Course Content and Structure

There are ten lessons in this course as follows:

 1. Nature of Forensic Science

• Introduction
• What is forensic science
• Laboratory sciences
• Field sciences
• Digital Services
• Forensic medicine
• Origins and principles
• Toxicology
• Anthropology
• Fingerprinting
• Bloodstains
• Ballistics
• Documents
• Criminalistics
• DNA profiling
• Underlying principles
• Expert witness
  
  

2. Forensic science and law

• Scientific principles
• Validity
• Feature comparison methods
• Problems with validity
• Application of forensic science to law
• Use of evidence
• Relationship with law
• Ways of categorising crimes
• What is evidence
• Direct evidence
• Circumstantial evidence
• Types of physical and biological evidence
  
  
• 3. Evidence Collection
• Chain of custody
• Crime scene investigations
• First respondents
• Initial assessment of the scene
• Processing the scene
• Collecting samples - firearms, body fluids, crime scene suspect
• Trace evidence
• Tool marks, tyre and footwear impressions
• Fingerprints, documents, etc.
• Completion of crime scene investigation
  
  

4. Analysis of Evidence

• Purpose of analysis
• Individuality principle
• Exchange principle
• Law of progressive change
• Law of comparison
• Law of analysis
• Law of circumstantial facts
• Law of probability
• How laws are applied to analysis
• Statistical analysis
• Human/ user error
• Correlation versus causation
• Univariate analysis
• Laboratory analysis -blood, hair, fingerprints
• Dactyloscopy
• DNA - touch DNA, Low copy number DNA
• Blood
• Drugs and toxicology
• Use of laboratory evidence
  
  

5. Specialist Forensics

• Civil versus criminal courts
• Types of forensics used
• Digital and electronic forensics
• Gathering evidence
• Order of volatility
• Forensic pathology
• Forensic anthropology
• Forensic psychology
• What do forensic psychologists do
  
  

6. Criminology

• Psychological theories
• Psychodynamic theory - the id, the ego, the super ego
• Behavioural theory
• Social learning theory
• Cognitive theory
• Moral development
• Personality and crime
• Intelligence and crime
• Children and crime
• Violence in children
• Age of criminal responsibility
  
  

7. Psychological Disorders and Crime

• Mental health disorder
• Criminal offences - causality
• Legal aspects
• Types of disorder and crime
• Psychoses
• Bipolar disorder
• Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Psychopathy
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Schizoid Personality Disorder
• Substance Us
• Mental health in children and crime
• Conduct disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  
  

8. Criminal Profiling and Intelligence

• Criminal profiling
• Role of Forensic Psychologists & Psychiatrists in Profiling
• Police Profiling
• Statistical Profiling
• Applications of Profiling
• Profiling Typologies
• Problems with Profiling
• Intelligence
• Intelligence gathering - Surveillance, Fixed Surveillance, Mobile Surveillance, Tracking Offenders, Crime Analysis
  
  

9. Presenting Evidence in Court

• Burden of proof
• Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
• Other Standards of Proof
• Admissibility of Evidence
• Evidence
• Documentary Evidence
• Real evidence
• Demonstrative Evidence
• Witnesses and Testimonial Evidence
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Eyewitness Testimonies
• Character Witness Testimonies
  
  

10. Ethical Issues

• Legislation vs. Legislature
• Purpose of the Law
• Purpose of Ethics
• Ethical Practice and Forensic Science
• Ethics as Protective
• Jury Tainting
• Chain of Custody
• Professional Responsibilities for the Psychology and Counsellor
• Conflicts of Interest
• Duty of Care
• Sexual Exploitation
• Group Counselling
• Persons with Diminished Capacity
• Multicultural Issues and Respect
• Client Records and Confidentiality
• Dual Relationships
• Professional Consultation
• Mental Health and Psychology
• Labelling and Mental Health
• Ethical Implications In Forensic Psychology - confidentiality, best interests

HOW THE COURSE WORKS

You can start the Introduction to Forensic Science course at any time.

It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies.  Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way.  If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.

Each lesson includes set tasks, and is completed with an assignment which the student submits to their course tutor.  The tutor will mark the assignment and return this to the student with comments and suggestions for further reading.

COURSE AIMS:

• Define forensic science and its various offshoots.
• Describe the application of forensic science to the investigation of crimes and legal process.
• Explain crime scene investigations, different categories of evidence, and their collection procedures.
• Explain how different types of evidence are tested and analysed on site and in the laboratory.
• Explain the roles of individuals working in specialist forensic sciences and the services they provide.
• Understand theories underlying criminal behaviour in men, women and children.
  Explain psychological disorders and how this can relate to criminal behaviour in adults.
• Explain how assessment and data collection is used in forensic sciences, law enforcement and psychology to profile criminal offenders.
• Understand how evidence is presented in court and issues surrounding eye witness testimonies.
• Explain how ethical issues can influence collection of evidence, use of data and profiling.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS COURSE?

This course provides a broad understanding of forensic science for anyone with an interest in, or need to understand the subject; including;

• Security and law enforcement professionals
• Criminal investigators, private investigators and forensic scientists
• Crime writers
• Citizen crime prevention intiatives
• Security equipment suppliers
• Legal support staff
• Parole or probation officers
• Forensic laboratory assistants

It may be studied by anyone seeking to get an understanding of the scope and nature of forensics, as a taster when contemplating a possible career path - e.g. for careers such as forensic scientist, lawyer, police officer, detective, profiler.

It might also includes psychology by way of examining criminality, profiling and the role of mental disorders in crime and therefore has appeal to those working with offenders or who wish to pursue careers in areas such as clinical and forensic psychology, social work, counselling and psychiatric nursing.

Our tutors are more than happy to help and advise you with any questions regarding the course. Please contact us if you have any questions at all.

Study when and where you want to. Why delay? Enrol today!