Criminalistics w 1.1

Forensic Science

The application of scientific knowledge and technology to civil and criminal laws enforced by police agencies.

Locard's Exchange Principle

Whenever two objects come into contact with one another, there is exchange of materials between them.

Crime Laboratory

A research facility that uses exclusively forensic technology for the purpose of investigating evidence from criminal cases.

Anthropometry

A procedure of taking a series of body measurements used to distinguish one individual from another.

Serology

The scientific study and identification of blood and other bodily fluids as evidence in forensic investigations.

Forensic Pathology

The field of forensic science that involves conducting autopsies and analyzing tissue and laboratory samples to determine causes of death.

Forensic Toxicology

The study of the effects of drugs and poisons on the human body, often in the context of legal investigations.

Dactyloscopy

The study and analysis of fingerprints for the purposes of identification.

Ballistics

The study of the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles, particularly firearms and ammunition.

Judicial Admissibility

Whether a piece of evidence will be accepted in a court of law.

Frye Standard

A legal standard allowing the admission of evidence if it is generally accepted by a meaningful segment of the relevant scientific community.

Daubert Standard

A legal standard requiring that scientific evidence be tested, peer-reviewed, and widely accepted within a scientific community to be admissible in court.

Forensic Anthropology

The analysis of human skeletal remains for the purpose of identification and determining cause of death.

Forensic Psychology

A discipline that integrates psychological practice with the legal system, particularly in assessing individuals within the justice system.

Expert Testimony

Testimony provided by an individual with specialized knowledge or expertise in a particular area related to the case.

Comparative Microscopy

A technique developed by Calvin Goddard using a microscope to compare bullets for ballistic analysis.

Crime Scene Investigation

The specialized unit responsible for the collection and preservation of forensic evidence found at a crime scene.

Forensic Engineering

Professionals who investigate failures in materials, systems, structures, and products to provide evidence in legal proceedings.

Forensic Computer Analysis

The collection and maintenance of digital evidence from computer systems for legal purposes.

Forensic Linguistics

The application of linguistic analysis to legal issues, including the study of written or spoken language in legal contexts.

Digital Forensics

The process of uncovering and interpreting electronic data while preserving its integrity, often in the context of cybersecurity or crime investigations.

Crime Scene

The location where an act of criminal activity occurred and where forensic evidence can be collected.

Chain of Custody

The process that tracks the handling of evidence to ensure its integrity and reliability in legal proceedings.

Forensic Odontology

The study and interpretation of dental records and dental identification in legal contexts.

Trace Evidence

Small quantities of physical material (such as hair, fibers, or paint) transferred from one location to another during a crime.

Forensic Entomology

The use of insect life cycles and populations to estimate the time of death in a forensic investigation.

Polygraph Testing

A method used to assess truthfulness by measuring physiological responses, often used in criminal investigations.

Arson Investigation

The examination of fire scenes to determine the cause of the fire and, if applicable, whether it was intentional.

Evidence Collection

The careful gathering of physical evidence from a crime scene to preserve it for forensic analysis.