BTEC L3 Forensic and Criminal Investigation
Key Stage 5 - Year 12-13
| Year 12 | Year 13 | |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 |
Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Science I (externally assessed in January)
Unit 4: Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice This involves three internally assessed assignments based on developing techniques in collecting, analysing and reporting chemical, physical and biological evidence during forensic investigations. In this unit, you will develop an understanding of the importance of health and safety, and the need for objectivity and justification in your approach to identifying and analysing forensic evidence. You will investigate a simulated crime scene and demonstrate appropriate forensic procedures in collecting and packaging forensic evidence. You will develop scientific analytical-thinking skills through the use of biological, chemical and physical evidence. You will remain impartial, develop a chronology and provide scientific justification for analysis, presenting facts from investigations in a non-biased manner. This unit requires you to explore practically the principles of science that form the basis of some of the analytical techniques commonly used, as well as to carry out analysis on forensic evidence. It also requires you to interpret the results and report valid conclusions. These are the three assignments you will complete: A Explore procedures used to preserve, collect and record forensic evidence from a simulated crime scene B Use analytical techniques to examine forensic evidence collected from a simulated crime scene C Draw conclusions and report on the results of the analysis of forensic evidence. |
Unit 3: Science Investigation Skills • A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions. • The scenario and practical investigation in Part A is given to learners before Part B is scheduled and is undertaken under supervision in a single session of 3 hours. • Part B is a set task that is undertaken under supervision in a single session of 1.5 hours timetabled by Pearson.
This includes learning content based on the following:
Unit 5: Applications of Criminology (externally assessed)
You will examine selected theories of criminology that are used to explain, measure and tackle crime and criminal behaviour in England and Wales. Criminology is the study of crime and criminal behaviour, drawing on psychology, sociology, law, and other disciplines to explain the causes and prevention of crime. In this unit, you will study how different aspects of criminology help us to understand the reasons why some people may commit crimes and the various methods of crime prevention in England and Wales. There are many different approaches to defining and explaining the extent of crime in England and Wales. You will determine why, according to criminological theories, certain groups are more likely to commit crime than others. You will look at differences between the various sets of crime statistics that explain crime and criminal behaviour. You will also look at the impact of crime on society, focusing on how the media can shape our perception of crime, as well as determining what may influence the likelihood of an individual being a victim of crime. This unit will also look at the theories underlying methods of crime prevention and the different punishment methods used for those convicted of a crime. This unit is assessed under supervised conditions. You will be given a task book containing the assessment activities and information related to the activities. You will be expected to read through the information as it will form the basis for the focus of the assessment. The supervised assessment will be completed in a single morning session of 3 hours timetabled by Pearson. Pearson sets and marks the task. |
| Assessment |
Trials Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Science I past paper (Chemistry and Biology – 40 min each) Exam style questions based on:
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Trials Unit 3: Science Investigation Skills Past paper (1h 30min) |
| Term 2 |
Unit 2: Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques. This involves four Assignments based on the following
Unit 4: Forensic Investigation Procedures in Practice continued Unit 6: Criminal Investigation Procedures in Practice This involves three internally assessed assignments based on studying the legal framework, criminal law and techniques used during criminal investigation. You will also develop communication skills and experience while giving evidence in a mock trial. In this unit, you will develop an understanding of the Criminal Justice System (CJS), including the police and courts. You will cover the legal framework that criminal investigators must work to in order to protect individual rights, as well as the adversarial system where prosecution and defence set out evidence in court to determine guilt or innocence. It is important that investigators know the tools available to them and make use of the most appropriate resources. You will learn about interviewing techniques that, when used well, can draw out intelligence for the police to act on. You will look at the wide range of tools, skills and powers that can be used by investigators. Criminal investigations can range from minor crimes to major incidents but the procedures to be followed must be equally rigorous in all cases. If the evidence collected by the police or other investigating service is not secure and reliable, the defendant may be acquitted, even if guilty. This illustrates the importance of rigorous criminal investigation procedures. In order for you to appreciate how to collect reliable and secure material evidence, this unit looks at the principles developed to minimise the risk of an innocent person being found guilty or the guilty being acquitted. You will have an opportunity to present interview evidence just as a professional witness such as a police officer/criminal investigation department (CID) officer would. These are the three assignments you will complete: A Understand the legal framework that criminal law investigators must adhere to in order to secure a criminal conviction B Explore procedures and the resources available in criminal investigations C Develop communication skills as a professional witness in a mock criminal trial. |
Unit 8: Physiology of Human Body Systems. This involves three internally assessed assignments based on the following:
Unit 9: Environmental Forensics
This involves three internally assessed assignments based on the use of environmental forensics in crime, covering the study of taphonomy and the main methods used in collecting and analysing entomological, soil, pollen and diatom evidence.
Environmental forensics (also known as forensic ecology) is used in forensic investigation, especially for using entomological evidence to estimate time of death (TOD). Other scientific disciplines such as botany, ecology and geology are now also being recognised as forms of forensic assistance in solving crimes as diverse as wildlife crime to serious crimes such as murders, where they are used to search for potential body disposal sites and linking suspects to the victim or crime scene. This environmental evidence helps to build intelligence data that can be used to bring new leads and connections to major serious criminal investigations. New techniques of recovering traces of drugs and DNA from human remains, via the larvae feeding on the body, are also being used. In this unit, you will understand and appreciate the importance of environmental forensics in forensic investigation. The main evidence types covered will be entomology, pollen (palynology), diatoms (which are a type of algae) and soil. You will learn the stages of decomposition with the study of taphonomy (the science of decomposition) and appreciate how entomological processes can affect this. You will gain knowledge of the processes in estimating the TOD using taphonomy and entomological techniques. You will also have an opportunity to explore soil, pollen and diatom evidence. You will gain skills and knowledge in scene sampling and laboratory methods of analysis.
These are the three assignments you will complete: A Understand how concepts in taphonomy and entomology contribute to forensic investigation
B Carry out investigative techniques for taphonomy and entomology that are used to estimate time of death in forensic investigation C Carry out techniques used to examine soil, pollen and diatom evidence in forensic investigation. |
| Term 3 |
Unit 2: Practical Scientific Procedures and Techniques. This involves four Assignments based on the following
Review personal development of scientific skills for laboratory work.
Unit 3: Science Investigation Skills • A task set and marked by Pearson and completed under supervised conditions. • The scenario and practical investigation in Part A is given to learners before Part B is scheduled and is undertaken under supervision in a single session of 3 hours. • Part B is a set task that is undertaken under supervision in a single session of 1.5 hours timetabled by Pearson.
This term you will content based on the following:
This will include a field trip to Padley Gorge practice your ecology skills Unit 6: Criminal Investigation Procedures in Practice continued |
Unit 8: Physiology of Human Body Systems. This involves three Assignments based on the following:
The physiology of the digestive system and the use of corrective treatments for dietary-related diseases.
Unit 9: Environmental Forensics continued |
| Assessment |
Exam dates Tuesday 12th January 2021 PM Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Science I - Biology Wednesday 13th January 2021 AM Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Science I – Chemistry PM Unit 1: Principles and Applications of Science I – Physics |
Exam dates Unit 3: Science Investigation Skills Part A – 3 hours: To take place between 05/01/2021 - 06/01/2021 Part B - 1h 30m: 18/01/2021 AM Unit 5: Applications of Criminology Date - TBC |