B_DK History of Criminalistics

University of Finance and Administration
Winter 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Kateřina Franců (seminar tutor)
JUDr. Petr Kovařík (seminar tutor)
doc. JUDr. Mgr. František Vavera, Ph.D., LL.M. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Straus, DrSc.
Department of Criminology and Forensic Sciences – Departments – University of Finance and Administration
Contact Person: Mgr. et Mgr. Kateřina Franců
Timetable of Seminar Groups
B_DK/pKKV: each odd Tuesday 14:00–14:44 KV310, each odd Tuesday 14:45–15:30 KV310, each odd Tuesday 15:45–16:29 KV310, each odd Tuesday 16:30–17:15 KV310, F. Vavera
B_DK/pKPH: each even Monday 15:45–16:29 S01, each even Monday 16:30–17:15 S01, each even Monday 17:30–18:14 S01, each even Monday 18:15–19:00 S01, K. Franců
B_DK/vKKV: Fri 9. 10. 17:30–19:00 KV211, 19:15–20:45 KV211, Fri 23. 10. 17:30–19:00 KV301, 19:15–20:45 KV301, Fri 4. 12. 17:30–19:00 KV204, 19:15–20:45 KV204, F. Vavera
B_DK/vKPH: Sat 10. 10. 9:45–11:15 E227, 11:30–13:00 E227, Sat 7. 11. 9:45–11:15 E307, 11:30–13:00 E307, Sat 5. 12. 14:00–15:30 E227, 15:45–17:15 E227, P. Kovařík
Prerequisites
This course has no prerequisites
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the historical development of selected forensic disciplines, methods, and procedures, and to elucidate their gradual formation within the context of the evolution of forensic science as both a scientific and practical field. Students will gain knowledge regarding the origins and development of methods such as forensic identification, fingerprinting, portrait identification, trace evidence analysis, mechanoscopy, forensic ballistics, forensic photography, forensic biology, and genetic identification, as well as the historical development of selected forensic-tactical methods—specifically crime scene examination, interrogation, identification parades, crime scene reconstruction, and investigative experiments. Attention will be paid to key figures, institutions, cases, and milestones that influenced the development of specific areas of forensic science globally, in the Czech lands, and in Czechoslovakia. The course also aims to enable students to understand the connections between the historical evolution of individual forensic methods and their current forms and significance in forensic practice.
Learning outcomes
The output of the course is the student's acquired knowledge demonstrated in the oral exam.
Syllabus
1. History of personal identification

2. History of dactyloscopy

3. History of portrait identification

4. History of forensic photography

5. History of trace evidence analysis (trasology)

6. History of mechanoscopy

7. History of forensic ballistics

8. History of forensic biology and genetic identification

9. Historical development of crime scene examination and processing

10. History of interrogation and the development of knowledge regarding testimony

11. Historical development of identification parades (lineups)

12. Historical development of crime scene reconstruction and investigative experiments
Literature
    required literature
  • STRAUS, J., VAVERA, F. a kol. Dějiny kriminalistiky. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2012, 297 s., ISBN 978-80-7380-370-4.
  • STRAUS, J., VAVERA, F. Slovník kriminalistických pojmů a osobností. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2010, 349 s., ISBN 978-80-7380-253-5.
    recommended literature
  • KONRÁD, Z., PORADA, V., STRAUS, J., SUCHÁNEK, J. Kriminalistika - Teorie, metodologie a metody kriminalistické techniky. Plzeň: Vydavatelství a nakladatelství Aleš Čeněk, 2014, 520 s., ISBN 978-80-7380-124-3.
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation, lectures, elaboration of seminar work.
Assessment methods
The course ends with an oral exam. The criterion for passing the oral exam is the successful answering of 1 of 15 exam questions.
Language of instruction
Czech
Teacher's information
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2021, Winter 2022, Winter 2023, Winter 2024, Winter 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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