65412 Physical Evidence
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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 2020 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): 65242 Principles of Forensic Science AND 65307 Physical Chemistry 1 AND 65306c Analytical Chemistry 1 AND 65342 Crime Scene Investigation
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 65541 Physical Evidence 1
Description
Physical Evidence expands on the skills and discipline knowledge built in Principles of Forensic Science (65242) and Crime Scene Investigation (65342). During this subject, students learn methods to analyse, interpret and report forensic impression evidence including fingermarks, tool marks, footwear and tyre impressions, bullets, cartridge cases and gunshot residues. Lectures are complemented by a laboratory program that allows students to gain hands-on experience with mock cases and workshops focused on evidence interpretation skills. At the end of this subject, students are able to select appropriate procedures, analyse, interpret, and write an expert witness report describing the forensic analysis of the material covered in this subject.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Describe and evaluate common types of impression and pattern evidence. |
|---|---|
| 2. | Understand and apply ACE-V, and other scientific methods used for examining and evaluating impression evidence. |
| 3. | Document, enhance and analyse forensic evidence in a non-destructive way. |
| 4. | Select the most relevant sequence of procedures in a particular case, and appropriately apply these techniques. |
| 5. | Interpret results in a suitable forensic context and communicate expert opinion in a variety of formats. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- An understanding of the nature, practice and application of the chosen science discipline. (1.0)
- Encompasses problem solving, critical thinking and analysis attributes and an understanding of the scientific method knowledge acquisition. (2.0)
- The ability to acquire, develop, employ and integrate a range of technical, practical and professional skills, in appropriate and ethical ways within a professional context, autonomously and collaboratively and across a range of disciplinary and professional areas, e.g. time management skills, personal organisation skills, teamwork skills, computing skills, laboratory skills, data handling, quantitative and graphical literacy skills. (3.0)
- An understanding of the different forms of communication - writing, reading, speaking, listening -, including visual and graphical, within science and beyond and the ability to apply these appropriately and effectively for different audiences. (6.0)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Physical Evidence exposes students to the philosophy, methods and interpretation skills required within the forensic science discipline, with a specific focus on pattern and impression evidence. It builds on prior knowledge learnt in Stages 2 and 3 (65242 and 65342). This subject also provides students the opportunity to develop their problem solving, scientific and communication skills within a professional context.
Graduate Attribute 1: Discipline content and knowledge
Students will learn how to analyse and interpret different types of impression and pattern evidence that require a sound understanding of applied chemistry. This knowledge will be developed and reinforced throughout the semester in lectures, laboratory sessions and workshops. This knowledge will be assessed in all assessment items and feedback will be provided during the semester to assist student development.
Graduate Attribute 2: An inquiry-oriented approach
Students will investigate mock cases, and discuss the challenges associated with presenting impression evidence in a modern court room using knowledge drawn from the lectures, independent learning and workshops. By forming and testing hypotheses on the origin of forensic evidence, students will build their problem-solving and critical thinking skills alongside their understanding of scientific method. These skills will be assessed and developed throughout all tasks submitted during the semester, including workshop quizzes, expert witness reports and the independent “informing investigations” exercise.
Graduate Attribute 3: Professional skills and their appropriate application
Students will develop their professional, collaborative and independent learning skills through laboratory and workshop sessions. Generic skills such as time management, critical thinking, personal organisation and self-reflection will be assessed alongside specific professional skills such as forensic interpretation, documentation, ethics and laboratory practice. Student development will be monitored via feedback on assessable items and verbal feedback during classes.
Graduate Attribute 6: Communication skills
Students will be introduced to new styles of reporting and develop their written communication skills through the expert witness reports. Oral communication skills with their peers and their ability to explain scientific concepts will be assessed through the professional skills appraisal during the final practical session of semester.
Teaching and learning strategies
Lectures:
Lectures for Physical Evidence run to a 2 hour format in most weeks. The lectures arm students with the knowledge required to analyse, evaluate and interpret a variety of different forensic evidence types. While the focus of the lectures is on impression and pattern evidence, the skills acquired in this subject transfer to later subjects including Chemical Criminalistics (65544). The lectures provide a mix of theory and practical examples, along with opportunities for class discussion and participation.
Workshops & independent learning:
There are two workshops and a graded independent learning exercise in Physical Evidence. The workshops “fingerprints in the 21st Century court room” and “interpreting non-fingerprint impression evidence” are designed to give students an opportunity to practice, discuss and apply the core scientific and evaluative methods used in forensic science through collaborative learning activities. These skills are reinforced through online post-workshop quizzes, which provide students immediate feedback on their progress. Workshop-linked articles and podcasts are made available before the workshops for students to familiarise themselves with the topics and expand their knowledge. Online tutorials are also available for students to refresh or learn the practical skills that underpin the laboratory component. The independent learning exercise, “informing investigations”, will allow students to use their knowledge impression evidence to draw links and recognise patterns between seemingly unrelated crime scenes or locations.
Laboratories:
The laboratory sessions for Physical Evidence allow students to gain experience with the analysis of different types of forensic evidence in a collaborative professional setting. Students are given four mock cases to investigate as a team during the semester. As part of these mock cases, student teams must use an inquiry-oriented approach to identify propositions of interest, the aims of their investigation, design and implement an examination strategy, and interpret their findings in the context of the case. These findings are then used by each member of the group to prepare two different styles of expert witness reports. At the completion of the laboratory component, students will have the opportunity to reflect on their skills development throughout the semester and provide appraisal of their investigation team.
All learning materials including lecture notes and readings will be available on UTSOnline.
Content (topics)
- Detection, capture, analysis and interpretation of impression and pattern evidence encountered in forensic casework (see program for breakdown).
- What are the aims of laboratory analysis? What hypotheses and inferences can be drawn about a crime scene or activity based on pattern and impression evidence?
- How are specimens searched for and recovered from an item?
- What analysis techniques and sequences should be carried out for particular types of impression or pattern evidence? 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 the rigorous evaluation of impression and pattern evidence?
- What is the importance of discrimination between sources? How do probabilistic approaches assist evidence interpretation?
- Can impression and pattern evidence be used for reconstructing activities or for non-traditional means such as providing investigative leads or policing information?
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Interpretation workshops
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 2 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | approx. 10-30 min to complete each activity. |
| Criteria: | General criteria: 2 workshops will be held as scheduled in the subject program. Tasks completed during and after the workshops are counted towards this assessment. Students will be assessed on:
|
Assessment task 2: Expert witness reporting and testimony
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Laboratory/practical |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: | Standard reports: approx. 10 pages Summary report: 2-3 pages Templates and style guides for each report type are available in the Reporting and Researching Manual on UTSOnline. |
| Criteria: | General criteria: Reports are to be written according to the style guide. The Q&A for the professional skills assessment is performed as an informal workplace discussion. A detailed rubric can be found in the Research & Reporting Guide (UTSOnline) Students will be assessed on:
|
Assessment task 3: Independent exercise - "informing investigations"
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| 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): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 5% |
| Length: | The task is split into two parts as indicated in the program. Students have as much time in weeks 5 and 8 as they need to complete the task. |
| Criteria: | General criteria: Students may collaborate and discuss the tutorial materials via the UTSOnline discussion board or in person, but each student must submit their own work for the assessable component. There is no time limit for the activity. Students will be assessed on:
|
Assessment task 4: Final examination
| Intent: | This assessment task contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes: |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2 hours + 10 minutes reading time |
| Criteria: | General criteria: All lecture and workshop content covered throughout the session is assessable. Students will be graded on their ability to answer questions and apply their knowledge. Students will be assessed on:
|
Minimum requirements
Any assessment task worth 40% or more requires the student to gain at least 40% of the mark for that task. If 40% is not reached, an X grade fail may be awarded for the subject, irrespective of an overall mark greater than 50.
Required texts
The Standard Operating Procedures Manual will be provided to all students via UTSOnline and in print. This manual includes chapters on each evidence type examined during the laboratory sessions. Students must bring a copy (printed or electronic) to every laboratory session. The Research and Reporting Manual, which includes the expert witness report style guide and other useful resources, will also be available on UTSOnline and in print.
Recommended texts
The following texts and reference materials are available via the UTS Library (most are available as online and print books):
N. Petraco, Color Atlas of Forensic Toolmark Identification (2011) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
H.C. Lee & R.L. Gaensslen, Advances in Fingerprint Technology 2nd edition (2001) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
R. Ramotowski, Lee and Gaensslen’s Advances in Fingerprint Technology 3rd edition (2013) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
C. Champod, C. Lennard, P. Margot & M. Stoilovic, Fingerprints and Other Ridge Skin Impressions (2004) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
C. Champod, C. Lennard, P. Margot & M. Stoilovic, Fingerprints and Other Ridge Skin Impressions 2nd edition (2016) CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
R. Saferstein, Criminalistics - An Introduction to Forensic Science (2011) Prentice-Hall
Encyclopedia of Forensic Sciences (Second Edition), Editors-in-Chief: Jay A. Siegel and Pekka J. Saukko , ISBN: 978-0-12-382166-9
W. Bodziak, Footwear Impression Evidence (1990) Elsevier ISBN 0-444-01542-6.
A more exhaustive list can be found in the Research and Reporting Manual.
Other resources
Links to relevant resources such as videos, podcasts, journal articles and scholarly books will be provided to students via UTSOnline to supplement their learning and independent research.