you are familiar with the
guidelines for when an application for special consideration, including COVID-related matters, must be submitted with respect to
missed, or to be missed, assessments:
https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/managing-your-course/classes-and-assessment/special-circumstances/special-consideration.
Recommended texts
Criminalistics - An Introduction to Forensic Science, Saferstein R., 10th ed., Prentice-Hall, 2011, ISBN 0-13-504520-7.
Other resources
- The Practice of Crime Scene Investigation, Editor J.Horswell, CRC Press, 2004, ISBN 0-748-40609-3
- Forensic Science Handbook I, Saferstein R. (Ed.), 2nd ed, Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN 0-13-091058-9.
- Forensic Science Handbook II, Saferstein R. (Ed.), 2nd ed, Prentice-Hall, 2004, ISBN 978-0131124349.
- Forensic Science Handbook III, Saferstein R. (Ed.), 2nd ed, Prentice-Hall, 2009, ISBN 9780132207157.
- Interpreting Evidence - Evaluating Forensic Science in the Courtroom, Robertson R. & Vignaux G.A., John Wiley, 1995, ISBN 0471-96026-8.
- Footwear Impression Evidence, Bodziak W., Elsevier, 1990, ISBN 0-444-01542-6.
- Gunshot Wounds - Practical Aspects of Firearms, Ballistics, and ForensicTechniques, Di Maio V.J.M., CRC Press, 1985, ISBN 0-8493-9504-6.
- Fingerprints and Other Ridge Skin Impressions, Champod C., Lennard C.,Margot P., Stoilovic M., CRC Press, 2004, ISBN 0-415-27175-4.