Crime Scene Investigation Concepts

These flashcards cover essential terms and concepts related to crime scene investigation as outlined in the lecture notes.

Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)

The processes associated with investigating a criminal event, involving searching for, documenting, collecting, and preserving evidence.

Chain of Custody

Maintaining an unbroken record of evidence from discovery to court.

Locard's Exchange Principle

Every contact leaves a trace, meaning that contact with a scene leaves physical evidence.

First Responder

The initial police officer dispatched to a crime scene, responsible for securing the scene and preserving evidence.

Criminalistics

The application of scientific methods to analyze physical evidence.

Victimology

The study and analysis of victims and the roles they play in criminal events.

Documenting Evidence

The process of recording the location and relationship of discovered evidence and the condition of the crime scene.

Exclusion of Official Visitors

Preventing unnecessary individuals from entering a crime scene to maintain evidence integrity.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

The examination of bloodstains to interpret events that caused the stains.

Environmental Conditions

Factors such as weather, lighting, and terrain that can affect the integrity of a crime scene.

Behavioral Analysis

The study of suspect behavior to better understand and link them to a crime.