Forensics TSA

Autopsy

The internal and external examination of a body after death. An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death and establish other pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last consumed and the time it was consumed.

Ballistics

The study of the motion of bullets and their examination for distinctive characteristics after being fired. Examiners can use this evidence to match bullets or bullet fragments to specific weapons.

Blood Splatter

The pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help determine the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which the perpetrator or victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create the blood spill.

Caliber

The diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm, usually expressed in hundredths of an inch or in millimeters.

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 dealt with by the law.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix strand. Genetic code (fingerprint). 50% from mom and 50% from dad. ACGT.

DNA Electrophoresis

The technique by which DNA fragments are placed in a gel and charged with electricity. An applied electric field then separates the fragments by size, as part of the process of creating 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 the commission of a crime or other event under investigation

Fingerprint

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

Forensic Science

The application of science to law. The application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. The focus of forensics is the crime lab. The crime lab uses the principles and technique of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, anthropology, and other sciences in order to place physical evidence into a professional discipline.

Absolute Certainty

ultimate sureness with no implication of possible change.

Accountability

the quality of subordinate workers being responsible for his/her own work and answerable to a superior.

Accuracy

the degree of conformity of a measured quantity to its actual (true) value.

Acetone

a colorless, highly flammable chemical compound used as an organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and adhering liquids.

Accelerant

an agent, often an ignitable liquid, that acts to initiate a fire or increase its rate of spread.

Administrative documentation

records such as case related conversations, evidence receipts, description of evidence packaging and seals, and other pertinent information.

Administrative (or Laboratory Director) Case File Review

a detailed final review of the case file documentation. A member other than the assigned analyst must conduct the Laboratory Director case file review on all case files.

Algor mortis

the postmortem cooling of the body.

Analytical Data

all case specific records such as notes, worksheets, graphs, spectra, printouts, computer data files, photographs, photocopies, microscopic slides and other data or records.

Analytical Procedure

an orderly step-by-step process designed to ensure operational uniformity and to minimize systematic variability.

Analyst

any ADFS personnel assigned to perform scientific investigation or evidential examination.

Ante mortem - preceding death Antigens

foreign substances in the body that are capable of causing disease.

Arson

the intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other property.

Assessment

the process of evaluating analysts to determine their level of technical knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Asphyxiation

a medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack of oxygen in the blood.

Audit

a review conducted to compare the various aspects of the laboratory's performance with a standard for that performance.

Back spatter

blood directed back toward the source of energy or force that caused the spatter; often associated with entrance gunshot wounds.

Ballistics

branch of physics that deals with the flights of projectiles.

Base pair

combination of 2 nucleotides (A and T or G and C) held together by weak hydrogen bonds; the DNA double helix is formed when a base pair of nucleotides in the DNA strands are connected by these bonds.

Bile

a digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps digest fats.

Biology

the science that studies living organisms.

Blind or Double-Blind Sample Technique

a type of proficiency testing where the member is not aware that the sample/case under analysis is a quality assessment sample.

Blood borne pathogens

pathogenic microorganisms in blood or other body fluids that can cause disease in people. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in all of its forms.

Bloodstain

transfer resulting when liquid blood comes into contact with a surface.

Calibration

the set of operations which establish, under specified conditions, the relationship between values indicated by a measuring instrument or measuring system, or values represented by a material, and the corresponding known values of a measurement.

Case File

the hard copy case folder which contains all or part of the documentation forming the case record.

Case Record

all notes, reports, custody records, charts, analytical data, and any correspondence generated in the laboratory pertaining to a particular case, which may be located in the hard copy case folder or the LIMS.

Case Management

the approach for setting up a logical methodology for acceptance, analytical work, priority, transfer, and return related to work conducted.

Cause of death

disease or injury that initiates the lethal train of events leading to death.

Cerebral edema

the presence of a large amount of water in the spaces of the brain.

Certificate of Analysis

a document that reports and certifies the test results of a product.

Certified Reference Material

a reference material or standard whose property values are certified by a valid procedure or are accompanied by or traceable to a certificate or other documentation is issued by a recognized certifying body.

Chain of Custody

a record of individuals who have had physical possession of the evidence.

Chemicals & Toxic Substance List

a list of recognized chemicals and toxic substances present in the laboratory facilities.

Chromatogram

the pattern of separated substances obtained by chromatography.

Chromatography

a method for separating mixtures based on differences in the speed at which they migrate over or through a stationary phase.

CODIS

Combined DNA Index System; a DNA database system

CODIS administrator

an employee of the laboratory responsible for administration and security of the laboratory's CODIS at a laboratory that owns the database and/or known samples.

Competency test

the evaluation of a person's ability to perform work in any functional area prior to the performance of independent casework.

Congenital anomaly

an abnormality, such as a spinal column defect, present at birth.

Contact wound

a skin injury produced by a weapon in contact with or a fraction of an inch from the skin when discharged.

Continuing Education Courses

short, defined periods of formal job-related instruction (including but not limited to professional meetings) provided to members of a Forensic Laboratory for the purpose of enhancing job knowledge, skills, or abilities. Documentation of such training is to be kept on file in the Quality Manager's Office.

Control

a test with predictable results performed with an experimental procedure to confirm the reliability of the experimental results.

Controlled Substance

a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, and use are regulated by a government.

Coroner

an elected official with death investigation duties.

Corroborating evidence

evidence that tends to support a proposition that is already supported by some evidence.

Crime/Forensic Laboratory

a laboratory (with at least one full-time scientist), which examines physical evidence in criminal matters and provides opinion testimony with respect to such physical evidence in a court of law.

Crime scene

an area, object or person, external to a laboratory facility, from which evidence is identified, documented, collected, and/or interpreted.

Criteria

standards against which compliance is evaluated. The criteria are used to evaluate whether the laboratory activity meets the standard. This is often a restatement of the standard in the form of a question which can be answered "yes", "no", or not applicable - "(N/A)".

Database

refers to the DNA analysis of database samples for entry into CODIS and, if eligible, for upload to the National DNA Index System (NDIS).

Database sample

a sample obtained from an individual who is legally required to provide a DNA sample for databasing purposes and whose identity is established at the time of collection of the sample.

Deficiency

an inadequacy or lacking in some necessary defined quality or element. Deficiencies include but not limited to missing data, incomplete data, or incomplete reports.

Desirable

a defined standard, which has the least deleterious effect on the work product or the integrity of the evidence but which nevertheless, enhances the professional status, character, or values of the laboratory.

Detection Limit

the lowest quantity of a substance that can be distinguished from the absence of that substance (a blank value) within a stated confidence limit.

Discipline

a major forensic science area dealing with similar tests, examinations, or comparisons. Examples include but are not limited to the disciplines of DNA Database, Drug Chemistry, Firearms/Toolmarks, Forensic Biology, Forensic Pathology/Death Investigation, Implied Consent, Scene Investigation/Processing, and Toxicology.

Discipline Standard Operating Procedures Manuals (SOP)

manuals that concentrate on issues that are unique to a discipline or functional area. Examples include but are not limited to: maintenance and calibration of instruments and balances; reference standards and controls; detailed analytical protocols and procedures; health and safety issues specific to functional area. Each Discipline or Functional Area is required to have a Discipline SOP Manual.

Discrepancy

any reported result, casework, or proficiency test, which differs from the consensus result. Discrepancy is also defined as an apparent error in the final conclusion from an analytical procedure. Analytical procedures are tests performed in casework and proficiency tests. A final conclusion is issued in a report after appropriate reviews. Discrepancies may be classified as Class I, II, or III.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses.

Drift, Analytical

the systematic or scientific variability in a method, test, or procedure where results gradually deviate from the norm or the expected range.

Drug Chemistry Section

the discipline responsible for the analyzes of any substance seized under the state's laws restricting the sale, manufacture, distribution and use of abusive-type drugs.

Drug Standards Inventory

the physical accounting of drug standards used in the Chemistry and Toxicology Sections.

Duty

a responsibility, task, etc., required by or relating to one's occupation or position.

Electrophoresis

a technique for the separation of charged molecules by migration on a support medium under the influence of an electrical charge.

Equivocal death

manner of death (homicide, suicide, accident) remains undetermined after a complete investigation.

Error Rate

the frequency at which one deviates or strays from a correct standard.

Essential

a defined standard, which directly effects and has a fundamental impact on the work product of the laboratory or the integrity of the evidence.

Evidence

any item entrusted to the ADFS Forensic Laboratories for demonstrative examination.

Evidence Inventory

the physical accounting of evidence and records related thereto.

Evidence Submission Form

form used to receive evidence into the laboratory and to initiate request for laboratory examinations or analyses.

Evidence Transfer

a change in the possession of a custody item that must be documented in two specified locations (submitter and receiver). Transfers can occur from person to person, person to secure place, or secure place to secure place.

Evidence Vault(s)

a secured room or rooms for the storage of custody items.

Examinations (Training)

objective evaluative instruments designed to measure job-related knowledge, skills or abilities and usually conducted in one or more of these formats: written, oral, practical or moot court.

Examinations (Evidential)

the questioning, testing, comparing, or analyzing of a custody item in a prescribed manner that is helpful in forming a conclusion or judgment relative to the item

Exception

the temporary suspension of some essential element of a policy, procedure, or requirement caused by circumstances that are expected to return to normal at some point in the future. For the duration of the period, the policy, procedure, or requirement is temporarily modified. If the period is anticipated to last longer than one year, then the modification should be incorporated into the ADFS Quality or Operations manual.

External Proficiency Test

an exam process/instrument prepared by an outside provider and used as a quality assessment sample.

Exsanguination

bleeding to death.

False negative

test result that states that an analyte is absent, when, in fact, it is present above the established limit of detection for the analyte in question.

False positive

test result that states that an analyte is present, when, in fact, it is not present or, is present in an amount less than a threshold or designated cut-off concentration.

Fire Debris

a general term used to define the debris from a fire that is collected as evidence for laboratory examination.

Firearms and Toolmarks Section

a discipline responsible for the comparison of firearms, casings, projectiles and other evidence that may be associated through toolmarks. Toolmarks result whenever two items come into contact with sufficient force, such that one or both of the items bear markings resulting from the other item.

Forensic

the application of scientific knowledge to legal problems.

Forensic biology

the application of biology to law enforcement.

Forensic Pathology

a branch of pathology concerned with determining the cause of death by examination of a corpse.

Forensic science

the process of using science to resolve legal issues.

Forensic Toxicology

a discipline of forensic science concerned with the study of toxic substances or poisons, of which there are many thousands.

Gas chromatography

gas flowing through a coated tube separates compounds by their size, weight, and chemical reactivity with the coating of the tube or column.

Gel

support medium (agarose) that holds DNA molecules in place during the separation phase of electrophoresis.

Genetics

the study of inherited traits, genotype/phenotype relationships, and population/species differences in allele and genotype frequencies.