Criminalistics - History

Francis Galton (1822-

(1822-1911) Considered the
father of fingerprint identification. Galton
published the first statistical proof supporting
the uniqueness of fingerprints.

Leone Lattes (1887-

(1887-1954) Devised a system for
determining the blood group proteins A, B, and
O first discovered by Dr. Karl Landsteiner.
Landsteiner.

Calvin Goddard (1891-

(1891-1955) Developed the use
of the comparison microscope for the
comparison of bullets and casings test fired
from a suspect’
suspect’s weapon with those found at
the crime scene.

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 Criminalistics - History
Albert S. Osborne (1858-
(1858-1946) Considered the
father of modern document examination.
Osborn was responsible for the acceptance of
documents as scientific evidence.

Walter C. McCrone (1916-

(1916-2002) Considered the
father of modern microscopy and the world’
world’s
foremost microscopist.
microscopist. McCrone developed
techiques for identifying numersous materials
including paint, soils, hairs & fibers, and drugs.

Criminalistics - History
Hans Gross (1847-
(1847-1915) Gross wrote the first
treatise describing the application of scientific
disciplines to the field of criminal
investigations.

Edmond Locard (1877-

(1877-1966) Considered the
father of the modern crime laboratory. Locard
first described how the principles of scientific
investigation could be practically incorporated
into a workable crime laboratory. Locard
started the first crime lab in Paris in 1910.

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 Criminalistics - History
August Vollmer (1876-
(1876-1955) Considered the
father of modern law enforcement. Vollmer
was chief of police in Berkeley, CA from
1909-
1909-1922 and 1924-
1924-1932. Vollmer
established a criminal justice program at UC
Berkeley in 1916 and the department of
criminology in 1946). Vollmer established
the first police crime lab in the United States
in Los Angeles CA in 1923.

Paul L. Kirk (1902 – 1970) Headed the first

school of criminalistics at UC Berkeley in
1948. Kirk ws already a famous criminalist
based on work in the infamous Dr. Sam
Sheppard case in 1966.

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 Criminalistics - History
Frye v. United States (1923) Established the concept of “general
scientific acceptability”
acceptability” for any scientific method used to analyze
evidence for court. Frye established that scientific methods used
used
must no longer be considered “experimental”
experimental” but must have firm
acceptability within the relevant scientific community. According
According
to Frye:

“If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist

assist the trier
of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue,
issue, a
witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or
education may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise,
otherwise, if (1)
the testimony is based upon sufficient facts or data, (2) the testimony
testimony is
the product of reliable principles and methods, and (3) the witness
witness has
applied the principles and methods reliably to the facts of the case.

Criminalistics - History
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc (1993)
Established that “general acceptance”
acceptance”, or the Frye standard, is
not an absolute prerequisite to the admissibility of scientific
evidence under the Fewderal Rules of Evidence. Daubert
assigned to the trial judge a “gatekeeper”
gatekeeper” function under which
the judge determines the admissibility of scientific evidence
based on testimony and proofs presented. Under Daubert,
Daubert, the
judge must consider:

1) Whether the scietific technique or theory can be (and has been) tested.
2) Whether the technique or theory has been subject to peer review and
publication.
3) The techni que’
que’s potential rate of error,
4) Exsistence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique’
technique’s
operation.
5) Whether the scientific theory or method has attracted widespread
acceptance within a relevant scientific community.