Honors Forensics: Fall Final Review

Chapters 1-4

Who wrote Sherlock Holmes? Why was it important?

\-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

\-popularized crime scene investigation

forensic science

the application of scientific knowledge to legal investigations

Orfila

“Father of Forensic Toxicology”

Bertillon

\-“Father of Criminal Identification”

\-founder of anthropometry

Galton

\-wrote the book “Finger Prints”

Lattes

\-discovered a way to test dry blood for blood type

Landsteiner

\-blood group/blood typing

Goddard

\-bullet/gun comparison

Locard

\-started first crime lab in Lyons, France

Osborne

\-wrote a book called “Questioned Documents”

Gross

\-use all areas of science to solve crimes

Song Ci

\-case of the sickles

\-first reported case using insects

Faulds

\-wrote an article in Nature magazine on fingerprints

Jeffries

\-first DNA profiling test

\-first time DNA was used to evict and exonerate

\-Colin Pitchfork case

Yi Yi Yu

\-can tell if someone was dead prior or after a fire

Nichol

\-invented the polarizing light microscope

Marsh

\-first testified in court on detection of arsenic in the body

\-development the Marsh Test

McCrone

\-introduced microscopy to criminal investigations

Volmer

\-created first crime lab in America

Hoover

\-formed the first FBI crime lab

Bayard

\-set up procedure to detect sperm under the microscope

Frye v United States

\-a test must be “generally accepted” by the scientific communing

Burned Pig Case

\-determined if the person was dead prior or by the fire

Case of the Sickle

\-first time insects were used to solve a crime

Daubert v Merrill Dow

\-the judge is the gatekeeper for scientific testimony

Kuhmo Tire v Carmichael

\-the “gatekeeping” role of the trial judges applies to all experts

Coppolino Case

\-scientists must devise new scientific tests to solve special problems that continually arise in the forensic lab\`

biology unit

\-examines DNA, body fluids, hairs, and botanical fibers

document exam unit

\-examines handwriting and typewriting, word processing, and paper/ink

firearms unit

\-examines firearms, tools, shells, weapons, and bullet holes

physical science unit

\-examines drugs, glass, paint, explosives, and soil

latent fingerprints unit

\-analyzes fingerprints

toxicology unit

\-examines for drugs/poisons in body fluids, organs, and tissues

voiceprint unit

\-analyzes threatening messages

\-matches voices

photography unit

\-records physical evidence, digital imaging, and models crime scene

polygraph unit

\-uses lie detector

CSI unit

\-packages and collects evidence

Major Crime Scenes (5)

\-Federal Bureau of Investigation

\-Drug Enforcement Administration

\-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

\-US Postal Inspection Service

\-US National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory

Functions of Forensic Scientist (3)

\-analyze physical evidence

\-provide expert testimony and persuade the jury

\-training others to preserve evidence

forensic scientist

a person who applies science to criminal investigations

Importance of Camera (2)

\-record images of prisoners

\-record crime scenes

physical evidence

any and all objects that establish a crime has been committed or can link a crime to its victim and perpetrator

IRO (initial responding officer) job

\-secures the scene

CSI job

\-collects and packages evidence

ME/Coroner job

\-determines cause and manner of death

lead detective job

\-take charge of investigation

forensic anthropologist job

\-identifies skeletal remains

forensic entomologist job

\-estimate time of death using insect development

forensic pathologist

\-performs autopsies for coroner

Types of search patterns and where used (4)

\-spiral: underwater, open field, explosives

\-grid: large outdoor scenes, double lines

\-strip/line: large outdoor scenes

\-quadrant/zones: indoor crime scenes

How are charred debris packaged and why?

\-sealed in airtight containers

\-to prevent evaporation of volatile residues/accelerants

What is COC, and what is the importance to follow it?

\-every person who handles evidence must sign evidence label

\-failure leads to inadmissibility in court

Unmailable Evidence (3)

\-explosives

\-certain types of chemicals

\-live ammunition

class evidence

evidence that arises from several sources

individual evidence

evidence that only arises from 1 source

known evidence

evidence that comes from suspects/victims

unknown evidence

evidence collected at the crime scene that has unknown origin

Examples of Individual Characteristics (2)

\-nuclear DNA

\-minutiae patterns on fingerprints

Examples of Class Characteristics (3)

\-blue denim

\-white cotton

\-mitochondrial DNA\`

NIBIN

\-bullets and shell casings

CODIS

\-enables state, local, and federal crime labs to compare and exchange profiles

PDQ

\-automobile paint

SICAR

\-shoe prints

IAFIS

\-fingerprints from an arrested individual

\-fingerprints from background checks

\-crime scene latent prints

NamUs

\-missing and unidentified persons

FISH

\-handwriting and documents

NGI

\-replaced IAFIS

GEDmatch

\-uses geneology sites

transient evidence

temporary evidence

transfer evidence

produced by contact between persons

associative evidence

items that may associate a victim or suspect with a scene or each other

testimonial evidence

evidence in the form of testimony under oath in court

pattern evidence

produced by direct contact between persons/objects

conditional evidence

produced by specific event or action

role of jury

\-to determine if the amount of physical evidence is enough to prove an individual guilty or innocent

rigor mortis

chemical changes in the muscles that causes them to become rigid/stiff

livor mortis

settling of blood in areas of the body closest to the ground

What can livor mortis tell you?

\-reveals whether someone was moved after death

algor mortis

body temperature continually cools until it reaches ambient temperature

coroner

an elected official without a medical degree that is unable to perform an autopsy

medical examiner

an appointed official with a medical degree that is able to perform an autopsy

blunt force

caused by non-sharpened objects

sharp force

occur from weapons with sharp edges

asphyxia

interference with intake of oxygen

gunshot wound

injury due to a firearm

substance abuse

overdose or misuse of drugs

natural death

death caused by diseases and environmental abuse

homicidal death

death resulting from grossly negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another person

suicidal death

an individual takes their own life with lethal intention

undetermined death

when a rational classification cannot be determined\`

accidental death

death without any intent to cause harm through your negligence on part of perpetrator or victim

Characteristics of Asian skulls (3)

\-circular eye orbits

\-small and round nasal cavity

\-flat frontal plane

Characteristics of European skulls (2)

\-oval eye orbit

\-long and narrow nasal cavity

Characteristics of African skulls (3)

\-square eye orbit

\-wide nasal cavity

\-pronounced frontal plane

Characteristics of Female skull (4)

\-smaller

\-smaller eye sockets

\-narrow jaws

\-smooth frontal

Characteristics of Male skull (4)

\-larger

\-larger eye sockets

\-square jaw

\-pronounced mastoid process

Characteristics of Female pelvis (4)

\-wider

\-circular

\-U shaped

\-pubic angle greater than 90 degrees

Characteristics of Male pelvis (4)

\-narrow

\-V shaped

\-pubic angle less than 90 degrees

\-curved coccyx

PMI (post-mortem interval)

the length of time that has elapsed since a person died

What bones are measured to determine height?

\-long bones