Final Study Guide Flashcards
What does forensic mean?
“Public”
(Find) What are forensic scientist responsibilities?
(Find) How do you become a forensic scientist?
Public forensic lab
Only for the use of state prosecutors, police, and detectives (government use only). Can provide different types of services.
Private forensic lab
Independently own and operated, use available to the public, generally only provides one type of service.
(Find) What happens at a crime scene?
(Find) What is the chain of custody?
What are ethical issues that forensic scientists deal with?
Both science and laboratory ethical issues; laboratory analytical procedures, professional credentials, reporting and interpretation, reactive vs. proactive, crime scene participation limited, seen as law enforcement tool, managed by police personnel
What is quality assurance control?
Set of processes that can evaluate a laboratory and its personnel to determine if they are achieving or maintaining a given level of quality.
ASCLD
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors; nonprofit society of directors aimed at improving and maintaining quality and standards of forensic science labs.
ABC
American Board of Criminalists; Accredits forensic scientists
OSAC
Organization of Scientific Area Committees; Support development of forensic science through specific committees aimed at various areas and issues.
AAFS
American Academy of Forensic Science; Developed forensic science code of ethics.
FEPAC
Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission; provided accreditation to forensic schools and programs.
ASTM
American Society for Testing Materials; Developes and provides standard testing materials and products.
ANAB
American national standards institute national accreditation board; Accredits forensic science labs.
What is demonstrative evidence?
What is Locard’s principle?
What are false positives and negatives?
What are negative and positive controls?
How can evidence be individualized?
What is real vs. demonstrative evidence?
Who makes the decision of evidence validity?
Who decides if an expert testimony is needed?
What is admissibility of evidence?
Federal Rule of Evidence 401
Federal Rule of Evidence 402
Federal Rule of Evidence 403
Federal Rule of Evidence 702
Explain the Frye case.
Explain the Daubert case.
When is an autopsy done?
What is done during an autopsy?
How does the subpubic bone determine sex?
What parts of an anthropological can and can not be determined?
Taphonomy
Anthropology
How are skeletal remains excavated and recovered?
How do human and animal bones differ?
What is used to determine between human and animal bones?
Rigor mortis
Pallor mortis
Liver mortis
Petechiae
Algor mortis
Stages of death
Manner of death
Cause of death
Modes of death
Factors of estimated pmi
What is the most influential factor of estimating PMI?
Temperature?
What does a forensic entomologist do?
Stages of decay
What animal model is used to represent human decomposition?
Pig
How are bones used to calculate victim’s height?
What is an instar?
What are the stages of instar?
How can you calculate PMI with maggots sizes?
What are the most common insects found on dead bodies?
What order do insects arrive and a dead body and why?
Odontology
What are common sources of impression evidence?
What is a 2D and 3D impression and how are they handled at crime scenes?
How are serial numbers restored in different types of materials?
What type of casting is used for different types of impression media?
Positive impression
Negative impression
What is rifling?
What are striations?
How is firearm/toolmark evidence analyzed and what is determined?
What do firearm/toolmark examiners do?
Latent prints
Patent prints
Plastic prints
How are fingerprints individualized?
How are fingerprints left behind?
How is handwriting diguised?
Difference between request and non request exemplar?
What causes eraseres in documents and how is it detected/restored?
What causes obliteration in documents and how is it detected/restored?
What causes charring in documents and how is it detected/restored?
What causes indent writing in documents and how is it detected/restored?
Electrostatic Detection Apparatus (ESDA)
Alternating Light Source (UV/IR)
Types of computers involved in crime casework
What is the first step in analyzing a crime scene?
What are the different types of computer crimes?
Hardware
Software
What are the proper procedures when handing computer evidence?
Examples of “mobile” devices
How are mobile devices used in forensic analysis?
What types of evidence can be identified on a mobile device?
