Forensic evidence is subject to many of the general rules related to the admissibility of evidence in the criminal trial process, but there are also some unique rules governing the admissibility, scope and content of expert forensic evidence in the Canadian adversarial system. This course provides a detailed exploration and analysis of the fundamental legal principles and procedures that govern criminal proceedings in Canada, including identification, integrity and introduction of evidence by both Crown and defence, with a particular emphasis on issues applicable to forensic investigators and scientists as witnesses. In addition to classroom lectures, students are required to work together outside of class time to prepare for a group assignment which involves the presentation and analysis of a forensic court case.

This course provides a critical look at the fundamental principles of forensic science and its origins. Techniques and instrumentation employed by forensic experts, methodology used to maintain continuity and integrity of evidence and evolving best practices are examined and analyzed. The role of physical evidence in civil and criminal trials will be evaluated and challenged based on current practices in forensic science.

In Canada, forensic health care and forensic nursing are emerging as a new concepts in both health care and areas where medical and legal issues overlap. This course will provide health care and allied health professionals, and criminal justice and other professions whose work intersects with components of the healthcare system with a foundation in the forensic health sciences and its application to clinical practice in Canada. The Criminal Code of Canada, provincial and federal laws will be discussed pertaining to individuals who may be the victim of non-intentional or intentional injuries or trauma, crime and violence. The specific areas of sexual violence and abuse, death investigation, child and elder maltreatment, interpersonal violence, drug and alcohol use and forensic psychiatrics/corrections will be described with respect to the forensic roles and responsibilities of professionals who work in the field of forensic health sciences. Recognition, collection and preservation of evidence and medicolegal documentation will be examined. The interlinking roles of forensic science, law enforcement, judicial and health care professionals are defined and explored as related to health care today and in the future. Instructors are industry experts from within healthcare, law enforcement, criminal justice and forensic sciences. Students will complete individual assignments and also work in groups to analyze data.

This course provides a clinical and forensic science based model of care for the forensic assessment and evaluation of patients/victims of non-intentional and intentional injuries, trauma, violence and crime across the lifespan. Topics include: Principles of forensic evidence collection, child and elder maltreatment, interpersonal violence, sexual violence and abuse and assault, and legal nurse consulting. You will explore the process of testifying in criminal, civil and inquest proceedings, and examine other aspects such as violence prevention, psychosocial factors in violence, human trafficking, and forensic toxicology related to forensic health care. Prerequisites: FSCT 9810

The forensic evaluation and documentation of injuries and trauma is a key component of the application of forensic health sciences for victims of non-intentional and intentional injuries, violence and crime. Although this expertise is commonly used in medicolegal death investigations the application can also be applied to the living patient “living forensics” a concept that is relatively new in Canada. This course is designed to provide the medical, scientific and forensic principles relevant to the investigation and forensic health care of both fatalities and the survivors or injuries and trauma. The course will focus on assessment, evaluation and documentation of blunt and sharp injuries, sustained in a variety of settings and the legal aspects of documentation of wounds and injuries. Students will engage in online discussions regarding the forensic evaluation of injuries, complete individual assignments, and analyze characteristics of injuries and their mechanisms, presenting their findings to their peers. Prerequisites: FSCT 9810

This course provides the forensic knowledge and skills for forensic health assessments, evidence collection, chain-of-custody, medicolegal documentation and evaluation of victims of sexual violence (adult and adolescent). The course prepares registered nurses for the role of a forensic nurse examiner within forensic nursing programs. Instructors are industry experts from within healthcare, law enforcement, criminal justice and forensic sciences. Students will complete an individual assignment and an analytical paper and exams. Prerequisites: FSCT 9810

This comprehensive course is designed to broaden the expertise of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians who currently provide or will be providing pediatric sexual violence medical evaluation. The focus of this Canadian-based education will be on caring for the sexually abused pediatric population. This evidence-based course will be interactive, case-based and provide practical opportunities for clinicians to obtain feedback on different practice elements including evaluation, documentation, and application of forensic science principles.

This course is designed for persons interested in death scene investigations. Participants will learn about all aspects of medicolegal death investigation including classification of death types, identification of deceased persons, appropriate evidence collection at a death scene, the external appearance of the body in both violent and natural deaths, and post mortem changes to the body. Relationship to the scene of death is emphasized as are features of various injuries/wounds and determination of causation [some of the material on external examination will also apply to the living e.g., assault victims.] This course outlines the interdisciplinary approach to death investigation by highlighting the roles of the coroner (medical examiner), pathologist, police & forensic scientists. Prerequisites: FSCT 9810