Spring 2025
Criminalistics II
Approved: January 2023 CJSA 2323 1A1 Criminalistics II INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Dennis White Email: dwhite@lit.edu Office Phone: 409-247-5277 Office Location: Technology Center Building Room 214 Office Hours: By appointment MONDAY: 10:00 am – 5:30 pm TUESDAY: 7:30 am – 8:00 am; 9:30 am – 10:30 am WEDNESDAY: 9:00 am – 10:00 am THURSDAY: 7:30 am – 8:00 am; 9:30 am – 10:30 am FRIDAY: 9:00 am – 10:00 am CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours (2 hours lecture, 1 hour lab) MODE OF INSTRUCTION Hybrid/Lab PREREQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: None COURSE DESCRIPTION The Theory and practice of crime scene investigation. Topics include report writing; blood and other body fluids: document examination; etchings, casts and molds, glass fractures; use of the microscope, and firearm identification. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: • Explain the various aspects of theory and practice related to crime scene investigation • List the procedures used in various types of evidence discovery and examination REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS Forensic Science Today by Dr. Henry C. Lee and George M. Taft (2nd Edition) Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, Inc. Tucson, Arizona a. ISBN number is 13: 978 1 933264 87 5 ATTENDANCE POLICY Participation is assessed through exercises completed in class. Activities may consist of class assignments, group activities and individual analysis of information from various sources including the text. However, six unexcused absences will result in a 50% grade reduction in the Participation/Attendance Grade DROP POLICY If you wish to drop a course, you are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified drop date as listed on the Academic Calendar. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT For every hour in class (or unit of credit), students should expect to spend at least two to three hours per week studying and completing assignments. For a 3-credit-hour class, students should prepare to allocate approximately six to nine hours per week outside of class in a 16- week session OR approximately twelve to eighteen hours in an 8-week session. Online/Hybrid students should expect to spend at least as much time in this course as in the traditional, face-to-face class. COURSE CALENDAR DATE TOPIC READINGS (Due on this Date) ASSIGNMENTS (Due on this Date) Week 1 Course introduction Syllabus and policies; An Introduction to Forensic Science Today Thinking about and Researching Criminalistics A Review to Current Forensics Orientation Discussion The Forensic Scientist The Forensic Pathologist The Crime Scene Investigator The Criminal Investigator February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 Week 2 Fire and Arson Evidence Fire Burn Patterns / The Fire and Arson Evidence The Arson Investigator Textbook: Chapter 13 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 Week 3 Chemical Evidence Collecting and Packaging Evidence Chemical Testing in the Crime Lab Textbook: Chapter 14 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 Week 4 Digital Evidence The Computer as a Weapon Internet Theft Guest Speaker – Mr. Ira Wilsker Textbook: Chapter 15 February 16, 2025 February 16, 2025 Week 5 Forensic Art The Jane Doe Case The John List Case EXAM 1 Textbook: Chapter 16 March 16, 2025 March 16, 2025 Week 6 Forensic Pathology “The Body at Death” The Forensic Autopsy Estimating the Time of Death “The Jon Benet Ramsey Case: A Crime Profile The JFK Case and Forensic Profile Textbook: Chapter 17 March 16, 2025 March 16, 2025 Week 7 Forensic Toxicology The DWI Case Investigation “Drugs and Bugs” Review the “Aunt Diane” real case scenario Textbook: Chapter 18 March 16, 2025 March 16, 2025 Week 8 Forensic Anthropology Analyzing the Hidden Secrets in the Bones The Robert Pickton “ The Pig Farmer” Case Case Study of the Guilty Sausage Maker Textbook: Chapter 19 March 16, 2025 March 16, 2025 Week 9 Forensic Entomology What Can Insects Tell Us About a Murder? Selected Cases of Dr. Neal H. Haskell, the bug and maggot doctor…Ref: Entomology and Death EXAM 2 Textbook: Chapter 20 April 13, 2025 April 13, 2025 Week 10 Forensic Dentistry Identifying Human Remains through teeth Case Studies of Dr. Henry Lee, Dr. Lowell Levine (Ted Bundy) Remains of Dr. Josef Mengele / The Last Russian Czar Nicholas and Family / The Donna Payant correctional Officer Murder Case by Dr. Michael Baden Textbook: Chapter 21 April 13, 2025 April 13, 2025 Week 11 Forensic Engineering Reconstructing events such a building collapses, auto crashes, etc. The East Texas Challenger Space Shuttle Disaster Guest Speaker U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston Textbook: Chapter 22 April 13, 2025 April 13, 2025 Week 12 The FBI – EVIDENCE RECOVERY TEAM (ERT – Cases “The James Byrd Case” Jasper, Texas. Forensic Psychology “The Case of the Sick Mind” EXAM 3 Textbook: Chapter 23 April 13, 2025 April 13, 2025 Week 13 The Andrea Yates Case The Robert Durst Case The Richard Speck Case The Ed Gein Case The Richard Speck Case The Ed Gein Case Textbook: Chapter 23 May 6, 2025 May 6, 2025 Week 14 The Crime Scene Reconstruction The Science and Logic of Reconstruction The Helle Crafts Case “The Woodchipper Case” The Amy Bradley Case The George Smith Case – Dr. Henry Lee COURSE PROJECT DUE Textbook: Chapter 24 May 6, 2025 May 6, 2025 Week 15 Jurisprudence: Law and forensics Textbook: Chapter 25 May 6, 2025 May 6, 2025 CRIME SCENE SEARCH PRACTICAL PROBLEM(S) Week 16 Crime Scene Research and Case Writings Reports and Courtroom Testimony Textbook: Chapter 26 May 6, 2025 May 6, 2025 Final Exam Online Blackboard May 7-12, 2025 (Until 11:30 AM on May 12) COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • Unit Tests 30 % • Course Project 20 % • Class Assignments 20 % • Final Exam 15 % • Lab/Online Exercise 5 % • Participation 5 % • Attendance 5 % GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F LIT does not use +/- grading scales ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Students found to be committing academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, or collusion) may receive disciplinary action. Students need to familiarize themselves with the institution’s Academic Dishonesty Policy available in the Student Catalog & Handbook at http://catalog.lit.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=80#academic-dishonesty. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum- computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. AI STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into the classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses. STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your course grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION 1. Students will learn to explain the various aspects of theory and practice related to crime scene investigation. 2. Critical Thinking Analysis – Analyze a current and or past criminal case using the Scientific Theory or concept from the beginning call to court completion from a crime scene perspective. 3. Research and Practical Application Project – Students will research a past felony crime issue / topic of major significance and then complete a practical crime scene investigation to include search, photographing, sketching discovery and collection of evidence, written report and prepare for testifying in a mock court room case. The assignment will consist of a research report and presentation. 4. Exams – There will be three exams and a Final Exam. Each exam will cover 3-4 chapters of the text. 5. The Course Calendar is subject to change without prior notice.