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Criminology Laboratory

Lab. of Criminology, Criminalistics and Investigative Science

In 2021, the Laboratory of Criminology, Criminalistics and Investigative Science was established within the Department of Economics, Engineering, Society and Enterprise (DEIM). The Laboratory is based at the Complex of Santa Maria in Gradi (Aula Annesi) next to the Renaissance Cloister.

Activities

The Laboratory was created to “support and integrate” the teachings characterizing the degree course in Political Science and International Relations – Investigations and Security curriculum (Criminology, Forensic Medicine, Forensic Genetics, Forensic Ballistics, Techniques and Activities of P.G.). This allows students to take advantage of a space for scientific study and research that meets both the needs of educational and curricular enrichment and in-depth theoretical-practical study on topics such as criminology, forensic science and crime fighting through field exercises aimed at implementing and consolidating the theoretical knowledge acquired by attending regular classes related to traditional and technical-scientific investigation activities.

The laboratory activity aims to:

  • Deepen aspects related to criminological sciences through the analysis of the dynamics inherent in crime and criminal behavior of the offender as an individual having his or her own bio-physiological, psychological and socio-cultural characteristics;
  • Analyze the personality of the offender and the causes that lead him to delinquency or deviance;
  • Identify and evaluate those intangible signs that are expressed through materialities present at the crime scene, capable of providing information about the personality of the offender and thus channel investigative activity through the technique of criminal profiling toward certain types of possible suspects;;
  • Thoroughly analyze, through investigative and forensic sciences, the crime scene, the place where the criminal action took place and where the most important traces of the crime can be found;
  • reconstruct backwards the criminodynamic course of the fact-crime by researching, identifying, acquiring and retrieving all those elements found at the scene of the crime that take the form of traces, clues and other materialities that can shed light on what happened, thus leading the investigator/student to understand the modus operandi of the perpetrator, in order to reach his or her identification;
  • Know the precautionary rules to be observed in the phase of securing the sources of evidence, to reduce the risks from possible contamination or alteration of the exhibits, with consequences also procedural and law enforcement in the trial;
  • Carry out practical exercises on a simulated crime scene with the use of materials and technical instrumentation necessary for the identification, acquisition and preservation of traces (including latent ones) following protocols and guidelines recommended by the international scientific community.

It should be emphasized that at the preliminary investigation stage, the examination of the crime scene (art.354 c.p.p.) is the prodromal act of much of the investigative activities of the judicial police and constitutes the thematic basis of all the teachings characterizing the investigations and security curriculum.

In this regard, a permanent crime scene has been set up in the Annesi Lecture Hall (Laboratory) for teaching purposes; there are also criminalistics instruments and products that are used by students in theoretical and practical exercises.

Participation in seminar activities organized by the Laboratory may earn students University Training Credits (CFUs) with regard to the teaching Stages/Traineeships. Said training activities may be accompanied by the issuance of certificates of participation, which will enhance the activity also for the institutional purposes of the University.

The Lab is not only a space for study and research for students of the Athenaeum but also aims to be a useful tool for high school students at school orientation and Open Days.

Events organized by the Laboratory can also be attended (by invitation or upon request) by entities and bodies interested in issues related to criminal and investigative sciences.

 

Laboratory Manager:

Prof. Alessandra Stefanoni (stefanoniale@unitus.it)

Scientific and technical coordinator:

Dr. Vincenzo Cianchella (cianchella@unitus.it)

Laboratory Administration:

criminlab@unitus.it

 

The Laboratory since the year of its establishment (2021) has organized numerous seminars, conferences, educational meetings on issues related to the “characterizing teachings” of the Bachelor of Political Science and International Relations – Investigations and Security curriculum.
The laboratory has also activated, starting from A.Y. 2021/2022 a series of seminars pertaining to the chairs of Criminology and Forensic Ballistics open only to students of the second and third year of “Investigations.”

Cycle of Seminars in Criminology

 

Cycle of Seminars in Forensic Ballistics

 

Unitus, aspiring detectives at the crime scene – Read article