Chapter 2: Crime Scene Investigation & Evidence Collection

Chain of custody

Documented & unbroken transfer of evidence

Circumstantial evidence

(Indirect evidence) evidence used to imply a fact but not support it directly

Class evidence

Material that connects an individual or thing to a certain group

Crime-scene investigation

A multi-disciplinary approach in which scientific and legal professionals work together to solve a crime

Crime-scene reconstruction

A hypothesis of the sequence of events from before the crime was committed through its commission

Datum point

A permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene

Direct evidence

Evidence that (if authentic) supports and alleged fact of a case

First responder

The first safety official to arrive at a crime scene

Individual evidence

Type of evidence that identified a particular person or thing

Paper bindle

Folded paper used to hold trace evidence

Primary crime scene

Location where the crime took place

Reliable evidence

Evidence consistent when retested

Secondary crime scene

Location other than the primary crime scene, but that is related to the crime; where evidence is found

Subdatum point

One of several reference points of known coordinates marked from a measurable distance and direction from the datum point

Trace evidence

Small but measurable amount of physical or biological material found at a crime scene

Triangulation

Technique used to record evidence location from two fixed reference points

Valid evidence

Evidence (testimony, exhibits, demonstrative evidence, and documentary material) that is properly collected & documented and that truthfully supports a claim based on objective, scientific dat from reliable sources