Forensic Science Lecture Notes

A collection of flashcards covering major topics from forensic science lecture notes.

What is forensic science?

The application of science to criminal and civil practices.

Who is known as the Father of forensic toxicology?

Mathiew Orfila.

What did Francis Galton conduct?

The first definitive study of fingerprints and their classifications.

What procedure did Leone Lattes develop?

A procedure to determine blood type from dried blood stains.

Who is known as the Father of ballistics?

Calvin Goddard.

What did Albert Osborne create?

The fundamental principles of document examination.

What identification system did Alphonse Bertillion devise in 1879?

The first system of personal identification based on body measurements.

What did Walter McCrone advance?

The field of microscopy.

What is Locard’s Exchange Principle?

When a person comes in contact with an object, a material cross-transfer occurs.

How many public crime labs are there approximately in the United States?

About 411 public crime labs.

What is included in the Physical Science Unit of a crime lab?

Drugs, glass, paint, soil, and other physical evidence.

What does the Biology Unit of a crime lab focus on?

Touch samples, hair, and fiber samples.

What is the purpose of the Frye vs United States case?

To set guidelines for determining the acceptability of evidence.

What are the Daubert Criteria?

Criteria used to assess the admissibility of expert testimony.

What is the chain of custody?

A list of all persons who came into possession of an item of evidence.

What is a standard/reference sample in forensics?

Physical evidence whose origin is known, like blood or hair from a suspect.

What are common types of physical evidence?

Blood, semen, saliva, documents, drugs, explosives, and fingerprints.

What does 'probability' refer to in the context of forensic evidence?

The likelihood that a piece of evidence is associated with a common source.

What is the role of forensic scientists in court?

To provide expert court testimony related to the evidence and scientific findings.

What is the importance of packaging evidence?

To prevent contamination and preserve the integrity of the evidence.

What methods are used for documenting a crime scene?

Photography, sketches, and notes.

What is the key element in the investigative process at a crime scene?

Recognizing and preserving physical evidence.

What is blood spatter analysis used for?

To gain insights into the events surrounding a crime based on blood patterns.

What are the three types of fingerprints?

Loops, whorls, and arches.

What techniques are used to develop latent fingerprints?

Powder application, super glue fuming, and chemical treatments.

What is forensic anthropology?

The identification and examination of human skeletal remains.

What is forensic entomology?

The study of insects related to a criminal investigation, often used to estimate time of death.

What is the Next Generation Identification System (NGI)?

The system that integrates biometric technology into law enforcement databases.

What is the objective of an autopsy?

To determine the cause and manner of death.

What is the significance of hair and fiber analysis in forensics?

To link a suspect to a crime scene.

What is the primary classification of fingerprints?

A system that divides fingerprint cards into groups based on patterns.

What is the use of a comparison microscope?

To view two objects side-by-side for comparing forensic specimens.