Forensic History & Notable figures

Civil Cases

Disputes between individuals or parties.

Criminal Cases

Cases where the government charges a party for violating criminal laws.

Prosecution

The party that files the criminal charges.

Defendant

The party accused of committing a crime.

Voire Dire

A process to establish the qualifications of a scientist to offer expert testimony.

Direct Examination

The prosecution's questioning of witnesses to bring out facts and evidence against the defendant.

Cross-Examination

The defense's questioning of witnesses to challenge the prosecution's case.

Scientific Method

A systematic procedure involving hypothesis formation, testing, revision, and conclusion.

Legal Method

The approach used to obtain a conclusion first, then find evidence to support

Prosecution does direct examination to prove that defendant is guilty

Defense does cross examination to prove that defendant is not guilty

it.

Prosecutorial Bias

When forensic scientists seek results that support a specific side.

Admissibility Standards

Criteria that determine if evidence is reliable and relevant for court presentation.

Frye Standard

Requires new scientific methods to be accepted by a substantial majority of professionals in the field.

Daubert Standard

The trial judge evaluates the usefulness and relevance of evidence and testing methods.

Victor Balthazard

Created a photographic method for identifying firearm markings and demonstrated fingerprint probability.

Alphonse Bertillon

Developed Bertillonage, the first systematic method for identifying criminals based on physical measurements.

Sir Francis Galton

Developed the first fingerprint classification system and identified basic fingerprint patterns.

Dr. Calvin Goddard

Worked with the FBI to develop forensic firearm analysis tools.

Hans Gross

Coined the term criminalistics and published the first forensic science textbook.

Edmond Locard

Developed Locard’s exchange principle; every contact results in material transfer.

Mathieu Orfila

Founding father of forensic toxicology who studied poisons.

Sherlock Holmes

Fictional character that influenced the public perception of forensic science.

Legal Process

1) Voire Dire: Scientists’’ qualifications and expertise are established; the defense may challenge them

2) Direct Examination: The prosecution questions the expert to present facts and evidence

3) Defense Challenges: Defense can dispute the expert’s qualifications and the admissibility of evidence

4) Cross-Examination: Defense questions the expert to challenge their testimony or use it to support their case