Intoduction to Forensics Flashcards
What is Forensic Science?
Impartial evidence in court of law
When did fingerprinting begin?
early 1700s, Fauld’s 1880 solved burgulary using fingerprints
When was bullet comparison used?
1885
What is a physical fit?
Two bits of evidence fitting together e.g. guns/castings
Who and when was the first crime lab set up?
Locard, 1910
When was blood analysis used from?
1915
When was DNA analysis used?
late 1980s
What are the forensic science institutes in Britiain?
LGC forensics, sellmark forensics, Forensic service- Scottish Police Authority
What are the 4 main related areas of Forensics?
Biology, Chemistry, Documents, Toxicology
What are roles within these areas?
Forensic Dentist, Forensic archaeologist, forensic anthropologist, pathologist, forensic psychologist and scene of crime officers
What do Forensic Dentists do?
Examine bitemarks, determine age by teeth
What do Forensic Anthropologists do?
Examine bones, identify age, sex, height, race
What do Pathologists do?
Identify the cause and manner of death
What is examined in Forensics in terms of biology?
Blood, semen, saliva Body fluids, hairs, fibres Blood pattern analysis DNA profiling Damage Hair and textile fibre analysis
What is examined in Forensics in terms of Chemistry?
Footwear, tool marks, tyre analysis
Paint and glass analysis
What is examined in Forensics in terms of Toxicology?
Analysis of blood and urine samples for their drugs or alcohol content
Hair fibres can be used to determine drug use and for how long the suspect has been a user
Analysis of organs and tissues for presence of drugs
Identification of illegal drugs and their purity
What is examined in Forensics in terms of Documents?
Any item with writing e.g. paper, walls, body
Inceptive analysis- intelligence from documents leads to suspect
Evidential- present in court of law
What is locard’s principle?
EVERY CONTACT LEAVES A TRACE
What is the chain of custody/evidence?
Preserve the scene, no contamination
Search for material of evidential value
Package and label collected material
Care of storage and transmission to the lab
