UNT Criminalistics Certificate program receives Forensic Comparison Microscope
Forensic microscopes are staple equipments in Forensic Science. There are many kinds and types of forensic microscopes.  A forensic comparison microscope is a kind of forensic microscope that can compare two specimens side by side for similarities or differences.
The basic principle of Forensic Science is Locard’s Exchange Principle which states “Every Contact Leaves a Trace”. For this reason, students in University of North Texas vying for a degree in criminology would often be assigned experiments and exercises that will support this principle.
In the past, as described in the original article, students would often use magnifying glasses in picking and studying particles such as hair, fibers, etc. Now, thanks to the generous donation of the Houston Police Department Crime Laboratory, they can verify Locard’s Exchange Principle using forensic microscopes, specifically a forensic comparison microscope. As mentioned earlier, forensic comparison microscopes have the capacity to simultaneously study and analyze two specimens at the same time. Specimens that could be examined under this type of forensic microscope could either be hair, fiber, bullet, paper, fingerprint, etc. For example, a suspect’s hair is compared to a hair specimen found in the clothing of a victim. With the use of a forensic comparison microscope, the two hair specimens are magnified and compared physically side by side. The forensic experts are trained to look for areas in the two specimens where it can be proven without reasonable doubt that they are identical or the same.
The article also describes Criminalistics as a branch of Forensic Science. Criminalistics is focused on the collection, identification, and laboratory analysis of specimens that are collected in a crime scene.
Aside from using forensic microscopes, students enrolled in Criminalistics are also taught and trained in looking for fired shell casings and using a global positioning system in a mock crime scene. They also learn how to plot and define the location of these casings. An instructor that was interviewed in the article compared the collection of these shell casings in the past and today. He said that in the past, physical measurements were the only basis of these shell casings. Now, GPS plotting has made the description of the location of these fired shell casings more accurate. The accuracy of a forensic report is a basis in many court hearings. Forensic reports are factual and scientific evidence that helps the jury in making a decision. A suspect could be either be convicted or proven innocent on the basis of this report.
The University of North Texas’ College of Criminalistics is very lucky to be the recipient of a forensic microscope. Specialized technology like forensic microscopes make it easy for Criminalistics students to learn and be trained for the many mock exercises that are needed in their line of work.
Being comfortable in using these forensic microscopes is an advantage to a Criminalistics graduate looking for work. In an age where technology is prevalent and used in all work fields, having a background in using forensic microscopes is equivalent to being computer literate in a secretarial job. Training in using this technology is a must.