Forensic Science Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions related to forensic science as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is considered evidence in forensics?

Anything that can help prove or disprove what happened at a crime scene.

What does Locard's principle state?

Every contact leaves a trace.

What is direct evidence?

Evidence that provides proof without needing inference, and stands on its own to support a fact.

Give an example of direct evidence.

A surveillance video clearly showing a suspect wearing a distinctive shoe stepping in blood.

What is trace evidence?

Small, often microscopic materials transferred during contact, relying on Locard’s Exchange Principle.

What are common types of trace evidence?

Hair, soil, paint chips, glass fragments, and pollen.

List the steps in forensic science.

1. Collect evidence, 2. Analyze in lab, 3. Write reports, 4. Give evidence in court.

What details can shoe prints reveal?

Identity of the shoe, shoe size, direction of travel, gait, and whether the person was running or walking.

What are the types of footwear impressions?

1. Visible Prints, 2. Latent Prints, 3. Impressed Prints.

What should be done to collect footprint evidence?

Photograph, cast, and lift the prints.

What are the functions of incisors?

Biting and cutting.

Where do bite marks commonly appear on the body?

On arms, shoulders, or necks.

Why is blood important at a crime scene?

It can reveal identity, injury type, movement, and time of events.

What is the structure of red blood cells?

They contain hemoglobin to carry oxygen and have antigens that determine blood type.

What can an investigator learn from blood spatter analysis?

Type and velocity of weapon, number of blows, position of victim and assailant, and other details about the crime.

What is 'angle of impact' in blood spatter analysis?

The angle at which a blood droplet strikes a surface.

What is Luminol used for in crime scene investigation?

To locate traces of blood, even if it has been cleaned or removed.

What are passive bloodstains?

Patterns created from the force of gravity, like drops or blood pools.

What is a wipe pattern in bloodstain analysis?

A pattern created from an object moving through a bloodstain.