SENIOR YEAR FILLER CLASS 3AM CHALLENGE

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Forensic Science

The application of scientific methods and techniques to investigate crimes and analyze evidence for use in legal proceedings.

Alex Jeffery

British geneticist who developed DNA fingerprinting in 1984. His discovery enabled scientists to use a person’s unique DNA patterns to identify individuals and link them to crime-scene evidence.

Mattieu Orfila

scientist known as the “father of forensic toxicology.” He helped establish the use of chemistry to detect poisons in the human body and determine whether poisoning was involved in a death.

Calvin Goddard

scientist known as the “father of forensic ballistics.” He developed methods for examining firearms, bullets, and cartridge cases to determine whether a particular gun was used in a crime.

Francis Galton

scientist who helped develop the use of fingerprints for identifying people. He studied fingerprint patterns and showed that they could be used to distinguish one person from another.

Karl Landsteiner

scientist who discovered the main human blood groups (A, B, and O). His work helped make blood transfusions safer and became important in forensic science for analyzing blood evidence.

Forensic Toxicology

The study of drugs, poisons, and other chemicals in the body to help determine how they may have contributed to a crime or death.

Forensic Biology/DNA Unit

A forensic science unit that examines biological evidence, such as blood, hair, saliva, and other bodily materials, and uses DNA analysis to help identify individuals and connect them to a crime.

Physical Science unit

A forensic science unit that examines physical evidence, such as glass, paint, soil, fibers, and other materials, to help determine their origin or link them to a crime.

FBI

(Federal Bureau of Investigation) A U.S. federal law enforcement agency that investigates serious crimes, terrorism, cybercrime, and other threats to national security

DEA

(Drug Enforcement Administration): A U.S. federal law enforcement agency that investigates and enforces laws related to illegal drugs and controlled substances.

ATF

(Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives): A U.S. federal law enforcement agency that investigates crimes involving firearms, explosives, arson, and the illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco.

Rule 702

A rule of evidence that determines when an expert witness is qualified to give specialized opinions or testimony in court.

Frye Standard

a rule used by courts to decide whether scientific evidence or a scientific method is accepted enough to be used in court.

Daubert Standard

a rule courts use to decide whether scientific evidence or expert testimony is reliable enough to be used in court. Can the method be tested? Has it been studied or peer-reviewed? Is there a known error rate? Is it generally accepted?

Kumho Tire v Carmicheal

A Supreme Court case that decided the Daubert Standard applies to all expert testimony, including scientific, technical, and specialized knowledge.

Cappolino v State

Allows a new technique if proven reliable. The ruling allows specific forensic methods to detect untraceable substances. Involving whether expert testimony was reliable enough to be admitted as evidence in court

Double Jeapordy

constitutional rule that generally prevents a person from being tried or punished twice for the same crime after a case has reached a certain point.

Means

The tools/abilities required to carry the action out

Motive

The reason or “why” someone commits the crime.

Opportunity

The form of chance to be there, form the framwork used to assess suspects.

Administrative Law

The area of law that deals with government agencies and the rules and decisions they make. (Social Security, IRS)

Statutory Law

Laws that are written and passed by a legislative body, such as Congress or a state legislature.

Equity Law

A type of law that focuses on fairness and justice when the normal legal rules do not provide a fair solution.

Explain Locards Principal

The idea that when two things come into contact, they leave something behind or take something away from each other.

Why is trace evidence considered class evidence rather than individual evidence?

Trace evidence is usually considered class evidence because it can be linked to a group or category, but usually cannot identify one specific person or object by itself.

Why was anthropometry eventually replaced as a method of identification?

Because it was less reliable and less accurate than fingerprint identification. Small measurement errors could cause different people to appear similar, while fingerprints are much more unique and consistent.

Difference between forensic science and criminology

Forensic science: Uses science and evidence to help investigate and solve crimes.Criminology: Studies crime, criminals, and why people commit crimes

Why is forensic toxicology important in suspected poisoning cases?

It can detect and identify drugs, poisons, or other harmful chemicals in the body. This can help determine whether poisoning occurred and what substance may have caused it.

Explain one limitation of forensic evidence shown by the CSI effect

Forensic evidence is not always as quick, clear, or conclusive as TV makes it seem. The CSI effect can cause jurors to expect perfect evidence, even though real forensic tests can have limitations or uncertainty.

Why can criminal and civil cases reach different outcomes for the same incident?

Criminal and civil cases can have different outcomes because they have different purposes and different standards of proof. Someone could be found not guilty in a criminal case but still be found responsible for damages in a civil case.

Explain why Kumho Tire v. Carmichael challenged forensic science standards

It made courts look more carefully at whether expert evidence is reliable, even when it isn't based on traditional science.

Why must forensic scientists understand the legal rights of suspects?

So they collect and analyze evidence legally and avoid violating a person's rights. This helps ensure that the evidence can be used properly in court.

Describe how motive, means, and opportunity work together in an investigation

Motive, means, and opportunity work together to help investigators determine whether someone could have committed a crime: