Forensic Test

Hot search

Assumes perpetrator is still in vicinity of CS, through search of CS and surrounding area, done immediately after CS is discovered

Cold search

Assumes perpetrator has fled scene, done hours/days after CS has been discovered, search surrounding neighborhood, neighbors questioned for potential witnesses

Direct evidence

proves a fact directly without any inference or presumption

Ex: your eyewitness testimony that you saw mr smith steal the diamond necklace

Circumstantial evidence

evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact

ex: your eyewitness testimony that you saw mr smith go into the house and when he came out the diamond necklace was gone

AAFS

American Academy of Forensic Science

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

CODIS

Combined DNA Index System

AFIS

Automated Fingerprint Identification System

FBI

Federal Bureau of Investigation

DEA

Drug Enforcement Administration

ATF

(Bureau of) Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

BPA

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

DOA

Dead On Arrival

DUI

Driving Under the Influence

TOD

Time of Death

PMI

Post Mortem Interval

DRT

Dead Right There

B&E

Breaking and Entering

Class evidence

Evidence with characteristics that belong to a group rather than a single source

Class evidence can narrow down possible suspects, some class evidence can be stronger if the group it belongs to is smaller/ more rare, becomes stronger as it adds up, if the suspect has similar hair, fibers, and blood types as the evidence left at the scene… the chance of another person having all those matching characteristics are low

Types of class evidence

Hairs, fibers, soil, paint chips, powders, blood types, product brand, make, model, lot year, etc.

Individual evidence

Evidence with characteristics that belong to a single source at the exclusion of all other sources

demonstrates that a person or object was at the crime scene, analyzing to the skill of the CSI to make a match, and the evidence available, ex. smudged fingerprints may only have 3 points of similarity with a suspect’s fingerprint is that enough similarity to convict

Types of individual evidence

DNA Fingerprints, fingerprints, wear patterns/impressions, things that ‘fit together’

Where on the body would a superficial wound be?

On the surface

What does a forensic psvchiatrist do?

Behavior/able to stand trial

Would a ransom note made out of a magazine (location unknown) be class or individual evidence?

Class

\n Who said that interaction will have an exchange of evidence?

Locard

Direct or circumstantial: video camera footage from the bank across the street

Direct

Who is known for forensic toxicology?

Orfila

What is human body term for fingers and toes

Digits

What is the human body term for close to where the limb attaches to the trunk?

Proximal

Why is DNA evidence usually so late in coming back?

Labs are backed up

Class or Individual: a smeared blood drop collected today

Class

What does forensic odontology study?

Teeth

Who has the biggest forensics lab?

FBI

What data base is used to store fingerprints?

AFIS

What is the body term for the place where blood is drawn?

Antecubital

The amendment that says police need a search warrant is the

4th

Ultimately who decides if the forensic evidence is good enough

Jury

Class or individual: a gun and shell casing near the body

Individual

Who is the CSI would investigate a building falling down?

Engineer

What is the CSI effect?

High expectation of speed and evidence

What data base contains DNA files?

CODIS

What body term means armpit?

Axillary

Direct or circumstantial: shoe print at the crime scene

Circumstantial

Who is credited with anthropometry?

Bertillon

Who first started studying fingerprints?

Galton

What did the Daubert ruling allow in court?

Expert witnesses

Class or individual: baseball bat found at the scene?

Class

What is the term for the front side of the body?

Anterior or ventral

What is the acronym for how long someone has been dead when they are found?

PMI

What does B&E mean?

Breaking and entering

What is the body term for the back of the knee?

Popliteal

What is the body term for the neck vertebrae?

Cervical