forensic midterm Flashcards
Forensics is the application to ____
Criminal and Civil Laws
What is the Frye Standard?
The concept of general acceptance of scientific evidence
Who created anthropometrics
Bertillion
Who established the first crime lab?
Locard
What is the term used to describe evidence that directly aims to prove something?
Probative
What replaced anthropometric measurements in ithe dentification of individuals?
Fingerprints
What was the judicial case that set the guidelines for determining admissibility of scientific examinations in federal courts?
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharm
What are the 4 crime labs in the US gov?
FBI
DEA
ATF
US Postal
What is Locards exchange principle?
Everyone and everything leaves a trace after contact
What should the first officer at a scene do?
Get medical assistance and secure the scene
What is the main purpose of a crime scene investigator’s search?
Locate all physical evidence
What do CAD programs do?
enhance ability to produce finished crime sketch
Is the likelihood of finding class evidence greater or less than the likelihood of finding physical evidence w/ individual characteristics?
Greater than
The removal of any evidence from a person or scene of a crime must be done in compliance with what amendment?
4th amendment - search and seizure
Determining the chemical composition of sample is an example of what?
Identification
Another term used for an exemplar is a what?
reference sample
What case established public school administrators can search student belongings if they have reasonable suspicion?
New Jersey vs. TLO
What rule was established to prevent police misconduct regarding evidence collection?
The exclusionary rule (Fruit of the poisonous tree)
What are the situations for warrantless searches?
Preventing immediate destruction of evidence, exigent circumstance, person involved gives consent, evidence in plain sight, and incident to arrest
What was the case that dealt with overturning arson conviction due to inadmissible evidence due to warrantless search and seizure?
Michigan vs. Tyler
What microscopes have the largest working distance?
Stereoscopes
What is the best way to distinguish between a human hair shaft and an animal?
The medulla and medullary index
How is it possible to determine if a hair sample was forcibly removed?
If the tissue is attached or if the root was stretched or rigid
What are three analytical tests an investigator could use to determine fabric type?
Burn test, acid test, or how it reacts to dye
What is NIBIN? (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network)
A database for firearm evidence
What is used for individualization in fired bullets?
Striations
What are wadcutter bullets used for?
target practice
What do firearm examiners use to collect standards ti be used for comparison studies?
Water tank
What methods are used to produce rifling patterns?
Button method, mandrel/hammer forging, and broach cutter method
What part of a gun is responsible for initiating the chemical reaction and fire a bullet?
Firing pin
What shape does each rifling method produce?
Hammer forging: polygonal pattern
Button rifling/broach cutting: Land/groove
What does bullet wipe help investigators determine?
The direction bullet traveled
What test is used to detect the presence of nitrites from gunshot residue?
Griess test
What test is used to detect the presence of lead in gunpowder residue?
Sodium Rhodizonate test
What is the most important instrument for a firearms examiner?
A comparison microscope
What bullet spreads on impact?
Hollow point bullet
In the absence of a bullet what markings can be found on cartridge casings?
Breech face mark
Ejector mark
Extractor mark
Firing pin mark
When are fingerprints formed?
As a fetus
What is the least common fingerprint ridge pattern?
Arches
What are fingerprints formed as impressions in soft material called?
Plastic
Who is the father of fingerprint analysis
Francis Galton
In the Henry system, when is a fingerprint given a numerical value?
If it has a whorl pattern
what technique is using sublimination
Iodine fuming
What chemical turns purpple
Ninhydrin
What chemical method of fingerprint development stains proteins in the blood a blue-black color?
Amido Black
What is not a pattern in whorl family?
tented arch
