forensic science Flashcards
Matthieu Orfila.
The father of forensic toxicology. Spain published first scientific treatise on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals
The eleven sections of forensic science
- criminalistics
- digital & multimedia sciences
- engineering sciences
- general
- Odontolgy
- biology
- jurisprudence
- physical anthropology
- behavioral studies
- questioned documents
- toxicology
Alphonse Bertillion
The first scientific system of personal identification. Anthropometry- a systimatic procedure of body measurements to identify one person from another
Francis Galton 1822-1911
The first difinitive study of finger prints & devolved a method for filing them.
Calvin Goddard 1891-1946
Figured out whether a particular fun has fired a bullet. Requires comparison of the bullet and suspects weapon.
Hans Gross 1847-1915
Wrote the first treatise describing the application of disciplines to the field of criminal investigation. He detailed the assistance of ppl from the fields of microscopy, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, zoology, botany, anthropology, and fingerprinting.
Edmond locard 1877-1966
Started a police laboratory, useing the examples of gross, but with a fine toothed comb. Became founder and director of the institute of criminalistics @university of Lyons.
When a person comes in contact with an object or person, a cross transfer of materials occurs. (Locards exchange principal)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyal
Created Sherlock Holmes. First applied newly developing principals of serology
J. Edgar Hoover.
Orginized a national laboratory that offered forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the country. The FBI is the worlds largest forensic laboratory
Divisions and units of a modern forensic lab
Physical science unit - the process of the scientific method.
Biology unit - responsible for DNA profiling, comparison of organic materials
Fire arms unit- examines firearms discharged bullets, shotgun shells, and ammunitions of all kinds
Documents examination unit - studies hand writing/ type writing
Photography unit - examines and records physical evidence. Digital imaging, infrared, ultra violet,, x-ray photographs
Toxicology unit - examines bodily fluids And organs to determine the presence or absence of drugs and poisons.
Latent fingerprint unit- processes and examine evidence when submitted in conjunction with other laboratory examinations
Voiceprint analysis unit - involving telephoned threats or tape recorded messages. Jing a sound spectograph investigators can use this instrument that transforms speech into a visual display called a voiceprint.
Crime scene investigation unit- this unit dispatches specially trained personnel to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence that will later be processed at the crime laboratory.
Functions of a forensic scientist
Relies primarily on the scientific knowledge and skill in performing analyses in the laboratory. A good deal of forensics time is spent in the courtroom. A forensic scientist must not only analyze evidence, but convince a jury to accept the conclusions from his evidence
Scientific method
A process that uses strict guidlines to ensure careful and systematic collection organization and analysis of information.
Physical property
The behavior of a substance without the alteration of its composition through a chemical reaction… Weight, volume, color, boiling/melting point.
Chemical property
Describes the behavior of a substance when it reacts or combines with another substance.
Weight
A property of matter that depends on both the mass of a substance and the effects of gravity on that mass
Mass
A constant property of matter that reflects the amount of material present.
Refraction
The bending of a lightwave as it passes from one medium to another
Refractive index
The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed given substance
Atom
The smallest unit of an element which is not divisible by ordinary chemical means. Atoms are made up of electrons, protons and neutrons plus other subatomic particles
Tempered glass
Glass that is strengthened by introducing stress through rapid heating and cooling of the glass surfaces
Laminated glass
Two sheets of ordinary glass bonded together with a plastic film
Matter
All things of substance;matter is composed of atoms or molecules
Element
A fundamental particle of matter, an element cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
Periodic table
A chart of elements arranged in a systematic fashion, vertical rows are cAlled groups or families, and horizontal rows are called series, elements in a given row have similar properties.
Compound
A pure substance composed of two or more elements
Physical state
A condition or stage in the form of matter, liquid, solid, gas
Solid
A state of matter in which the molecules are held tightly