FRSC1030 Foundations of Forensic Science Chapter 22

Competency to stand trial

The ability of a defendant to stand trial during the legal process, to understnad the court proceedings and assist their lawyer in their defense, which requires the ability to comprehend the charges, the potential consequences, and to communicate effectively with counsel.

Crime scene staging

The process of tampering a crime scene before the arrival of authorities, usually to conceal evidence or change the perception regarding manner of death.

Criminal investigative analysis

Analysis that integrates many techniques, such as statistical analysis, many behavioural analysis tools, and crime scene data and characteristics, to provide information to investigators.

Dissimulation

A conscious and deliberate effort to minimize or deny symptoms of a mental disorder.

Insanity plea

A legal defense in criminal cases where the defendant admits to committing the act but claims they are not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder that hindered their knowledge of the nature or the criminality of the action at the time of the offense.

Linkage analysis

Analysis that helps investigators determine the likelyhood that separate crimes are linked to a single offender using methods and tools like physical evidence and forensic analysis.

Malingering

Also called simulation, a conscious effort to fake a mental illness, used by offenders to avoid criminal responsibility.

McNaughten rules

A cognitive test of insanity, used to determine if an offender can validly use an insanity plea during a criminal court process.

Modus Operandi (MO)

The methods a criminal uses to commit their crimes, characterized using types of victims, specific actions, and the location or timing of the crime.

Psychological autopsy

The term used to describe a behavioural scientist’s report, in which they write about a deceased person’s life in an attempt to understand their mental state leading up to their death, especially in cases of equivocal death or suicide.

Signature

A concept related to a criminal’s MO, describing characteristics found at the crime scene that are evidence of acts not essential to the crime itself, which provide insight into behaviours reflective of the offender’s personality and motivations, such as posing a victim or leaving behind certain objects at the scene.

Suicidal intent

The intent to commit suicide, for which a behavioural scientist will determine presence or absence while doing a psycological autopsy.

Victimology

The study of victimization, focusing on the relationship between victims and offenders.