NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

COURSE CODE: CSS 455

COURSE TITLE: FORENSIC SCIENCE
CREDIT UNIT: 3
TME ALLOWED: 3 HOURS
INSTRUCTION: ANSWER ANY FOUR QUESTIONS

1. Science process skills has a significant role in scientific and technogical

development, therefore science process is the foundation of scientific
investigations. Explain in detail the science process skills scientist use in
arriving at conclutions. (171/2 Marks)

2. Outline in detail the various steps involve in carrying out fire

investigation.(171/2 Marks)

 The assignment is received and the investigator is notified of his/her

responsibilities.
 The investigator plans the investigation and assembles tools, equipment, and
personnel.
 The scene is examined and data is collected.
 Physical evidence is collected, document tested and evaluated.
 The scientific method is used to analyse the information obtained.

3. Apply the knowledge of Forensic Science to discuss the following:

(a) Stain and Blood Specimen as evidence: For typing purposes, have
sample drawn into yellow and purple stoppered vacutainers. Note: these are
 distinguished from the BA tubes which have grey stoppers If the victim is
injured to the extent that a transfusion is necessary, make an effort to obtain
or begin necessary procedures to obtain the pretransfusion sample collected
by the hospital. These samples are not retained for long periods by the
hospital, so it is important to act promptly. Also make sure that some blood
stained garment worn by the individual has been air dried and frozen to
serve as a secondary standard.

(b) Preservation of Firearms evidence:

 Never submit a loaded gun to the laboratory, unless it is delivered in person.
Unfired cartridges may be left in the magazine of a weapon, provided the magazine
is removed from the gun. A firearm with the cartridge in the chamber should never
be shipped by any method, even if the weapon is not cocked or on safety.
 Never clean the bore, chamber or cylinder before submitting a firearm, and never
attempt to fire the gun before it is examined in the laboratory.
 Never pick up a weapon by placing penal or other objects in the end of the barrel.
4. Explain the term fingerprints, what are the various types of fingerprints
fmailiar to you?
(171/2 Marks)

THE TERM FINGERPRINTS

Finngerprints are made of ridges on the upper skin on hands and feet of all people
and some animals. A fingerprint is an impression of the friction ridges of all or any
part of the finger.

VARIOUS TYPES OF FINGERPRINTS

 Loops – Loops make up almost 70% of the patterns that have been encountered
so far. A loop pattern is basically the existence and combination of one delta and
one core and a ridge count.
 Whorls – whorls constitute around 25 – 35 percent of the patterns that have been
brought in and mainly consist of whorls. A fingerprint pattern that contains 2 or
even more deltas will always be a whorl pattern.
 Plain whorl – A plain whorl is that whorl that consists of at least one ridge that
could possibly make a complete circuit, with 2 deltas, where an imaginary line will
be drawn and it should have at least 1 recurving ridge.

5. Outline the knowledge of forensic science in handling specimem as

evidence as they relate to the following:

(a) Standard blood specimen: Request that a pathologist obtain the

sample directly from the heart into a yellow (ACD) or purple stoppered
vacationer (some labs request both). In rare cases when no liquid blood is
available, asked a pathologist to collect a section of liver, and/or deep
muscle tissue and freeze for typing.
(b) Evidence sample: Shoes and clothing of suspects or other objects
contaminated with glass should be wrapped in paper and submitted to the
laboratory for examination.

(c) Firearms preservation: Never submit a loaded gun to the laboratory,

unless it is delivered in person. Unfired cartridges may be left in the magazine of a
weapon, provided the magazine is removed from the gun. A firearm with the
cartridge in the chamber should never be shipped by any method, even if the
weapon is not cocked or on safety
6. What is Forensic Psychology?

Forensic Psychology is a research endeavour that examines aspects of human

behaviour directly related to the legal process (e.g. eyewitness memory and
testimony, jury decision making, or criminal behaviour)