FSC100 Master Term List Final Exam

Evidence

Any information or material used in legal proceedings to establish the truth of a fact or support a legal argument

Testimonial Evidence

Oral evidence provided by witnesses under oath, including lay and expert testimony

Documentary Evidence

Written, printed, or electronically produced materials submitted as evidence

Real Evidence

Tangible physical or biological material collected from a crime scene

Physical Evidence

Non-living real evidence such as fingerprints, firearms, fibers, glass, or toolmarks

Biological Evidence

Evidence originating from living organisms, including DNA, blood, hair, bodily fluids, and tissue

Direct Evidence

Evidence that proves a fact without requiring inference
Ex: confession from criminal

Circumstantial Evidence

Evidence that supports a conclusion through logical inference

Associative Evidence

Evidence that links a suspect, victim, or object to a crime scene

Indicative Evidence

Evidence suggesting the passage of time since an event occurred

Class Characteristics

Features shared by a group that cannot uniquely identify a single source

Individual Characteristics

Unique or accidental features allowing association to one specific source

Individualization

Conclusion that evidence originated from one unique source

Trace Evidence

Microscopic materials transferred during contact between people or objects

Locard Exchange Principle

Every contact results in a mutual transfer of material

Admissibility of Evidence

Legal determination of whether evidence may be considered in court

Probative Value

Degree to which evidence proves or disproves a fact

Prejudicial Effect

Risk that evidence unfairly biases the trier of fact

Unreliability

Evidence lacking scientific or testimonial trustworthiness

Irrelevance

Evidence not meaningfully related to the issue

Unfairness

Evidence obtained or presented in violation of legal standards

Forensic Biology

Application of biological science to legal evidence

Serology

Examination and identification of body fluids

DNA

Genetic molecule unique to individuals except identical twins

Nuclear DNA

DNA found in the nucleus inherited from both parents

Mitochondrial DNA

Maternally inherited DNA, not individually unique

Presumptive Tests

Screening tests suggesting possible presence of a substance

Confirmatory Tests

Tests that definitively identify a substance

DNA Typing

Forensic analysis of DNA profiles

STRs

Highly variable DNA regions used in forensic profiling

CODIS / NDDB

DNA databases used for comparison and investigation

Random Match Probability

Statistical estimate of how often a DNA profile occurs in a population

Dactyloscopy

Scientific study and identification of fingerprints

Friction Ridges

Raised skin patterns forming fingerprints

Minutiae

Specific ridge details used for fingerprint individualization

Latent Fingerprints

Invisible fingerprints requiring development

Patent Fingerprints

Visible fingerprints left by substances

Plastic Fingerprints

Three-dimensional impressions in soft material

ACE-V Method

Analyze, Compare, Evaluate, Verify fingerprint methodology

AFIS

Automated fingerprint identification system

Impression Evidence

Marks created when an object contacts a surface

Footwear Evidence

Shoe prints used for association or reconstruction

Tire Evidence

Impressions reflecting tire tread patterns and wear

Two-Dimensional Prints

Flat impressions without depth

Three-Dimensional Impressions

Prints with depth formed in soft material

Casting

Preservation of 3D impressions using dental stone

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Interpretation of bloodstain patterns to reconstruct events

Passive Stains

Bloodstains formed by gravity alone

Transfer Stains

Bloodstains formed by contact

Spatter Stains

Bloodstains formed by force greater than gravity

Area of Origin

Three-dimensional point from which blood originated

Directionality

Direction blood droplets were traveling

Firearm Evidence

Evidence linking bullets or cartridge components to firearms

Toolmark Evidence

Evidence linking marks to specific tools

Rifling / Lands and Grooves

Barrel features imparting markings on bullets

Comparison Microscope

Instrument allowing side-by-side evidence comparison

CIBIN

Canadian Integrated Ballistics Identification Network

Positive Identification

Conclusion that evidence originated from a specific source

Inconclusive Result

Conclusion reached when evidence is insufficient

Questioned Document

Document with disputed authenticity or authorship

Exemplar

Known writing sample used for comparison

Collected Exemplar

Naturally occurring writing sample

Requested Exemplar

Controlled writing sample produced for analysis

Ink Differentiation

Techniques used to determine ink variation

Graphology

Personality analysis from handwriting (not forensic science)

Final Survey / Walkthrough

Last systematic review of a crime scene before release

Crime Scene Release

Authorization to return a scene to the public or owner

Chain of Custody

Documented record of evidence handling

Case File

Complete documentation of an investigation

Case Narrative

Chronological account forming basis for testimony

Expert Witness

Witness with specialized knowledge allowed to give opinion evidence

Lay Witness

Witness limited to factual observations

Frye Rule

U.S. standard requiring general acceptance of scientific methods

Daubert Standard

U.S. standard assessing reliability, peer review, and error rates

Mohan Criteria

Canadian standard for expert evidence admissibility

Trier of Fact

Judge or jury responsible for determining facts

Standard of Proof

Level of certainty required for a verdict

Junk Science

Methods lacking scientific validation

Good Science

Science based on testing, peer review, and known error rates

CSI Effect

Media-driven misconceptions about forensic certainty

NAS Report (2009)

Report concluding most forensic disciplines lack validation

PCAST Report (2016)

Report emphasizing measurable accuracy in forensic science

Edmond Locard

Founder of the Exchange Principle: every contact leaves a trace

Francis Galton

Early fingerprint researcher who helped establish fingerprints as identification

Alphonse Bertillon

Developed anthropometry; failure led to fingerprint adoption

Juan Vucetich

First to solve a murder using fingerprints

Sir Alec Jeffreys

Developed DNA fingerprinting and modern DNA typing

Calvin Goddard

Pioneer of firearms and toolmark examination

Hans Gross

Early criminologist advocating unbiased forensic investigation

Watson, Crick, and Franklin

Discovered DNA double-helix structure

Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)

Documents, collects, and preserves evidence; manages chain of custody

Forensic Biologist

Conducts DNA analysis and confirmatory testing in a laboratory

Fingerprint Examiner

Analyzes friction ridge detail using ACE-V and makes identifications

Firearms Examiner

Examines bullets and toolmarks; cannot rely on lead composition alone

Questioned Document Examiner

Analyzes handwriting and documents; cannot determine personality

Forensic Pathologist

Medical doctor who determines cause and manner of death

Coroner

Oversees death investigations and determines need for autopsy

Forensic Anthropologist

Examines skeletal remains to help determine who and what

Forensic Entomologist

Uses insect activity to estimate post-mortem interval

Judge (Gatekeeper)

Determines admissibility of expert evidence using Mohan Criteria