Exam 1 Flashcards
Forensic Science
“The application of science to law”
“Spatial and temporal relationships between people, places, and objects involved in criminal activities”
Criminalistics
Same as Forensic Science
CODIS
Combined DNA Index System (1998)
Offenders/Arrestees
Missing Persons
Unsolved/Unidentified
Latent Prints
Latent: Hidden, not visible to the naked eye
Visualized by special lights, powders, chemicals, etc.
Forensic Entomology
Studies insects that colonize corpses
Forensic Serologist
Identifies Bodily Fluids
Blood, Urine, Saliva, Sweat, etc.
Biological Evidence
DNA, Blood, Urine, Saliva, Sweat, Semen, Skin, Hair, etc.
TEDAC
Terrorist Explosives Device Analytical Center
Behavioral Criminology
Studies mental states, motives, and behavior of criminals
Anthrax Attacks
Responsible for microbial forensics
Material Evidence
Trace evidence
Hairs, fibers, soils, building material, etc.
Chemical Evidence
Identify Unknown substances, gases, etc.
Explosive Residue, Toxicology, Fluids, Tapes, Drugs, Paints, Powders, and other materials
Pattern Evidence
Impression Evidence
Handwriting, Documents, Fingerprints, Footwear, Firearms, Tire Treads
Digital Evidence
Computers, Cell Phones
Forensic Pathology
Medical Examiner
Determines cause and manner of death
Forensic Odontology
Identify individuals through teeth
Forensic Anthropology
Studies human/skeletal remains to identify individuals
Forensic Toxicologist
Analyzes poisons, alcohol levels, and other toxins
Forensic Engineering
Investigate and test materials, find causes in failed structures
Microbial Forensics
Deals with bioterrorism and biological warfare.
A response to the Anthrax cases
WMD Forensics
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Wildlife Forensics
Studies and identifies plants and animals
Alphonse Bertillon
1879
Anthropometric Measurements designed to uniquely identify individuals
Will and William West
Two prisoners with nearly identical Bertillon measurements
Discredited Bertillon Method
Mathieu Orfila
1814
Father of Forensic Toxicology
Medicologist
Carl Landsteiner
1909
Nobel Prize for discovering the different blood types
Leone Lattes
1915
Developed procedure to determine blood type for forensics
NIBIN
National Integrated Ballistics Information Network
Francis Galton
1892
Fingerprint Identification
First Forensics Labs
1) LA 1928
2) Northwestern University (Later Chicago) 1929
3. FBI 1931
Calvin Goddard
1929
Father of Microscopy
Started Northwestern University Crime Lab
Ballistics identification and comparison
Edmond Locard
Early 1900’s
Locard’s Exchange Principle
Lisk/Silva Case
Locard’s Exchange Principle
Culprit found by fibers and fingerprints
Frye V. United States
1923
Processing techniques must be generally accepted
Daubert V. Merrell Dow
1993 Rules of Evidence: Validated Reviewed Rate of Error Standards Exist Widespread Accepted
Kumho V. Carmichael
1999
Rules of evidence extended to cover science, technology, and other specialized knowledge
Locard’s Exchange Principle
Whenever two objects come into contact with one another, there is an exchange of materials between them
Alec Jeffries
1985
Developed DNA Profiling
First used in England’s Pitchfork Case (mid 1980’s)
Pitchfork Case
(mid 1980’s)
England murder case
First time DNA used to identify culprits
United States V. Steven Wayne Yee
1990
First US case to use DNA evidence
CSI Team Leader
Ensures safety, administrative log, acquire equipment, evaluate scene, legal issues, narrative, makes assignments, prelim survey, defines goals, final survey, releases scene
Sketch Preparer
Focuses on relationships between elements
Immediate crime scene and surrounding area
Photographer
Covers entire scene (general, mid-range, close-up)
With and without scale
Surrounding area, road signs, cars, entrances, etc.
Evidence, impressions, etc.
Documents revealed latent prints
Basic CSI Positions
Team Leader Photographer Sketch Preparer Evidence Recovery Personnel Evidence Custodian Specialists
CSI Specialists
Anthropologists, Blood Spatter, Bomb Technicians, Botanists, Dive Team, HAZMAT, Drugs, etc.
Crime Scene Sketch
Legend Case Number, Date, Sketcher Direction, Temperature, Weather Conditions Not to scale Shows relationships between elements
12 Steps of Crime Scene Processing
Prepare Secure Preliminary Photograph Collect Final Inspection Release
PPE
Personal Protection Equipment?
Crime Scene Preparation
Equipment, Vehicles, Supplies, Packaging, PPE, Specialists, Clothing, Shelter, Lighting, Security, etc.
Known Standards
Evidence from a confirmed source (like the carpet of a room or car)
Used for comparison against evidence found elsewhere
Transient Evidence
Evidence that may be temporary (blown, washed, or dried away, etc.)
Proper Packaging
Plastic: Causes biological evidence to degrade, use for documents
Paper: Can destroy latent prints, use for biological evidence
KPACK Heat Seal Bags: Works for most things
Paint Cans: Bombs and Explosives
Chain of Custody
The record of everyone who has handled a piece of evidence from the moment it is picked up to when it is presented in court, without interruption.
Electrostatic Print Lifter
Uses electrostatic waves and mylar sheeting to lift and copy prints
DNA Analysis
Developed in 1980’s
Used to uniquely identify someone
Can convict or exonerate
Fingerprinting
Developed by Francis Galton to uniquely identify individuals
Impression Evidence
Fingerprints, Tire Marks, Foot Prints, Handwriting, Ballistics
Evidence Log
Description and location, who found it (two names), evidence number, must match info on package
ALS
Alternative Light Source
Reveals latent prints, fluids, fibers, bones, etc.
Cyanoacrylate Fuming
Super-glue that is heated in a moist environment producing fumes that reveal and preserve latent prints
Used for hard, non-porous substrates where prints are on the outside and not embedded
Trace Evidence
Evidence left behind
Hairs, fibers, fluids, soil, materials, often very small
Types of DNA
1) Nuclear
Organic, able to identify individual specifically
2) Mitochondrial
Bone, Teeth, Hair
Used when enough DNA cannot be found
Can be compared to relatives to narrow search
Firearms and Toolmark Analysis
Study of tools that leave impressions
Weapons, bullets, ballistics
Uses microscopic analysis
Shoe Print Database
Collection of all makes and models of shoes
Sole and heel designs
Class Characteristics
Determines general characteristics (a model of shoe or tire)
Individual Characteristics
Identifies an object/person uniquely
Not just shoe model but the exact pair of shoes
IED
Improvised Explosive Device
Evidence Custodian
Prepares evidence log
Receives and records all evidence
Packaging and Preservation
Located outside secure area
Evidence Recovery Personnel
Locates and collects evidence
Initial, mark, and date all evidence
Turns evidence over to custodian
Approach Scene
Careful, locate transient evidence, note observations, establish perimeter, define goals, determine supplies and personnel needed
Secure Scene
Determine amount of protection, security, authorized personnel only, establish perimeter
Preliminary Survey of Crime Scene
Cautious walk through, confirm perimeter, determine methods, procedures, equipment, and personnel, identify and protect transient evidence
Narrative Description
Running general and detailed description of condition of crime scene throughout processing, prepared by CSI Team Leader
Can be audio, visual, or written
Crime Scene Photography
Photograph BEFORE evidence is collected
Shows location of evidence
Photograph identifiers (like signs), surrounding area, details w/o scale, etc.
Detailed Search
Methodical evaluation to ensure everything is considered and preserved thoroughly
Strip, Line, Grid, Spiral, and Zone/Quadrant
Obtain known standards
Proper equipment and safety
Record and Collect Evidence
Mark evidence, name and date
Properly package and seal evidence
Log all evidence with extensive notes
Turn over to Evidence Custodian
Final Crime Scene Survey
Ensure completeness, double check documentation, exit photographs, all equipment/evidence accounted for, clean up - you can’t come back!
Release Crime Scene
No going back, pack up, leave the scene
