Module 1 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the definition of Forensic Science?
A
Application of science to criminal and civil law
2
Q
What is the primary duty of the first officer at a crime scene?
A
Security and isolation of the crime scene
3
Q
Which Constitutional amendment controls unlawful search and seizure?
A
Amendment IV
4
Q
What are the two types of witnesses in court?
A
Witnesses of fact (lay witnesses) and expert witnesses
5
Q
How should fresh biological evidence be packaged?
A
Dried and in paper bags
6
Q
Why is “Chain of custody” important to evidence?
A
It helps make sure the evidence has been kept under proper control.
7
Q
When dealing with evidence, what three things should always be guarded against?
A
Loss, contamination, deleterious change
8
Q
If you have blood and want to know who it came from, what section of a crime laboratory will it be sent to?
A
Forensic biology/DNA
9
Q
What is cause of death?
A
The particular mechanism which caused life to stop.
10
Q
What are the two types of error in Forensic Science?
A
Type I – false positive and Type II – false negative
11
Q
What is “PPE” ?
A
Personal Protective Equipment
12
Q
Why is the “Frye Standard” important?
A
It helps judges decide what testing a forensic scientist can perform which will be allowed in court – the general acceptance rule
13
Q
CH.1
What is forensic science?
A
Application of science to the law
14
Q
CH.1
What does a forensic scientist do?
A
Applies scientific techniques to evidence, reaches a conclusion about those results, reports their findings and if necessary testifies in court about those findings
15
Q
CH.1
What’s mostly synonymous with forensic science?
A
Criminalistics
16
Q
CH.1
What are some typical services that a forensic science laboratory can provide?
A
•Drug chemistry/Toxicology
•Trace Evidence
•Biology/DNA
•Firearms
•Fingerprints
•Documents
•Evidence collection and receiving
17
Q
CH.1
What is pathology?
A
Pathology is the determination of cause of death, manner of death, and identification of deceased
18
Q
CH.1
What is anthropology?
A
The use of skeletal remains
19
Q
CH.1
What can anthropology help us identify?
A
Helps identify if skeletal remains are human or animal & identity of skeleton
20
Q
CH.1
Odontology is what?
A
Dentistry
21
Q
CH.1
What does odontology help us in the field of forensic science?
A
Helps identify if teeth are human or animal, uses identification of individual through dentition, usually done at mass disasters and crime scenes
22
Q
CH.1
Why are odontologists so important?
A
Helps identify at least 60% of the victims (ex: air crash) just by obtaining their dental records
23
Q
CH.1
Purpose of engineering in forensic science?
A
Structural failure, crime scene reconstruction
24
Q
CH.1
What is entomology?
A
the use of insects to determine time of death (post Mortem interval or PMI)
25
CH.1
Purpose of behavioral forensic science?
-used to determine competency of individual to stand trial
-used to determine individual insanity v. insanity
-used to determine malingering
26
CH.1
What is the purpose of digital evidence?
-analysis of computers and electronic devices
-recovery of data from damaged hard drives
-investigation of computers at crime scenes
-investigation of "hackers"
-investigation of identity theft
-investigation of illegal activities on the internet
27
CH.1
What is a witness of fact?
A person who testifies in court to something they saw, head, did or experienced.
** Can only testify as to facts and can NOT give opinion testimony!
28
CH.1
What is an expert witness?
An individual who because of their training, can give opinion testimony about items of evidence or conclusions they have reached after analysis of some type
29
CH.1
What country in 1247 used insects to find blood and fingerprints to mark objects?
China
30
CH.1
What countries started to adopt forensic science early on?
Austria, Germany, Finland, Scotland, and Holland (Europe first)
31
CH.1
What is a typical degree for a forensic scientist?
Bachelors or Masters in a natural science
32
CH.1
What is a typical degree for a forensic pathologist?
Medical school + residency in pathology and forensic pathology
33
CH.1
What is a typical degree for a forensic anthropologist to have?
Ph.D. in forensic anthropology
34
CH.1
What is a typical degree for a forensic odontologist to have?
DDS
35
CH.1
What is a typical degree for a forensic engineer?
PhD in engineering
36
CH.1
Organization of Forensic Laboratories - National
laboratory chartered to work evidence from the whole nation (USA - FBI Laboratory)
37
CH.1
Organization of Forensic Laboratories - State
Evidence can be sent to a laboratory or group of laboratories within a state which handle evidence for its law enforcement agencies (Illinois)
38
CH.1
Organization of Forensic Laboratories - County
Laboratories set up to handle cases in a county in a state (DuPage in IL )
39
CH.1
Organization of Forensic Laboratories - City
labs only handle evidence from cases within the bounds of the city (LAPD, Houston, New York City)
40
CH.1
Organization of Forensic Laboratories - Private
labs handle evidence on a fee basis and only work evidence for pay (Lifecodes for DNA)
41
CH.1
Specialized Forensic Laboratories are mostly what?
FED
42
CH.1
Treasury Dept has what departments/laboratories?
-IRS
-ATF-E
-Homeland Security
-Secret Service
43
CH.1
Justice dept. deals with:
FBI & DEA
44
CH.1
Interior Dept. deals with;
Fish and wildlife
45
CH.1
Postal service deals with:
Post office
46
CH.1
What is the another department mentioned in the ppt?
FDA
47
CH.1
What are some services of a forensic science laboratory (pt. 1)?
-Evidence Receiving - LIMs
-Drug chemistry
-Trace chemistry
-Biology/DNA
-Firearms
-Documents
-Photography
48
CH.1
What is drug chemistry?
analysis of controlled substances
49
CH.1
What is trace chemistry?
analysis of trace evidence
50
CH.1
What is biology/DNA?
analysis of body fluids for the purpose of individualization of those fluids
51
CH.1
What is firearms?
analysis of any type of fired evidence
52
CH.1
What is documents?
analysis of anything printed on paper
53
CH.1
What is photography?
preservation of all types of evidence
54
CH.1
What are some services of a forensic science laboratory (pt. 2)?
-Toxicology
-Fingerprints
-Polygraph
-Voiceprint
-Evidence collection
55
CH.1
What is toxicology
analysis of body fluids to find drugs or
toxins present
56
CH.1
What is fingerprints?
development, comparison and preservation of prints left behind at crime scenes
57
CH.1
What is a polygraph?
detection of deception, useful for investigative purposes (not admissible in most courts)
58
CH.1
What is a voiceprint?
use of voice to identify persons
59
CH.1
What is evidence collection (crime scene)?
finds, collects and preserves evidence then transports it to the lab
60
CH.1
What do administrative issues serve for?
Accountability (regulation of labs), Accreditation (ASCLD/LAB, ASTM, ISO), and Access to labs (public and private)
61
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following Federal Departments does not have a forensic science lab?
A. Interior
B. Justice
C. Commerce
D. Treasury
E. All of these have forensic science labs
62
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
2. Which of the following is generally not considered to be a forensic science?
A. Chemistry
B. Biology
C. Anthropology
D. Odontology
E. Sociology
Sociology
63
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
3. California has about ___% of the crime labs in the United States
A. 10
B. 50
C. 25
D. 12
E. 1
64
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
4. Which of the following is not part of forensic anthropology?
A. Matching teeth to a bite mark
B. Identification of skeletal remains
C. Building a face on a skull
D. Superimposition of the picture of a face onto a skull
E. Determining the gender of a skeleton
A
65
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
5. DNA typing is a part of
A. Forensic pathology
B. Criminalistics
C. Odontology
D. Engineering
E. Criminal investigation
66
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
6. If a forensic science laboratory uses a barcode system as part of its evidence identification, the barcode would be affixed to the evidence when
A. The evidence is about to be analyzed
B. When the final report is written
C. As soon as the evidence is accepted by the lab
D. When the evidence is put in central storage
E. When the evidence is returned to the submitting officer
67
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
7. Which of the following is not a forensic application of science?
A. Identification of human remains through dental X-rays
B. Verifying the composition of an aspirin tablet before it leaves the factory
C. Identification of a bag of tablets taken from a car when the driver is stopped for erratic driving
D. Determination of why a Ferris wheel crashed at an amusement park when three people were killed
68
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
8. From the time you graduate from high school until you are certified as a forensic pathologist takes about ___ years.
A. 4
B. 8
C. 12
D. 13
E. 16
69
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
9. Go to the AAFS (www.aafs.org) and look up “Daubert Tracker”. This service permits a site visit or to
A. Tracks Dauberts
B. Keeps the forensic scientist up to date on some legal aspects of scientific evidence
C. Determine when the annual Academy meeting is
D. Keep track of new types of scientific evidence
E. Tracks dues payments to the Academy
70
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS
10. On the website for the Society of Forensic Toxicology (www.soft-tox.org), the definition of forensic toxicology includes all of the following except
A. Postmortem forensic toxicology
B. Analysis of suspected drug powders
C. Forensic urine testing
D. Analysis of blood and body fluids for human performance altering drugs
E. All of these are included in the definition of forensic toxicology
71
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS - Matching
11. Determines cause and manner of death_____
12. Identifies people from their teeth ____
13. Reconstructs hard disc drives_____
14. Analyzes bone fragments____
15. Determines role of insects in investigations____
16. Determines how a bridge collapsed__
-------------------------------------------------------------
a. anthropology
b. pathology
c. entomology
d. computer forensics
e. engineer
f. odontologist
72
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS - FILL IN THE BLANK
17. The _____________ is the United Kingdom national forensic science system.
18. Mail fraud is investigated by the _____________.
19. The federal laboratory whose responsibility is the investigation and analysis of illicit drugs is the _____________.
20. The two major duties of a forensic scientist in a crime lab are _____________ and _____________.
21. The national “umbrella” organization for forensic science in the United States is the _____________.
22. When evidence is brought into a crime laboratory it is delivered to the _____________ section.
73
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS - SHORT ANSWER
23. “What makes a science “forensic”? Give an example of dentistry (odontology) that is forensic and one that is not. Do the same thing for engineering.
74
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS - SHORT ANSWER
24. An increasing trend in crime scene investigation is to have forensic scientists from a crime lab go to some crime scenes and help the CSIs with searching the scene for evidence. What advantages and disadvantages would there be to this practice?
75
*CH. 1 REVIEW TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS - SHORT ANSWER
25. Since 1992, the national forensic science system in the United Kingdom now operates on a fee per service basis; everyone, police and defendants alike, is charged for forensic analysis, whereas in the United States, crime labs are generally run be a unit of government and they are for the use of police and prosecutors only. Defendants have no access to public crime lab facilities. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system? Why do you think that the United Kingdom changed over to fee-for-service model?
76
CH.2
At the crime scene it is important to collect physical evidence, why is this?
It is important because it includes any and all object and substances which can establish that a crime has been committed or can provide a link between a crime and the victim, a crime and the perpetrator or a victim and the perpetrator
77
CH.2
When processing the crime scene what happens during security and isolation?
-First officer on the scene - do not allow any one into the scene
-Check for injured and administer aid if necessary
-Note any safety hazards
-Additional officers as they arrive - help and do not go into scene
78
CH.2
When recording the crime scene during processing what happens during it?
-Crime scene unit - sketches, notes and measurements
-Photography unit - pictures and video
79
CH.2
When processing the scene and search for evidence what is happening during this?
-Thorough, Systematic and Complete (search patterns)
-Needed for Reconstruction of the Crime (notes and sketches)
-Time spent is sometimes dependent on the crime
– Murder scene
– Crime against person – Vehicle search
– Crime against property
*additional personnel involved = medical examiners & health care professionals
80
CH.2
Collection of evidence is important especially while maintaining chain of custody because
-All items in separate containers - best
-Prevent loss of evidence
-Prevent contamination of evidence
-Protect evidence from deleterious change
81
CH.2
While packaging evidence during a crime scene what is best storage for most dry items?
plastic bags
82
CH.2
While packaging evidence during a crime scene what is best storage for biologicals and wet paint?
paper bags, allows for them to dry but not be exposed to air or chemicals that may cause rot
83
CH.2
While packaging evidence during a crime scene what is best storage for arson and explosives?
metal cans or glass jars
84
CH.2
While packaging evidence during a crime scene what is best storage for trace evidence?
small envelopes
85
CH.2
What is important in a chain of custody?
-Who found and packaged evidence
-Who touched evidence
-Who analyzed evidence
-This is the easiest aspect of evidence to break in court and often what attorneys attack the most
-Evidence in “tamper-evident” containers -Submitted to the laboratory
86
CH.2
What is the difference between probative and non probative?
Probative helps the case and non-probative has no value to the case
87
CH.2
What is an important aspect to crime scene personnel and preservation of the evidence
safety
88
CH.2
PPE - When are gown and gloves needed?
when biologicals are present
89
CH.2
PPE - when are respirators needed?
when chemicals are present
90
CH.2
PPE - When does it need to be changed?
when taking notes and when PPE is ripped or soiled
91
CH.2
Safety - What can you NOT have at a crime scene
Food, drinks, cigarettes/vape (smoking), and makeup
92
CH.2
Safety - What happens to disposables?
They're destroyed, anything else that isn't disposable gets cleaned
93
CH.2
What is important when dealing with biohazards?
Beware sources of infections (contracting a disease), and exposure to chemicals
94
CH.2
What is controls (standards)?
"knowns" b/c we know exactly where they came from
95
CH.2
Why are "knowns" important?
for comparison analysis and identification
ex:
-samples such as soil, glass or arson cases that are taken from a crime scene or suspect (comparison analysis)
-obtain fingerprints or DNA from a suspect (victim too for DNA)
96
CH.2
What steps are in the crime scene investigative process?
-Discovery of the crime
-Response
-Submission of evidence to laboratory
-Request for analysis
97
CH.2
Who/what is involved in the response step of the crime scene investigative process?
First responders, crime scene investigators, evidence discovery & recovery, evidence prep, delivery to laboratory
98
CH.2 What are two ways to submit evidence to a laboratory? Which one out of the two is the best?
Hand to hand & mail, Hand to hand is the best
99
CH.2
Evidence can only be submitted by mail if?
If it is certified or better (signatures are required)
No restrictions present by postal rules (firearms, explosives, biohazards CANNOT be shipped!)
100
CH.2
What information is needed for an evidence submission form?
-inventory of submissions (what is being submitted)
-chain of custody (who gave it, who received it)
-request for analysis (what is to be done)
