Criminalistics as Discipline

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts in criminalistics, emphasizing key terms, definitions, and standards related to forensic science and its application.

Forensic Science

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

Scientific Method

A systematic process used for decision-making in both science and law.

Locard's Exchange Principle

The principle stating that when two objects come into contact, there is an exchange of materials between them, leaving trace evidence.

Anthropometry

A systematic procedure for taking body measurements to distinguish individuals from one another.

Dactyloscopy

The study of fingerprints for identification purposes, pioneered by Francis Galton.

Forensic Toxicology

The study of the effects and detection of poisons and drugs in bodily fluids and tissues.

Ballistics

The science of projectile motion, particularly in relation to firearms and ammunition.

Document Examination

The forensic analysis of documents to ascertain their authenticity and origin.

Forensic Pathology

The branch of forensic science concerned with determining the cause of death through autopsies and tissue analysis.

Forensic Anthropology

The analysis of human skeletal remains to assist in identification and understanding of the context of deaths.

Forensic Psychology

The integration of psychological expertise with the legal system, often addressing the mental state of individuals involved in legal proceedings.

Frye Standard

A rule that allows the admission of scientific evidence if the technique is generally accepted by the relevant scientific community.

Daubert Standard

A rule that establishes criteria for admissibility of expert witness testimony and scientific evidence in court.