Forensic Analysis Part 1

What is Forensic Chemistry?

The study of chemical substances in relation to criminal investigations, focusing on the identification and analysis of materials such as drugs, toxins, and explosives.

What are the sections of forensic chemistry analysis?

Controlled Substances, Toxicology, Explosives, Trace Evidence, Latent Prints, Firearms, Tool marks and impressions, Questioned documents.

What is criminalistics?

The branch of forensic science focused on evaluating physical evidence collected at crime scenes.

What are primary providers in forensic analysis?

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that are accredited organizations with rigid procedures.

What is physical evidence?

Any tangible object that can be collected and analyzed during an investigation, such as fingerprints, hair, and clothing fibers.

Why is it important to keep evidence 'pure' at a crime scene?

To avoid introducing outside contaminants that may compromise the integrity of the sample.

What are class characteristics?

Characteristics shared by all members of a particular class that can be used to eliminate association with a suspect but not to link conclusively.

How can class characteristics turn into individual characteristics?

Through unique wear patterns, striations, or other distinguishing features that arise due to use or damage.

What are individual characteristics?

Unique characteristics that can be used to associate an object to a particular individual, suspect, or place associated with a crime.

How do criminalists determine if two objects originated from the same source?

By comparing a questioned item to an item of known origin using microscopy and reference samples.

What are Evidence Standards?

Standards provided by organizations like the NFPA, indicating health, fire, reactivity, and special hazards of materials.

What do the NFPA diamond categories represent?

Health risk, flammability, stability, and specific hazards of materials.

Why are Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) important?

They ensure consistency and reliability in forensic analyses, helping to minimize errors and variability.

What is Quality Assurance in Forensics?

Systematic processes to ensure the reliability, accuracy, and validity of forensic analyses.

How can a criminalist convince the jury of their accuracy?

By presenting clear methodology, adherence to quality standards, and a history of expertise.

What does ab initio mean in chemistry?

A method of calculation in quantum chemistry based on first principles without empirical parameters.

Why is research important in forensic science?

Research allows criminalists to identify and understand materials that are not controlled, aiding in the development of new laws.

What information does the SWGDRUG Category A provide?

They provide molecular structure information. They prove theoretical relation between the molecular structure of the analyte and the observed data, and they are predictable.

What information does the SWGDRUG Category B lack?

It does not provide molecular structure information, and it has limited predictability. It lacks the theoretical relation and predictability.

Why is the SWGDRUG Category C unreliable?

It is unreliable because there is significant interferences such as false positives.

What are Category A procedures recommended by SWGDRUG?

IR spec, Mass Spec, NMR, Raman, and X-ray diffractometry

What are Category B procedures recommended by SWGDRUG?

CE, GC, IMS, LC, Microcrystalline Tests, Pharmaceutical ID, TLC

What are the Category B procedures recommended by SWGDRUG for Cannabis?

Macro-Examination, Micro-Examination

What are Category C procedures recommended by SWGDRUG?

Color Tests, Fluorescence, Immunoassay, Melting Point, UV