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Forensic ScienceForensic Science Flashcards

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8544085029Forensic Sciencethe applications to matters of science to law -As well as. . . The business of providing timely, accurate, and thorough information to all levels of decisions makers in our criminal justice system.0
8544085030Criminalisticsthe scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes This term is synomous with forensic science1
8544085031Criminologyincludes the physcological angle, studying the crime scene for motive, traits, and behavior that will help to interpret the evidence2
8544085032Divisions of Crime Lab**Physical Science Unit -chemistry -physics **Geology **Biology Unit(DNA) **Firearms Unit(tool mark) **Document Examination Unit **Photography Unit3
8544085033Edmond Locard**French professor **Considered the father of: criminalistics( understood the importance of nature in crime scenes and other cases.) **Built the world's first forensic laboratory in France in 1910 Exchange Principle Whenever two objects come into contact with each other, traces of each are exchanged.4
8544085034Mathieu OrfilaFather of: toxicology, spainish medical proffessor who developed a test for identifying arsenic in the body5
8544085035Alphonse BertillonFather of: criminal identification6
8544085036Francis GaltonFirst to develop a method of: first to develop a method using fringerprints as a means of identification.4f7
8544085037Dr. Karl LandsteinerAn Austrian physician that identified the A, B, AB, and O blood groups in 1901.8
8544085038Rudolf VirchowA German pathologist who standardized a way to preform autopsies one of two ways still used today. ** His cell theory, ("Omnis cellula e cellula") said that cells arise only from other cells.9
8544085039Eugene Francois VidocqConsidered the father of modern criminal investigation. Perhaps the greatest real life detective. He was a criminal that continually escaped from prison. Eventually, he was asked to lead a group of criminals that helped the police solve crimes. This group became the **Surete** which was the most effective police agency in all of France.10
8544085040scientific method1. Observe a problem 2. Consider a hypothesis or possible solution. 3. Examine, test, and then analyze the evidence. 4. Determine the significance of the evidence. 5. Formulate a theory based on evaluation of the significance of the evidence11
8544085041Recongnitionability to distinguish important evidence from unrelated material(which doesn't belong)12
8544085042Preservationcollection of evidence(properly clothed for the contamtination of other evidence)13
8544085043Identificationuse of scientific testing14
8544085044Classmeasured against those of know standards or controls; If all measurements are equal, then the two samples are considered to have come from the same source or origin.(can you group it?)15
8544085045Individualization-demonstrating that the sample is unique, even among members of the same class.(allows you to indenitfy the one contribuator or person)16
8544085046Interpretationgives meaning to all the information(meaning of the labs)(in the court)17
8544085047Reconstructionthe case events( can be able to put the evidence in chronological order to present the evidence to a jury)(in the court)18
8544085048direct evidenceeyewitness statements, confessions( not always the best because of biased)19
8544085049Circumstantialrequires a indriect judegment or inference about what happened ***Circumstantial evidence is not absolute proof, but does provide a general idea of what happened. It may be more reliable than direct. Circumstantial is used in most cases.20
8544085050Testimonialalso known as direct evidence or Prima Facie evidence( a statement made underoath that may be given)21
8544085051Physicalany object or material that is relevant in a crime22
8544085052Transient Evidencetemporary; easily changed or lost; usually observed by the first officer at the scene23
8544085053Pattern Evidenceproduced by direct contact between a person and an object or between two objects; most are in the form of imprints, indentations, striations, markings fractures or deposits. -skid marks24
8544085054Conditional Evidenceproduced by a specific event or action; important in crime scene reconstruction and in determining the set of circumstances within a particular event **head light25
8544085055Transfer of Evidenceproduced by contact between person(s) or object(s), or between person(s) and object(s)26
8544085056Associative Evidence-items that may associated a victim or suspect with a scene or each other; ie, personal belongings27
8544085057Classcommon group of objects or persons -> blood type28
8544085058Individualcan be identified with a particular person or source(can isolate to one and only source) -> blood dna29
85440850591923 Frye v. United StatesScientific evidence is allowed into the courtroom if it was generallyaccepted by the scientific community. ****The Frye standard does not offer any guidance on reliability30
85440850601993 Daubert v. Dow Admissibility is determined by:***Whether the theory or technique can be tested ***Whether the science has been offered for peer review ***Whether the rate of error is acceptable ***Whether the method at issue enjoys widespread ****acceptence(scientific community-can an indendenat lab concuct the same evidence support in another lab) ***Whether the opinion is relevant to the to the issue31
8544085061probativeactually mean something32
8544085062materialaddress an issue in this particular crime33
8544085063Means—person has the ability to do the crime34
8544085064Motiveperson has a reason to do the crime35
8544085065Opportunityperson had the ability to be at the crime36
8544085066first officer on the sceneA—assess the scene D—detain the witness ask them questions--details to write down A—arrest the perpetrator P—protect the crime scene—take out crime tape and shut of certain areas no matter how large T—take notes—compile data, including presenting any fragile evidence at the scene37
8544085067Medicolegal death investigator-representative from the medical examiner or coroner's office. Responsible for the body.38
8544085068Police investigatorsideally, 5 respond to a scene. Police have jurisdiction of the crime scene.39
8544085069Case Detective-Document the crime scene -Interview the original or reporting patrol officer -Examine crime scene with crime scene investigator (CSI) -Pass on necessary info to assisting detectives40
8544085070Homicide Supervisor-Assign roles to the detectives -Arrange for necessary resources -Keep logs of assignments -Relay into to commanders41
8544085071documentation for the crime scene-notes -photographpy -sketches -videography42
8544085072Link methodBased on the linage theory of Locard; one type of evidence leads to another; experiential, logical and systematic; most common and productive type used43
8544085073Line or strip method-best in large, outdoor scenes44
8544085074Zone method-most effective in houses or buildings; teams are assigned small zones for searching45
8544085075Wheel or ray methodbest on small, circular crime scenes46
8544085076Spiral method-may move inward or outward; best used where there are no physical barriers47
8544085077grid methodbasically a double-line search; effective, but time-consuming48
8544085078Triangulationuses two points at the crime scene to map each piece of evidence49
8544085079Coordinate or grid-divides the crime scene into squares for mapping.50
8544085080Suspended Polar coordinate-coordinate-for use in mapping evidence in a hole51
8544085081Baselineset a north/south line and measures each piece of evidence from this line.52
8544085082Druggist Foldis used with larger pieces of paper folded around larger items to hold trace evidence in place. These are then placed insider other containers such as paper bags, plastic bags, canisters, packets and envelopes depending on the type and size of the evidence.53
8544085083chain of custodyA written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence.54
8544085084K-9 programsNarcotics--dogs that find illegal drugs Tracking--dogs that look for a fugitive or suspect that is would be near the crime scene Bomb detection--dogs that look for explosive devices Arson detection--dogs trained to detect various types of accelerants Search and rescue--dogs that look for people who are lost Body detector--dogs used in mass disasters Cadver--dogs trained to detect decomposition Human Remains Specialists--dogs that can detect any human remains.55
8544085085Juan Vucetichan Argentinian police officer, researched the science of fingerprints, corresponded with Galton, then devised his own system of fingerprint classification.56
8544085086Sir Edward HenryHe devised a workable classification system for fingerprints57
8544085087The Bertillon Systemdeveloped the first truly organized system of identifying individuals in 1883. He believed that everyone could be distinguished from one another by key measurements of their body. These measurements became known as berillonage.58
8544085088Thomas JenningsThe first person convicted in the US on fingerprint evidence.59
8544085089Brandon MayfieldA lawyer and convert of Muslim, was held for two weeks before the Spanish investigation revealed that the print instead belonged to Algerian, Ouhnane Daoud.60
8544085090Dactylosocopythe study of fingerprints61
854408509162
8544085092Fingerprint characteristics63
8544085093Arch fingerprintThey do NOT have type delta or cores64
8544085094arch tented archtented arch65
8544085095Loop fingerprintRadial --opens toward the thumb Ulnar --opens toward the "pinky" (little finger) ***Loops must have one delta or one core**.66
8544085096Plain WhorlThis print has 2 delta's and therefore it is a whorl67
8544085097Double loop whorl68
8544085098accidental whorl69
8544085099Primary Identification Numbers fingerprinting70
8544085100comparisonGenerally, criminal courts will accept 8 to 12 points of similarity.71
8544085101IAFISThe Automated Fingerprint Identification System--a computer system for storing and retrieving fingerprints72
8544085102visible fingerprintsMade by fingers touching a surface after the ridges have been in contact with a colored material such as blood, paint, grease, or ink.73
8544085103Plastic PrintsRidge impressions left on a soft material such as putty, wax, soap, or dust.74
8544085104Latent Printsare those that are "hidden" and are not visible to the naked eye. These prints consist only of the natural secretions of human skin and require treatment to cause them to become visible.75
8544085105Lifting latent printspowders, iodine,Ninhydrin,sliver nitrate, cyanoacrylate76
8544085106powdersadhere to both water and fatty deposits. Choose a color to contrast the background.77
8544085107Iodine--fumes react with oils and fats to produce a temporary yellow brown reaction. Iodine crystals sublime (go directly from solid to vapor).78
8544085108Ninhydrin--reacts with amino acids to produce a purple reaction.(works good with paper and styrofoam and takes a couple days and must be a little moist)79
8544085109Silver nitrateSilver nitrate--react with chlorides to form silver chloride, a material which turns gray when exposed to light.(does a lot of damage and should not be first choice)80
8544085110Cyanoacrylate- "super glue" fumes react with water and other fingerprint constituents to form a hard, whitish deposit.(used on irregular surfaces)81
8544085111palmlines can be identified and may be used against suspects82
8544085112footprintsare taken at birth as a means of identification83
8544085113accidentalsare marks made on the soles of the shoes that would make the print unique84
8544085114biometrics*Use of some type of body metrics for the purpose of identification. --controls entry or access to computers or other structures; identifies persons for security; helps prevent identity theft or controls social services fraud85
8544085115Five Prongs of Daubert-Testability -General Acceptence -General Review -Known or Potential ErrorRate -Maintenance of Standard & Controls86
8544085116testabilityA critical evaluation process that supports or refutes a hypothesis87
8544085117types of handguns-revolvers -pistols88
8544085118types of Shoulder guns-Rifles -Shot Guns89
8544085119toolThe harder of two objects that comes into forceful contact with one another, resulting in the softer object being marked90
8544085120tool markFeatures imparted on an object by the contact and force exerted from a tool. -impressed -striated91
8544085121impressed tool markFeatures produced when a tool contacts an object with enough compressive force that it leaves an impression.92
8544085122Parts of a handgun93
8544085123striated toolmarkFeatures produced when a tool contacts an object with lateral force and motion.94
8544085124caliberCaliber is the diameter of the bullet, specifically the projectile, commonly called the slug.95
8544085125class characteristicsGeneral and/or measurable features of a specimen which indicate a Restricted group source. They result from design factors, and are therefore determined prior to manufacture.96
8544085126Individual CharacteristicsMarks or features produced by the random imperfections or irregularities of tool surfaces. These characteristics can be used to individually associate a tool to a toolmark. -from abuse -wear from use also97
8544085127Range of conclusions for identifying firearms-identification -inconclusive -elimination98
8544085128identificationIf the quality and character of the toolmark have sufficient detail, can be concluded based on the correspondence of individual characteristics99
8544085129inconclusiveIf the quality and character of the toolmark are lacking, an examiner may not be able to make an identification or elimination.100
8544085130elimination-lack of characteristics -If disagreement in individual characteristics of an exceptional nature exists, an elimination conclusion may be the appropriate response.101
8544085131Daubert Decision-is Testable -is Generally Accepted -is Peer Reviewed -has Known Error Rates maintains Standards & Controls102

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