Untitled Flashcards Set

Forensic Science

The application of scientific techniques to examine and interpret evidence related to civil and criminal proceedings.

Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)

A police officer assigned to a crime scene unit responsible for recognizing, collecting, preserving, and recording evidence.

Chain of Custody

The process of maintaining and documenting the handling of evidence to prevent tampering or contamination.

Microscopy

The use of microscopes in forensic science to examine small particles and trace evidence with high magnification for accurate analysis.

Autopsy

A thorough examination of a body, consisting of external and internal investigations, to determine cause and manner of death.

Class Evidence

Physical evidence that can be attributed to a group rather than a single source or individual.

Blood Groups

Classification of blood based on the presence of specific antigens, which determines blood compatibility in transfusions.

Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)

A database and system for storing and retrieving fingerprint records used in law enforcement.

Comparison Microscope

A forensic microscope used to observe and compare two small items side by side through dual optical paths.

Latent Fingerprint

An invisible print left by the residue of sweat and oils from the skin that requires special techniques to be made visible.

Impact Spatter

Blood spatter resulting from a force impacting against a surface.

Area of Origin

The three-dimensional point from which blood spatter originated.

Rigor Mortis

The post-mortem stiffening of the muscles that occurs hours after death.

Probativeness

The quality of evidence that actually proves something in a legal context.

Preliminary Scene Examination

The initial assessment by Crime Scene Investigators to secure and evaluate the crime scene.

Evidence

Anything that tends to prove or disprove a fact in a legal investigation.

Medical Examiner (M.E.)

An appointed official, usually a medical doctor, responsible for determining cause of death and conducting autopsies.

Blood Spatter Analysis

The examination of blood stains at a crime scene to reconstruct the events that produced the spatter patterns.

Chemical Fingerprinting

Techniques used to analyze and identify fingerprint residues through chemical reactions.

Toxicology

The study of the effects and detection of drugs and poisons in biological samples.

Crime Laboratory Services

The various scientific investigations provided by crime labs, including biology, chemistry, and document analysis.