Forensic Science Exam Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering forensic science careers, crime lab units, branches of forensic science, and key historical figures based on the provided exam study guide.

Forensic Scientist

A professional who examines evidence using science, performs appropriate analysis, reaches conclusions based on evidence, and gives conclusions or testimony in court.

Pathologist

A specialist who examines bodies and injuries to determine causes and circumstances of death.

DNA Analyst

A specialist who examines DNA evidence to identify or exclude people.

Toxicologist

A specialist who tests for drugs, poisons, alcohol, and other substances in biological samples.

Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)

A professional who finds, documents, collects, and preserves evidence at a crime scene.

Odontologist

A specialist who uses teeth and dental evidence for identification and investigations.

Entomologist

A specialist who studies insects to help investigate time of death and environmental factors.

Forensic Psychologist

A professional who applies psychology to legal and criminal investigations.

Digital Forensic Analyst

A specialist who examines digital evidence such as computers, phones, and electronic data.

Ballistics Expert

A specialist who examines firearms, bullets, and ammunition.

Forensic Chemist

A specialist who uses chemistry to identify and analyze substances and chemical evidence.

Forensic Document Examiner

A specialist who examines handwriting, signatures, documents, ink, printing, and alterations.

Forensic Photographer

A professional who photographs and documents crime scenes and evidence.

Forensic Anthropologist

A specialist who uses knowledge of human bones and remains to help with identification.

Biology Unit

A crime-lab unit that examines biological evidence such as blood, DNA, and other biological materials.

Firearms Unit

A crime-lab unit that examines guns, bullets, and firearms-related evidence.

Physical Science Unit

A crime-lab unit that uses areas such as chemistry and physics to analyze physical evidence.

Toxicology Unit

A crime-lab unit that examines substances such as drugs and toxins.

Latent Fingerprint Unit

A crime-lab unit that examines fingerprints found at crime scenes.

Document Examination Unit

A crime-lab unit that examines questioned documents and writing.

Photography Unit

A crime-lab unit that documents evidence and crime scenes through photographs.

Forensic Science

An interdisciplinary field involving biology, medicine, chemistry, physics, psychology, anthropology, engineering, and law enforcement that applies science to law/criminal investigations.

Edmond Locard

A forensic pioneer who applied scientific techniques to criminal investigations, set up one of the first real forensic laboratories, and is known for Locard's Exchange Principle.

Locard's Exchange Principle

The principle stating that when two objects or people come into contact, evidence can be transferred between them.

Song Ci (Sung Tz'u)

An individual who lived during the Song Dynasty, published an early systematic handbook on forensic pathology, and is known as the Father of Forensic Medicine.

Alphonse Bertillon

A forensic figure who developed anthropometry and used body measurements to help identify repeat offenders.

Anthropometry

A system developed by Alphonse Bertillon using body measurements to help identify repeat offenders.

Francis Galton

An important contributor to the development of fingerprinting.

Calvin Goddard

An important contributor to ballistics.

Alexandre Lacassagne

A scientist who contributed to criminal anthropology.

Mathieu Orfila

An important figure in forensic toxicology and the scientific study of poisons.