Forensics Quest 1

crime scene investigator

a professional who documents, collects, and preserves physical evidence from a crime scene to aid in criminal investigations and court cases

latent print examiner

forensic professional who develops, analyzes, and compares latent (hidden) friction ridge impressions, such as fingerprints, left at crime scenes to identify individuals

firearms examiner

a scientist who specializes in identifying if a specific weapon was used in a crime or not by analyzing bullets, cartridge cases, or rifling marks

document examiner

uses scientific methods to determine the authenticity and origin of documents, analyze alterations and forgeries, and identify authorship through handwriting and typewriting analysis

toolmark examiner

scientist who analyzes and compares unique marks left by tools on evidence to determine if a specific tool was used in a crime

trace evidence examiner

scientist who analyzes microscopic and minute transfers of physical materials, such as fibers, hairs, glass, and paint, to link a suspect, victim, or crime scene. analyzes all evidence present in the laboratory

anthropologist

analyze human skeletal remains in a legal context, assisting law enforcement by establishing a biological profile (age, sex, ancestry, stature), identifying trauma, and estimating time since death to help identify a deceased individual

pathologist

a physician who studies and analyzes organisms or cells of organisms that are associated with criminal activity; may gather information concerning what happened at the time of death, what the person was doing at the time, and the medical history of the individual

psychologist

involves evaluations of mental competency, ability to stand trial, working with witnesses, designing interventions, and helping victims of violent crimes

odontologist

uses forensic dentistry to identify human remains, confirm one's age, investigate patterned injuries, and solve abuse/neglect cases

entomologist

studies, collects, and analyzes insect evidence to aid in forensic investigations; main goal is to determine a postmortem interval (PMI) by estimating the insect development on the corpse

serologist

analyzes bodily fluids found at crime scenes and identifying them

toxicologist

studies drugs and chemicals and how they are on biological systems; used to see drugs and chemicals in the human body to see if they were a main factor on what happened to the victim

botanist

uses plant science to analyze evidence and assist in criminal investigations

forensic nursing

combines nursing practice with a focus on forensics, providing medical care to victims of trauma and violence while also collecting evidence for the legal system

digital forensic scientist

examines any digital and multimedia evidence; applies the standard industry processing techniques to examine any electronic or physical evidence

forensic criminalist

look at, analyze, and interpret physical evidence from a crime; use scientific techniques to process evidence

jurisprudence

ensures that all scientific evidence presented in court is reliable, and presented by a certified person

general forensic scientist

applies scientific principles to analyze evidence for legal proceedings, working at crime scenes or in laboratories to collect, document, and test evidence such as DNA, fingerprints, and fibers to help solve crimes and assist with court testimony

forensic geologist

uses geological knowledge and techniques to analyze earth materials, such as soil, rocks, and minerals, as evidence in criminal investigations

forensic photographer

uses specialized techniques in photography to create permanent records used in investigations and court of law

forensic radiologist

studies radiological images that have to do with the law to help determine identity, evaluates death/injuries, detections of abuse, etc. of a whole postmortem (dead) body

7 S's of crime scene investigation

- securing the scene

- separating the witnesses

- scanning the scene

- seeing the scene

- sketching the scene

- searching for evidence

- scene evidence collection

securing the scene

- done by first responder

- prevents people from leaving or entering an area

- collect important information from witnesses and make sure the threat is no longer present

- calls for specific specialists who may be needed

separating witnesses

- done by first responder

-makes sure witnesses aren't talking to each other and comparing what they saw (collusion)

- witnesses are asked questions (When did the crime occur?, Who called in the crime?, Who is the Victim?, Can you identify the perpetrator?, Where were you when the crime happened, What did you see?)

scanning the scene

- quickly look over the scene to determine where photos should be taken

- determine type of crime scene (primary--location a crime took place, secondary--location related to the crime w/ evidence)

seeing the scene

- by crime scene investigators

- take photos of the scene w/ and w/out measurement tools

- objects are used for comparison

sketching the scene

- by crime scene investigators

- "map" of the scene is drawn on paper to help place all evidence in the location it was found

- north and distance scale

- drawn by hand and tidied up online

searching for evidence

- by crime scene investigators

- investigating team choosing a pattern to follow to go over the scene looking for evidence

- methods: grid, linear, quadrant/zone, spiral

- multiple investigators use quadrants/zones, single investigators use others

scene evidence collection

- use various tools to gather evidence

- flashlights: illuminates evidence

- forceps: helps pick up materials without gathering extra material

- vacuum with a clean bag: collects fiber evidence (last resort b/c it picks up extra material)

levels of priority

1. biological evidence, trace materials, fragile evidence

2. swabs from handled items that have been moved, out of place, or don't belong to the resident

3. lower-class bio evidence

how are liquids and arson stored?

in airtight, unbreakable containers

how is bio evidence stored?

in breathable containers for evidence to dry out to reduce mold growth

physical evidence

non-living/inorganic items (glass, fibers, paint, drugs, firearms, etc)

biological evidence

organic items (saliva, hair, bodily fluids, wood, pollen, etc)

reconstructive evidence

shows who did what, where, and when (shoeprints, entry and exit, bullet direction, etc)

associative evidence

either ties a suspect to the scene or shows they weren't there (blood, fingerprints, hair, etc)

direct evidence

"facts" (video footage, eyewitness statements, confessions)

circumstantial evidence

something that implies a link to the crime (hair, prints, etc)

class evidence

not a specific object but something that fits into a type of object (hair, t-shirt, type A blood, etc)

individual evidence

so specific that it matches to one person (glass shards match, license plate, etc)