In your notebook, write down the Miranda rights and describe how these rights arose.

Go to the following website…

http://www.nsa.gov/kids/home_html.shtml

Click on ‘Codes & Ciphers‘ at the top and read through the material. Be sure to look at the various types of ciphers under the ‘Make a Cipher‘ section, and the ‘Language Rules‘ under the ‘Breaking Ciphers‘ section. Write these tips in your notebook. You will be asked to apply your skills at breaking ciphers so be sure you understand the techniques used.

After you read through the Codes and Ciphers section, click on Games & Activities at the bottom. Then complete the ‘Cryptograms‘ link (beginner, intermediate, and advanced).  Pay particular attention to the ‘advanced’ problem.  Once you have completed those, complete the 5 problems in the ‘Yardleygrams‘ section.

When you are finished with that site, use the link below to study and understand XOR Encryption. XOR encryption is very useful to encrypt binary data stored in a computer.

XOR Encryption

Quiz Friday, 3/19 on the autopsy information regarding cause and time of death and identifying unknown victims.

There are various ways to calculate the post mortem interval (time since death).  You should research at least five ways and describe how each method works.  I will collect this when we return to school.

Firearms Identification

Go to www.firearmsid.com. On the left side under ‘classroom’ click on student login. Use the log-in key I told you in class and type in your full name. Click accept. In the classroom area you (each individual) must complete the following tasks:

1. Complete the Cartridge Case ID-VCM (Test 1).  You must score a 75% or better. **
2. Complete the Firearm Identification quiz (50 questions) located here.  You must score an 80% or better.**  Use your real name on the page.  When you score an 80% or better, print the results page as proof and bring it to class to show me.
3. Complete the Bullet ID-VCM (Test 1).  You must score a 75% or better.**
4. Answer the questions below.

** – if you do not obtain the above scores you will receive a zero.  You may take the quiz/VCM more than once until you obtain the necessary score. This is an all or nothing assignment.

To answer the following questions you should read the information on the site. If you click on the Bullet ID-VCM link and the Cartridge Case ID-VCM link the resultant pages lists several links to find the necessary information.

1. What does GRC stand for?
2. Give an example of a typical GRC.
3. Do firearms change much over time? Will the 300th bullet have the same marks as the 3rd bullet?
4. What two characteristics do they obtain from a bullet fired from a firearm?
5. What marks do they obtain from a cartridge or cartridge casing?
6. What is meant by a bullets caliber?
7. What is a cartridge?
8. Do all bullets fit in all cartridges?
9. Give 2 examples of named cartridges.
10. What is the difference between your two examples? (advantage/disadvantage of one over the other)
11. What is a rifling impression? What causes it?
12. Why does a barrel have rifling?
13. What are the raised areas between grooves called?
14. If you have a rifling pattern of 6 grooves, how many lands do you have?
15. Why would a firearm examiner use a water tank and how big is a typical tank?
16. What is a comparison microscope?
17. Where on the bullet are the best marks typically seen?
18. What is typically the biggest problem with making an identification of an evidence bullet?
19. What causes Impression Action Marks?
20. Describe what causes each of the 3 impression marks. Which is the most common?
21. Checkout the bullet through gelatin picture from my forensics page. What causes the funnel shape behind the bullet?

Due:  Thursday, 2/4/10

There will be a test on Thursday, January 14. 2010. The test will be on all material covered in class with specific attention to the material from the “product tampering” case study, mass spectrometry, fingerprinting, and counterfeit money.

Individually, you should complete the correct answers to the Money Facts sheet.

As a group, you should create a ‘new’ $5 bill using the paper I gave you in class. You can see what it looks like at this site: http://www.moneyfactory.gov/newmoney/

You should label the bill with letters or numbers and create a key. These labels should point out the security and ‘additional’ features of the bill that are used to prevent counterfeiting.

On the paper with the key, you must also explain how the ‘money pen’ that store clerks use to check for counterfeit money works. What it looks like if the paper is real or counterfeit and why it looks that way.

Due:  Wednesday, 1/13/10 at the beginning of class

Use the fingerprint pattern data we collected in class to determine statistical trends in a population.  You should analyze the data making various statistical comparisons.  You must show work/sample calculations.  You must have graphical representations of your results.  You should point out interesting insights.  Your report should be in APA format, neat, organized and well presented.