FIFA Flashcards
Describe the Forensic Identification Field Assessment (FIFA)
-assessment period of 3 to 6 months
-supervised by a specialist
-consists of practical and written exercises with on the job experience
The Forensic Identification Apprentice Training Program consists of how many phases?
Three phases:
-Phase 1 - FIFA
-Phase 2 - FIC
-Phase 3 - Apprenticeship
What is meant by a Forensic Identification Certification Board?
-three FIS specialists administer an oral exam and a moot trial
-evaluate if the FIS employee is qualified to give expert opinion testimony
Who becomes a Forensic Identification Specialist (FIS)?
- an apprentice who successfully completes phase 3 of the FIATP
Which Forensic Identification duty will take precedence over other Forensic Identification duties?
-examination of crime scenes to locate evidence
What is the policy regarding forensic examination of major crime scenes?
-2 FIS employees involved with the lead investigator being a FIS specialist
-photograph and video of scene
-forensic light sources for search
-scene measurements or digital scanning for scene drawing
-aerial photographs and 3D impressions photographed and cast for later analysis and eventual presentation in Court
-For bloodletting: conduct visual assessment, evaluate value, consider bloodstain analyst
-Scenes with bullet impact: assess and evaluate value, consider Firearms Toolmark section
What is the Forensic Identification Services Policy on preparation of evidence charts to support expert testimony?
-illustrative chart when tendering comparison evidence in Court
-1 chart for impression having greatest probable evidentiary value
-expert report (FRAR - Friction Ridge Analyst Report)
What are the permitted conclusions for physical impression evaluations (excluding friction ridge comparisons)? IHAIE
-Identification
-Higher Degree of Association
-Association of Class Characteristics
-Inconclusive
-Exclusion
What criteria must be met in order for a person to be lawfully fingerprinted?
-in lawful custody
-charged with or…
-under conviction of an indictable offence
(Sec 2 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)
Where would you find your authority to fingerprint a young person?
-Identification of Criminals Act (sec 137)
-YCJA 113(1)
Besides fingerprinting, what other processes are sanctioned by the Identification of Criminals Act?
-rolled, plain, palm prints
-accused details
Does the Identification of Criminals Act provide you with authority to obtain fingerprints for comparison purposes?
No
Where will you find the legal authority to obtain foot impressions from an individual during an investigation?
-In the Criminal Code of Canada Sec 487.092
-a justice may issue a warrant compelling someone to submit to hand-printing, fingerprinting, footprint and foot impressions, and teeth
-or other body parts for print or impression.
What are the four common law requirements stipulated in R. Vs Moran in order for Expert Opinion Evidence to be heard and accepted in Court? RNAP
-Relevance
-Necessity in assisting the trier of fact
-absence of any exclusionary rule
-properly qualified expert
What are the legal disclosure requirements stipulated under Sec 657.3 of the Criminal Code of Canada in regard to expert opinion evidence testimony?
-advise the member that they are required in Court
-provide 30 days notice to defence that Crown intends to call an expert witness
-provide defence with the name of the witness, description of the area of expertise, CV and any reports prepared by the witness
Can a Forensic Identification employee use any technique and/or equipment during the course of their duties?
-No
-has to be approved by CSA and director IFIS
What must occur when a Forensic Identification employee has been exposed to a biological or chemical hazard through inhalation, skin contact, ingestion or injection?
-Seek medical help
-Report occurrence to FIS unit commander or supervisor
-Have supervisor complete 34.14 Hazardous Occurrence Report
-investigate and take corrective action if necessary
Can all Forensic Identification employees use specialized personal protective equipment at CBRNE and clandestine labs?
No…. Only FIS employees trained in using specialized PPE
When must a Forensic Identification employee evaluate the types and levels of hazards present at a crime scene?
-Before a walk through or processing the scene
-continually monitor and evaluate the scene for hazards
In the laboratory, where must all examinations using hazardous chemicals be performed?
Within the appropriate vented fume hood or wet station.
What is your responsibility when working in a potentially hazardous area?
-be aware of potential hazards
-share with others if necessary
-protect yourself accordingly
What is a WHMIS label and why should hazardous material be labeled?
-used internationally to consistently and properly classify hazardous materials
-ensures containers are properly labelled and documented
-which ensures safe handling of that material
What is the absolute minimum information a workplace label must have according to WHMIS legislation? PSR
-product identifier
-safe handling instructions
-a reference to the Material Safety Data Sheet
According to WHMIS legislations, what are the labeling requirements if hazardous material is kept in a container other than its original?
-same label unless…
-only one using it
-used immediately
-used all in one shift
Under WHMIS, who is responsible for labeling chemicals and chemical solutions?
-Suppliers
-Employers
-employees
The employer has numerous responsibilities under WHMIS. Under the Canada Labour Code, what responsibilities are placed on you as an employee?
-use PPE as directed
-work in a safe manner using prescribed equipment
-report workplace hazards and dangers to my supervisor
-report any missing or defective equipment to my supervisor
What is the mechanism within the RCMP for reporting a hazardous incident and who is responsible for making the report?
Form 34.14 Hazardous Occurrence Report completed by FIS unit commander or supervisor
What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?
Technical document that provides detailed information on potential hazards and how to work safely with a chemical product.
-use/storage/handling/emergency procedures
What personal protection measures are indicated on the SDS for Ninhydrin?
Googles
Gloves
Vapor respirator
Personal protective clothing
Why does the SDS for Cyanoacrylate caution against the use of cotton gloves?
Under high concentrations it can catch fire
What is the purpose of a Lens?
To gather light transmitted from an object and bring it into sharp focus on the focal pane.
What affects the exposure of an image?
-Aperture…………… the amount of light entering the lens
-Shutter Speed…….the length of time light is allowed to enter the camera
-ISO……………………..the cameras sensitivity to light
How does a digital camera capture an image?
-The aperture opens at the front of the camera
-Light enters through the lens
-a CCD (or CMOS sensor) captures the incoming light rays and turns them into electrical signals called pixels (which are assigned a number based on the colour and intensity of light received)
-The image is then stored in electronic format such as RAW, TIFF or JPEG.
What does ISO represent in digital photography?
-The cameras sensitivity to light
-The higher the ISO number, the more sensitive the internal sensor of the camera is
-International Standard Organization
What is depth of field in photography?
-The area of acceptable sharp focus in front and behind the subject being focused on.
How can you increase your depth of field
SISR
-Use a shorter focal length lens.
-Increase the lens to subject distance
-Use a smaller aperture
-Re-focus on the hyperfocal point
What is meant by white balance in digital photography?
-Colour temperature of light is measured in degrees Kelvin.
What is the building block of a digital image?
Pixels (picture elements)
What is meant by resolution in digital imaging?
-how sharp an image is…..
-The number of pixels in an image
-the greater the number of pixels, the higher the resolution.
What are you doing when calibrating an image?
-Resizing an image so that it relates to a known measured value
When calibrating an image using the crop method in Photoshop, should you use “resampling”?
-no because it changes the image
What is a fingerprint?
-An impression left on a surface by the friction ridge skin of any or all parts of a digit
Who was the first European to allude to the uniqueness of the friction ridge skin?
JCA Mayer a German doctor and anatomist, was the first to write that friction ridge skin is unique.
“Although the arrangement of skin ridges is never duplicated in two persons, nevertheless, similarities are closer among some individuals. In other, the differences are marked, yet in spite of their peculiarities of arrangement all have a certain likeness.”
Who was the first person to start a fingerprint persistency study?
Sir William James Herschel
Who is often recognized by the Forensic community as the “father of fingerprinting”?
(First to publish in a scientific journal about the value of fingerprinting as crime scene evidence)
Dr. Henry Faulds
Who was Alphonse Bertillon and what was his contribution to the identification of criminals?
-French police officer
-Developed anthropometry which is a study of body measurements for identification purposes
- way of identifying people based on their measurements
Who was the first to identify and name specific friction skin minutiae, and how are they defined?
-Sir Francis Galton
-called Galton points
When was the use of the fingerprint system established in Canada and under what legislative sanction?
July 21, 1908
An Order in Council was passed sanctioning the use of fingerprints
When was the Canadian “National Fingerprint Bureau” established and how many sets of fingerprints were part of the original files?
February 1911
Consisted of 2042 initial sets of fingerprints taken by Edward Foster between 1906 and 1910.
What are the anatomical layers of the human skin?
Epidermis
Dermis
Hypodermis
What are the functions of the anatomical layers?
EPIDERMIS: outermost layer, prevents water loss through evaporation, acts as a receptor organ and provides protection to the underlying tissues
DERMIS: layer of connective tissue (cells, fibers, blood vessels and gelatinous material) that supports the epidermis and provides a structural support and nourishment for the epidermis. Serves as a blood reserve and participates in sensory reception and temperature regulation.
HYPODERMIS: lies under the dermis and is a loose connective tissue that contains adipose tissue to contour the body and serve as an energy reserve
Where do you find volar skin?
The underside of the hands (palms and fingers) and feet.
What are the differences between volar skin and smooth skin?
VOLAR SKIN: contains sweat glands
SMOOTH SKIN: contains hair, sebaceous glands and sweat glands, is darker in pigmentation and lacks friction ridges
What is the concentration of eccrine sweat glands on friction skin?
2500-3000/2.5cm squared
What are the effects of aging on skin?
-The surface ridges on the skin tend to flatten and appear less sharp due to atrophy of the epidermis and remodelling of the dermal papillae
-the loss of elasticity in the dermis causes the skin to become flaccid and wrinkle.
What type of injury would case a scar?
-Any injury that alters the basal layer
What are the five layers of the epidermis? (Photo).
CLGSB
- Stratum corneum
- Stratum lucidum
- Stratum granulosum
- Stratum spinosum
- Stratum basale
What are the critical times of friction ridge development (stated in weeks) according to Alfred HALE?
3 weeks - epidermis is one cell thick
6 weeks - the hand is paddle like, some volar pads are starting to appear
8 weeks - the fingers have separated and elongated
10 weeks - the interdigital and digital pads are prominent and the thumb has rotated
10-12 weeks - flexion creases appear
10-13 weeks onward - volar pads regress or are absorbed by the growth of the hands
12-13 weeks onward - primary ridges begin to form at the bottom of the epidermis, primary ridges start to develop pores
15-16 weeks onward - secondary ridges begin to form at the bottom of the epidermis ceasing the development of primary ridges
17-20 weeks - process complete, time of differentiation: final configuration of ridges is established following the development of the dermal papillae filling voids between primary and secondary ridges
What are volar pads?
Swelling of mesenchyme tissue under the epidermis that appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet of the human fetus.
What is meant by volar pad regression?
-slow the growth after 10-13 weeks
-Contour becomes less distinct
-Overtaken by faster growth of surrounding skin
What affects pattern type?
The size, shape and symmetry of the volar pads which slows at the onset of primary ridge development.
Why are friction ridges unique?
Random Time
Random pressure
Random growth
What ensures the persistency of friction ridge skin?
-basal cell mitosis and structural elements
What are the three main fingerprint pattern groups?
ARCH
LOOP
WHORL
Define the ARCH pattern.
- ridges enter on one side of the fingerprint impression and flow out the other side with a rise/wave in the centre.
-Ridges lie one atop each other.
-Has no delta.
Define the TENTED ARCH pattern
-Pattern type that has either an angle, upthrust or two of the three basic characteristics of a loop.
-Has no delta.
Any fingerprint pattern that has at least two of the three basic requirements of a good loop pattern (sufficient recurve, delta, and ridge count across a looping ridge)
Define the LOOP pattern
-One of more friction ridges enter on either side of the impression recurves and goes out the same side
-Has 1 delta
Define the WHORL pattern
-variant of a circle
-has two deltas
-at least one ridge makes a complete circuit
What are the two types of impressions recorded on form C-216?
Plain and rolled
What are the two types of impressions recorded on form C-216?
Plain and rolled
What are the three types of fingerprints found at crime scenes?
Visible, Latent, Moulded
Visible - can see with your normal eye such as impressions left in paint, dirt/mud, blood, grease, etc.
Latent - require some sort of enhancement to see, such as using grazed or oblique lighting, fingerprint development powders
Molded - similar to visible, but is left in a substrate that is 3-dimensional, such as clay, plaster, thick paint etc
What fingerprint is most common?
Ulnar Loop
How are latent fingerprints or physical evidence, to be marked prior to photographing and lifting?
-circled and marked with a “R” for fingerprints, “P” for palm prints or “F” for footwear
-initials of the FIS member
-date and file number written on a scale placed next to the print/evidence
-directional arrow if you can
List two recommended methods of developing/enhancing latent fingerprints on plastic bags?
- cyanoacrylate fuming (superglue) with or without flourescent dye
- vacuum metal deposition
1,2-Indandione-zinc solution can be used on what type of surface?
Dry porous surfaces
Which technique is recommended for developing fingerprints on wet or damp non-porous surfaces?
Small particle reagent (molybdenum disulfide)
Are two fingerprint/friction ridges impressions of the same finger ever exactly alike? If not, why?
-NO
-several reasons why: movement of the finger on substrate, movement of the substrate, temperature of the skin and substrate, amount of matrix on the finger, type of matrix on the substrate (dust, dirt etc), deposition pressure of the finger, any minute-slight movements of the finger during contact with substrate
What two fundamental principles of the skin must be understood by an examiner prior to reaching a conclusion from the examination process?
Uniqueness
Persistency
Describe the levels of details found in a friction ridge impression?
First Level Detail - can you see ridges and overall pattern, core, deltas
Second Level Detail- ridge paths, deviations and incipient ridges
Third Level Detail - intrinsic ridge edges, pores
Name and describe the recommended friction ridges examination method?
ACE - V: Analysis, comparison, evaluation and verification
Analysis - Assessment of a print as it appears on the substrate.
Comparison - Side by side comparison of friction ridges details
Evaluation - formulation of a conclusion based upon analysis and comparison of friction ridges impressions
Verification - independent application of the ACE methodology between the unknown and known impression by another qualified examiner
What three conclusions can be rendered during the evaluation stage of the process according to policy?
Identification - the opinion that two friction ridge impressions originate from the same source
Exclusion - the questioned impression contains sufficient information to be compared to another known impression and it has been determined that they did not come from the same specific source
Inconclusive - there is a lack of sufficient friction ridges detail to reach a conclusion of individualization or exclusion
What are the differences between primary and secondary ridges? (Not for FIFA)
Primary Ridges - epidermal ridge formations found directly under surface friction ridges on the bottom of the epidermis. Mirror surface ridges. Contain pores
Secondary Ridges - epidermal ridge formations found between primary ridges. Found under surface furrows. Do not have pore structures.
