Introduction to forensic science Flashcards
what is forensic science?
the application of science to the purpose of law
what is the CSI effect?
the belief that television crime shows are affecting decision made in courtrooms by jurors
CSI viewers are more likely to convict if eyewitness accounts were present
unrealistic showings of manpower, workplace procedure, and processing and solving time
What are the the roles of a forensic scientist?
- Forensic scientists are scientists
- Techniques must follow the scientific method- Keep notes and write reports
- Testify in court -> expert witness
- May attend crime scenes
FS History timeline
- 44 BC: first autopsy
- 1247: first conviction using forensic evidence
- 1814: first use of toxicology testing
- 1882: anthropometry
- 1890:fingerprints
- 1900: blood typing
- 1923: FBI lab created
- 1990s: DNA
What is anthropometry?
collection of body measurements for a person’s identity
What is Locard’s exchange principle?
- Edmond Locard
- “every contact leaves a trace”
- Trace evidence
- can be used to link a person to a location or another person
What falls under scene examination?
- CSI, reconstruction
- dogs and sensors
- forensic entomology
- fire and explosive investigation
What falls under forensic medicine?
- forensic pathology
- forensic nursing
- forensic anthropology
- forensic odontology
What falls under forensic biology?
- forensic serology
- DNA and genetic testing
- wildlife forensic biology
- DNA and genetic testing (non-human)
What falls under forensic chemistry?
- seized drug analysis
- forensic toxicology
- trace evidence analysis
- intangible liquids, explosives, GSR
What falls under physical/pattern interpretation?
- fingerprint analysis
- bloodstain pattern analysis
- forensic document examination
- marks and impressions
- firearms and ballistics
What is reconstruction in CSI?
- Processing crime scene
- collection and preservation of evidence, pictures, and video
- Determining sequence of events about what occurred
What are the purposes of dogs and sensors in CSI?
- Support law enforcement and first responders
- Locates drugs, contraband interaction, locating human remains
What falls under forensic entomology?
- Study insects from decomposing remains
- Helps determine time/place of death
What falls under fire and explosion investigation?
- Advanced technical background with fire protection and investigation
- Fire service, fire safety, occupational safety, and security
What is the study of insects from decomposing remains?
forensic entomology
What falls under forensic pathology?
- Determine cause of death through autopsy
- Estimate time of death
- Examine wounds
- Collect tissue samples
Definition/characteristics:
- Determine cause of death through autopsy
- Estimate time of death
- Examine wounds
- Collect tissue samples
Forensic pathology
What falls under forensic nursing?
- Collecting evidence
- Photographing injuries for evidence
- Working with victims of domestic abuse, violence, and assault
- Work with medical examiners when victims die
What is forensic anthropology?
- Identifying unrecognizable remains
- Species, age, sex, stature, ancestry
- Analyze trauma and disease
Definition:
Identifying unrecognizable remains
Forensic anthropology
What is forensic odontology?
- Identification of human remains through dental records
- Analysis of bite marks found on victims of attack
- Now, a largely debated area in forensic science
Defnintion:
Process of using dental records in CSI
Forensic odontology
Forensic serology
- Presumptively identify biological materials
- Recognize, document, collect, transport, analyze, interpret, and testify on significance of biological evidence
Think all of the body fluid presumptive tests
Definition:
Presumptively identify biological materials
Forensic serology
What is DNA and genetic testing?
- Extract, amplify, and analyze DNA from blood, hair, saliva, semen, skill tissue, and sweat
- Compare DNA profiles from known sources with those generated from samples from crime scenes
What is wildlife forensic biology?
- Investigating wildlife crimes
- Examinations of crime scene, analyze biological evidence
What is DNA and genetic testing (non-human)?
- Bioterrorism: bacterial and viral agents
- Drugs: plants or fungi
- Human identification: microbiome
What is seized drug analysis?
- Identify and quantitate a wide range of illegal substances seized by the state
What is forensic toxicology?
Extract, identify, and quantitate alcohol and/or drugs and their metabolites from biological specimens
What is the main difference between seized drug analysis and forensic toxicology?
The process of extraction and interpretation
What is trace evidence analysis?
Examine and compare trace evidence including hairs, fibers, glass, polymers, and metal fragments
What falls under Ignitable liquids, explosives, GSR?
- Deals with evidence from suspicious fires and explosions
- Identify ignitable liquids
- Identify explosives from bombing scenes
- Gunshot residue and detection
What is fingerprint analysis?
- Find agreement or disagreement between the unknown print and known prints
- Advancing fingerprint collection and comparison techniques
What is bloodstain pattern analysis?
- Reconstruct the bloodshed event using shape, size, and distribution patterns of the bloodstains
What is forensic document examination?
- Analyzes documentary evidence to determine origin or authenticity
- Examining written, typed, or printed documents using scientific methodologies
What falls under marks and impressions?
- Footwear impressions (trace evidence)
- Tire track impressions
- Toolmark: cutting and levering instruments
What falls under firearms and ballistics/what is it?
- Examine, compare, and identify firearms and firearm related evidence
- Serial number restoration
- Trajectory analysis
- Gun powder residue identification
- Cartridge case comparison
What is digital forensics?
- Recovery and investigation of material found in digital devices related to cybercrime
- Provides digital evidence and support for forensic needs
- Facial and iris identification
- Speaker recognition
- Video/imaging technology and analysis
