Forensic Science Flashcards

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1
Q

What does CSU stand for?

A

Crime Scene Unit

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2
Q

What does the CSU do?

A

Collect and analyse evidence

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3
Q

What type of crimes does the CSU deal with?

A

Serious crimes such as homicide, arson, terrorist attacks and sexual assault.

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4
Q

What ways can the CSU search areas?

A

Grid, spiral, stripe.

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5
Q

Why does the CSU search areas in different ways?

A

To make sure no evidence is missed.

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6
Q

What happens after the CSU searches an area?

A

The crime scene is cleared and sent away to be analysed by specialist scientists.

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7
Q

What type of scientists analyse evidence?

A

Pathology, toxicology, ballistics, fingerprints, fibers, chemistry and dentistry.

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8
Q

What’s pathology?

A

The study of disease and cause of death.

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9
Q

What’s toxicology?

A

The study of effects of poisons and chemicals on the body.

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10
Q

What’s ballistics?

A

The study of guns and bullets.

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11
Q

How can evidence be classified at a crime scene?

A

It can be classified broadly as either physical evidence or trace evidence.

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12
Q

What’s physical evidence?

A

Anything that is reasonably large and easy to see.

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13
Q

List examples of physical evidence:

A

Dead bodies, bullets, bullet-holes, weapons, tool marks, tracks, tracks, damaged, furniture, fingerprints, blood splatters.

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14
Q

How can investigators identify a corpse?

A

If there’s ID, Driver’s licence, credit cards, medicare card found near it.

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15
Q

What evidence do investigators have about how long someone has been dead?

A

A series of changes begins in a corpse immediately after death.

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16
Q

What type of changes can happen to a dead body?

A

Their body temperature changes, extent of vigor mortis, skin colour, extent of decomposition, type and life cycle of insects surrounding.

17
Q

What’s the temperature of a healthy living person?

A

37 degrees.

18
Q

How does the body temperature change after death?

A

The body temp drops 0.8 degrees per hour until the body reaches room temperature.

19
Q

How long will it take a dead body to reach room temperature?

A

About a day. This depends on the body’s surrounding temperature and their clothing.

20
Q

What is vigor mortis?

A

The stiffening of muscles.

21
Q

What colour does skin become after death?

A

Skin become greenish within two days of death.

22
Q

Why does skin change colour after death?

A

Bacteria begins to decompose the body.

23
Q

What’s a track impression?

A

Footprints and impressions from shoes and tyres that are often left behind at a crime scene.

24
Q

What’s a positive impression?

A

An image exactly the same as the pattern on the shoe or tyre.

25
Q

What’s a negative impression?

A

Materials that only gathers in gaps in the tread of shoes or tyres.

26
Q

What do investigators do with impressions?

A

They are photographed next to a ruler to indicate their actual size.

27
Q

Why do negative impressions have wet plaster poured into them?

A

To form a mould that can be taken back to the laboratory for analysis.