Comprehensive Study Notes on Forensic Science Terminology and Methods

Flashcard #1Term: Forensic Science

Definition: The application of science to law and legal proceedings.

Flashcard #2Term: Criminology

Definition: The study of criminal activity and how it is dealt with by the legal system.

Flashcard #3Term: Evidence

Definition: Anything that has been used, left, removed, altered, or contaminated during the commission of a crime or other event under investigation.

Flashcard #4Term: Physical Evidence

Definition: Any tangible object that can help explain an event under investigation.

Flashcard #5Term: Trace Evidence

Definition: Material deposited at a crime or accident scene that can only be detected through deliberate processing.

Flashcard #6Term: Point-by-Point Analysis

Definition: A comparative identification method where photographs of known and unidentified objects are broken down into portions for comparison.

Flashcard #7Term: Autopsy

Definition: The comprehensive internal and external examination of a body after death.

Flashcard #8Term: Ballistics

Definition: The study of the motion of bullets and their detailed examination for distinctive characteristics.

Flashcard #9Term: Caliber

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

Flashcard #10Term: Blood Spatter

Definition: The specific pattern formed when blood strikes a surface.

Flashcard #11Term: Luminol

Definition: A chemical reagent capable of detecting bloodstains diluted up to 10,000 times.

Flashcard #12Term: DNA

Definition: Double-helix strands containing the genetic code.

Flashcard #13Term: DNA Profiling

Definition: The testing process used to identify specific DNA patterns or types.

Flashcard #14Term: Latent Fingerprint

Definition: A fingerprint formed by natural deposits of oils and/or perspiration that is typically invisible to the unassisted human eye.

Flashcard #15Term: Toxicology

Definition: The scientific study of poisons and drugs, focusing on their biological effects on human and animal populations.

Flashcard #16Term: Lie Detector (Polygraph)

Definition: A machine that measures and charts real-time changes in physiological functions to detect deception.

Flashcard #17Term: Composite Drawing

Definition: A visual sketch of a suspect created from eyewitness descriptions.