Criminology Unit 3

Bias

A particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific.

Valid

Well-founded on evidence and corresponds accurately to the real world.

opinions

a belief or judgment that rests on grounds of insufficient fact for completed certainty

custody officer

police officer of at least rank of sergeant who is responsible for care and welfare of an arrested person

Locard's Exchange Principle

states that when a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs

Vulnerable witness

a person who is required to give evidence in a criminal case and is considered to be impressionable or at risk. This might be a child, a person who has a cognitive impairment, or the alleged victim of a sexual offence

Moral Panic

The reaction by a group of people based on exaggerated or false perceptions about crime and criminal behavior

Sterotyping

categorizing events, objects, and people without regard to different characteristics and qualities

Inquiry

The search for information and explanation, often focusing on specific questions.

Precedent

A new judgement or law

Geographical profiling

The analysis of geographical locations associated with the spatial movements of a single serial offender

Physical evidence

Any object that can establish that a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator.

Testiomonial Evidence

Includes eye-witness testimony, the spoken words of a witness and expert opinions.

Hearsay

information received from other people that one cannot adequately substantiate; rumor.

Admissible

acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law.

Indictable offence

a serious criminal offence

Laypeople

ordinary people whose knowledge comes from everyday experiences

Crime scene officers

specialized police officers that work crime scenes and do forensic evidence collection

Expert opinion

recommendations of individuals who have expertise in a particular area that are sometimes the basis of a group's decision-making process

Accuracy

how close a measurement is to the true value