FRSC 3010 (CSI) Midterm Notes

Common Law

Derived from judicial decisions of courts and similar tribunals. All of Canada adheres to it.

Criminal Code

An act respecting the criminal law. Defines criminal acts and procedures in Canada.

Crime Scene

Any physical scene that may provide evidence of a crime.

Physical Evidence

Items/exhibits that may provide a connection, relationship, or association between persons and/or objects.

Scientific Method

Observation, formulating hypothesis, use of hypothesis, experimentation.

Overall Photos

Give context to the evidence that may be found within the crime scene.

DSLR

Camera used for crime scene photography. What you see through the viewfinder (or LCD monitor) is how the photo turns out.

Digital Photo

Made when a light-sensitive microchip (sensor) captures light on each of millions of tiny picture elements called pixels.

CCD

Digital equivalent of film. CCD contains millions of silicon photo sensors.

Exposure

Amount of light that reaches the camera sensor (CCD). Looking for a balanced, even exposure in the photo.

Aperture

Size of the opening in the camera lens through which light passes. Bigger opening, more light passes through.

Shutter Speed

The length of time the camera shutter stays open, exposing light onto the camera sensor.

ASA/ISO

Numerical rating that describes the sensitivity to light of CCD/film. Does not affect the amount of light entering the camera. It brightens a photo after the sensor has been exposed to light.

Depth of Field

The distance between the closest and farthest object in a photo that appears acceptably sharp.

Lens Focal Length

Tells us the angle of view (how much of the scene is captured) and magnification (how large pixels are).

TTL

"Through the Lens." A mode on the camera where a pre-flash occurs, reflecting light back through the lens.

Direct Flash

Flash is pointed directly at the subject/item. The flash is mounted on top of the camera on the hot shoe.

Feathered Flash

Off-camera flash held above the lens, pointed to the scene and downwards where light is needed, approximately 2/3 of the way.

Fill-in Flash

Used on bright sunny days. Camera reads the overall brightness when calculating the exposure. Items in shadow areas will not be clearly visible. Point flash in the direction of shadow areas to raise the brightness level in the shadow area.

Bright Flash

Used for less contrast, softer lighting, and reducing the intensity of the light. Flash head is typically set to 45 degrees.

Oblique Flash

Used for photographing impression evidence. Flash is connected to a flash sync cord and held at an angle to the subject being photographed (45 degrees). Used to show detail by creating shadows on the surface of the evidence.

Multiple Flash (On Camera)

Camera mounted on a tripod. Flash is activated manually. Used for low light/no light situations.

Multiple Flash (Off Camera)

Also known as "painting by light." Used for large outdoor scenes at night with little ambient light.

Ring Flash

Circular flash that fits around a camera lens. Allows light to spread out evenly over the area being shot. Great for macro (close-up) photography.

Macro Lens

Allows focus extremely close to a subject (1:1 aspect ratio).

Caveat

Time at a scene is limited.

Enhancement

To improve the value or quality of a photo. Involves the use of a software program like Photoshop.

Manipulation

To change a photo so it serves one's own purpose. Manipulated images are not allowed in court.

Primary

Location where the actual crime or initial crime occurred. For example, murder scene - body location.

Secondary

Location where subsequent crime or actions related to the initial crime scene occurred. For example, a car is found.

CFS

Canadian Forensic Service. Established in 1932, renamed in 1966. Independent of the police and court systems.

High Volume Service

Mainly deals with B&Es, theft, drug offenses, weapons, stolen vehicles. Accepts cigarette butts, swabs, cutouts from envelope flaps.

Violent Crime Service

Deals with all primary designated offenses except B&E. Homicides, robbery, sexual assault.

Primary Offense

DNA databank order is compulsory for adults/young persons convicted of one of these offenses.

Secondary Offense

An offense that is prosecuted by way of indictment where the maximum punishment is prison for 5 years or more.

Grid Search

A method of searching an area by completing a line search in both directions, time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Zone Search

Dividing an area into several adjacent zones for searching, useful for finding small objects, can be done by one or more people.

Spiral Search

A search method where one walks in a circular direction from the inside/outside to the outside/inside of the area, useful when looking for evidence expected to be found in a specific distance or pattern.

NDDB

National DNA Database, assists law enforcement agencies in solving crimes through two indices:Convicted Offender Index (COI) and Crime Scene Index (SCI).

CODIS

Combined DNA Index System, allows federal, state, and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles, contains over 18 million profiles.

Rough Sketch

A preliminary sketch drawn at the crime scene, not to scale, gives a bird's eye view of the scene.

Triangulation Method

A method of measuring distances within a crime scene using two fixed permanent objects and measuring from each fixed point to each piece of evidence.

Rectangular Coordinate Method

A method of measuring distance to an object from two mutually perpendicular objects (walls), useful for indoor scenes.

Baseline Method

A method of measuring items of evidence when there are various objects in the crime scene, useful for outdoor scenes.

Polar Coordinate Mapping

A 2D mapping system that requires measuring angles and distance from a fixed point, useful for large outdoor scenes with few landmarks.

Final Sketch

A precise rendering of the crime scene created from the rough sketch, drawn in ink and to scale.

Forensic Mapping

Measuring crime scenes with new technology such as laser scanners and measurers to create detailed sketches that can utilize 3D technology and incorporate photos.

Fingerprints

Impressions of the friction ridges of all or any part of the finger.

Palmar

Referring to the bottom of hands.

Plantar

Referring to the bottom of feet.

Epidermis

The outer layer of skin that constantly replaces cells, has five different layers and a 28-day cell migration cycle.

Dermis

The inner layer of skin, a thick layer of fibrous and elastic tissue that gives skin flexibility and strength, contains nerves, sweat glands, and blood vessels.

Loop

A fingerprint pattern where lines enter on one side, recurve around, and leave on the same side, approximately 65% of fingerprints have this pattern.

Whorl

A fingerprint pattern where at least one ridge does a complete circuit, approximately 30% of fingerprints have this pattern.

Arch

A fingerprint pattern where lines enter on one side and leave on the other side, about 5% of fingerprints have this pattern.

Minutiae

Characteristics of ridge patterns in fingerprints, the average finger contains as many as 150 ridge characteristics.

Incipient Ridge

An immature friction ridge that is thinner than the surrounding ridges, also known as "false/rudimentary/nascent" ridges.

Anatomical Aspects

How the object was handled and the way the fingerprint was deposited.

Substrate

The type of surface on which the fingerprint was located and how it impacts the appearance of the fingerprint.

Matrix

The material or medium deposited on the substrate by the finger, such as sweat in combination with sebaceous oil, dirt, blood, grease, etc.

Deposition Pressure

The assessment of downward pressure exerted by the finger on contact with the substrate.

Lateral/Pressure Distortion

The assessment of movement of the finger while in contact with the substrate, such as twisting.

Clarity

The visual quality of the friction ridge detail in a fingerprint, affected by the quality of the impression, the lift, or the photo.

Exclusion

The determination by an examiner that there is sufficient disagreement in detail to conclude that two areas of friction ridge impressions did not originate from the same source.

Inconclusive

The determination by an examiner that there is neither sufficient agreement to individualize nor sufficient disagreement to exclude in the friction ridge impressions.

Identification

The determination by an examiner that there is sufficient agreement in detail to conclude that two friction ridge impressions originated from the same source.

Latent

Fingerprint impressions that are not readily visible to the naked eye and require the use of development techniques.

Visible

Fingerprint impressions that are readily visible without the use of development techniques.

Molded

Impressions that retain the 3D shape of the ridge detail within the surface, such as wax or chewing gum.

Nonporous

Development techniques for nonporous surfaces include powdering with finely ground, colored powder or glue fuming (glass bottle).

Porous

Development techniques for porous surfaces include chemical processes (paper).

Powdering

The application of finely ground, colored powder to a nonporous object to make latent prints visible.

Brush Type

Different types of brushes used for powdering, including fiberglass filament brush, camel-hair brush, and feather duster.

Edmond Locard

A forensic scientist who coined the phrase "Every contact leaves a trace" and created the first crime laboratory in Lyon, France in 1910.

Trace evidence

Now considered to be trace evidence.

Dactyloscopy

Extensive work in the study of fingerprints.

Alphonse Bertillon

Created a system for identification based on 11 body measurements and comparing body parts.

Anthropometry or Bertillonage

System known as Anthropometry or Bertillonage, used to distinguish first-time offenders from recidivists.

Hans Gross

Austrian professor and magistrate, credited with coining the word "criminalistics".

CSI

Crime scene investigator, civilian.

FIO

Forensic Ident officer, sworn.

FSA

Forensic services assistant, civilian.

FIA

Forensic ident assistant, sworn or civilian.

SOCO

Scenes of crime officer, civilian.

SCS

Scenes of Crime Specialist, sworn or civilian.

CSST

Crime Scene support technician, civilians.

DSLR

Digital Single Lens Reflex.

CCD

Charged Coupled Device.

JPEG

Joint photographic experts group.

TIFF

Tagged Image Format.

UAV

Unmanned aerial vehicle (Drone).

HVS

High Volume Service.

VCS

Violent Crime Service.

NDDB

National DNA Data Bank.

CODIS

FBI's Combined DNA Index System.

CAD

Computer-aided drafting.

OSAC

Organization of Scientific Area Committees.

SWGFAST

Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis Study and Technology.

ACE-V

Analysis, comparison, evaluation, verification.

AAFS

American Academy of Forensic Sciences.