Introduction to Forensic Science and Analysis

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental concepts, history, personnel, methodologies, legal standards, and admissibility rules in forensic science.

Forensic Science

The study and application of science to matters of law, including providing timely, accurate, and thorough information to decision makers in the criminal justice system.

Forensis

The Latin root of forensic, meaning forum, which was a public place where ancient Romans debated, performed, and held judicial proceedings.

Criminalistics

The scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes.

Criminology

The study of crime scenes from a psychological angle, including analyzing motive, traits, and behavior to help interpret physical evidence.

Physical Science Unit

A basic crime laboratory unit that applies principles of chemistry, physics, and geology to analyze physical evidence.

Primary Crime Lab Evidence

The three most common types of evidence examined in crime laboratories: drugs, firearms, and fingerprints.

Federal Crime Laboratories

Federal government forensic facilities maintained by agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, USPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury.

Coroner System (1149)

An official investigation system for questionable deaths introduced by King Richard of England in 1149.

Fidelus

Italian practitioner who, in 1598, became the first person to practice forensic medicine in Italy.

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

Dutch scientist who constructed the first high-powered microscope in 1670.

Paul Revere

American patriot who identified the body of General Joseph Warren in 1776 based on false teeth he had constructed for him.

John Toms Case (1784)

A 1784 murder case where a conviction was made based on matching the torn edge of a pistol paper wad to a paper piece in the suspect's pocket.

Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen

Scientists who developed the science of spectroscopy in 1859.

Alphonse Bertillon

Developer of an anthropometric system in 1879 that used specific body measurements to identify individuals.

Edward Henry

Developer who created the first classification system for fingerprint identification in 1896.

Karl Landsteiner

Scientist who identified human blood groups in 1900.

Francis Aston

Inventor who developed the mass spectrometer in 1922.

James Watson & Francis Crick

Scientists who discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1959.

AFIS

Automated Fingerprint Identification System, developed by the FBI in 1977 and fully automated in 1996.

Jeffreys

Developer who created and applied the first DNA tests to a criminal case in 1984.

Edmond Locard

French professor considered the father of criminalistics who established the world's first forensic laboratory in France in 1910.

Locard Exchange Principle

The principle stating that whenever two objects come into contact with each other, there is always a transfer of material ('Every contact leaves a trace').

Scientific Method in Criminalistics

A five-step scientific process: observing evidence and collecting data, forming a hypothesis, testing and analyzing evidence, determining significance, and formulating a theory.

Probative Evidence

Evidence that actually proves something in a court of law under the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Material Evidence

Evidence that addresses an issue relevant to the specific crime under trial.

Prosecutor

A courtroom stakeholder who gives legal advice in investigations, provides Brady material during discovery, subpoenas witnesses, and introduces evidence.

Defense

A courtroom stakeholder representing the defendant who monitors constitutional rights, makes evidentiary challenges based on case law, and cross-examines witnesses.

Police Investigator

A courtroom stakeholder responsible for managing the crime scene, overseeing evidence collection, following leads, questioning witnesses, making arrests, and writing warrants.

Frye Standard

A legal precedent established in the 1923 case Frye v. United States requiring scientific evidence to be generally accepted by the relevant scientific community to be admissible.

Daubert Ruling

A legal precedent established in the 1993 case Daubert v. Merrell Dow giving judges authority over evidence admissibility based on testability, peer review, error rates, and standards.

Forensic Science

The study and application of science to matters of law, including providing timely, accurate, and thorough information to decision makers in the criminal justice system.

Forensis

The Latin root of forensic, meaning forum, which was a public place where ancient Romans debated, performed, and held judicial proceedings.

Criminalistics

The scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes.

Criminology

The study of crime scenes from a psychological angle, including analyzing motive, traits, and behavior to help interpret physical evidence.

Physical Science Unit

A basic crime laboratory unit that applies principles of chemistry, physics, and geology to analyze physical evidence.

Primary Crime Lab Evidence

The three most common types of evidence examined in crime laboratories: drugs, firearms, and fingerprints.

Federal Crime Laboratories

Federal government forensic facilities maintained by agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, USPS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of the Treasury.

Coroner System (1149)

An official investigation system for questionable deaths introduced by King Richard of England in 1149.

Fidelus

Italian practitioner who, in 1598, became the first person to practice forensic medicine in Italy.

Anton Van Leeuwenhoek

Dutch scientist who constructed the first high-powered microscope in 1670.

Paul Revere

American patriot who identified the body of General Joseph Warren in 1776 based on false teeth he had constructed for him.

John Toms Case (1784)

A 1784 murder case where a conviction was made based on matching the torn edge of a pistol paper wad to a paper piece in the suspect's pocket.

Gustav Kirchhoff and Robert Bunsen

Scientists who developed the science of spectroscopy in 1859.

Alphonse Bertillon

Developer of an anthropometric system in 1879 that used specific body measurements to identify individuals.

Edward Henry

Developer who created the first classification system for fingerprint identification in 1896.

Karl Landsteiner

Scientist who identified human blood groups in 1900.

Francis Aston

Inventor who developed the mass spectrometer in 1922.

James Watson & Francis Crick

Scientists who discovered the double helix structure of DNA in 1959.

AFIS

Automated Fingerprint Identification System, developed by the FBI in 1977 and fully automated in 1996.

Jeffreys

Developer who created and applied the first DNA tests to a criminal case in 1984.

Edmond Locard

French professor considered the father of criminalistics who established the world's first forensic laboratory in France in 1910.

Locard Exchange Principle

The principle stating that whenever two objects come into contact with each other, there is always a transfer of material ('Every contact leaves a trace').

Scientific Method in Criminalistics

A five-step scientific process: observing evidence and collecting data, forming a hypothesis, testing and analyzing evidence, determining significance, and formulating a theory.

Probative Evidence

Evidence that actually proves something in a court of law under the Federal Rules of Evidence.

Material Evidence

Evidence that addresses an issue relevant to the specific crime under trial.

Prosecutor

A courtroom stakeholder who gives legal advice in investigations, provides Brady material during discovery, subpoenas witnesses, and introduces evidence.

Defense

A courtroom stakeholder representing the defendant who monitors constitutional rights, makes evidentiary challenges based on case law, and cross-examines witnesses.

Police Investigator

A courtroom stakeholder responsible for managing the crime scene, overseeing evidence collection, following leads, questioning witnesses, making arrests, and writing warrants.

Frye Standard

A legal precedent established in the 1923 case Frye v. United States requiring scientific evidence to be generally accepted by the relevant scientific community to be admissible.

Daubert Ruling

A legal precedent established in the 1993 case Daubert v. Merrell Dow giving judges authority over evidence admissibility based on testability, peer review, error rates, and standards.

Expert Witness

A courtroom participant who presents scientific evidence and is the only actor allowed to render an opinion in court after establishing credibility.

MMO

The three facets of guilt required to prove a case: Motive, Means, and Opportunity.

Motive

The reason a suspect had to commit a crime; helpful in establishing guilt, though not legally required to prove in court.

Means

The ability, skill, or tools a suspect possessed to commit a crime.

Opportunity

The facet of guilt demonstrating that a suspect can be placed at the scene of the crime.

CSI Effect

The phenomenon where television and Hollywood sensationalize forensics, creating unrealistic public expectations regarding evidence availability, investigator roles, and processing speeds.