Completed midterm studyguide

Autopsy

The internal and external examination of a body after death to confirm or determine the cause of death and establish pre-death conditions (e.g., last meal and time eaten).

Ballistics

The study of the motion of bullets and their examination after firing to identify distinctive characteristics and to match bullets or fragments.

Blood Spatter

The pattern of blood on a surface; helps determine the blood source, wound side and type, direction and speed of movement, and weapon used.

Bloodstain Interpretation

Analysis of the size, shape, orientation, and distribution of bloodstains to infer events at a crime scene.

Bullet Track

The path of a bullet or projectile through matter (e.g., a body or wall).

Caliber

The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually given in hundredths of an inch or millimeters (e.g., Colt .45 bore).

Catalyst

A substance that accelerates a chemical reaction without being permanently changed by the reaction.

Composite Drawing

A sketch of a suspect produced from eyewitness descriptions of one or more persons.

Criminology

The study of criminal activity and how it is addressed by the law.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; genetic material in double-helix form used to identify individuals, commonly found in blood and other body fluids.

DNA Electrophoresis

A technique where DNA fragments are placed in a gel and separated by size using an electric field to create a genetic profile.

DNA Profiling

Testing to identify DNA patterns or types to indicate parentage or to include/exclude individuals as sources of biological evidence.

Evidence

Anything that has been used, left, removed, altered, or contaminated during the commission of a crime or investigation.

Fingerprint

The unique patterns created by skin ridges on the palms, sides of fingers, and thumbs.

Forensic Science

The application of science to law.

Gas Chromatograph (GC)

A tool to identify the chemical makeup of substances by burning the sample at high temperatures and charting the gasization point to determine composition.

Gene

A unit of inheritance consisting of a sequence of DNA that determines a particular characteristic.

Hemoglobin

A red blood cell protein that transports oxygen and gives blood its red color.

Latent Fingerprint

A fingerprint deposited by oils and/or perspiration that is not visible to the naked eye; detected with technologies such as lasers.

Lie Detector

Also called a polygraph; measures bodily responses (e.g., respiration) to questions and is often not admissible in court due to questions about reliability.

Luminol

A chemical that detects bloodstains diluted up to 10,000 times and reveals blood that may have been removed, aiding investigations.

Physical Evidence

Any object that can help explain an event or link a crime to a victim or perpetrator.

Point-by-Point Analysis

A method of comparing a known object to an unknown by breaking images into parts and comparing detailed features.

Ridge Characteristics

Ridge endings, bifurcations, enclosures, and other ridge details that must match to establish common origin in fingerprints.

Serology

The study of serums in blood; also known as blood analysis.

Super Glue Fuming

A technique to develop latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces by exposing oils to glue fumes that react and reveal prints.

Toxicology

The study of poisons and drugs and their effects on humans and animals.

Trace Evidence

Material deposited at a scene detectable through processing (e.g., hairs, fibers) that can link a person to a scene.

Trajectory

The path of a projectile.

Mathieu Orfila

Father of Toxicology, tested successfully for poisons specifically arsenic in skin

Alphonse Bertillon

First scientific system of personal identification. Invented mugshot

Francis Galton

Conducted the first test for fingerprinys and their classification

Leone Lates

Developed a procedure ro determine blood type from a bloodstain.

Calvin Goddard

invented the comparison microscope allowing to look at two things at the same time

Albert Osborn

developed the fundamental principles of document examination

Walter McCrone

used microscopes to analyze evidence, (mostly hair fibers)

Hans Gross

come up with a concept of criminal investigation. First to combine psychology and science.

Edmond Locard

Started the first crime lab in Lyon France 1910. Locard’s principle.

mathieu orfila

father of toxicology, used chemistry to end a conviciton

alphonse bertilon

deeloped the first scientific system of identification and the mugshot for measurements

Francis Henry Galton

conducted first definitive study of fingerprints and classification

leone lattes

developed a procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains

calvin goddard

invented the comparison microspcope used to ID a bullet to a gun

albert osborn

developed the fundamental principles of a document examination

walter mccrone

used microscopes to examine evidence like hair and fibers.

hans gross

developed principles of criminal investigation and combined criminal psychology with forensics

edmond locard

created locard's principle; every contact leaves a trace

Locard's principle

Every contact leaves a trace; a criminal brings evidence to a crime scene and takes evidence with them after the fact.

unbiased, thorough, and ability to present information in court

Importance of a crime scene investagtor possessing ability to observe, interpret, and report observations:

observation

What you take note of in a situation

You filter through what matters and what doesn't

changes in the brain during observations:

perception

the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.

times, distance, stress and focus on what is happening

factors that affect your ability to observe and report what you've seen

true

heightened emotions impair attention and recall ability

false

eyewitnesses will never exaggerate details while omitting others

distance, stress, bias, and energy level

factors that account for different eyewitness accounts of the same events

attention

the ability to focus on an object or activity

change blindness

failure to notice surprisingly large amounts of change

top-down attention

decision making attention

bottom-up attention

Attention driven by external stimuli.

inattentional blindness

failure to notice something that is unexpected or not the focus of our attention.

gas chromatograph

forensic tool used to identify the chemical makeup of substances; questioned substance is burned and then gas is charted.

gene

unit of inheritance consisting of a sequence of dna that determines a particular characteristic in an organism

hemoglobin

red blood cell protein responsible for transporting oxygen into the bloodstream

latent fingerprint

A fingerprint made by deposits of oils and perspiration not usually visible to the human eye

lie detector

also known as polygraph, a machine that charts how respiration and other bodily functions change as questions are asked of the person being tested.

luminol

Chemical capable of detecting bloodstains diluted up to 10000 times.

physical evidence

any object that can explain an event under investigation.

point-by-point analysis

When comparing a known object to one that needs to be identified, analysts will break down photos of each into small quadrants, and compare the respective similarities within those quadrants.

ridge characteristics

ridge endings, bifurcations, enclosures, and other ridge details which must match in two fingerprints for their common origin to be established.

serology

technology that deals with the properties and actions of blood serums; blood analysis.

super-glue fuming

used to develop/reveal latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces.

toxicology

study of poisons and drugs and their effect on humans and animals.

trace evidence

material deposited at a crime scene or accident scene that can onl be deteced through a deliberate processing procedure.

trajectory

path of a projectile

autopsy

internal and external exam of a body after death

ballistics

study of the motion of bullets and their examination for distinctive characteristics after being fired.

blood spatter

pattern of blood that has struck a surface.

bloodstain interpretation

interpretation of size, shape, orientation, and distribution of bloodstains on various surfaces.

bullet track

path of a bullet/projectile as it passes through matter

caliber

the diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually expressed in mm.

catalyst

sustance that hastens a chemical reaction

composite drawing

A sketch of a suspect produced from eyewitness descriptions of one or more persons.

criminology

scientific study of crimes and criminals

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid, occurs in the form of double-helix strands, contain genetic code.

DNA electrophoresis

DNA fragments get placed in gel and charged with energy to create a genetic profile

DNA profiling

The process of testing to identify DNA patterns or types. In forensic science this testing is used to indicate parentage or to exclude or include individuals as possible sources of bodily fluid stains (blood, saliva, semen) and other biological evidence (bones, hair, teeth)

evidence

anything that has been used, left, removed, altered or contaminated during a crime

fingerprint

unique patterns created by skin ridges found on the palm, sides of fingers, and thumbs.

What is Direct Evidence

establishes a fact, what is said in court by a competent witness (what they saw, heard, did, etc.)

Testimony

Direct

Dashcam Video

Direct

Confessions

Direct

Some Videos

Direct

circumstantial evidence is also called__________

indirect evidence

what is indirect evidence

evidence that suggest who committed a crime

physical evidence is

fingerprints, shoeprints

biological evidence is

blood, hair

trace evidence is

microscopic/physical/biological evidence

body fluid

physical evidence