TSA forensic science quizlet

4 steps to analyze a crime scene

1. Interview 2. Examine 3. Document 4. Process

Manners of death

homicide, suicide, accidental, natural, undetermined

a sequence of events that although accidental seem to be arranged or planned.

coincidence

a strong small of gasoline at a crime scene would be an example of what kind of evidence

Transient Evidence

ABFO scales

(American Board of Forensic Odontology scales). An L-shaped piece of plastic used in photography that is marked with circles, black and white bars, and 18-percent gray bars to assist in distortion compensation and provide exposure determination. For measurement, the plastic piece is marked in millimeters.

Abrasion

An injury to the skin that removes the epithelial layer.

Absconded

to leave an area without permission

Absolute Certainty

ultimate sureness with no implication of possible change.

Accelerant

an agent, often an ignitable liquid, that acts to initiate a fire or increase its rate of spread.

Accelerants

Substances, such as gasoline, paint thinner, and alcohol that accelerate the burning process

Accident Reconstruction

The use of physical evidence to build a theoretical model of a given crime or accident scene.

Accomplice

A second person associated with committing a crime

Accountability

the quality of subordinate workers being responsible for his/her own work and answerable to a superior.

Accuracy

the degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its actual (true) value.

Acetone

a colorless, highly flammable chemical compound used as an organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and adhering liquids.

ADH

Accumulated degree hours. Time x temp. Amount of energy required for insects to move from one developmental stage to the next.

Adipocere

A waxy, soap-like substance formed during the decomposition of bodies buried in moist places. It consists principally of insoluble salts of fatty acids. Also called "grave wax." Composed of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids.

Administrative (or Laboratory Director) Case File Review

a detailed final review of the case file documentation. A member other than the assigned analyst must conduct the Laboratory Director case file review on all case files.

Administrative documentation

records such as case related conversations, evidence receipts, description of evidence packaging and seals, and other pertinent information.

AFIS

Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Scans fingerprints electronically and plots the positions of their ridge characteristics, comparing them with prints in a database.

Aggravating Circumstances

Conditions which make a crime more serious.

Albert S. Osborn

Developed the principles of document examination

Algor Mortis

The postmortem cooling of the body.

Alias

A name that an entity uses in place of its real name, usually for the purpose of either anonymity or deception.

Alibi

Statement of where a suspect was at the time of a crime

Alphonse Bertillon

Father of criminal identification

Alternate light source

Equipment used to produce visible and invisible light at various wavelengths to enhance or visualize potential items of evidence (fluids, fingerprints, clothing fibers, etc.).

Altor Mortis

Cooling of body after death

Amber Alert

search for child

Ambidextrous

the ability to use the left and right side of your body equally

Analyst

any ADFS personnel assigned to perform scientific investigation or evidentiary examination.

Analytical Data

all case specific records such as notes, worksheets, graphs, spectra, printouts, computer data files, photographs, photocopies, microscopic slides and other data or records.

Analytical Procedure

an orderly step-by-step process designed to ensure operational uniformity and to minimize systematic variability.

Analytical Skills

The ability to identify a problem, to isolate its component parts, to organize information for decision making, to establish criteria forevaluation, and to draw appropriate conclusions

Anatomical position

In all anatomical positions the person is erect (or lying as if erect) with the arms by the sides, palms facing forward, and legs together, feet directly forward.

Aneurysm

A weakening and dilation of the wall of the blood vessel

Anlagen Phase

can last up to 6 years. In this Phase the hair root is still attached to the hair follicle and grows. The root appears plump and "flame-shaped"

Antemortem

Before death

Anterior

toward the front of the body

Anthropologists

scientists that study skeletal remains

Anthropology

The science of the origin, culture, and development of human beings. In forensics, this mainly involves the analysis and identification of skeletal remains.

Anthropometry

Devised by Alphonse Bertillon, a method of using a person's key body measurements as a means of identification.

Antibodies

A class of proteins (known as immunoglobulins) formed in the body in response to the presence of antigens (foreign proteins and other compounds), which bind to the antigen, inactivating it.

Antigens

Foreign substances in the body that are capable of causing disease. The presence of antigens in the body triggers an immune response, usually the production of antibodies. Antigens may be soluble substances, such as toxins and foreign proteins, or particulate, such as bacteria and tissue cells; however only the portion of the protein of polysaccharide molecule known as the antigenic determinant combines with antibody or a specific receptor on a lymphocyte.

Aorta

The artery whichterm-45 emerges from the left ventricle and distribute the blood to all arteries

Appropriate primary container for the collection and preservation of dried blood collected from the surface of an object

Folded Paper

Arches

Fingerprint ridges that rise above one another at their center like an arch.

Arches

A characteristic pattern of fingerprint ridges, possessed by approximately 5% of the population.

Areas of Science

Chemistry, Physics, Geology, Biology

Arraignment

a legal document calling someone to court to answer an indictment

Arson

the intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other property.

Arterial Spray

Spurt of blood when a major artery is severed with new pattern created each time the heart pumps

Arteriosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries by cholesterol

Artery

thick-walled blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart

Asphyxia

Death caused by suffocation as a result of the lack of oxygen and increase of carbon dioxide in the blood. Also known as apnoea.

Asphyxiation

a medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack of oxygen in the blood.

Assessment

the process of evaluating analysts to determine their level of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.

ATF

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firears, Explosives

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

A method of analysing gunshot residue.

Audit

a review conducted to compare the various aspects of the laboratory's performance with a standard for that performance.

Autoerotic Accident

A death usually occurring from asphyxia produced by masturbatory rituals.

Automated Fingerprint Identification System

AFIS

Autopsy

The internal and external examination of a body after death. An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death and establish other pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last consumed and the time it was consumed.

Back spatter

blood directed back toward the source of energy or force that caused the spatter; often associated with entrance gunshot wounds.

Bail

the legal system that allows an accused person to be temporarily released from custody (usually on condition that a sum of money guarantees their appearance at trial),

balanced chemical reaction made between Calcium Carbonate and Hydrochloric Acid.

CaCO3 + 2HCI into CaC12 + CO2 + H2O

Ballistics

The study of the motion of bullets and their examination for distinctive characteristics after being fired. Examiners can use this evidence to match bullets or bullet fragments to specific weapons.

Ballistics Expert

The main duty of the ballistics expert is to analyse guns and weapons that may have been used to commit crimes. They may fire test shots from a certain weapon in order to compare bullet fragments or shell casings. They also may present ballistic evidence and their findings in court as an expert witness.

Barefoot Morphology

The science of reading footprints in order to establish the pace, size, and body weight of the individual.+

Bertillonage

Invented by Alphonse Bertillon, a now obsolete method of classifying human beings by a set of body measurements.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

proof needed for a jury to convict a person accused of a crime.

Bilateral

Refers to both sides of the body

Bile

A digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps digest fats.

Bindle paper

Clean paper folded to use to contain trace evidence, sometimes included as part of the packaging for collecting trace evidence.

Biohazard bag

A container for materials that have been exposed to blood or other biological fluids and have the potential to be contaminated with hepatitis, AIDS, or other viruses.

Biological fluids

Fluids that have human or animal origin, most commonly encountered at crime scenes (e.g., blood, mucus, perspiration, saliva, semen, vaginal fluid, urine).

Biological weapon

Biological agents used to threaten human life (e.g., anthrax, smallpox, or any infectious disease).

Biology

the science that studies living organisms.

Biology Unit

DNA Identification and profiling by means of dried blood stains and other body fluids. Comparison of hair and Fibers and botanical material such as wood and plants.

Blood borne pathogens

pathogenic microorganisms in blood or other body fluids that can cause disease in people. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in all of its forms.

Blood Group

One of the four ways to categorise a person based on the antibodies and antigens in their red blood cells; A, B, AB, and O.

Blood Pooling

The congestion of blood in the lowest areas of a dead body. See 'hypostasis'.

Blood Splatter

The pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help determine the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which the perpetrator or victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create the blood spill.

Bloodborne pathogen

Infectious, disease-causing microorganisms that may be found or transported in biological fluids.

Bloodstain

transfer resulting when liquid blood comes into contact with a surface.

Bloodstain Interpretation

The interpretation of the shape, size, orientation, and distribution of bloodstains.

Blunt Force Injuries (Hitting or Beating)

larger surface area will collect more blood, producing drops of various sizes.

Booking

a police procedure following arrest that requests basic information about the suspect, a photograph, fingerprints, and perhaps a lineup.

Case Record

all notes, reports, custody records, charts, analytical data, and any correspondence generated in the laboratory pertaining to a particular case, which may be located in the hard copy case folder or the LIMS.

Botanist

an expert in or student of the scientific study of plants

Boundaries

The perimeter or border surrounding potential physical evidence related to the crime.

Brain compression

Loss of consciousness due to increase the intracranial pressure

Bridge

A denture anchored to teeth on either side of missing teeth.

Bullet Track

The path a projectile takes as it passes through matter.

Bullet Wipe

A dark, ring-like mark found around an entrance wound, composed of lead, carbon oil and dirt.

Burden of Proof

responsibility of the state/prosecuting attorney to establish "beyond reasonable doubt" that defendant committed the crime for which they are charged.

Burn Patterns

Noticeable patterns created by the fire as it burns

Cadaveric Spasm

The sudden rigidity of the muscles immediately after death.

Caliber

The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually expressed in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.

Calibration

the set of operations which establish, under specified conditions, the relationship between values indicated by a measuring instrument or measuring system, or values represented by a material, and the corresponding known values of a measurement.