Forensics Final Exam Flashcards
What must a medical examiner possess?
medical degree
The first step taken for the external examination of the body in an autopsy includes:
broad overview of the condition of the body and clothing
the goal of this is to determine the cause of death and confirm the manner of death and often used in criminal proceedings
forensic autopsy
a pinkish discoloration of the skin and smell of burnt almonds could lead to a pathologist to suspect which of the following?
cyanide poisoning
When evaluating a gunshot wound what is the most important characteristic to analyze
estimated range of fire
a sharp force injury will most likely come from a
glass piece
what factors can help to determine if a victim was alive during a fire
levels of carbon monoxide in the lungs
homicide, suicide, accident, natural and undetermined are all categories of
manner of death
a pathologist would expect rigor mortis to disappear after – hours
36
which is not a manner of death
drowning
what part of a decedent’s body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide information about the decedent
bones
insect evidence should be collected
at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator
to determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the following areas of the skeleton except
vertebrae
typically about an hour after death, the deceased body loses heat at a rate of approximately – until the body reaches the environmental temperature
1-1 1/2 F per hour
all of the following are features found in female skeletons, which does not belong
jaw angle is approximately 90 degrees
this serial killer is known to have killed more people than any other serial killer by giving them fatal doses of heroin and morphine
harold shipman
condition that involves the interference with the intake of oxygen
asphyxiation
this focuses on the internal organ findings and medical conditions
medical/ clinical autopsy
this formed when the weapon produces an injury that is longer than it is deep
cut
the circumstances that led to the fatal result and is the culmination of the complete investigation
manner of death
death intentionally caused by another person is typically called a
homicide
rigor mortis refers to the – of the body
stiffness/ stiffening
– refers to the loss of heat by the body after death
algor mortis
the examination of a body after death
autopsy
distinguish between cause of death and manner of death
cod- refers to the specific action taken to result in death, could be gunshot wound, asphyxia, blunt force trauma.
MOD- overall term written on a death certificate, describes the way death occurred, general classification. homicide, suicide, natural, accidental, and undetermined
the first step that an officer takes when approaching a crime scene is to
check the body, if there is one, and get medical attention if needed
the purpose of documenting the chain of custody of evidence is
to make sure that the evidence is admissible in court
which of the following is not a duty of the first responder to a crime scene
packaging evidence from the scene
a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence
chain of custody
testimonial evidence is
a statement made under oath by a competent witness
if evidence has class characteristics
it has more probative value than direct evidence
some common types of physical evidence are
fibers, glass, soil, bones, toolmarks, drugs, documents, DNA
if a forensic scientist can piece together broken up pieces of glass from a bottle that was used as a weapon, it has
individual characteristics
material that can be associated with only a group of items that share properties or characteristics
class evidence
all of the following are examples of pattern evidence but one, which does not belong
temperature
physical evidence is considered to have – as that of eyewitness (testimonial) evidence
greater value
physical evidence whose origin is known, that can be compared to crime-scene evidence
reference/ standard sample
state the difference between class and individual evidence and give an example of each
CE- only be related back to a group, properties with a common source. shoe prints, type size
IE- relates to a specific person or manufacturer. any DNA, semen, saliva
a fingerprint pattern that has at least one ridge that makes a complete circuit
whorl
a fingerprint pattern where all ridges come in one side and exit the other side
arch
pattern that has at least on ridge entering one side and exiting the same side
loop
most common print pattern
loop
fingerprints found on the skin would be classified as
latent
characteristics of ridge patterns are known as
minutiae
what would be the best way of visualizing a print found on a matchbook
ninhydrin
what would be the best way of visualizing a print found on a glass bottle
dusting/lifting, superglue fuming
fingerprints found in blood would be classified as
visible
fingerprint made by the deposit of perspiration or body oils, invisible to the naked eye until developed are known as
latent
the computerized system used by the FBI to search a fingerprint database of more than 70 million criminal subjects is known as
IAFIS
a fingerprint that can be easily seen
visible print
a triangular pattern of ridges found in all loop and whorl patterns
delta
a radial loop
opens towards the thumb side of the hand
the most commonly encountered ridge characteristics used by AFIS are the
bifurcation and ridge ending
the most commonly encountered ridge characteristics used by AFIS are the
bifurcation and ridge ending
the most common ridge pattern is the
loop
which of the following is not a ridge characteristic
core
the ridges on your hands, feet, and lips are made from these structures
dermal papille
the area found at the center of all loop and whorl patterns is called the
core
the study f fingerprint patterns is called
dactyloscopy
fingerprints left in dust would be
visible
all of the ridge characteristics of a fingerprint are known as
minutiae
explain the 3 fundamental principles of fingerprints
1) fingerprints are an individual characteristic - no 2 people have the same print, as the ridges appear differently
2) fingerprints do not change throughout ones lifetime - always will be the same and will only be altered due to scarring
3) fingerprints have general ridge characteristics that allow them to be systematically classified (arch, loop, whorl)
evidence is
anything that tends to establish or disprove a fact
what are the functions of a forensic scientist
to provide expert testimony & to examine evidence found and recovered at a crime scene
the case that decided what evidence is allowed in court depends on what is “generally accepted” by a relevant scientific community
frye vs the united states
who established the first workable crime laboratory
locard
infractions can be punishable by
fines
all of the following are examples of felony except
vandalism
which entity maintains the largest crime lab in the world
FBI
in the case of daubert vs merrel dow, the us supreme court advocated that a “gatekeeper” determines the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. the gatekeeper is
the trial judge
the study of sudden unexplained or violent death
forensic pathology
whenever 2 objects come into contact with eachother, and traces are exchanged
locard exchange principle
this type of law is made by judicial opinions and precedents
common law
a breach of a right, duty, or law
violation
these laws are considered to be the “laws on the books”
statutory law
the following are all miranda rights except
if you decide to answer questions without an attorney you can’t request one later
this is the name that is given to a minor offense such as theft
misdemeanor
the first act in a criminal proceeding, where the defendant is brought before the court to hear charges and enter a plea
arraignment
this type of law is remedial or preventative and includes injunctions
equity law
the – unit applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime scene evidence
physical science
what factors does the court usually take into consideration as sufficient grounds for qualification as an expert witness
experience, training, education
specially trained personnel called – are employed by some crime labs on 24 hour call to retrieve evidence and have all the proper tools and supplies for proper collection and packaging of evidence at their disposal
crime scene investigators
the study and application of science to a matter of law
forensic science
a hearing before a magistrate or judge to determine whether a person charged with a crime should be held for trial, occurs after arraignment
preliminary hearing
rights guaranteed by the constitution that police must tell arrestees about
miranda rights
in evidence law it is relevant and significant
material evidence
this is the revision of the frye standard
daubert vs merrell dow pharmacueticals
2 rulings that deal with scientific evidence as admissible. list and explain both and the differences between them
frye vs us - first court ruling to determine the admissibility of evidence. allows evidence in based on “general acceptance” in the science community and is decided upon by a jury
daubert vs merrell dow - revised frye standard. trial judge gets final say on admission of evidence based on 5 reasons. evidence still needs to be accepted but there are other factors. relevant, competent
these rulings took place 70 years apart, many felt that it was time for a change with the new tech and various adaptations, which are shown in the daubert ruling
2 rulings that deal with scientific evidence as admissible. list and explain both and the differences between them
frye vs us - first court ruling to determine the admissibility of evidence. allows evidence in based on “general acceptance” in the science community and is decided upon by a jury
daubert vs merrell dow - revised frye standard. trial judge gets final say on admission of evidence based on 5 reasons. evidence still needs to be accepted but there are other factors. relevant, competent
these rulings took place 70 years apart, many felt that it was time for a change with the new tech and various adaptations, which are shown in the daubert ruling
