Criminalistics - Chapter 1

forensic science

the application of science to the criminal and civil laws

Orfila

father of forensic toxicology (1814 )

Bertillon

developed first system of personal identification - anthropometry (1879)

anthropometry

a procedure of taking a series of body measurements as a means of distinguishing one person from another

Galton

first definitive study of fingerprints (1892 )

Lattes

developed procedure for determining blood group (1901)

Goddard

developed comparison of firearms and bullets (1900's)

Osborn

developed document examination for acceptance in court (1910)

McCrone

microscopic analyst

Hans Gross

wrote treatise describing the application of scientific fields to criminal investigation (1893)

Locard

developed international center for study and research in forensic science

locard's exchange principle

whenever two objects come into contact with one another, there is exchange of materials between them

the first forensic laboratory in the U.S. was created by the ____ Police Department

Los Angeles

Federal Crime Laboratories

The FBI, The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Defensive Forensic Science Center

Physical science unit

applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime scene evidence (examines drugs, glass, paint, explosives, and soil)

Biology unit

ID and perform DNA profiling on biological and botanical evidence

firearms unit

examines firearms, discharged bullets, casings, shells, and ammunitions

Document examination unit

examines the handwriting and typewriting on questioned documents to ascertain authenticity and/or sources

photography unit

examines and records physical evidence

toxicology unit

examines body fluids and organs to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons

latent fingerprint unit

processes and examines evidence for latent fingerprints

crime scene investigation unit

dispatches specially train personnel to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence that will later be processed at the crime lab

scientific method

a process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information

Frye Standard

requires that any scientific test used in court must be generally accepted within it's scientific community

Daubert Standard

the trial judge does not have to rely solely on the concept of general acceptance when ruling and assessing the admissibility of new and unique scientific tests

expert witness

an individual whom the court determines to possess knowledge relevant to the trail that is not expected of the average person

forensic psychiatry

determine whether people are competent to make decisions about preparing wills, settling property, refusing medical treatment, or to stand trial.

forensic odontology

uses the characteristics of teeth, their alignment, and the overall structure of the mouth to identify bodies

forensic engineering

examines failure analysis, accident reconstruction, and causes and origins of fires or explosions

Forensic computer analysis

the identification, collection, preservation, and examination of information derived from computers and other digital devices