Chapter 2 - Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Collection Vocab

JMoses C802

Deductive Reasoning

Deriving the consequences from the facts using a series of logical steps.

Fact

A statement or assertation of information that can be verified.

Forensic

Relating to the application of scientific knowledge to legal questions.

Observation

What a person perceives their senses to gather information about the environment.

Opinion

Personal belief founded on judgement rather than on direct experience or knowledge.

Chain of custody

The documented and unbroken transfer of information.

Direct evidence

Evidence that (if true) provides an alleged fact, such as an eye witness account of a crime.

Circumstantial evidence

(Indirect evidence) Evidence used to imply a fact but not prove it directly

Individual evidence

A kind of evidence that identifies a particular person or thing.

Class evidence

Material that connects an individual or thing to a certain group