YoVDO

Forensic Science and Criminal Justice

Offered By: University of Leicester via FutureLearn

Tags

Criminology Courses Reading Courses Forensic Science Courses Criminal Justice Courses

Course Description

Overview

Over the past two decades, the criminal justice system has been dramatically affected by technological advances in scientific contributions to the law. The most influential developments have been in the area of DNA profiling, and its forensic applications for both identifying perpetrators and exonerating the innocent.

Although there have been some extraordinary victories for the forensic science community in recent years, there has also been scepticism about the infallibility of some forensic science practices, and the interpretation of physical evidence in the courtroom.

This free online course begins by introducing you to the historical context of forensic science and how science is used by the police during criminal investigations.

We will then explore some of the implications that these forensic techniques have on the criminal justice system, such as controversies surrounding biometric databases, the portrayal of forensic science in popular media (“the CSI effect”), and how forensic science is used in the courtroom.

Finally, we will consider what the future of forensic science looks like and where the discipline may be heading in the years to come.

Previous learner, Lynda, said: “I have always been very interested in criminology subjects so I found it fascinating and informative. I just loved the course!” Find out more in her learner story.

No prior qualifications in forensic science or other disciplines are required. Students should have an interest in how science assists police investigations, and how forensic science impacts on the criminal justice system.


Taught by

Lisa Smith

Tags

Related Courses

Pre-Calculus
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
Services Marketing - Selling the Invisible
OpenLearning
Reading for Understanding: Literacy for Learning in the 21st Century
WestEd via Canvas Network
College Readiness (SU17) – Reading, Writing and Math
Broward College via Canvas Network
The Power of Microeconomics: Economic Principles in the Real World
University of California, Irvine via Coursera