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Forensics > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is forensic science?

A

the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system
Also called criminalistics

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2
Q

sir arthur conan doyle

A

Popularized physical detection methods in a crime scene
Developed the character Sherlock

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3
Q

mathiew orfila

A

father of forensic toxicology

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4
Q

Calvin Goddard

A

1891-1966
Used a comparison microscope to determine if a bullet was fired from a specific gun
Published study of tool marks on bullets

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5
Q

edmond locard

A

1877-1966
Locard’s exchange principle states that once contact is made between two surfaces or people, a transfer of material(s) will occur
Study of the material can determine the nature and duration of the transfer

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6
Q

Hoover

A

In 1932, he established a national forensics library to support law enforcement in the US

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7
Q

Oldest american forensics laboratory

A

In LA, created in 1923

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8
Q

stages of death in order

A

rigor mortis
livor mortis
algor mortis

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9
Q

rigor mortis

A

immediately following death, the muscles relax and then become rigid, shortening of the muscles

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10
Q

livor mortis

A

when the human heart stops pumping. The skin will appear dark blue or purple in these lower areas close to the ground

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11
Q

algor mortis

A

the process in which the body temperature continually cools after death until it reaches room temperature, enabling the medical examiner to establish the general time of death

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12
Q

forensic entomology

A

The study of insects and their developmental stages
Can help to determine the time of death by knowing when those stages normally appear in the insect’s life cycle
Determines a person’s time and place of death

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13
Q

what is a crime scene

A

A location where a crime took place

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14
Q

what is evidence

A

Anything presented in support of an assertion

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15
Q

search methods

A

spiral
grid
strip/line
quad/zone

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16
Q

direct evidence

A

Direct evidence is evidence that directly proves a fact, such as a witness’s testimony or a physical object.
Firsthand observation (eyewitness accounts, police dashboard video cameras).
Physical objects: A physical object retrieved from a location, such as a living person or a dead body

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17
Q

circumstancial evidence

A

also called indirect
Evidence that does not, on its face, prove a fact in issue but gives rise to a logical inference that the fact exists
For instance, a suspect in a crime was seen by a witness fleeing the scene on foot after a convenience store robbery
Doesn’t actually prove that this person did the crime

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18
Q

physical indirect evidence

A

Examples of physical evidence include guns, weapons, bodily fluids, a bloody knife or shirt, fired bullets

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19
Q

why is physical indirect evidence good

A

Physical evidence is more reliable than testimonial evidence because it can be tested scientifically and does not lie.
Can actually see and photograph it
Can prove that a crime has been committed
Can corroborate or refute testimony
Can question if witness actually saw it but can’t question if the gun was there
Can establish identity of persons associated with crime
Can allow reconstruction of events of the crime

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20
Q

biological indirect evidence

A

Biological evidence is bodily fluids and tissues that can be used to identify individuals and link them to a crime scene. This evidence can include:
Blood, Semen, Saliva, Skin, Hair, urine, bite mark, plant, pollen
Collected with cotton-tip applicators, clean forceps, and packaged
Not always visible to naked eye

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21
Q

class evidence

A

indirect
A type of physical evidence that is common to a group of people or objects, and can be used to place an individual into a general category such as blood type or gun caliber

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22
Q

individual evidence

A

indirect evidence
evidence that can be linked to a single source, and is considered the best evidence.
Includes tear patterns that match together

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23
Q

examples of individual evidence

A

Fingerprints
Handwriting
Tear patterns that can be matched together
Hair with a ROOT
Broken glass
DNA patterns
Physical matches like broken pieces of glass that fit each other perfectly
Striations on a bullet

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24
Q

7 S’s of crime scene investigation

A

secure the scene
separate witnesses
scan the scene
seeing the scene
sketch form
search pattern
secure collected evidence

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25
Q

Functions of hair

A

Protection
Brows and lashes protect eyes from sweat, dirt, and dust. Nose hair protects nose from germs and foreign objects so we sneeze it out. Skin is protected from sun, dust, and other small particles
Thermoregulation
Hair stands up and keeps heat close to body. Serves as insulation and protects against friction
Sense organ only found in mammals

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26
Q

how many hairs shed daily

A
  1. 100 from head
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27
Q

2 main types of body hair

A

shorter and thinner “vellus” hairs (peach fuzz) found on the body
The longer and thicker “terminal” hairs. Examples of terminal hairs include the hair on your head, facial hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic hair, chest hair and belly hair

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28
Q

in what ways can hair vary

A

shape, color, length, texture, and diameter

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29
Q

arrector pili

A

tiny muscle surrounding hairs which make them stand up

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30
Q

sebaceous glands

A

secrete lubricating oil for skin and hair, also secretes sebum and slows down bacterial growth on skin

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31
Q

Morphology of hair

A

Shaft (cuticle, cortex, and medulla)

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32
Q

cuticle of hair

A

outside layer, transparent, has protective scales
Coronal, spinous, or imbricate
Scales always point to tip of hair

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33
Q

cortex of hair

A

middle layer where you find melanin
The cortex is the main body of the hair shaft.
The color, shape, and distribution of pigment granules (melanin)
Provides forensic scientist with points of comparison between individuals

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34
Q

medulla

A

core, most important part to forensic scientist, may be absent
The medullary index measures the diameter of the medulla relative to the diameter of the hair shaft
Usually less than ⅓ in humans, ½ or greater in animals
May be continuous, interrupted, fragmented, or absent

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35
Q

coronal scales

A

crown like, fine diameter, not usually in humans, seen in small rodents and bats

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36
Q

spinous scales

A

petal-like which are usually triangular shaped. Protrude from the hair shaft. Seen in seals and cats, not humans

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37
Q

imbricate scales

A

commonly found in humans, resemble puzzle pieces, overlapping scales

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38
Q

medulla in race (African, European, Asian)

A

African: fragmented or none
Euro: fragmented or none
Asian: continuous

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39
Q

Lanugo

A

A coat of delicate hairs found on human fetuses preterm

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40
Q

vellus hair

A

fine hair present on the body after birth and before puberty

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41
Q

terminal hair

A

larger, coarser hair of the adult

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42
Q

3 stages of hair growth

A

anagen
catagen
telogen

43
Q

anagen

A

follicle actively producing hair and hair will grow

44
Q

catagen

A

transition phase from anagen to telophase, not actively growing

45
Q

telogen

A

when the follicle is dormant or resting. Hair routinely falls from skin. Most common type of hair found in crime scenes

46
Q

Detecting DNA in hair roots is most likely in what stage

A

Anagen

47
Q

How do fibers differ from each other

A

Chemical properties
Cross-sectional shape
Surface contour
Color
Length
Diameter

48
Q

types of fibers

A

animal (protein)
plant (cellulose)
mineral

49
Q

natural fibers

A

oldest fibers known to us
These are made up of cells
cashmere furs, cotton, silk
Any fiber that exists as a fiber in its natural state
Made of cells which can absorb moisture which makes them very comfortable

50
Q

plant fibers

A

Seeds
Stems
Leaves
The most common plant fibers encountered in case work are cotton, flax (linen), jute, hemp

51
Q

mineral fibers

A

Asbestos– a natural fiber that has been used in fire-resistant substances

52
Q

Animal fibers

A

Hair–wool is most common, can be brushed, clipped, shed, usually from sheep
Fur–skin of animal is treated to be flexible and retains the fur, rabbit, mink, and fox
Webbing–don’t shed as easily as hair fibers, silk comes from cocoon of caterpillar, fibers are long
Scale protrusion!!

53
Q

wool

A

commonly from sheep and most commonly used animal fiber
Finer woolen fibers used in clothes, coarse used in carpets
look at degree of scale protrusion and diameter

54
Q

Silk

A

insect fiber that is spun by a silkworm to make its cocoon
Take cocoon, treat it, makes silk
Fibers are very long

55
Q

synthetic fibers

A

produced solely from synthetic chemicals and include nylons (made by dupont, 2nd most common synthetic, polyesters (most popular synthetic fiber), acrylics, spandex, acetate, rayon

56
Q

What makes fabrics unique

A

Color, size, shape, microscopic appearance, chemical composition, and dye content
Very unlikely for two people to wear the same fabric

57
Q

Physical characteristics of fiber are examined by

A

Calculating density of fiber
Oxidation test (burn the fiber to evaluate ash, behavior of flame, and smells)

58
Q

chemical characteristics testing of man made fiber

A

Burning tests—look at ash, odor, color of flame, reaction, size of flame
pH Testing
Evaluating any residues or component parts within synthetic fibers
Chemical Decomposition tests—treat the fiber with strong acids and bases and see how it breaks down

59
Q

chromatography

A

separates the dye for analysis, accepted in court

60
Q

pollen is most commonly found where

A

cuff of suspect’s pants

61
Q

forensic botany questions

A

Who was with victim or at the crime scene/near time of death
What did the victim eat before dying
When was the crime committed/when was a specific person/vehicle/article at the scene
How long since it been sine postmortem interval/how long was body buried

62
Q

when did botany become part of FBI training

A

1993 at national academy at Quantico, virginia

63
Q

first mention of forensic botany

A

Plato’s Phaedo of 399 B.C
Describes sorates’ self administered death sentence of poison hemlock

64
Q

What happened that made forensic botany legally acceptable

A

Trial of Richard Hauptmann who kidnapped and murdered the son of charles lindbergh

65
Q

assemblages

A

groups of plants usually dominated by one species

66
Q

assemblages require?

A

same:
Soil Type
Wind
Altitude
Moisture
Sunlight
Longitude and latitude

67
Q

gastric contents and forensic botany

A

Cellulose can’t be digested!
If you open up stomach if victim died recently, cellulose hasn’t broken down (in corn and paper)
If these plants/cellulose are in last meal, we can estimate PMIs based on degree of digestion

68
Q

pollen vs spores

A

The male reproductive structure of a seed plant is called a pollen grain, and is as small as a pinpoint.
A spore is the reproductive structure of fungi.
both have jagged edges so it attaches easily
can survive for decades
Both studied under a microscope and have resistant cell walls

69
Q

cellulose

A

plant wall

70
Q

forensic palynology

A

the study of pollen and powdered minerals (and spores)

71
Q

how is the plant kingdom classified

A

seed and non seed
earliest plants like ferns and mosses were non-seed, produced by dispersing spores

72
Q

seed plants

A

Predominant land plants, most likely to leave evidence at a crime scene
gymnosperms and angiosperms
Produce cones or flowers

73
Q

gymnosperms

A

oldest seed plants
conifers
pollination (males produce seeds/pollen, wind brings it to female cone)
no fruits
includes pines and evergreens

74
Q

conifers

A

largest, most familiar gymnosperm

75
Q

angiosperms

A

corn, oaks, maples, and the grasses
have flowers
produce seeds in a fruit
very diverse and seen in almost every habitat, and therefore at almost every crime scene

76
Q

pistil and stamen of flower

A

pistil is female and produces eggs
stigma is sticky, pollen lands here
style is a tube which leads to ovary
stamen is male and responsible for pollen production
filament is long stalk, elevates the anther that produces pollen
when pollination occurs, goes to stigma, sticks there, goes down the style and into ovary, fertilizing the plant. Ovary develops into a fruit
petal attracts pollinators
sepal is leafy part under petals

77
Q

cross pollination vs self pollination

A

cross: 2 distinct plants
self: pollen to stigma within same flower

78
Q

Endospores

A

Several types of bacteria that make endospores can cause diseases
Anthrax and botulism

79
Q

pollen and spores as evidence

A

Larger pollen grains such as that of corn cannot travel far and can only drift with the wind about a ½ mile
Size, shape, surface texture, thickness of wall
Someone with cornflower or corn pollen was probably near a corn field

80
Q

Fingerprints also known as

A

Dactylography/oscopy

81
Q

Dactyloscopy

A

Study of fingerprints for id purposes

82
Q

1880s fingerprints

A

Sir francis galton and sir E.R. henry developed the classification system for fingerprints that we use today (Galton-Henry method)

83
Q

1999 fingerprint history

A

FBI developed the automated fingerprint id system (AFIS)
provides automated fingerprint searches, storage of photo files, and exchange of fingerprints and test results
Not only for criminals, employment, licenses, and social service programs

84
Q

How many ppl in the country have their fingerprints recorded on AFIS

A

1 in 6 ppl

85
Q

Fingerprint analysis in 1995 vs today

A

1995: 1 in 5 exams make a false ID
Today: reviewed by 2 examiners. 98.6% for one finger and 99.6% on two

86
Q

Friction ridges

A

Small ridges that are raised portions of the skin, arranged in connected units
Formed at 10 weeks in utero (3 inches long)

87
Q

Changing fingerprints

A

Stays the same forever unless permanent scars or skin disease

88
Q

What layer affects fingerprints

A

Basal layer, grows faster than others

89
Q

Sweat glands alternative names

A

Aporcine and eccerine

90
Q

Apocrine glands

A

Associated w hair follicles

91
Q

Eccrine glands

A

Found on ridges of hands and feet

92
Q

Arches, whorls, and loops

A

Arch: Can be plain or tented gentle slopes
Loops: Radial (thumb) or ulnar (pinky). Most common type
Whorls: most complex, circular patterns

93
Q

Core vs delta

A

Core: center of loop or whorl
Delta: triangular region

94
Q

Minutiae

A

Points where print ridges come together or end, considered to be the uniqueness of an individual
Primary basis for fingerprint ID

95
Q

How many common minutiae can people have

A

No more than 8

96
Q

How to match fingerprints

A

12 match guideline

97
Q

Patent fingerprints

A

Visible prints
Left on a smooth surface when liquids come in contact with the hand and then transferred onto surface
Clearly recognizable and needs no processing

98
Q

Latent fingerprints

A

Caused by transfer of oils and other body secretions onto a surface
Not seen easily
Requires additional processing to be rendered suitable for comparison
Processing is also called development or enhancement
Dusting is most common

99
Q

Ninhydrin

A

Chemical that bonds with amino acids in fingerprints
Produces blue or purple color
Used to lift prints from surfaces such as paper or cardboard
takes 1-2h to develop (heat and humidity make it faster) and lasts 24-48h
Used since 1910

100
Q

Cyanoacrylate fuming method

A

Often called super glue method
Procedure to develop latent fingerprints
Super glue is heated to produce a fume and yields an off white colored print
use of heat and humidity speeds process
Worked on interior of car

101
Q

Silver nitrate

A

Reacts to salt deposits in sweat
Once prints develop, should be photographed and removed from light source

102
Q

Iodine fuming

A

Not permanent
Dirty brown colored print and needs to be photographed quickly bc it fades

103
Q

Plastic prints

A

Impression left in soft material
Also called impression or indentation print

Forensics (4 decks)

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