Introduction To Forensic Science 100 Hours Certificate Course

There are 10 lessons to complete:

1 Nature of Forensic Science

• Introduction
• What is Forensic Science?
• Laboratory Sciences
• Field sciences
• Digital services
• Forensic medicine
• Origins and Principles of Forensic Science
• Toxicology
• Anthropology
• Fingerprinting
• Bloodstains
• Ballistics
• Documents
• Criminalistics
• DNA Profiling
• Underlying Principles
• Expert Witness

2 Forensic Science and Law

• Introduction
• 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
• Introduction to Types of Physical and Biological Evidence

3 Evidence Collection

• Introduction
• Chain of Custody
• Crime Scene Investigations
• First Respondents
• Initial Assessment of the Scene
• Processing the Scene
• Collection of Samples
• Completion of Crime Scene Investigation

4 Analysis of Evidence

• Introduction
• The Purpose of Analysis
• Principles Underlying Analysis
• Statistical Analysis
• Human/User Error
• Correlation vs Causation
• Univariate Analysis
• Types of Evidence
• Laboratory Analysis
• Fingerprints
• DNA
• Blood
• Drugs & Toxicology
• Use of Laboratory Evidence

5 Specialist Forensics

• Introduction
• Civil vs Criminal Courts
• Types of Forensics Used
• Digital & Electronic Forensics
• Gathering Evidence
• Order of Volatility
• Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Psychology
• Training in Forensic Psychology
• What does a forensic psychologist do?

6 Criminology

• Introduction
• Psychological Theories
• Psychodynamic Theory
• 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

• Introduction
• What Do We Mean By Mental Health Disorder
• Mental Health and Criminal Offences
• Causality
• Legal Aspects
• Types of Disorders and Crime
• Psychoses
• Personality Disorders
• Psychopathy
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Schizoid Personality Disorder
• Substance Use
• Mental Health in Children and Crime
• Conduct Disorder
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

8 Criminal Profiling and Intelligence

• Introduction
• 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
• Tracking Offenders
• Crime Analysis

9 Presenting Evidence in Court

• Introduction
• Evidence
• Burden of Proof
• Admissibility of Evidence
• Admissibility and Forensic Evidence
• Witnesses and Delivering Testimony
• Expert Witness Testimony
• Eye Witness Testimonies

10 Ethical Issues

• Introduction
• Legislation vs. Legislature
• The Purpose of the Law
• The Purpose of Ethics
• Exercise: The Plank of Carneades
• Ethical Practice and Forensic Science
• Ethics as Protective
• A Note on Jury Tainting
• Chain of Custody
• Forensic Practice and Ethics
• Professional Responsibilities for the Psychology and Counsellor
• Conflicts of Interest
• Duty of Care
• Sexual Exploitation
• Group Counselling
• Children and 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