Forensics (Chapter 1 & 2)

Question 1

What is an observation?

Answer 1

Anything recorded from our senses

Question 2

What is the difference between an observation and an inference?

Answer 2

Observations are directly seen while inference is an idea generated from the evidence

Question 3

What can affect observations by witnesses?

Answer 3

Emotional states
Whether they were alone, part of a group, or near others
What type of and how much activity was going on around them
Level of interest/Concentration
Stress
Amount and kind of distraction present
Prejudices a person's beliefs
Motives
And lapse in time since the event

Question 4

Are eyewitness accounts always accurate? Why or why not?

Answer 4

No, because sometimes they forgot or see things incorrectly or are

Question 5

Explain the Innocence Project.

Answer 5

A project to get wrongfully accused people out of jail.

Question 6

Give 4 ways to be a better observer.

Answer 6

Observe Systematically
-Start at one part of a crime scene and run your eyes slowly over every space
- Look carefully at the detail of each piece of evidence
- Do not assume you will remember everything
Consciously pay attention to all details
Collection information first and interpret later

Question 7

Explain the Principle of Exchange.

Answer 7

When a person comes in contact with an object or another person, a cross-transfer of physical material can occur
- Study of the material can determine the nature and duration of the transfer

Question 8

Define trace evidence.

Answer 8

Evidence that can be traced back to a person

Question 9

Define direct evidence

Answer 9

• Testimony by a witness about what that witness saw, heard, did
• Witnesses are not always reliable, could be bad
• Comes from a person

Question 10

Give an example of direct evidence.

Answer 10

Finger Prints

Question 11

Give an example of circumstantial evidence.

Answer 11

Blood strains

Question 12

How is class evidence useful in forensic science? Give an example.

Answer 12

to eliminate a group of suspects.

Question 13

What is individual evidence? Give an example.

Answer 13

Its usual evidence pertains to an individual such as hair fibers or blood.

Question 14

What is deductive reasoning?

Answer 14

The process of logical reasoning through imperfect evidence

Question 15

Who are the people that make up a CSI team? Give their name and their role.

Answer 15

Cops
The district attorney (maybe)
Crime scene investigators
Medical examiners
Detectives
Specialists

Question 16

What is collusion?

Answer 16

creation of a story based on what other witnesses say

Question 17

Why are patterns used?

Answer 17

Patterns are better for searching because you miss less stuff

Question 18

Explain why the Chain of Custody is important in forensic science and crime scene investigations.

Answer 18

Chain of Custody is important because it helps present credible evidence in a court case by sealing it. It’s best if you seal the evidence in a bag with identification so that it’s easy to tell if the evidence is tampered with.

Question 19

What is crime scene reconstruction?

Answer 19

Forming a hypothesis from a sequence of events. Usually from before a crime was committed to its commission.

Question 20

Why might someone stage a crime scene?

Answer 20

It’s usually to serve as a cover-up. Examples include Staging a fire to cover bankruptcy, Staging a suicide- cover a murder

Question 21

What is the “CSI Effect”?

Answer 21

An effect causing the CSI shows that all evidence must be perfect in a court case because all courtroom cases on TV present absolute perfect evidence.

Question 22

circumstantial evidence.

Answer 22

Circumstantial Aka indirect or trace evidence
- Physical evidence
- E.g. Fingerprint or shoeprint or shirt fiber
- Indentation of you being there
- Outline of you 
Biological 
- E.g. blood or hairs
- Parts of you
- Something that leaves your body