PCC 274 Final

Chapters 9, 12, 13, MF-MS, Presentations

bore

The interior of a firearm barrel

breechface

The interior of a firearm barrel

caliber

The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm; usually expressed in hundredths of an inch or millimeters—for example, .22 caliber and 9 mm

choke

An interior constriction placed at or near the muzzle end of a shotgun’s barrel to control shot dispersion

distance determination

The process of determining the distance between the firearm and a target, usually based on the distribution of powder patterns or the spread of a shot pattern

ejector

The mechanism in a firearm that throws the fired cartridge case from the firearm

extractor

The mechanism in a firearm by which a cartridge of a fired case is withdrawn from the chamber

firearms identification

A discipline mainly concerned with determining whether a bullet or cartridge was fired by a particular weapon; it is not to be confused with ballistics, which is the study of a projectile in motion

gauge

Size designation of a shotgun, originally the number of lead balls with the same diameter as the barrel that would make a pound; for example, a 12-gauge shotgun would have a bore diameter of a lead ball 1/12 pound in weight; the only exception is the .410 shotgun, in which bore size is 0.41 inch.

greiss test

A chemical test used to develop patterns of gunpowder residues around bullet holes

grooves

The cut or low-lying portions between the lands in a rifled bore

lands

The raised portion between the grooves in a rifled bore

rifling

The spiral grooves formed in the bore of a firearm barrel that impart spin to the projectile when it is fired

mandrel

a rod of hardened steel machined so its form is the reverse impression of the rifling it is intended to produce

anabolic steroids

Steroids that promote muscle growth.

analgesic

A drug or substance that lessens or eliminates pain.

chromatography

Any of several analytical techniques for separating organic or carbon-containing mixtures into their components by attraction to a stationary phase while being propelled by a moving phase.

confirmation

A single test that specifically identifies a substance.

depressant

A substance that depresses the functions of the central nervous system; depressants calm irritability and anxiety and may induce sleep.

fluoresce

To emit visible light when exposed to light of a shorter wavelength—that is, ultraviolet light.

hallucinogen

A substance that induces changes in mood, attitude, thought processes, and perceptions.

infrared

Invisible short frequencies of light before red in the visible spectrum.

ion

An atom or molecule bearing a positive or negative charge.

microcrystalline tests

Tests to identify specific substances by the color and morphology of the crystals formed when the substance is mixed with specific reagents.

monochromatic light

Light having a single wavelength or frequency.

monochromator

A device for isolating individual wavelengths or frequencies of light.

narcotic

An analgesic or painkilling substance that depresses vital body functions such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing rate; regular administration of narcotics produces physical dependence.

physical dependence

Need for a drug that has been brought about by its regular use; dependence is characterized by withdrawal sickness when administration of the drug is abruptly stopped.

psychological dependence

Conditioned use of a drug caused by underlying emotional needs.

screening test

A test that is nonspecific and preliminary in nature.

spectrophotometry

An analytical method for identifying a substance by its selective absorption of different wavelengths of light.

stimulant

A substance taken to increase alertness or activity.

ultraviolet

Invisible high frequencies of light beyond violet in the visible spectrum.

Absorption

Passage of alcohol across the wall of the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream.

acid

A compound capable of donating a hydrogen ion ( H + ) to another compound.

alveoli

Small sacs in the lungs through whose walls air and other vapors are exchanged between the breath and the blood.

anticoagulant

A substance that prevents coagulation or clotting of blood.

artery

A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.

base

A compound capable of accepting a hydrogen ion ( H + ) .

capillary

A tiny blood vessel across whose walls exchange of materials between the blood and the tissues takes place; it receives blood from arteries and carries it to veins.

excretion

Elimination of alcohol from the body in an unchanged state; alcohol is normally excreted in breath and urine.

fuel cell detector

A detector in which chemical reactions produce electricity.

metabolism

The transformation of a chemical in the body to another chemical to facilitate its elimination from the body.

oxidation

The combination of oxygen with other substances to produce new products.

pH scale

A scale used to express the basicity or acidity of a substance; a pH of 7 is neutral, whereas lower values are acidic and higher values are basic.

preservative

A substance that stops the growth of microorganisms in blood.

toxicologist

An individual charged with the responsibility of detecting and identifying the presence of drugs and poisons in body fluids, tissues, and organs.

vein

A blood vessel that transports blood toward the heart.

non-destructive fiber analysis

microscopic, spectroscopic material, shape and color

destructive fiber analysis

chromatography, mass spectrometry

What substance did Shipman go to rehab for?

Pethidine

A typewriter was used to make the forged will

True

How many cases did the police investigate further after Kathleen Gundy?

15

wayne williams

(born May 27, 1958) is an American convicted murderer and suspected serial killer who is serving life imprisonment for the 1981 killing of two men in Atlanta, Georgia. Although never tried for the additional murders, he is also believed to be responsible for at least 24 of the 30 Atlanta murders of 1979–1981, also known as the Atlanta Child Murders.

Harold Shipman

AKA “Doctor Death” an English general practitioner and serial killer. He is considered to be one of the most prolific serial killers in modern history, with an estimated 250 victims. Was found guilty of murdering 15 patients under his care. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order. Died by suicide by hanging himself in his cell

Luis Garavito

Colombian serial killer who was convicted of murdering 189 boys in the 1990s. Many of their victims lived in poor neighborhoods apart from their families, who could not afford to support them, leading observers to speculate that their disappearances were ignored or overlooked.

Eric Miller

killed by his wife by arsenic poisoning.

Griselda Blanco

Colombian cocaine trafficker who amassed a vast empire and was a central figure in the violent drug wars in Miami in the 1970s and ’80s. Suspected of over 200 murders

Edmund Kemper

killed both his grandparents at 15 to "see what it felt like." Upon release, he drifted, picking up and releasing female hitchhikers. But he soon stopped letting them go, killing six young women in the Santa Cruz, California, area in the 1970s. In 1973 he killed his mother and her friend before turning himself in.

Kiki Camarena

American intelligence officer for the United States (DEA). Was kidnapped by drug traffickers hired by Mexican politicians in Guadalajara, Mexico. He was interrogated under torture and murdered. Three leaders of the Guadalajara drug cartel were eventually convicted in Mexico for murder.

mass spectrometry

an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions and, in forensic science, one of the best ways for toxicologists to identify and analyze substances.

Four important federal agencies offering forensic services are \________, \_______, \_______, and \________ .

FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Postal Service

The application of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime scene evidence is the function of the \_____________________ unit of a crime laboratory.

Physical Science

The examination of blood, hairs, fibers, and botanical materials is conducted in the \_____________ unit of a crime laboratory.

Biology

The examination of bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and examination of ammunition of all types is the responsibility of the \______________ unit.

Firearms

The examination of body fluids and organs for drugs and poisons is a function of the \________________ unit.

Toxicology

The \____________ unit dispatches trained personnel to the scene of a crime to retrieve evidence for the laboratory examination.

Crime Scene Investigation

The "general acceptance" principle, which serves as a criterion of the judicial admissibility of scientific evidence, was set forth in the case of \__________________.

Frye v. United States

The term \______________ encompasses all objects that can establish or disprove whether a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator.

Physical evidence

Three methods for recording the crime scene are \__________, \__________, and \_________.

Photography; sketching; notes

The crime scene notes should include a precise record of personnel movements in and out of the scene starting with the \__________.

First responding officer

Before located evidence is collected, it must be fully described in the investigator's \_________.

notes

The most important prerequisite for photographing a crime scene is to have it in a(n) \__________ condition.

unaltered

Photographs of physical evidence must include overviews as well as \__________ to record the details of objects.

close-ups

The most commonly used camera for crime scene photography is the \__________ camera, which can be film or digital.

Single lens reflex

A digital camera captures light on each of millions of tiny picture elements called \__________.

pixels

The succession of photographs taken at a crime scene is \__________ photographs first and \__________ photographs last.

Overview; Close-up

To ensure that their digital images will be admissible, many jurisdictions have developed or are developing \__________ for the use of digital photography to avoid the possibility of enhancement or doctoring of crime scene photographs.

Standard operating procedures

The process of \__________ the crime scene essentially combines notes and photography.

Videotaping or digital video

A detailed search of the crime scene for physical evidence must be conducted in a(n) \__________ manner.

systematic

The crime scene search is undertaken to locate \__________.

physical evidence

Besides the more obvious items of physical evidence, possible \__________ of trace evidence must be collected for detailed examination in the laboratory.

carriers

In Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the "gatekeeping" role of a trial judge:

Applied to all expert testimony

Examining garments and other objects in order to detect firearms discharge residues would be performed in the biology unit

false

A drop of blood that strikes a surface at an angle of impact of approximately 90 degrees will be close to (elliptical, circular) in shape.

circular

Although databases are consistently updated so that scientists can assign probabilities to class evidence, for the most part, forensic scientists must rely on \______________ when interpreting the significance of class physical evidence.

personal experience

Students studying forensic science must be cautioned that merely reading relevant textbooks and journals is no substitute for \______________ in this most practical of sciences.

experience

The \______________ database allows firearm analysts to compare markings made by firearms on bullets that have been recovered from crime scenes.

NIBIN

The \______________ database contains chemical and color information pertaining to original automotive paints.

PDQ

A(n) \______________ analysis subjects a suspect specimen and a standard/reference specimen to the same tests and examination in order to determine whether they have a common origin.

Comparative

\______________ is the frequency of occurrence of an event.

probability

Evidence that can be traced to a common source with an extremely high degree of probability is said to possess \______________ characteristics.

individual

Evidence associated with a group and not with a single source is said to possess \______________ characteristics.

class

The value of class physical evidence lies in its ability to \______________ events with data in a manner that is, as nearly as possible, free of human error and bias.

Corroborate

The \______________ accorded physical evidence during a trial is left entirely to the trier of fact.

weight

The angle of impact of an individual bloodstain can be estimated using the ratio of \_________ divided by \_________.

Width; Length

\______________ is the most common type of blood spatter found at a crime scene and is produced when an object forcefully contacts a source of blood.

impact spatter

The classification system of impact spatter is based on the size of drops resulting from the velocity of the blood drops produced, and patterns can be classified as \_________, \_________, or \_________ impact spatter

Low velocity; medium velocity; high velocity

The \______________ method is used at the crime scene to determine the area of origin for blood spatter.

string

True or False: A fingerprint can be positively identified through the IAFlS database.

false