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Forensics in Policing

Module description

In this research-led module you will learn about the place and role of forensic knowledge in crime investigations and look at the forensic process in the criminal justice system from a sociological perspective. You will examine the social construction of forensic evidence and how forensic information contributes to the examination of various types of offences. You will also study various social science debates on other aspects of forensic practices, such as public understandings of forensic science and the effectiveness of forensic science. The module does not have any pre-requisites and it is suitable for interdisciplinary pathways and for non-specialist students.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to help you develop the critical tools to engage with and assess the relevance and importance of forensic science in crime investigation. You learn about the interface between traditional and digital forensic fields, and gain familiarity with the current challenges in the adoption and application of forensic methods to investigations. The module will help you develop an analytical stance and an ability to scrutinise and question understandings of forensic science and evidence as infallible.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the major debates on the place, role and importance of forensic science in the criminal justice system
• 2. Critically evaluate various sources on the use of forensic science in crime investigation

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Critically assess claims about the role of forensic science to criminal justice outcomes using sociological perspectives
• 4. Demonstrate a critical approach to the selection and use of relevant social science sources to present coherent arguments about the relation between forensic methods and technologies, policing and crime

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Communicate effectively in written and verbal form
• 6. Plan and work independently and in groups

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Forensic trace
• The scientification of police work
• Physical and digital crime scenes and actors
• Forensic evidence and forensic intelligence
• Forensic science as social process

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

• Burney, I. and Pemberton, N., 2016. Murder and the Making of English CSI. JHU Press.
• Cole, S.A., 2009. Suspect identities: A history of fingerprinting and criminal identification. Harvard University Press.
• Garrett, B.L., 2021. Autopsy of A Crime Lab: Exposing the Flaws in Forensics. University of California.
• Holt, T.J., Bossler, A.M. and Seigfried-Spellar, K.C., 2017. Cybercrime and digital forensics: An introduction. Routledge.
• Kruse, C., 2015. The social life of forensic evidence. University of California Press.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

Key words search

Forensic evidence, digital forensics, investigation, policing