Please write a minimum 5-paragraph essay and submit it as a Word document upload. Please cover ALL of the following topics in your essay:

• What was your favorite part of this course?
• What is one thing you learned that you did not know prior to taking this course?
• Has this course given you a direction you would like to go in a future career (give me more than a yes/no answer)?
• Would you recommend this course to others you know in the future?
• What is one way I, as an instructor, can improve this course in future semesters?

You can can use the course description, objectives, and learning outcomes listed below as a guide but do not copy. Please respond in your own words no plagiarism, no ai no chat bots.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course will introduce the role of forensics in the criminal justice system. It includes crime scene processes and

analysis, interpretation of patterns for reconstruction; physical pattern evidence, fingerprint identification and patterns;

questioned document examination; tool marks and firearms examination; biological evidence and DNA; arson and

explosives evidence, and drug analysis.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

1. Recognize the purpose of Forensics

2. Discuss the key issues in Forensics, to include management, goals, and funding.

3. Discuss the roles of each specialist

4. Explain the purpose and usefulness of physical evidence in a criminal investigation

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5. Discuss the proper procedures in processing a crime scene

6. Understand the need for crime scene reconstruction

7. Discuss the importance of fingerprints and other personal identification

8. Discuss the different types of document evidence and handwriting analysis

9. Discuss the importance of tool marks and firearms examination

10. Discuss the methods of DNA typing and analysis in the investigation of crimes

11. Discuss the types of chemicals and materials used in arson and explosive investigations

12. Discuss the types of controlled substances used in criminal investigations

13. Discuss the major categories of material evidence and their relevance

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs):

Upon completion of the course the student can:

1. Critically examine the role of forensic science and each of the forensic science specialists in the criminal justice

system.

2. Critically evaluate the procedures in processing a crime scene to ensure evidence integrity and provide the basis

for accurate crime scene analysis.

3. Analyze the legal and Constitutional requirements as they pertain to evidence collection, preservation, and

analysis.

NOTE: All the above-mentioned student learning outcomes will be evaluated through examinations and presentations

You will need to copy and paste these questions into a Word document and type in the answers. Use as much space as you need, and please do not put one sentence answers. Make sure you fully answer the question and answer ALL parts of the question. PLEASE INCLUDE BOTH THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER IN YOUR ASSIGNMENT. Please use the powerpoints Ch16,17,18. Please no plagarism, no ai no chat bots

Assignment

Chapter 16: DNA

Chapter 17: Fire and Explosion Investigation

Chapter 18: Document Examination

1. What is complementary base pairing? What is the importance of the order in which base pairs are arranged?
2. What are short tandem repeats (STRs) and what is their significance to DNA typing?
3. What are the three main differences between nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA?
4. Describe the process of DNA replication. What is the importance of DNA replication?
5. List two advantages STRs have over restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP).
6. How should packages containing DNA evidence be stored? Name one common exception and explain why it should be handled differently and how it should be stored.
7. List four steps an investigator should take to prevent contamination of DNA evidence.
8. Define and describe the process of pyrolysis.
9. What physical state must a fuel occupy in order to produce a flame? Why can it produce a flame only in this state?
10. What are primary explosives and what are they used for?
11. List three factors that make investigating arson and explosions particularly difficult for forensic scientists.
12. What are oxidizing agents and why are they used in explosives?
13. List three factors that can make it difficult for an examiner to determine the author of a questioned writing.
14. Why might a traced signature be more easily detected as a forgery than one that is copied freehand?
15. Describe two methods used to read indented writing.

Discussion: Week Seven – Group 1

Week Seven

This weeks discussion focuses on social engineering and computer ethics. You will be working in small discussion groups to make conversations more manageable and interactive. You will post individually within your group and respond to your group members.

This week, you explored how attackers exploit human behavior through tactics like impersonation, authority, and trust, and how these same techniques can be used ethically in penetration testing. In this discussion, you will apply what you learned by creating a realistic scenario and analyzing both the risks and ethical considerations.

Important Reminder: Posting Deadlines Matter

Because discussions depend on interaction with your classmates, it is important that everyone posts on time. Posting your initial response by the deadline allows others enough time to read your ideas and respond thoughtfully. Late initial posts make it difficult for meaningful discussion to occur.Please no plagiarism no ai no chat bots. Original work only. Should be 500 words.

Discussion Prompt:

Step 1: Choose ONE scenario:

• College campus
• Workplace
• Retail store
• Hospital
• Apartment complex

In your post:

• Describe a social engineering attack:
  • Who is the attacker pretending to be?
  • What tactic is being used? (impersonation, authority, urgency, etc.)
• Explain why the attack would work:
  • What human behavior is being exploited?
• Propose one realistic defense:
  • What could prevent this attack?
• Reflect on ethics:
  • When is this type of behavior acceptable (like in Maxie)?
  • When does it become unethical?

DNA Case Study Discussion

CASE SCENARIO:

You are a forensic DNA analyst working in an accredited crime laboratory.

Police submit evidence from a home invasion and assault that occurred in a shared apartment. The victim reports struggling with an unknown assailant who fled when a roommate returned home. The scene is processed several hours later.

Evidence Submitted to the lab:

• A kitchen knife recovered from the apartment floor
• A door handle swab from the apartment’s front door
• A torn shirt belonging to the victim

No eyewitnesses could identify the suspect.

DNA Analysis Results:

KNIFE HANDLE

• A mixed DNA profile from at least 3 contributors
• The major contributor is consistent with the victim
• The other DNA contributors are present in very small amounts and only some of their DNA can be analyzed

DOOR HANDLE SWAB:

• A low-level DNA profile consistent with touch DNA
• The DNA amount is barely high enough to be detected

VICTIM’S SHIRT:

• The victim’s DNA is present
• A second DNA profile is detected in small quantities

A suspect is later identified. A reference DNA sample is collected and compared.

• The suspect’s DNA cannot be excluded as a contributor to the minor profile on the shirt
• The suspect is excluded from the knife mixture
• The door handle profile is inconclusive.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What does it mean when a DNA result says a suspect “cannot be excluded,” and why is this different from saying it’s a match?
2. Why are mixed DNA profiles harder to interpret than DNA from a single person?
3. What are some ways a person’s DNA could end up on an object even if they never committed the crime?
4. Why are very small amounts of DNA less reliable, and how does that affect how results should be reported?
5. How should a forensic scientist explain these DNA results so they are not misunderstood by investigators or jurors?

For this discussion, you must post your initial reply first at least 4 complete paragraphs discussing your findings and why),Please use the powerpoints provided Ch 16, DNA . Please no Plagiarism, no ai no chat bots