CJ3050 Criminal Investigations - History of Criminal and Crime Scene Investigation

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, people, institutions, and concepts from the history and evolution of criminal investigations and forensic science as presented in the notes.

Systematic approach (investigator)

A methodical, organized process used to collect, document, and evaluate evidence at a crime scene.

Collect (evidence)

Gathering physical evidence, data, and information at the scene or during investigation.

Document (evidence)

Recording observations, measurements, and data accurately for later analysis and court use.

Evaluate (evidence)

Assessing and interpreting collected information to draw conclusions and guide actions.

Jurisdiction

Geographic or legal area where law enforcement authority applies and enforcement responsibilities are defined.

Forensic Science

Application of scientific methods to answer legal questions and solve crimes.

Archaeology (forensic)

Use of archaeological methods to determine time-related aspects in a crime (e.g., time since death).

Geology (forensic)

Use of geological evidence to interpret crime-scene data (e.g., soil, sediment).

Toxicology

Science of detecting poisons, drugs, and toxic substances in bodies or materials.

Oath of Office

Formal vow to uphold the Constitution and discharge duties of a police officer.

Bow Street Runners

Early London policing force; volunteer, non-uniform, organized to improve justice administration.

Sir Robert Peel

British statesman who founded a centralized police force; associated with Scotland Yard and Peelian principles.

Metropolitan Police Act 1829

Legislation creating a centralized police force in London.

Scotland Yard

Headquarters of London's Metropolitan Police.

Bobbies

Nickname for London police officers.

Henry Fielding

Founder of the Bow Street Runners.

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency

Private detective agency (19th century) involved in formal and private investigations.

Rogues’ Gallery

Collection of photographs of known offenders used to aid identification.

Criminal Identification Bureau (Chicago 1884)

Municipal agency organized to catalog and identify offenders.

Dactylography

Science of fingerprint identification and classification.

Anthropometry

Bertillon’s system of body measurements used for identification before fingerprints.

Alphonse Bertillon

Pioneer of anthropometry and the Bertillon identification system.

Hans Gross

Author who described applying scientific disciplines to criminal investigation; often called the father of criminalistics.

Francis Galton

Pioneer of fingerprint classification and analysis; advanced dactylography.

Juan Vucetich

Developer of a fingerprint classification system used in some countries.

The Henry Classification System

Widely used fingerprint classification system developed by Edward Henry and colleagues.

Will West case

Case showing fingerprinting could correctly distinguish individuals with identical appearance; emphasized fingerprint reliability.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

Genetic material used for individual identification; structure identified in the 1950s; first case uses in the 1980s; increasingly central to forensics.

Enderby case

1987 UK case marking a landmark use of DNA evidence in a criminal matter.

Orlando Case

1986 U.S. case marking early use of DNA in a criminal investigation.

Palo Verde seedpod case

Early DNA-related investigative case illustrating the power of genetic evidence.

Touch DNA

DNA collected from skin cells left by touch or contact with an object (introduced around 2009).

Forensic DNA Phenotyping (FDP)

Genomic-based estimation of a person’s appearance or traits to aid investigations.

New Biometrics

Emerging biometric methods, including artificial intelligence, facial recognition, and automated identification traits.

Postmortem Interval (PMI)

Time elapsed since death, used to aid investigations and determine timelines.

Henry Goddard

Bow Street Runner who linked a murder to a suspect via early bullet-ballistics comparison.

Bullet-ballistics (early comparison)

Technique of comparing bullets or firearms to identify a weapon or shooter.

Due Process Revolution (1961–1966)

SCOTUS era expanding defendants’ rights, including protections against illegal searches and the right to legal representation.

Miranda v. Arizona

1966 Supreme Court decision requiring that suspects be informed of their rights (Miranda rights) before questioning.