Forensics Midterm

floating around in the liquid portion of the blood

antibodies present in the blood can be found in which of the following locations

both a and b antibodies

an individual who is type o has

curved

human ribs are characterized by their ___ shape

acute

the angle of the pubic arch tends to be ___in male skeletons

recessive

a copy of a gene that is suppressed by other copies

2

the presence or absence of how many antigens determines an individuals blood type in the abo system

both a and b antigens

type ab blood has

the standard reference sample does not share characteristics with evidence at the crime scene

physical evidence can be used to exonerate or exclude a person from suspicion

identification

when a forensic analyst determines the chemical composition of preparations that may contain illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or barbituates

carbon dioxide

the function of red blood cells is to deliver oxygen to body tissues and remove waste in this form

Trochanter

This structure is more pronounced in animal femurs and used as a way to distinguish remains

Larger

Animal bones are distinguishable from human bones in that their tubercles on upper arm bones are ___ compared to that of humans

Blunt force trauma

These types of injuries are characterized by their wide surface area of effect

Homozygous

A gene pair made up of two similar alleles

The surface of red blood cells

Antigens present in the blood Can be found in which location

Comparison

The examination of a paint chip found on a hit and run victims garment side by side with paint removed from a vehicle suspected of being involved in the incident is an example

Product rule

To calculate he overall frequency of occurrences of a blood type in a population, the ___ can be applied by using a series of blood factors that occur independently of each other

Orfila

The father of forensic toxicology

Bertillon

Who developed the system known as anthropometry

Locard

Who established the first workable crime laboratory

Reasons for the rapid growth of crime labs

Supreme court decisions in the 60s leading to understanding Miranda rights

Increase in drug related arrests

Staggering increase in crime rates

Advent of DNA profiling

Physical science

The ___ unit applied principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime scene evidence

Forensic psychiatry

Which specialized area of forensic science examines the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings

Forensic engineering

A crime scene which involved the collapse of a structure would be analyzed by specialists in this area

Fingerprint analysis

Not included in the work of the biology unit

Toxicology unit

Which unit has the responsibility for the examination of bodily fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons

Teeth

Forensic odontology refers to

Frye standard

The concept of general acceptance of scientific evidence

Trial judge

In the case Of daubert vs merell Dow pharmaceuticals the us supreme court advocated that a gatekeeper determines the admissibility And reliability of scientific evidence

Jury

The final evaluator of forensic evidence

1686

Malphigi recognizes the characteristic of fingerprints

1879

Bertillon creates the system of measures to id criminals

1910

Osborn publishes questioned documents

1901

Dr landsteiner discovers blood types

1831

Microscopic detection of sperm

300

Yi yu gi is published

1775

Scheele develops techniques to detect arsenic in stomach lining

1798

Fodere writes a treatise on forensic medicine and public health

1814

Orfila wrote a treatise on toxicology

1984

Sir Alec Jeffries develops dna profiling

1950s

Marked advancements in computer technology revolutionizes the field of forensics

1910

Locard starts the first forensic crime lab

Physical science unit

Deals with chemistry physics and geology

Analyze physical evidence

Biology unit

Staffed with biologists and biochemist

Performs dna profiling

Firearms unit

Deals with firearms and everything related

Analyzes all murder weapons

Document examination unit

Examines the type of paper, ink, or graphite used, indentations, ascertain authenticity

Photography unit

Documents physical evidence at the scene of the crime

Utilizes techniques to elucidate more info of the crime scene

Toxicology unit

Examine bodily fluids and organs for drugs or poison

Helps to determine if the deceased was intoxicated

Latent fingerprint unit

Process and examine evidence for fingerprints

Polygraph unit

Lie detector tests

Voiceprint analysis unit

Analyze phone calls etc for things like tone, cadence, inflection, accents etc

Construct a voice print of a conversation to match to suspects

CSI unit

Comprised of police and civilians trained in crime scene collection

Forensic psychiatry unit

Evaluates a criminal for competency for trial

Used to evaluate claims of insanity or otherwise

DSM-5

Forensic odontology

Often uses teeth or dental records as a means to identify bodies that have decamped or that have been left in an unrecognizable state

Forensic engineering

Concerned with accident reconstruction, origins of fires or structural failure

Forensic computer and digital analysis

Fast growing field

Analysis of computer and cellphone records

Might need to deobfiscate data, track down phone or computer usage, and hack hard drives

Frye vs the United States

Established that methods used by experts must be generally accepted by the larger scientific community

Daubert vs merell Dow pharmaceuticals

Based on suficient facts

Product of reliable principles

Witness has applied the principles or methods reliably

Kumho tire vs Carmichael

Not only is the trial judge the gatekeeper for scientific evidence, but all expert testimonies

Coppolino vs state

Shows how important the precedent set in daubert is

Crawford vs Washington

Confrontation clause (6th amendment)

Melendez Diaz vs Massachusetts

Extended precedent set in Crawford to exper witnesses

Individual characteristics

Properties of evidence that can be attributed to a common source with a high degree of certainty

Class characteristics

Properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and never a single source

Gene

Carries genetic information

Inherited from both parents

A discreet location on a chromosome that can be transcribed

Allele

A copy of a gene

Genotype

Genetic makeup of an organism

Phenotype

Outward physical appearance caused by the genotype

Osteobiography

Bone story

Incudes discussion of age, sex, stature, ancestry, and individualizing features

Compression

Pushes down on the bone

Fracture lines ( wide reaching and radiate from point of impact)

Most often occurs on the skull

Shearing

Similar to bending

Characteristic of other fractures sometimes

Dismemberment

Bending

impacts bone at 90 degree angle

causes triangular break

parry fracture

caused when someone holds up arms in self defense

Torsion

most often occurs in accidents

child abuse

Tension

pulls on the long axis of the bone

causes dislocation

not seen in violent deaths

blunt force trauma

caused by wide instrument with flat/round surface

injures the wide surface area of the bone

caused by anything used as a club

can occur during accidents

projectile trauma

complete displacement of bone with radiating fracture lines from the point of impact

caused by compression force and sometimes bending force

weapons include bullets arrows etc

sharp force trauma

caused by compression force or shearing force

when the force is perpendicular then puncture wounds in the bone will appear

when applied at an angle then grazing cut marks appear

the four main causes of death

accident

suicide

homicide

natural

signs of asphyxiation

bruising around neck

crushed trachea

broken hyoid bone

clues that someone drowned

water in the lungs

plant matter or sand in the lungs

water microorganisms in the lungs

gunshot wound

round wound

sometimes has entry and exit wound (always has an entry)

abrasion

skin is scraped

signs a victim may have been dragged across the ground

contusion

bruising

indicates blunt force trauma

may indicate type of weapon used

knife stab wounds

important to note the width and depth of the wound l

laceration

deep cut

unclean edges

tear in the skin

defensive wounds

wounds on hands and arms where they are used to block an attacker

livor mortis

blood pools in the lowest parts of the body due to gravity

usually seen 1-2 hours after death

fixed 6-8 hours after death

rigor mortis

first stage of postmortem existence

stiffening of the muscles starting with the smallest

begins around 1-2 hours after death

algor mortis

cooling of the body after death

putrefaction

first part of decomposition

breakdown of body tissues by bacteria from inside out

first sign of putrefaction

bacteria digests tissue

area around stomach turns green

second sign of putrefaction

bacteria makes gas which causes the abdomen to swell up

third sign of putrefaction

skin separates from muscle tissue

blood leakage causes skin to dark

fourth sign of putrefaction

blisters with gas appears

abdomen may burst

autopsy

surgical procedure performed by a pathologist on a dead body to ascertain - from the body, organs, and fluids - the cause of death

clinical autopsy

focuses on internal organ findings and medical conditions

confirms diagnosis

forensic autopsy

determine the cause and manner of death

often used in criminal proceedings

emphasize external and internal findings while developing correlations between injuries and the crime scene

things to be collected during an autopsy

victims clothing

fingernail scrapings or clippings

combing from head and pubic areas

buccal swab

vaginal and oral swab

bullets from body

swabs of body areas suspected of being in contact with dna

External examination

Broad preview of condition of the body and clothes

General characteristics of the body should be noted (sex, height, weight, etc)

Internal examination

Y shaped incision

Removal of all internal organs