Forensics Case File: Big Time Problems for a Small Town Forensic Science Kit for Grades 6-9

No community is immune from the illegal drug trade, but the significant spike in drug activity has created a great deal of concern among both the police and the town council, including the mayor. As an increase in drug activity also typically leads to an increase in other crimes, such as burglary/theft, the mayor has ordered the chief of police to allocate more resources to not only removing the drugs from the street but also finding and eliminating the source of the drugs.

After further investigation, the police were able to develop a list of eight suspects and received search warrants. After searching the premises of each suspect, two were eliminated due to lack of evidence and six were brought to the station based on material gathered during the searches. This material was primarily a significant amount of white powder found on footwear or articles of clothing belonging to each suspect, as well as cash found on the scene. In two cases, a large amount of cash was found. Materials from each search were collected and logged in as evidence and further warrants were issued to collect fingerprints, writing samples, and urine specimens from the remaining six suspects. The suspects were interviewed and each vehemently stated their innocence. Their statements regarding the evidence found were documented and each was released on their own recognizance pending further analysis of the evidence.

Being a small town, the Riverside police department doesn’t have a dedicated forensics analysis department, so the evidence/suspect information was sent to the neighboring city of Mapledale. Mapledale has a larger police department and far more resources for forensic evidence analysis.

You and your classmates work for the Mapledale police department forensic analysis lab. You have been asked to examine the evidence and provide your findings/expert opinion to assist the Riverside police as they attempt to determine if any of the evidence either supports or refutes each suspect’s explanation/alibi before they make any arrests or make a choice to bring any cases to trial. Keep in mind, your job as a forensic lab technician is simply to provide the results of your findings or your expert scientific opinion. It is not the job of a forensic lab technician to decide whether a suspect is guilty or innocent.

This Kit contains enough materials for 15 groups. Teacher’s Guide and Student Study Guide copymasters are included.

Components

Kit Includes:
1 x 25g Suspect 1: White Powder Evidence
1 x 25g Suspect 2: White Powder Evidence
1 x 25g Suspect 3: White Powder Evidence
1 x 25g Suspect 4: White Powder Evidence
1 x 25g Suspect 5: White Powder Evidence
1 x 25g Suspect 6: White Powder Evidence
1 x 10mL Suspect 1: Urine Sample
1 x 10mL Suspect 2: Urine Sample
1 x 10mL Suspect 3: Urine Sample
1 x 10mL Suspect 4: Urine Sample
1 x 10mL Suspect 5: Urine Sample
1 x 10mL Suspect 6: Urine Sample
3 x 10mL Drug Detection Reagent
3 x 10mL Drug Extraction Reagent
3 x 10mL Drug Metabolite Detection Reagent
15 strips Suspect 1: Money Evidence
15 strips Suspect 1: Money Evidence
15 strips Suspect 1: Money Evidence
15 strips Suspect 1: Money Evidence
15 strips Suspect 1: Money Evidence
15 strips Suspect 1: Money Evidence
15 Spot Plates