Forensic chemistry applies scientific principles and technology to criminal and civil laws. It uses various areas of science like chemistry, biology, and physics to analyze evidence. The history of forensic science began with Mathieu Orfila in the 18th century who established forensic toxicology. Other notable early figures established fingerprint analysis and firearm analysis. Today, a crime lab analyzes evidence using various specialized units like biology, chemistry, firearms examination, and toxicology to aid criminal investigations. The role of the crime lab is to scientifically analyze evidence to help identify suspects and prove their guilt or innocence.

1. FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
– MODULE 1
LADORY M ASENETA, MSCRIM, RCRIM
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN
CRIMINOLOGY

2. Forensic Chemistry
Øapplication of science to
those criminal and civil laws that
are enforced by police agencies
in a criminal justice system
Øapplies the knowledge and
technology of science for the
definition and enforcement of
such laws

3. ØAreas of Science- useful in determining the
evidential value of crime-scene and related
evidence
ØChemistry, Biology, Physics, geology

4. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT
1. Mathieu Orfila (
1787-1853)
Øfather of forensic
toxicology
Øpublished the first
scientific treatise on the
detection of poisons and
their effects on animals

5. 2. ALPHONSE BERTILLON (1853-1914)
- He is the father of criminal identification
devised the first scientific system of
personal identification
- he developed the science of
anthropometry ( systematic procedure of
taking a series of body measurements as a
means of distinguishing one individual
from another

6. 3. Francis Galton
(1822-1911)
Ødeveloped a methodology
of classifying fingerprints
for filing
Øpublished the book
fingerprints

7. 4. Leone Lattes (1887-1954)
Ødevised a relatively simple procedure for determining
the blood group of a dried bloodstain

8. 5. Calvin Goddard ( 1891-1955)
Ørefined the technique of examining whether or
not a particular gun has fired a bullet or not using
comparison microscope

9. 6. Albert Osborn (1858-1946)
Ødeveloped the fundamental principles of document
examination as scientific evidence by the courts

11. 8. Hans Gross (1847-1915)
Øwrote the first treatise describing the application of scientific
disciplines to the field of criminal investigation
Østrong advocate of the use of scientific method in criminal investigation

12. 9. Edmond Locard (1877-1966)

14. PNP Crime Laboratory
§ started on May 19,1945
§ started as a section of G-2
Div. Of Military Police
Command AFPWESPAC,
fingerprint record section
!
§ Crime Lab Branch

15. § CIS (Criminal Investigation
Service)investigation arm of PC
§ Crime Lab.! technical lab Br. ( 1951!
medico-legal and polygraph to enhance
its investigation functions
§ Philippine Constabulary Forensic Lab (
PCFL)
§ 1985 - Integrated National Police Crime
Lab Service

16. 1991 Republic Act 6975
•act separating the Police from
AFP umbrella, placing it under
the DILG
•PNP Crime Lab was activated as
a support unit of the PNP
pursuant to GO Nr 57 dated Jan
18,1991

17. The Role of Crime Laboratory in Investigation
Criminal Investigator
•person who collects facts to accomplish a
threefold aim: to identify and locate the guilty
party and to provide evidence of his guilt x x x
•tools of investigator:
• three “Is”- Information, Interrogation and
Instrumentation

18. Services of the Crime Laboratory
Physical Science Unit
•applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics
and geology to the identification and comparison of
crime-scene evidence
•staffed by criminalists who have the expertise to use
chemical test and modern analytical instrumentation for
the examination of items as diverse as drugs, glass,
paint, explosives and soil
subdivision
• drug identification, soil and mineral analyses,
examination of a variety of trace physical evidence

19. Biology Unit
•staffed with biologists and biochemists who apply their
knowledge to the identification and DNA profiling of dried
blood stains and other body fluids, comparison of hairs and
fibers and the identification and comparison of botanical
materials such as wood and plants
Firearms Unit
•examination of firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge
cases, shotgun shells and ammunition of all types
•garments and other objects are also examined in order to
detect firearm discharge residues and to approximate the
distance from a target at which the weapon was fired

20. Document Examination Unit
•studies the handwriting and typewriting on questioned
documents to ascertain authenticity and or source
•analysis of paper and ink as well as examination of indented
writings ( partially visible depressions appearing on a sheet of
paper underneath the one on which the visible writing
appears); obliterations, erasures and burned or charred
documents
Photography Unit
•aids in the preparation of photographic exhibits for courtroom
presentation
•examines and records physical evidence

21. Toxicology Unit
•examines body fluids and organs to determine the
presence and absence of drugs and poisons
Latent Fingerprint Unit
•responsible for processing and examining evidence for
latent fingerprints when they are submitted in conjunction
with other lab examinations
Polygraph Unit (Lie Detector)-essential tool of the
criminal investigator
Forensic Pathology
•involves the investigation of sudden, unnatural,
unexplained or violent deaths

22. Forensic Pathology
•if a cause can’t be found thru observations
1. Autopsy -normally performed to established the cause of
death
5 categories in which death occurred
1. Natural
2. Homicide
3. Suicide
4. Accident
5. undetermined based on circumstances surrounding the
incident

23. Forensic Odontology
- provide information about the identification of victim when
the body is left in an unrecognizable state
• teeth: composed of enamel- the hardest substance within the
body
• enamel - outlast tissues and organs as decomposition begins
• the characteristics of teeth, their alignment and the overall
structure of the mouth provide individual evidence for
identifying a specific person
• dental records such as x-rays and dental casts or even a
photograph of the person’s smile, a comparison can be made
between a set of dental remains and a suspected victim
• bite mark analysis

24. Forensic engineering
•concerned with failure
analyses, accident
reconstruction causes and
origins of fire or explosion

25. Voiceprint Analysis Unit
•analysis involves telephoned threats or taped-
recorded messages to tie the voice to a particular
suspect
•sound spectrograph - an instrument that transforms
speech into a visual graphic display called voiceprint
Evidence Collection Unit
•dispatches specially trained personnel (civilian and
or police) to the crime scene to collect and preserve
physical evidence that will later be processed at the
crime laboratory

26. END OF LESSON 1