ADV. CRIM quizzes and labs

When was the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences established:

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences was established in 1935, they currently have multiple branches across the state. 

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having the forensic science laboratory be independant of law enforcement?

Having forensic science labs separate from law enforcement can have both benefits and drawbacks. One of the big disadvantages of law enforcement having homebased labs is the concern of confirmation bias. But with the labs being seperate, officers are having to wait a longer amount of time to get results back, there are more people involved with the evidence, and therefore more concern over the chain of custody. Some advantages of having a homebased lab is the time constrants and chain of custody issues would be heavily minimised. Going back to the confirmation bias, people claim that because the lab is at a station that the scientist will be biased and discredit any information that disproves what the bias thinks. However, the scientists are not going into the field, unless for special circumstances, they don't know the case front and back like the offices and detectives do. The station still needs trained people, so the officers are not going to be testing the materials and coming to the conclusion. In my personal opinion, I do not think that confirmation bias is as big a deal as some make it out to be. One last point, at ADFS, you get part or all of the report which scientists can read so if claiming that confirmation bias is a bigger issue at a police station, I think you could easily make that claim to independent forensic science labs as well.

What are 2 differences and 2 similarities between the services provided by public and private laboratories in the United States?

One difference between public and private labs is the funding and the way it is initiated. Public labs typically get money from the government whether that be the federal or state depending on the lab. Private labs get paid with the service they provide like a store. You need a serive you pay the company for said service. Another differnece is the speed at which evidence is processed. Public labs ususally have a longer wait time based on the amount of evidence they have to process to staff size ratio, whereas private labs have more employees so evidence can be processed faster. Private labs also may have less evidence to process which can increase turnover rate. 

One similarity is the quality of the labs, they both are testing for the same goal and therefore are both proceducing the best work that they can. In theory both labs can test the same product and get the same results. The second similarity is what both labs do, they are both going to test the product, deliver a report, and go to the court and testify if needed. They have the same overall processes even though they may test the product differently. 

Describe the proper way to take a close up photo of evidence at the crime scene.

When taking a close up photograph at a crime scene you first start with taking your overall and midrange shots first. When going to take your close up photograph you want to make sure you have a tripod avaliable so that your photo is still, clear, and exactly at a 90 degree angle above the evidence. You want the evidence to take up the majority of the picture without missing any of the object. What I mean by that is don't get so close to a shoe print that you cut off the heel of the shoe in your photo. Now that you have your photo set up and ready to shoot, you will want to take a photo both with a placard and without so you know what evidence is in the photo. This also includes a ruler either L shaped or normal depending on the object. 

Which is not an objective of crime scene photography?

Prove or disprove the suspect is guilty

A confirmative drug test conclusively proves that the substance tested is a controlled substance.

True

If the cobalt thiocyanate solution turns blue when added to a white powder, the sample is presumptively identified as 

Cocaine

Substances that diminish a person’s functional activity are called ____________.

sedative

What is the LD₁₀₀ for the dose response for the drug pictured in the graph?

100

Which of the following can be made from the poppy plant?

opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin

Federal law establishes schedules of classification for the control of abused dangerous drugs.  Drugs with high abuse potential and some accepted medical use are placed in Federal Schedule _________.

2

The most commonly abused drug in the Western world is __________.

Marihuana

Forensic toxicology is a specialty that deals with identification of drugs and poisons in ____________ samples.

biological

The human body's mechanism for speeding the removal of drugs and many other materials from our systems is called ____________  and works by facilitating their excretion in urine or feces.

metabolism

The development of ____________ dependence on a drug is shown by  withdrawal symptoms such as an uncontrollable craving for the drug when the user stops taking the drug.

psychological

List two reasons you agree - or disagree- that the bottom check from Slide 7 is counterfeit.

I am going to agree that the bottom check is counterfeit based on the signature. Very slightly from what I can see is that the line going from the A to the R is not as deep as the original check is. The other reason is that the O closes at a slightly more ovular shape and does not actually close all the way so the middle has a slight gap where the close should be. If I had to venture a guess as to what happened I would say that someone traced over the original signature. 

What are the steps in handwriting examination?

There are three steps in handwriting examination: one identify distinctive characteristics in the unknown writing sample and the known writing sample, two comparison, and three evaluation-comparing all the characters in the document. 

Overall this means you look at one document and note all the characteristics that would separate someones handwriting. You then do the same thing for the other document, after that is complete with both documents. You compare the characteristics from the known document to the unknown document to see if they match. This includes grammar, punctuation, spelling of words, along with the difference of how letters and words are written. Then you evaluate what you have seen and compared to determine if the documents are the same or are different. 

Why is an identification by handwriting more subjective than by fingerprints and DNA?

Fingerprints and DNA stay the same; your DNA from when you are born is the exact same as your DNA that is in you when you die. Handwriting, however, changes over time. When you learn how to write and become an adult, your handwriting will not be the same. People also tend to combine cursive with print handwriting when they become adults. So when looking at handwriting comparisons, you have to look at recent documents and find the very minute details that make your handwriting your own. So it is more subjective in the sense that it is not an exact science; you have to put your personal opinion into it, whether or not the handwriting is the same.

Define 'copy book method' and give an example.

The copybook method is when someone repeatedly copies letters, words, or sentences given to them in a book to either learn to write or get better at writing. An example of this is when I was in third grade, we were given a book to learn how to write in cursive. Each page had letters or words, and to learn how to write in cursive, we would copy/ trace each thing in the orientation that it was given in.

The questioned document and the known exemplar on slide 36 were written by the same person.

true

What features of a forged writing do you see in the questioned signature in Slide 37?

Angle of the letters, can see it very clearly in the I and the start of the signature
Difference in O by the H, height and spacing
Spacing between letters
Shakiness of writing, is not as smooth as the original
Height of K
Lift in O
Line going into A is different
There are a lot of mistakes. 

What are the class characteristics in handwriting?

Class characteristics of handwriting typically goes with how you learned to write. Such as the slant, size, spacing between letters and words, how you dot your i's and cross your t's, and how your start your letters. These are all things that multiple people can do or have because of when people are learning to write they learn certain rules.

What are the individual characteristics in handwriting?

Individual characteristics are things like the loops people do when finishing their y's or g's. As well as how people connect letters and the embellishments that they put on starting words or m's and n's. As you get older, some people like to write some letters in cursive and some in print.

What are the guidelines for handling a questioned document?

There are four things you need to know for handling a questioned document to preserve its integrity. First, you must use white cotton gloves to be sure that you don't get any oils, dirt, or moisture from your hands on the papers, all of which can mess up the paper. Refrain from making more indentations on the document, as original indentations can have evidence, and again, preserving the document. Don't mark or highlight the original document when looking for characteristics. Lastly, keep up with the chain of custody at all times.

What are the two types of exemplars for forensic document examination.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

The two types of exemplars for forensic document examination are collected writings and requested writings. Collected writings are preferred over requested samples due to having a bigger collection, and the writing is most likely not going to be disguised. Also, since you have a larger collection, you can see all the variations of one's handwriting. Some disadvantages of this are that handwritten stuff is becoming a thing of the past, so soon we are not going to have as big a collection, and you may only be able to find things written from the past, which is not going to be as accurate as recent handwriting. Since handwriting changes over time. Requested documents are less likely to show the full range of someone's writing due to the lack of the collection. It also gives the writer the opportunity to disguise their writing. But you are able to get exactly what you want in writing, as if you are comparing a ransom note. You are also able to get recent writing or up-to-date handwriting, which is going to be more accurate than past writing.

Is it better to have a cool, stylish signature or one that is carefully written so that each letter is legible?   Why?

A clear, legible signature is preferable to a stylish one. This is because when doing an analysis, you can see the unique variability and strokes that each person does. If you have a stylish signature, it is going to be easier to forge as well as harder to identify the uniqueness of your handwriting.

1. What dose is fatal for 50% of the population for the drug pictured in the graph?

50

List the 9 traditional crime lab services offered in many forensic crime labs.

-drug chemistry

-trace evidence/micro analysis

-document examination

-fire debris

-crime scene examination

-firearm and toolsmarks

-latent fingerprint

-toxicology

-biology/DNA

Mary (127 lbs) and John (188 lbs) both have 4 glasses of wine.  Which will have the higher BAC?

Mary

What were the three waves of the Opioid Crisis?

Prescription opioids, fentanyl, herion

What are the five objectives of Crime Scene Photography?

-being able to document the crime scene so that it is easy for individuals to understand and comprehend

-be able to recreate the crime scene

-ability to prove or disprove a suspect's story about what happened at the crime

-ease in being able to convey the crime scene and explain it to a jury, by where and how the crime was committed

-Pictures can convey much more than words ever could

The thickness of paper sheets can be measured by using a(n)

micrometer

How could this Close up photograph be improved?  

 

The photo needs to be taken from a 90-degree angle on the same plane as the object. The object also needs to fill most of the picture’s frame; the placard does not need to be over the top of the hammer, but rather placed to the side, and needs to be a ruled placard for at least one of the photos. This way, you know what the size of the item is. The ruled placard should be an L ruler for height and width.

How could the composition of this midrange photograph be improved?  Yet another 10 pt question.

 

The midrange photo needs to add placards; it is good with its known object (the body). But the background is messy, and we need to minimize the distractions. This photo can do this by having a higher-angle photo and/or changing the direction of the photo while keeping the same items of interest in range. Using the triangle method can ensure that you have a good composition for a midrange photo. Having the evidence and a fixed location equal in distance from you, the photographer. You need to have a fixed location because distance can be distorted based on the angle of the photo. Like the photo above, you cannot accurately tell how far the box is from the body or how far the body is from the wall.

—handwriting exhibits more individual characteristics than————writing.

Cursive and printed

Substances that diminish a person’s functional activity are

depressants

Explain why most physical evidence cannot be definitively linked to a single person or object.

Most physical evidence cannot be definitively linked to a singular thing because it will have class characteristics. Class characteristics are shared among many objects or people. For instance, shoes, a class characteristic, would be that the shoe is a size 9; many people where size 9 shoes, so that does not limit the shoe to one person but rather a large group. While the evidence will have individual characteristics since it also has characteristics that others may have, you cannot say it is a definitive match. But rather than the evidence has a high probability of being someone's or something's.

—is imitating currency, art, and documents for the purpose of deception.

Counterfeiting

Define Individual Characteristics and give an example.

Individual characteristics are characteristics that can individualize a suspect to a physical object. An example of this, going off the shoe idea, is if someone were a size nine but the print left at the scene had a chunk missing out of the bottom of the sole. The size will not individualize the person, but if the suspect is a size nine and their shoe had a chunk missing in the same spot of the same foot and brand of shoe. This would individualize this person because most people will not have this chunk missing in the same exact spot of the same brand and same footed shoe.

The method of chromatography used to separate components of a mixture are 

thin layer chromatography/ chromatography

With handwriting becoming less prevalent as more people use email, social media, etc. for communication or record keeping, what do you think is the future of Question Documents Examination?

I think that as technology is becoming more prevalent that handwritten ransom notes and other questioned documents are also going to become less prevalent as well. With technological threats, demands, etc. becoming more prevalent through things like texting, emailing, and social media. On the non-ransom side of question documents examination, I think that if a paper needs to be analyzed that rather than getting collected documents, examiners are going to have to rely more on requested notes. However, many people still write on cards, paper to-do lists, and even the people who write their notes online with tablet pencils would still be distinctive in distinguishing their unique handwriting.

What color dye was extracted from purple KoolAid? Which color dye was not extracted?

Blue, Red

Define Class characteristics and give an example.

Class characteristics are characteristics that can be inclusive of a large group of people. An example of this is shoe size. If you find physical evidence and the shoe is a size 9, and your suspect is a size 9, you cannot say that this is the suspect’s shoe. This is because millions of people wear this size of shoe. It will not be a characteristic that will individualize a suspect from the physical object.

Which are common types of comparative psychical evidence?

Fibers

Shoe and Tire Impressions

Explosives

Hair

Fingerprints

Paint

Toolmarks

Forensic science is the application of——to the

science, criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system

what techniques include using sandpaper or chemical treatment to remove ink.

obliteration

—writings provide opportunity for the writer to disguise his or her normal writing habits

requested

—writings are writing samples collected from a crime scene.

collected

Most individuals’ handwriting is a combination of— and —?

cursive and printed

If most physical evidence cannot be definitively linked to a single person or object, what is its value in court?

The value of an object is not determined by the forensic scientist but by the judge/ jurors in court. A forensic scientist will present the findings that they have found, and the jury will use the knowledge they have from all the pieces of evidence to determine if someone is guilty or not. Even though it cannot be linked specifically to a person, objects can further prove the guilt or innocence of someone. But the majority of an object's value is its ability to support events.

The unknown was analyzed by GC-MS. Can you confirm the identity of the unknown?  What is your criteria for determining a match?  Another 10 pt question.

Based on the GC-MS, the drug has a high probability of being acetaminophen. The retention time is 0.01 different, whereas the ibuprofen time is over 1.0 difference in minutes. Additionally, the peaks are the exact same for the unknown and the acetaminophen. A larger retention time difference means that it is less likely for the drugs to be a match. With such a small match between acetaminophen, the likelihood of a match between the unknown is. For the peaks, these act as "fingerprints" for the drugs, so they should have the same peaks. Thus, the unknown and the acetaminophen are the same. I can say there is a high probability that the unknown is not ibuprofen and is acetaminophen.

How have the top 4 seized drugs in Alabama changed from 2010 to 2023?

Based on the slides, I am comparing the 2010 to 2025 drugs seized. The top four drugs in 2010 were marihuana 45%, cocaine 35%, pharmaceuticals 10%, and methamphetamine 5%. In 2024, the top drugs were amines 42.1%, marihuana 31.9%, cocaine 8.6 %, and narcotics 7.1%. In the past 14 years, marihuana decreased slightly; however, it is still a top drug that is seized in Alabama. Cocaine had a very big drop from 35% all the way down to 8.6% which is a 75% decrease, which is significant. Pharmaceuticals got dispersed throughout other categories like narcotics, benzodiazepines, and non-controlled substances in the 2024 data. These three types add up to 13.8% of drugs vs the 2010 data of 10%. Pharmaceuticals have probably stayed fairly similar since we do not know what exact drugs were put into the 2024 data sections. Methamphetamine is not listed on the 2024 data specifically; however, new drug categories have shown up, which are amines. Methamphetamine would fit into this category along with other types of amines. Since what amines are present are not listed, we cannot say that meth has increased or decreased.

What are the 5 classes of psychoactive drugs?

Depressant

Narcotic

Hallucinogen

Marijuana

Stimulant

Write a short summary of the photography lab?

This lab provided us with hands-on experience working with crime scene photography, specifically in the context of car accidents. Since we were split up into small groups, we were all able to practice photography, logbook, and tape measure aspects that go into this field. Along with detailing the outside of the car when documenting the interior, we were able to see the difference in overall, midrange, and close-up photos. It also helped us understand that every photo has a different purpose when telling the full story of a crime scene. Therefore, it must be accurate and consistent

Write a short evaluation of the photography lab.

This lab was very helpful in showing the nuances that go into crime scene photography. It also helped explain why some photos are not taken. For example, during this lab, it was impossible to get an accurate photo of the driver's side backseat or door. This is because the car that crashed into it was blocking the ability to open that door. Doing this lab as well as learning about it in class showcased that a lot of thought and organizational skills go into the work that photographers do. If you are not organized, there is a very high possibility that a critical photo will be overlooked and not taken. This could then lead to more issues later with the case. Our personal analysis of the case was that the student’s car ran into the professor’s car via t-boning. The crash occurred on the sixth floor of the zone B parking deck. The student’s car hit the professor’s car on the left side of the left rear axle. We cannot conclude why the crash occurred. However, the professor's car, which we photographed, had tools of interest in the trunk and the back seats of the driver and passenger sides.

Brief description of what was happening in each step of your extraction and
separation of the dyes in purple Kool-Aid

The syringe features a DPX tip with solid-phase packing attached. There are small beads inside the tip that allow for easy solid-phase extraction, which is what we are doing with the Kool-Aid colors. The beads are not attracted to water but need to be wetted. So, we start by wetting them with isopropyl alcohol. We need to make the beads kin with the environment of the solvent, so you aspirate water to make aqueous conditions. Now, when we aspirate the grape Kool-Aid, the beads in the solid phase tip have the right conditions and polarity, so the blue dye stays attached to the beads and the red and yellow gets put back into the test tube. To re-release the blue dye from the beads, the isopropyl alcohol is aspirated once more so that the blue dye can mix with the IPA and end up in the final test tube and not stay in the beads.

Retention time of your drug

Ibuprofen: 9.017 min

Acetaminophen: 9.664 min

Three largest spectra peaks in your drug

Ibuprofen: 161, 163, 91

acetaminophen: 109, 151, 43