| CODE | CRI1017 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Crime Scene to Court | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Criminology | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit covers an in depth knowledge of what happens from a Crime scene to Court. It aims at providing students the fundamentals of the forensic journey that is required to support the scientific investigation of crime and the eventual successful conviction of the perpetrators. It describes the steps taken from the initial stages of the scientific investigation, the occupational requirements and hazards, the skills and qualifications required to support the criminal justice system and basic aspects of forensic science, the crime scene investigation and the evidential value of the forensic evidence. This study-unit would also provide students with an understanding of the importance of the collection of evidence, the forensic laboratory and the respective forensic analysis, the expert witness and the court room requirements. Study-unit Aims: • Introduce students to the fundamentals of the scientific investigation of crime; • Assist students in understanding the complexities surrounding a crime scene and a criminal investigation; • Familiarize students with the steps taken from a Crime to Court and the recognition of disciplined procedures which are essentially required to compliment the criminal justice system; • Familiarize students with the roles of the key stakeholders within the journey from Crime scene to Court. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Appreciate the principles of the scientific investigation of crime; • Acquire an appreciation of the complexities and the dynamics of a crime scene and the court requirements; • Follow the process and steps in the scientific examination and the expertise required of all the stakeholders and operators within the criminal justice system. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • Interpret scientific evidence in a court of law; • Outline the different types of physical evidence and explain their evidential value; • Interpret crime scene techniques and decipher the operations within the court room; • Categorise the role of the main stakeholders through the passage from Crime scene to Court. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Fisher, Barry A.J. (2003). Techniques of crime scene investigation (7th Ed.). CRC Publications. - Inman, K. and Rudin, N. (2001). Principles and practice of criminalistics: The profession of forensic science. CRC Publications. - Saferstein, R. (2007). Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science (9th Ed.). Prentice-Hall. - White, P.C., (2004). Crime Scene to Court : The Essentials of Forensic Science : Edition 2, The Royal Society of Chemistry. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Charlot Casha (Co-ord.) Joanna Vella |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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