CSI unit 1

Forensic Science/Criminalistics- the examination of physical evidence. 

Evidence- anything that tends to establish or disprove a fact.  

Ballistics- the science that deals with the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles.

Toxicology- drugs, poison

Polygraphs- lie detector tests

Anthropology- study the human skeleton

Psychiatry- study and treatment of mental disorders

Odontology- bite marks and dental ID

Pathology- study sudden, unexplained or violent death, often related to disease

Entomology- insects

Palynology- pollen and spores

Polygraphy- “lie detector”, not admissible in court

The Locard Principle- "with contact between two items, there will be an exchange"

Statutory Law- legislative acts declaring, commanding, or prohibiting something

Case Law- the body of law made up of judicial opinions and precedents

Stare decisis- “to stand by the decision,” meaning previous legal decisions are to be followed

Civil Law- law that deals with noncriminal suits brought to protect or preserve a civil or private right or matter

Criminal Law- regulation and enforcement of rights, setting the acceptable limits of conduct in society

Misdemeanor- a minor crime, lass than a felony, usually punished with a fine or confinement other than in a prison

Felony- a serious crime, such as murder, punishable by more than one year of imprisonment up to execution

Probative Value- The ability of evidence to prove something that is material to a crime

Material- relevant and significant

Probable Cause- situation in which a reasonable and prudent person, viewing the available info., would conclude that a crime has been committed and that a suspect committed it

Violation- a breach of right duty, or law

Infraction- violation of a rule or law that is not punishable by prison

Elements- in criminal law, the specific factors or parts of a crime

Booking- a police procedure following an arrest that records basic info. About the suspect, a photo and fingerprints and perhaps a lineup

Miranda rights- rights guaranteed by the constitution that police must tell arrestees about especially the right to remain silent the right to an attorney

Arraignment- the first act in a criminal proceeding, where the defendant is brought before the court to hear charges and enter a plea

Bail- money that guarantees the defendant will appear

Nolo contendere- no contest, not confession but punished as though guilty

Preliminary hearing- before judge to determine if the suspect should be held for trial

Grand jury- group of people sworn to inquire about a crime and possibly accuse

Indict- formally accuse

Plea bargain- pleads guilty to lesser charge to avoid cost and time of trial

MMO- Motive, Means and Opportunity (must be established to prove guilt)

Material witness- has info. about subject

Hearsay- testimony given by what others say NOT ADMISSIBLE

Expert- specialist in a certain area

Frye standard- evidence only admissible if “sufficiently established”

Daubert Ruling- revision of Frye, incorporates the scientific method

Evidence- tends to establish or disprove a fact.  Evidence can include documents, testimony, and other objects

Testimonial Evidence- what is said in court (under oath) by a competent witness; also called direct evidence or prima facie evidence

Competent- Having the necessary ability, knowledge, or skill to do something successfully

Physical Evidence- tangible items that tend to prove some material fact; also called real evidence, indirect evidence and circumstantial evidence.  

Transient evidence - temporary; easily changed or lost; usually observed by the first officer at the scene.  Needs to be documented before it goes away.

Pattern evidence - produced by direct contact between a person and an object or between two objects.

Conditional evidence- produced by a specific event or action; important in crime scene reconstruction and in determining the set of circumstances or sequence within a particular event.  Should be documented before it is changed.

Transfer evidence - produced by contact between person(s) and object(s), or between person(s) and person(s).

Associative evidence - something that may associate a victim or suspect with a scene or with each other; e.g., personal belongings.

MMO- (Motive Means and Opportunity)

class evidence - connection with a group of things/people.

individual evidence - connection to one specific thing/person

Crime Scene- any place where evidence may be located and gather to help explain evidence

Modus Operandi- the characteristic method of operation of criminal; sometimes referred to as MO

Notes- help you remember details, TRANSIENT OR CONDITIONAL EVIDENCE!

Photographs and Videotape- catch things that observers miss

Sketches- give perspective and scale to the photos and scale

Chain of custody- a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence

civil law - private law

criminal law - public law