LAW 1030: Forensic Evidence, Science, and Medicine
Spring 2020 • Section 21 • CRN 22859

Course Description

Through a Murder Mystery that unfolds during the semester, this course will explore how cases are pieced together through the collection of evidence, crime scene assessments, and forensic analysis as students create and analyze a murder book to help solve the homicide. Through real life experiences and lectures by experts in the field, this course will discuss the legal issues involved in forensics from eyewitness identification to polygraphs. Issues surrounding cause of death and the intricacies of the autopsy procedure will be discussed along with their usefulness for crime scene investigation and establishing causation in civil cases. Students will also learn how forensics and crime scene evidence combine in court, and how attorneys utilize these materials to build or defend their cases. The course topics will be reinforced through a review of some of the more famous cases such as the homicides of Nicole Simpson, Michael Jackson, and Jon Benet Ramsey. Students will see actual crime scene evidence, the human body, and autopsy procedures.

Book List/Materials