Forensics Unit 1 Quiz Flashcards
Criminalistics
Analysis of physical evidence generated by a crime scene
Criminology
The study of criminal and behavioral psychology to aid in criminal investigation
Forensic Science Goal One
Perform accurate analysis
-Facts not opinions
-Must be precise and exact
Forensic science Goal Two
Preserve Evidentiary Integrity
-Make sure evidence
-Maintain accurate records and chain of custody
Qualities of a Forensic Scientist
- Present and Defend their findings
- Expert testimony must be logical and understood by a jury
- Needs to be ethical
- Must be skilled in materials, techniques, and equipment in forensic science
- Strong Scientific Background
- Excellent writing and speaking skills
Criminalist (Job)
Analyze, compare, identify, and interpret evidence and report results in the justice system
CSI
Process crime scene and take evidence from the crime scene
Trace Evidence Examiners
Analyze evidence using chemical, physical, and instrument analysis
Latent Print Examiners
Deals with prints
Forensic Serologist and Biologist
Collects and identifies biological evidence (vomit, urine etc.)
Question Document Examiners
Deals with writing and counterfeit documents
Firearms Examiners
Examines firearms and discharged ammunation
Forensic Entomologist
Studies insects to estimate time of death
Forensic Computer Science
Gets into peoples devices
Forensic Odontology
Identifies and compares dental evidence
Forensic Engineer
Accident reconstruction (causes or origins of fires or explosions)
Forensic Pathology
Branch of Medicine used for legal purposes
Forensic Toxicologist
Deals with drugs and poison
Forensic Anthropology
Bone or skeleton analysis and techniques
How far back doe forensic science date?
Third Century China
What happened to create the field of forensic science
A woman was accused of murdering her husband and staging a fire to cover it up (her guilt was proven by pigs)
Orfilia
Father of toxicology
1840-Lafarge Trial (maric arsenic)
Bertillon
Father of criminal investigation
1897 developed anthropometry (used to id people based on physical appearance)
Galton
Fingerprinting
He recognised that fingerprints could be placed into categories.
Edward Henry
Developed a method for classifying and filing prints
Lattes
1915 developed at test to determine blood type from a dried bloodstain (blood typing could be used as a means of investigation)
Landsteiner
Discovered the ABO blood groups
Goddard
Refined techniques of firearms examination using the comparison microscope
Osborn
Handwriting expert (established the fundamental principles of documentation examination) challenged notion of told vs shown
Gross
Father of criminalistics
Austrian Lawyer
Described application of scientific disciplines
Locard
Director of world’s first forensic science lab
Locard Principle of Exchange
- when two objects come into contact with each other, a cross transfer of physical material can occur
2.Integrity, duration, and the nature of materials in contact determine the extent of transfer
McCrone
Leading expert in microscopy
Tireless advocate for applying microscopy to analytical problems
Jeffrey
Developed first DNA profiling test
It was applied for the first time to solve the murder of two young girls by Colin Pitchfork
Bertillonage
An early form of biometric identification used on criminals by the French police,
When was DNA first used in trial
1886 It was applied for the first time to solve the murder of two young girls by Colin Pitchfork
Formation of Crime Labs
1923: LAPD Crime lab
1930: US Berkeley Criminalistics Department was opened and led by Paul Kirk
1932: FBI National Library opened under J. Edgar Hoover
1981: FBI Forensic Science research and Training center
Observation
Gathering information through the five senses
Perception
Interpreting Sensory Observations
Flow of Memories made from observation to long term memory
Begins in sensory memory, moves to short-term memory, and eventually moves to long-term memory..
How can you tell when a witness is lying
True accounts are consistent each time its told. Lies are hard to repeat exactly the same. (Have witness tell story multiple times or recount it in reverse order)
Effective Techniques
-Separate witnesses quickly
-Help reconstruct what happened
-Avoid interjecting biased
-Ask questions to draw out details
Innocence Project
Used DNA to examine post conviction cases to decide guilt or innocence. Eyewitness accounts make 70% of wrongful convictions
Who was the innocence project created by?
Barry C. Schech and Peter J. Neufeld
What factors affect our observations?
Emotional State
With a group of people or alone
Number of people in the area
Level of Interest
Stress
Prejudices and personal beliefs
A lapse in time since event
