Unit 1: Introduction, History and Law of Forensic Science

Admissible

Something you can use in court to help show what happened.

Anthropometry

Taking a series of measurements as a means of distinguishing individuals.

Arrest

Taking away freedom.

Bail

Money put up to guarantee the defendant will appear in court.

Booking

Gathering personal information.

Case/Common Law

Laws made up of judicial opinion and precedents.

Civil/Private Law

Deals with individuals; usually matters of property or contracts.

Crime Scene Investigation

A multidisciplinary approach in which scientific and legal professionals work together to solve a crime; a team of people working together to solve a crime.

Criminal/Public Law

Regulation and enforcements of rights setting the acceptable limits of conduct in society.

Criminalistics

Using science to study clues from a crime; the scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes.

Criminology

Includes the psychological angle; studying the crime scene for motive, traits and behavior that will help interpret the evidence.

Criminally Insane

Insane at the moment of the crime or 'not knowing right from wrong'.

CSI Effect

Unrealistic expectations that a prosecutor’s case should be bolstered and supported by forensic evidence; when people expect lots of science in real-life crime cases (like on TV shows).

Deductive Reasoning

Getting a conclusion from the facts using a series of logical steps.

Equity Law

Remedial branch of law that is intended to address situations where the law is not robust enough to handle a particular case.

Expert Witness

Has knowledge beyond that of an ordinary lay person; a person who knows a lot about something and explains it to the court.

Eyewitness

A person who has seen someone or something related to a crime and can communicate his or her observations.

Felonies

Major crimes.

Felony Murder

Death that occurs during a felony.

Forensic Science

Application of science to criminal and civil laws.

Grand Jury

Only prosecution presents evidence and jury decides if there is enough to go to trial.

Homicide

The act of killing another human being.

Inadmissible

Something you cannot use in court to help show what happened.

Indictment

To formally accuse someone of a felony.

Insanity

Legal concept, not evidence of mental illness; special legal rule for people who didn’t understand what they were doing.

Involuntary Manslaughter

Reckless act that results in death.

Locard Principle

Transfer of evidence whenever two objects come into contact with each other.

Material

Means relevant and significant; something important to a case.

Mens Rea

Guilty mind.

Misdemeanors

Minor crimes.

MMO

Motive, means, opportunity; the reason, the way, and the chance to do a crime.

Murder

The unlawful killing of another human being.

Negligence

When someone doesn’t act safely and causes harm without meaning to.

Observation

What a person perceives using his or her senses.

Perception

Information related from the senses; how your brain understands what you see/feel.

Probative

Tending to prove something.

Stare Decisis

To stand by the decision.

Statutory Law

Legislative acts declaring, commanding or prohibiting something based on the Constitution.

Subpoena

A summons to appear in court.

US Constitution

The supreme body of laws that govern the country.

Confirmation bias

tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or supports prior beliefs or values

Framing cognitive bias

information is presented, or “framed” and influences decision-making