Department: Social Science

Discipline: Criminal Justice

Subject Code: CJCourse #: 206

Course Title: Criminalistics

HARRISBURGAREACOMMUNITY COLLEGE

FORM 335

Course Form 335 must be updated at least every five years per AP 765 to include, at a minimum, the following elements. [§335.2]

  1. Digital Description:

Credit hours:4.0

Lecture hours: 3.0

Lab hours:3.0

Approved Online/Blended Face-to-Face Instruction Ratios:

[__] 25/75% [__] 33/67% [__] 50/50% [__] 67/33% [__] 75/25%

(Note: The first number indicates the percentage of online instruction. The second number indicates the percentage of in-class instruction.)

  1. Maximum Enrollment (Insert new/revised maximum enrollments below):

In-Class Instruction: 15

Lab Instruction: 0

(It is assumed that maximum enrollments for blended courses are the same as those identified for In-Class instruction. Maximum enrollments for Virtual Learning courses are to be 75% of In-Class instruction, as per the SGP on Maximum Class Size):

  1. Catalog Description:

Scientific aspects of criminal investigation at the crime scene and in the criminalistics laboratory. Includes preserving and processing fingerprints; tool impressions; analysis of hair, fibers, blood, and narcotics; casts and molds; polygraph examinations; and voiceprint identification. A course fee is required.

Minimum Grade Required

  1. Prerequisites: CJ 201C

Corequisites:

Other: Completion of all developmental reading and writing courses required as a result of the College Testing and Placement program, or, permission of the Instructor.

  1. Learning Outcomes

[These outcomes are necessary to enable students to attain the essential

knowledge and skills embodied in the program’s educational objectives.]

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

  • Recognize the value of criminalistics as an aid to the criminal investigation process
  • Identify, discuss, and demonstrate the ability to use the techniques utilized in specialized crime scene investigation processing
  • Demonstrate the use of laboratory equipment in the analysis of physical evidence in investigation
  • Subscribe to and practice safe and proper procedures in using the police laboratory in the analysis of physical evidence
  1. Planned Sequence of Learning Activities

[These must be designed to help students achieve the learning outcomes.]

Topic or Objective:

I.Orientation and Review of Criminal Justice 201

A.Course Notebook

B.Laboratory Practices and Precautions

C.Collecting and Packaging Evidence

D.Laws Pertaining to Chain of Custody

II.Casts and Molds (Evidentiary Value & Procedures)

A.Casting

1.Preservation

2.Removal of Debris

3.Photography

4.Measurements

5.Spraying

6.Retaining Wall

7.Materials

B.General Casting Method

1.Mixing Plaster

2.Pouring

3.Reinforcements

4.Setting

5.Marking

6.Removing and washing casts

C.Specific Casting Methods

1.Casting in Dry Sand

2.Casting in Wet Soil

3.Casting in Snow

4.Casting in Dust, Powders, and Similar Substances

III. Law Enforcement/Photography

A.Camera

B.Film

C.General procedures

D.Crime scene methods

IV.Microscopy

A.CARE - Parts

B.Specimen Preparation

C.Techniques

D.Types used in Forensic Sciences

a.Binocular compoundd.Comparison

b.Petrographice.Electron Microscopy

c.Infraredf.Microspectrophometer

V.Tool Impressions

A.Identification

B.Casts and Molds

1. Media

2. Methodology

C.Standards of Comparisons

D.Comparison Microscope

E.Court Preparation

F.Photography - Packaging

VI.Chromatography

A.Definition

B.Kinds

1. Thin Layer

2. Gas

3. Gel

4. HPLC

VII.Techniques of Rolling Fingerprints (Palm Prints)

A.General Pattern Recognition

B.Evidentiary Value

C.Equipment

D.Impressions

E.Procedure

F.Procedural Fault

G.Deformed Hands

H.Fingerprinting Deceased Persons

VIII. Latent Fingerprints (Palm Prints)

A.Definitions & Classifications

B.Anatomical Sketching and physical explanation

of papillary lines

C.Searching for latent prints

D.Development by powders

E.Development by chemicals

F.Enhancement procedures

G.Lifting & mounting latents

H.Comparing latents to rolled prints

IX.Blood and Body Serums

A.Bloodstain Evidence

1.Purpose & Biological safety precautions

2.General Value

3.Geometric characteristics & interpenetration thereof

4.Age

5.Source

a.Is the stain blood or other substance

b.If blood, is it human or other

c.If human to which blood group does it belong

d.Foreign substances in the blood

6.Marking Evidence

7.Drying

8.Bloodstain Articles

a.Scrapings

b.Porous Articles

c.Hard Objects

d.Liquid Blood Samples

9.Forwarding of Evidence

10.Preliminary Laboratory Examination

11.Other Examinations

B.Blood Fluid Stains

1.Grouping of Saliva, Semen, Tears, and Urine

2.Importance

3.Role of Investigator and Techniques

4.Identification

5.Seminal Fluid

6.Other Stains

X.Drugs

A.Definitions

B.History

C.Routes of Administration

D.Classifications

1. Amphetamines

2. Barbiturates

3. Hallucenogenics

4. Carbons

E.Specific Drugs

1. Marijuana

2. LSD-25

3. Heroin

4. Methadone

5. Cocaine

6. Codeine

7. PCP

8. Designer Drugs

XI.Time Permitting, the following disciplines of Forensic Science will be discussed.

A. Obliterated Numbers

B. Glass Fracture Analysis

C. Soil Analysis

D. Forensic Dentistry

E. Forensic Osteology

  1. Assessment of Student Learning

[Methods of assessment should be appropriate for Learning Outcomes listed above.]

Assessment of student learning outcomes for the course, as required by AP 765, is part of regular curriculum maintenance and/or improvement. The specific plan has been determined by the pertinent faculty involved and is maintained in the College’s assessment management system.

  1. List of Texts, References, Selected Library Resources or other Learning Materials (code each item based on instructional use): C-Lecture/Laboratory, A-Lecture, B-Laboratory, LC-Lecture/Clinical, CLN-Clinical, I-Online,

BL-Blended, D-Independent Study, P-Private Lessons, E-Internship,

F-Cooperative Work-Study, FE-Field Experience. [These resources must be easily accessible to students.]

Required Textbooks for Full-time and Adjunct Instructors

C - Saferstein, Richard. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Criminalistics. (Latest Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

C - Saferstein, Richard. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Criminalistics. (HACC Harrisburg Campus CJ 206 Criminalistics Custom Edition). Boston, MA: Pearson Publishing.

  1. Prepared by Faculty Member: Adam C. Barton Date: 6/16/11
  1. Approved by Department Chairperson: Kathleen B. Murren Date: 6/16/11
  1. Approved by Academic Division Dean: Diane Thompson Date: 6/16/11

This course meets all reimbursement requirements of Chapter 335, subchapters A / B.

This course was developed, approved, and offered in accordance with the policies, standards, guidelines, and practices established by the College. It is consistent with the college mission.

If the course described here is a transfer course, it is comparable to similar courses generally accepted for transfer to accredited four-year colleges and universities.

  1. Director, Curriculum Compliance: Erika Steenland (Interim)Date: 7/27/11
  1. Provost & VP, Academic Affairs: Ronald R. YoungDate: 7/27/11
  1. Original Date of course approval by the college:Fall 1988
  1. Date(s) of subsequent reviews [Indicate change: Learning Outcomes; textbook(s)]:

Textbooks updated 2002, March 2003

Reviewed 12/2004. Revisions made: None (pas)

Revisions: Project 3/2006: Textbooks and Learning Outcomes (dmt)

Revisions: 7/2009 (per Kathy Murren): Pre- or Corequisites changed , Digital Description Changed (dmt)

Revisions: 2/2010 Course Fees changed (dmt)

Revisions: 6/2011 (per Adam Barton) Textbook Addition (dmt)

8/27/14: Insert Approved Max Enrollment Numbers

05/20/15 – Added new blended ratio format - nb

12/1/04

Review and updated: 10/26/07; 1/11/08; 1/16/09; 7/14/09