Forensic Anthro Chapter 1

Forensic

“belonging to a public space” place where justice was administered

Forensic Medicine (Medical Jurisprudence & Legal Medicine)

Application of medicine expertise to legal investigations

Evidence

Evidentia

Videre

Must be made visible in order to be accepted and provide information that may prove or disprove a point in question.

to be visible

to see

Testimony

Testi

Intangible evidence form of information

a witness

Indirect Witness

Direct Witness

Indirect Witness - Not apart of crime, didn’t witness crime, and may not know a crime occurred

Direct Witness - Witnessed a crime or were victims of crime

Physical Evidence

Broad range of items but falls under distinct categories by its source, content, and nature.

Associative Evidence

Physical evidence that places an individual directly at scene or in contact with victim of crime.

Class Evidence

Any material that requires more precise classification for it to be used in court.

Trace Evidence

physical evidence that has to be extracted from another substance or item, and is in very small amounts, often naked to the invisible eye.

Latent Evidence

includes DNA, palm prints, fingerprints, footprints, tread marks, and tire marks. Often not visible without osme chemical, photographer, or electric development.

Electronic Evidence

Any info and data transmitted or stored in any electronic device. Not visible until equipment or software make it visible.

Indictive

physical evidence that substantiates time, context and events, specifically for documenting rather than collecting.

Individual Evidence

anything derived from an original source.

Ex. broken handle of knife or a detached bumper of a car

Circumstantial Evidence

collection of facts and observations that infer capability of an individual these facts and observations may also be coincidental.

Warrant

Document form the court signed by a judge that outlines what offense has been committed, the place to be searched, and the people or things that are to be seized.

Probable Cause

Decision of the judge to sign a warrant based on hearing sufficient reasons on oath.

Plain View Doctrine

Items observed in plain view that highlight criminal activity can be seized and is in area within the proximity of the warrant limitations.

Coroner’s Warrant

Override necessity for a warrant and afford investigation permission to enter premises and process the scene as it relates to victim.

Criminalistics Laboratory (Crime Lab)

Center in France where scientists studying biology, physics, and medicine were brought together to examine evidence for criminal investigations.

Locard’s Exchange Principle

When any two objects come into contact there is always a transference of materials from each object onto another.

Medico Legal

First criminalistic laboratory in North America, Montreal, Canada.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department opened theres’s 10 years later in 1932.

Forensic Lab

Modern full-service crime laboratory and usually consist; pathology, biology, toxicology, firearms examinations, photo analysis, chemistry, and check documents.

Forensic Anthropology

Analyze skeletal remains to determine age, gender, stature, and race but also find evidence of trauma.

Biology

analysis of an individuals genetic sequence derived from bodily fluids, hair, teeth, or bone. Usually do comparative analysis or identification.

Serology

Identify human and non-human biological materials ( blood, fluids, hair, fibers, etc.) wether on items on individuals or collected from a crime scene.

Chemistry

analyze materials like synthetic and natural fibers, dyes, paints, explosives, drugs, glass, soil, petroleum product, and metals.

Documents

Analysis attempt to determine the legality, authenticity or forgery of handwriting, checks, anonymous letters, ransom and suicide notes. Comparative value, asses types of ink and paper, machine produced documents, and writing instruments.

Electronics

recover computer files, emails, and internet chat logs that may have been erased/hidden. Retrieve calls logs, images, texts, and contact numbers. Enhances audio of poor-quality videos/audio. Also examine stun guns and tasers to ensure they’re up to the criminal code.

Entomology

Analyze insect activity on human remains as a method of estimating time, location, and seasonality of death.

Firearm and Toolmarks

Look at weapons, remaining live ammunition, fired projectile and cartridge cases, bullet tissue wound, cloth from shooting victim, tool and tool marks.

Odontology

Examine bite marks, dental impressions, injuries to teeth, dental remains, and pre-mortem dental records for comparative and identification.

Pathology

Initiate the post-mortem examination (autopsy) in order to determine the cause and manner of death.

Photo Analysis

Physical evidence is photographed for documentation presentation, presentation, and analysis. Cameras, microscopes, infrared, ultraviolet, x-ray, or laser radiation often sued to highlight details invisible under ambient lighting.

Psychiatry

Evaluate individuals prior to trial to determine state of mind, understanding of crime committed, and if they’re capable of standing trial.

Toxicology

Determined/detect the presence of poisons and drugs in blood, bodily fluids, and tissues as well as in non-biological materials such as powders, liquids, and pills.

Corpus Delicti

“Body of Crime”

Establishment of proof that a crime has been committed against something/someone.

Coroner

Primarily tasked with inquiring into sudden or violent deaths and conducting legal inquests to determine their probable cause.

Inquest

Official judicial inquiry used to find facts and determine the cause of a sudden, violent, or unexplained death.

Foul Play

Death occurred as result of action of another person or persons.

Coroner’s Warrant

Official permission from the coroner that police must obtain before a deceased body can be removed from a death scene or subjected to a post-mortem examination.

Medical Examiner

legally appointed medical doctor (usually pathologist) reviews deaths occurring as result of accident, homicide, and suicide. They are responsible for the autopsy as well.

Manner of Death

How death came about

• Accident

• Suicide

• Homicide

• Natural Causes

• Undetermined Circumstances

Cause of Death

Actual trauma, event, disease, or illness that starts the physiological processes resulting in death.

Medico-Legal Report

Medical examiner supports criminal investigation by submitting medico-legal report to U.S District.

Rokitansky Procedure

Sawing open skull to expose brain and making a deep Y-incision from top of shoulder to center chest to expose internal organs. Small saw is the used to cut and remove ribs for access to heart and lungs.

Forensic Science

Application of braod spectrum of science to answer questions relevant to the legal system.

Frye vs. United States (1923)

Court held that expert testimony must be based on scientific methods that are sufficiently established and accepted in the field in which it belongs.

Daubert Merrel Dow Pharmaceutical (1993)

Daubert decision affirmed the role of judge as gatekeeper in admissibility of scientific evidence.