Forensic Science Diploma ONLINE

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Forensic Science Diploma ONLINE

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Forensic Science Diploma ONLINE


This course includes the ONLINE VERSION of the course only.

In this Forensic Science Diploma we will examine the fascinating subject of Forensic Science.  Forensic science can be simply defined as the application of science to the law.  In criminal cases forensic scientists are often involved in the search for, and examination of, physical traces which might be useful for establishing or excluding an association between someone suspected of committing a crime and the scene of the crime or victim.  Such traces commonly include blood and other body fluids, hairs, textile fibres from clothing etc., materials used in buildings such as paint and glass, foot…

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Forensic Science Diploma ONLINE


This course includes the ONLINE VERSION of the course only.

In this Forensic Science Diploma we will examine the fascinating subject of Forensic Science.  Forensic science can be simply defined as the application of science to the law.  In criminal cases forensic scientists are often involved in the search for, and examination of, physical traces which might be useful for establishing or excluding an association between someone suspected of committing a crime and the scene of the crime or victim.  Such traces commonly include blood and other body fluids, hairs, textile fibres from clothing etc., materials used in buildings such as paint and glass, footwear, tool and tyre marks, flammable substances used to start fires and so on.  Sometimes the scientist will visit the scene itself to advise about likely sequence of events, any indicators as to who the perpetrator might be, and to join in the initial search for evidence.  Other forensic scientists analyse suspected drugs of abuse, specimens from people thought to have taken them or to have been driving after drinking too much alcohol, or to have been poisoned.  Yet others specialise in firearms, explosives, or documents whose authenticity is questioned.

In civil cases forensic scientists may become involved in some of the same sorts of examinations and analyses but directed to resolving disputes as to, for example, the cause of a fire or a road accident for which damages are being claimed.

Forensic scientists can appear for either side - prosecution or defence in criminal matters, and plaintiff or defendant in civil ones.  They tend to present their findings and opinions in written form either as formal statements of evidence or reports.  Sometimes they are required to attend court to give their evidence in person.  However, the evidence is produced and whether supporting the case for the prosecution or the defence, the evidence collected and presented by forensic scientists is subject to the rules of evidence and the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.  For this reason the importance of the continuity of the chain of evidence will be stressed throughout the course.

Module 1: Pioneers of forensic science

This introductory module focuses specifically on Pioneers of forensic science and the objectives of the module are to understand that like policing, forensic science has a developmental history, to be aware that the use of forensic science can be traced back to 3000BC and perhaps even earlier, to be aware that the techniques of forensic science are continually developing and to have an awareness of the pioneers of forensic science, including Ambroise Paré, Mathieu Orfila and James Marsh.

Module 2: Case Study 1 - The Bodies in the Stream (The Jigsaw Case)

Module 2 of the Level 3 Forensic Science Diploma looks to recognise the different forensic specialities involved in a criminal investigation, understand the different roles each specialist plays, to understand how the various aspects of an investigation fit together to provide a complete picture of events and to understand the importance of the unbroken continuity of the chain of evidence.  If Sergeant Sloane of the Dumfries Constabulary was hoping for a quiet Sunday afternoon shift that day, he was to be sadly disappointed.  To him fell the task of beginning the investigation into the origin of mysterious body parts.

Module 3: Forensic Pathology

Pathology is the study of the changes in the structure and function of parts of the body caused either by disease or injury.  Module 3 looks to help the student to understand what is meant by pathology, understand the difference between hospital pathology and forensic pathology, understand what is meant by histology, and understand the difference between hospital histology and forensic histology.

The student will also have a basic understanding of the role of a pathologist, a basic understanding of the conduct of an autopsy and have an understanding of how the pathologist contributes to the outcome of a criminal investigation.

Module 4: Forensic Anthropology

Forensic anthropology serves the policing and judicial communities by analysing human remains for medico-legal purposes.  It is a specialised area of science that requires detailed anatomical and osteological training.

Module 4 will help the student to understand what is meant by forensic anthropology, the role of the forensic anthropologist, what is meant by osteology and dentition and to understand how an anthropologist compiles a biological profile.

Module 5: Forensic Biology

Entomology is the study of insects and forensic entomology is the study of insects and other arthropods in a legal context.  The applications are wide-ranging, but the most frequent is to determine the minimum time since death, that is, the minimum post-mortem interval (PMI), in suspicious death investigations.

Module 5 of the Forensic Science Level 3 Diploma will help the student to understand what is meant by forensic entomology, the difference between academic and forensic entomology and have a basic understanding of the role of a forensic entomologist.  This module will also help the student understand what is meant by forensic botany and how the forensic botanist can contribute to a criminal investigation.

Module 6: Case Study 2 - The Body in the Carpet (Little Miss Nobody)

The 7th December 1989 dawned as a grey and miserable day in the Welsh capital, Cardiff. Workmen engaged in maintenance and improvement work at 29 Fitzhamon Embankment cursed the cold that chilled their bones as they cut into the garden of the terraced house with their spades.  Their task was to dig a trench in which they would lay a new sewer pipe.  A few feet down into the earth they found a rolled and rotting carpet.  The sight of the contents of the carpet, a human skeleton, made their blood run colder than the harsh winter weather ever could.

Module 6 recognises the different forensic specialities involved in a criminal investigation, the different roles each specialist plays, how the various aspects of an investigation fit together to provide a complete picture of events and the importance of the unbroken continuity of the chain of evidence.

Module 7: Craniofacial Reconstruction

Craniofacial reconstruction refers to a group of procedures used to repair or reshape the face and skull of a living person, or to create a replica of the head and face of a dead or missing person.  The word "craniofacial" is a combination of "cranium," which is the medical word for the upper portion of the skull, and facial.

After completing module 7 of the Forensic Science level 3 Diploma, the student will understand what is meant by craniofacial reconstruction, have a knowledge of some of the leading exponents of craniofacial reconstruction, have a basic understanding of how the forensic artist/sculptor reconstructs a human face and have a basic understanding of how 3D images of a face can be generated by computer.

Module 8: Serology - DNA and Body Fluids

Module 8 covers the understanding of how a DNA profile is used in identification, the role of the serologist in a criminal investigation, why and how biological specimens are collected at the scene of a crime and also the problems related to DNA collection.

Module 9: Case Study 3 - Who Killed Bambi?  The White House Farm Murder

Module 9 looks into the case study of the White House Farm Murder and the student will learn how to recognise that assumptions and preconceived ideas can have a detrimental effect on the collection of forensic evidence, that professional crime scene management is vital to the conduct of a successful investigation, that different forensic experts can put different interpretations on the same evidence and also that the courts can misinterpret expert evidence.

Module 10: Crime Scene Management and the Chain of Evidence

Examination of the crime scene is a crucial stage in the investigation, it is here, and from victims and suspects that vital contact traces will be found.  If the evidence is badly handled, wrongly labelled or contaminated by personnel at the scene it will be useless to the laboratory and useless for presentation in court.

The Objectives of module 10 are to understand what is meant by crime scene, understand why a crime scene needs to be managed, understand what is meant by continuity of the chain of evidence, understand the responsibilities of all investigators particularly the Senior Investigating Officer, understand the role of the crime scene manager and also understand what is meant by the golden hour and fast track action.

Module 11: Ballistics

The term ballistics refers to the science of the travel of a projectile in flight.  Forensic ballistics identifies firearm usage in crimes.  It is the area of forensic science that deals with firearms, how they are used, why they are used and why they are used frequently in the commission of crime.

Module 11 of the Forensic Science Level 3 Diploma will help students to understand what is meant by forensic ballistics, that there are different types of firearms, why individual firearms can be identified.  They will also have a basic understanding of the role of a forensic ballistics expert, have a basic understanding of how firearm serial numbers can be restored and have a basic understanding of the liaison necessary between forensic experts, such as when examining bullet wounds.

Module 12: Fingerprints

The natural oils of the body preserve the fingerprint, which is absolutely distinct; no two humans have been found to have the same fingerprints.  Fingerprints are even more unique than DNA.

Students will understand how and why fingerprints are left and have a basic understanding of the Henry fingerprint classification system.  Students will also have a basic understanding of how fingerprints are disclosed and lifted at the scene of crime, have a basic understanding of how fingerprints are taken from a living person and a basic awareness of the IDENT1 database.

Module 13: Forensic Photography

Forensic Photography is an integral part of criminal investigation procedures employed by police and security forces throughout the world. As well as witness statements, the reports made by officers and other physical evidence provided by the crime scene itself, photography is used to provide an accurate account that cannot be altered.

In module 13 the student will look at what is meant by Forensic Photography, the role of a Forensic Photographer, the skills required by a Forensic Photographer and have a basic awareness of the career path of a Forensic Photographer.

Module 14: Case Study 4 - Dr. Death

Dr Frederick Harold Shipman was unusual in that his original motive [for murder] was not money, but those inner demons that drive the serial killer.  His choice of profession enhanced his ability not only to kill, but to remain undetected for so long.  It is ironic that he was finally brought to justice after he allowed greed to modify his usual modus operandi.  (Watson 2004).

During this case study, students will recognised that assumptions and preconceived ideas can have a detrimental effect on recognising that an offence has been committed and the subsequent collection of forensic evidence, recognise which forensic experts figured in this investigation, understand the role of the forensic experts in this investigation, recognise that trained, skilled and professional investigators and good crime scene management is vital to the conduct of a successful investigation, recognise that the incompetence of the offender can often lead to his/her apprehension and also recognise that those involved in the investigation offences can and do learn from mistakes.

Module 15: Forensic Toxicology

Forensic toxicology is the branch of forensic science that seeks to identify and quantify the presence of toxins (poisons) in the human body.  Samples examined for toxicological purposes can include blood, urine, various other biological fluids, hair, nails and other tissues.

Module 15 looks into what is meant by forensic toxicology, the role of the forensic toxicologist, sample testing in forensic toxicology and some of the testing techniques available to the forensic toxicologist.

Module 16: Disputed Documents

Any interaction between people that involves documents has the potential for fraudulent activities.  Module 16 covers what is meant by a disputed document, what is meant by a disputed document examination, the role of a disputed documents expert and the skills required by a disputed documents expert.

The student will also have a basic awareness of principles followed by a forensic document examiner when analysing handwriting and a basic awareness of equipment available and techniques used during a disputed document examination.

Module 17: Computer Crime

The objectives of Module 17 are to understand what is meant by computer crime, to have a basic understanding of the complexity of computer crime, have an awareness of the types of computer crime investigated by computer forensic experts, have a basic awareness of the problems of tackling computer crime in Britain and to have an awareness of evidence gathering principles.

Module 18: Case Studies 5 - Miscarriages of Justice


This case study will help the student to recognise that misinterpretation, bad science, prejudice and confused thinking can lead to a miscarriage of justice, understand that where there is more than one possible interpretation of the chain of evidence, all evidence must be assessed impartially and understand that administrative rules such as the judges rules and later the obligations imposed by the Police & Criminal Evidence Act 1984 exist in order to prevent miscarriages of justice.

The student will also learn that the evidential value of expert testimony can be overestimated.  If there is a conflict of evidence, there is no way of ensuring the jury will always get it right.  No human system can expect to be perfect.
 
Module 19: Evidence and the Professionalisation of the Investigative Process

Evidence is information by which a fact is proved or sought to be disproved, or an allegation is proved or sought to be disproved (Hayward & Sparkes 1994).  In a criminal trial this translates to; the means by which the prosecution tries to prove its case and the defendant tries to cast doubt upon the prosecution's case.

The objectives of module 19 are to have a basic idea of the rules of evidence, have a basic idea of the forms of evidence, have a basic understanding of the requirements surrounding the admissibility of evidence and to have an understanding, particularly in relation to case studies examined, of why professionalisation of the investigative process was necessary.

Module 20: Case Studies 6 (The Lady in the Lake) - Cold Cases

Carol Park went missing from the family home, in Leece, near Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, in 1976.  On 17th July 1976, the family had planned a trip to the seaside town of Blackpool, on the Fylde coast, but at the last moment Carol said that she felt ill and remained at home.  The rest of the family made the journey to Blackpool but when they returned home Carol was not there.

The Lady in the Lake case study in module 20 looks into The major problem with cold cases, including the investigation’s age, officers retire, memories fade and without new technologies such as DNA profiling the likelihood of solving them is reduced.  New technology and investigative techniques continue to provide fresh ways of looking at cold cases and Investigators typically need one piece of information to solve a case, advances in DNA profiling can often provide this information.

Module 21: Career Opportunities in Forensic Science in the UK


Module 21 looks into the career opportunities available to work in Forensic Science in the UK.  Civilians are now employed by many British police forces to provide a variety of technical services.  SOCOs (Scenes of Crime Officers), who as a result of recent television shows are also referred to as CSIs, (Crime Scene Investigators) will normally have some scientific training.

This fascinating subject provides a host of exciting career opportunities for those who are appropriately qualified and motivated.

Our aim is to provide you with the best deal available when purchasing this Forensic Science Diploma, therefore registration fee, certification fee and full tutor support is included in the course price for you.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a Forensic Scientist please visit Forensic Science Centre

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