FRNSC 410 Quiz #2

forensic entomology

This term is defined as the "use of insects and arthropod relatives, which inhabit decomposing remains, to aid legal investigations."

postmortem interval

Backronym of PMI, this is known as the "time since death."

time since colonization

This term defines the time when the insect first colonizes a dead body to when the body is later found.

early stage

The first state of decomposition. During this stage, algor mortis, livor mortis, and rigor mortis occur. Insect colonization begins in this stage.

bloating

The second state of decomposition. During this stage, putrefaction begins, body temperature may increase, and fluid escapes from body orifices.

decay

The third state of decomposition. During this stage, skin ruptures and gases escape from the body.

post-decay

The fourth state of decomposition. During this stage, skin, cartilage, and bone remain.

skeletonization

The final state of decomposition. During this stage, only bones and hair remain.

PMI estimations

The following circumstances can affect what?
- Body wrappings or encasements (such as cement)
- Freezing
- Deep burials

forensic anthropologist

When encountering a burial, this forensic specialist must be consulted for assistance with search and recovery of a body.

not ideal

During search and recovery of a body in a burial, care and caution must be used. With this information, is it ideal or not ideal to use backhoes and mechanical excavators?

naturally occurring soil

Rock and mineral fragments, decaying organic matter, living organisms, water, and air are all found in this substance.

debris

In soil, the following are considered what?
- Fibers
- Paint
- Glass
- Polymers
- Cinders and ash
- Chemicals
- Concrete, asphalt, brick, metals, oils, and other engineering materials
- Other contaminants

soil characteristics

The following factors affect what?
- Parent material
- Climate
- Topography
- Organisms
- Time

humus

Rich, dark organic material formed by decay of vegetable matter, essential to soil's fertility.

topsoil

A mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals that forms the crumbly, topmost layer of soil.

subsoil

The layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals.

weathered rock fragments

The lowermost zone of soil that consists mostly of loose rock fragments.

bedrock

The solid layer of rock beneath the soil, this is one of the main ingredients of soil.

discrete particle

This type of analysis requires the identification of particles (mineral, pollen, etc.). It focuses on the quantity of each particle and the ratios within each sample of soil. It is our professor's preferred method of soil analysis, since it provides greater detail.

bulk

This type of analysis analyzes the pH, elemental composition, and bacterial profiles of soil samples. Our professor sees this method as not being incredibly useful.

Faraday isolation bag

In the case of preventing a seized mobile communication device from receiving calls, text messages, or other communications signals that may alter the item and/or data, first responders should place the device in this type of bag.

digital evidence specialist

When all electronic devices found at a scene are seized and secure, this specialist should be summoned to the scene as soon as possible.

immediate power disconnection

What should be done if the following occur?
- Information or activity on a computer screen indicates information or data being deleted or overwritten
- Destructive process appears to be in progress on computer's data storage devices
- When NO computer forensic examiner/analyst is available and the system is powered "on"

not recommended

Given the following of what could be open and in plain view on a screen, would immediate power disconnection be recommended or not recommended?
- Chat rooms
- Open documents
- Remote data storage
- Social media and instant message windows
- Child pornography
- Contraband
- Financial documents
- Data encryption
- Obvious illegal activities

physiological action

The following drug types are characterized by what?
- Narcotics
- Psychoactives
- Tranquilizers
- CNS depressants (sedatives)
- CNS stimulants

origin

The following drug types are characterized by what?
- Natural
- Synthetic
- Semi-synthetic

no accepted medical use

A drug with a DEA Schedule I have ____________________________ due to their extremely high potential for abuse and no apparent health benefits.

accepted medical use

Drugs from DEA Schedules II-V have ____________________________ due to their lower potentials for abuse compared to Schedule I drugs and apparent health benefits.

marijuana

This drug is classified under Schedule I despite a recent surge of state legalizations.

clandestine laboratory

This is a secretive, illegal operation that produces a controlled substance through a chemical process. They can be as small as a kitchen or as large as a warehouse. Hazards may be present and lead to destruction.

canines

These animals are used for the discovery of concealed drugs.

druggist fold

When collecting loose powders or small items, this fold is often used to ensure that the evidence will not be lost.

puncture-proof container

This type of container must be used for collection of needles and sharps.

presumptive tests

The following tests are examples of what?
- Duquenois-Levine (marijuana, hashish)
- Ehrlich's reagent (LSD)
- Dille-Koppanyi (barbiturates)
- Cobalt thiocyanate (cocaine)
- Marquis reagent (morphine, heroin, amphetamines, mescaline, psilocybin)

Standard 0604.01

"Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse" comes from this NIJ standard.

questioned document

This is any signature, handwriting, typewriting, or other written mark whose source or authenticity is in dispute or uncertain.

handwriting comparison

This aspect of a questioned document is a science and is used to identify the writer.

graphology

This is a pseudoscience focused on the study of handwriting and how it relates to a person's character or reveals personality traits.

limitations

What are the following examples of?
- Non-original items
- Insufficient quantity and quality of material (either questioned or reference)
- Lack of contemporaneous writings and/or similar documents
- Disguised or distorted writings

IR

This type of light can reveal alterations made on a document.

natural fire

This is fire caused without direct human intervention or action, such as fire resulting from lightning, earthquake, and wind.

accidental fire

This is fire that does not involve a deliberate human act to ignite or spread the fire; there is no intention to ignite.

arson

This is the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property. With this act, the fire is started intentionally, deliberately, or is incendiary.

criminal intent

Arson always implies this.

combustion

This is defined as "the rapid chemical combination of a substance with oxygen resulting in the production of heat and light." It is a type of oxidation-reduction reaction.

ignition temperature

This is defined as "the minimum temperature at which a fuel spontaneously ignites."

heat of combustion

This is defined as "the energy released as heat by the complete combustion of one mole of a substance."

exothermic reaction

This is a reaction accompanied by the release of heat.

fire tetrahedron

Heat, oxygen, fuel, and a chain reaction make up this.

pyrolysis

This is the process of thermal decomposition of a substance into gaseous products (without the use of oxygen). This occurs with solid fuels.

flash point

This is the temperature at which a liquid substance produces sufficient vapor to ignite in air. This occurs with liquid fuels.

smoldering

Also called "glowing combustion," this type of combustion occurs at the fuel surface-air interference without an active flame. It is much slower than normal combustion.

spontaneous combustion

This is defined as "combustion that occurs without an external ignition source." It is a rare event that occurs under very specific conditions, such as bacterial fermentation, chemical oxidation, and poor ventilation.

explosion

A sudden, rapid, and violent expansion where energy is transmitted as a pressure (shock) wave. It is typically accompanied by high temperatures and the release of light and gases.

oxidizing agent

Many explosives do not rely on oxygen as an oxidizer. Instead, they incorporate [this], which is a substance that provides oxygen to chemical reactions. Some examples include separate chemical compounds (black powder = potassium nitrate (oxidizer) + charcoal and sulfur (fuels)) and a single compound incorporating both oxygen and fuel (nitroglycerin).

fire scene examination

During this process after a fire occurs, time is of the essence. Ignitable liquid may rapidly evaporate. Legal issues surrounding this process include Michigan v. Tyler (1978) when performing a search and seizure. The area must be made safe. From there, the point of origin and cause of the fire must be determined. Documentation is critical during this process.

warrant

When investigators enter a scene of where a fire took place, a warrantless entry and search is permitted. When investigators leave the scene, they need this to re-enter it.

Michigan v. Tyler

This court case determined that any search for administrative purposes, such as to find evidence of a crime, requires a warrant. There are circumstances that require law enforcement agents to act without a warrant, such as when firemen enter a burning building.

seat of fire

Another term for "point of origin," which is where a fire originally began.

ignitable liquid

This is a volatile, flammable, or combustible liquid.

accelerant

From "Kirk's Fire Investigation," this is defined as a "fuel (flammable liquid) used to initiate or increase intensity or speed of spread of fire."

gasoline

This is the most commonly used ignitable liquid in arsons.

low explosive

An explosive material that deflagrates, producing a reaction slower than the speed of sound. The propagation mechanism of this explosive type is thermal conductivity. It must be confined to produce explosive effects and is commonly used as propellants. Some examples include smokeless gunpowder, black powder, and some natural gas and air mixtures.

deflagration

A rapid but subsonic combustion (speed in material).

high explosive

An explosive that detonates and has a high brisance. The propagation mechanism of this explosive type is shock compression. It is commonly used in demolition and warfare. This is further broken down into types.

detonation

An extremely rapid combustion (supersonic) that is accompanied by a pressure (shock) wave.

brisance

The shattering effect of a shock wave and its ability to cause disruption of tissues and structures.

primary explosive

This is a high explosive that is easily detonated by heat, shock, or friction. It is used in blasting caps and primers for ammunition. Some examples include lead azide, lead styphnate, and mercury fulminate.

secondary explosive

This is a high explosive that is relatively insensitive to heat, shock, or friction. This explosive requires detonation from a primary explosive. It is used for military and commercial blasting. Some examples include dynamite, TNT, PETN, RDX, and HMX.

tertiary explosive

This is a high explosive that is extremely insensitive to shock. This explosive requires detonation from a secondary explosive. It cannot be detonated by a blasting cap.

dynamite

History, this explosive was made with 3:1 nitroglycerin/DE with a small amount of sodium carbonate as a stabilizer. Now, this explosive is made by having nitroglycerin absorbed into sawdust, wood pulp, flour, starch or cornmeal with stabilizers added, such as sodium or calcium carbonate.

TNT

The acronym of trinitrotoluene, this explosive is used in military applications to create bombs, shells, grenades, demolitions, and some propellants.

PETN

The acronym of pentaerythritol tetranitrate, this explosive is used primarily in military applications (projectiles, grenades, detonators in land mines, sheet explosives, etc.) but also has use in commercial applications (detonating cords/det cords/primacord, etc.).

detonating cord

A cordlike explosive containing a core of high-explosive material, usually PETN; also called primacord. It is used to synchronize detonations and is used in some ejector systems.

binary explosive

This type of explosive device or material has two components that are stable, but become explosive when mixed. The components may be liquid/liquid, liquid/solid, or solid/solid.

ANFO

This inexpensive, stable, and common commercial explosive uses ammonium nitrate, a common fertilizer ingredient. It is composed of ~94% ammonium nitrate and ~6% fuel oil (No. 2, common heating oil).

emulsion

This is an explosive material that contains two phases. It is composed of supersaturated ammonium nitrate (aqueous phase) encapsulated by a hydrocarbon (oil phase).

water gel

This is an explosive material containing substantial portions of water, ammonium nitrate (oxidizing agent), and binder with aluminum (fuel) added. It is used in underwater applications.

RDX

The chemical name for this compound is 1,3,5-Trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine, but it goes by other names. This is used primarily in military applications as a plastic explosive and is also used in sheet explosives. It makes up C4 and detonates at ~8000 m/sec.

bomb scene examination

During this process after an explosion occurs, documentation is critical. Criminalists must search for additional traces that help answer the questions regarding non-detonated devices and the post-blast scene, such as the cause of the blast (bomb identification and detonation device, presence of potential non-detonated devices) and the origin of blast.

TATP

Also called triacetone triperoxide, this chemical is created by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with acetone in acidic conditions. This chemical does not contain nitrogen, which may allow it to be hidden from some explosive detection systems.

homemade explosive

This type of explosive is particularly dangerous. It includes chemicals such as ANFO, potassium or sodium chlorate, smokeless and black powders, and TATP (triacetone triperoxide). Other materials include match heads, blasting caps, timing devices, switches, electrical sources, wires, and containment vessels.

trace collection

When it comes to explosives, this aspect of forensic investigation is a difficult task due to small fragments and residues that must be found in a potentially large blast area with numerous hazards.

post-debris analysis

During this process post-explosion, "sniffing for vapors" occurs. Microscopical examination of debris occur. Tests are performed to determine what kind of explosive was used at the scene.