Semester One Flashcards
Scotland Yard
-founder & purpose
first police force (London)
-founded by Robert Peele
Bow Street Runners
-founders & purpose
organized volunteers, recovered stolen property
-led by Henry and John Fielding
Anthropometry
use of measurements of human body for criminal identification (Alphonse Bertillion)
Criminalistics or Criminal Investigation
process/use of science as an investigative tool (Hans Gross)
Prescientific Period
informal law enforcement activities
-led to creation of local, state, and federal agencies
Agencies Founded in the Prescientific Period (4)
1) US secret service
2) FBI
3) Bureau of Prohibition
4) DEA
Scientific Period (1920s)
- began with the first investigative crime lab
-included work from Edmond Locard, Calvin Goddard, & J. Edgar Hoover- Advances: glass fragmentation, blood spatters, trace evidence
Edmond Locard
established first crime lab (France)
Calvin Goddard
created lab: Bureau of Forensic Ballistics
J. Edgar Hoover
first FBI director and included use of science in agency
- began fingerprint files
Technological Period (1960s)
marked by the addition of computers and large scale databases to criminal investigations
-including NCIC, AFIS, DNA, CODIS, DHS
Name the Agencies/Purpose
-NCIC, AFIS, CODIS, DHS
1) National Crime Info Center: rapid exchange of info between agencies, including missing persons and criminal info
2) Automated Fingerprint ID System: criminal identification
3) Combined DNA Index System: stores and compares DNA evidence with convicted offenders
4) Department of Homeland Security: improve security of US (ex. boarder control, disaster response, cybersecurity)
Corpus Delecti
body of crime; investigators must prove a crime has been committed
Elements of a Crime
crime must be factually supported with evidence
4th Amendment
protects against unreasonable searches and seizures
Actus Reus
act of crime; performing or failing to act to prevent a crime
Mens Rea
suspects mental state during act of crime
Search vs Seizure
Search: govt. intrudes upon ones reasonable expectation of privacy
Seizure: interference w/ ones property
Reasonable Expectation of Privacy
- does not exist if exposed to the public
- does exist in homes, private property
Resonable Suspicion
specific facts that lead an officer to believe a crime has been/will be committed
Probable Cause
facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime has been/is being committed
Voluntary Contacts
conversational & unrequired interview
officer must…
-limit actions to avoid seizures
-use non-confrontational language
-not frisk/search unless given
permission
-allow citizen to leave
Arrest
seizure for the purpose of criminal prosecution
-complete when suspect is abiding by commands or restrained
Exceptions to Search Warrant
- exigent circumstances (someone could die/be injured)
-consent
-plain view doctrine
-public schools, govt. offices, prisons
-drug testing
-automobiles
Types of Evidence (4)
1) physical/real evidence (ex. small fibers like hair)
2) tangible (physical, can be held)
3) testimonial (spoken words)
4) documentary (written, printed, reported, or recorded)
Law
understanding of legal requirements of specific crimes
Ethics
aware of consequences to their actions w/ case involvement
-requires factual and accurate documentation
Economics
decision making requiring cost-benefit analysis of case resolution
Investigative Team Roles (8)
1) Crime Scene Tech: evidence search/collection
2) Photographer: capture evidence
3) Dispatcher: communication
4) Patrol Officer: first responder on scene
5) Criminalist: scientist trained in bio/chem
6) Forensic Scientist: analyze evidence
7) Confidential Informant: provides info
8) Other: EMT, firefighters, K9 teams, etc.
Objectives of Criminal Investigation (CIA - not the agency)
C - establish if a crime was Committed
I - identify suspects involved
A - associate suspects, victims, and scene
Investigative Stages (4)
1) Crime Detection
2) Preliminary Investigation
3) Follow-Up Investigation
4) Case Prep/Prosecution
First Responders Role
-keep scene controlled/preserved (comings and goings, people involved)
-assess initial scene, observe surroundings (ppl fleeing)
Survey Phase: processing the crime scene
-note locations of evidence
-establish order of collection
-note conditions (weather, lighting, etc)
-photograph (include scales/angles)
-scene sketch (note locations, distances)
Measurements
-Rectangular: 2 fixed points (best indoors)
-Triangulation: taken from various angles, most precise
-Baseline: straight line
-Polar: datum point (central), used in large outdoor space
-Total Station: uses electronic distance meter/imaging
Search Methods (5)
1) Line or Strip
2) Grid
3) Spiral (goes inside-out)
4) Link (searches paths most likely to contain evidence)
5) Zone (artificially constructed)
Classifying Evidence (5)
1) Trace: objects undetectable to naked eye
2) Impression: objects that cause an image of itself
3) Biological: bodily fluids/tissues
4) Firearms/Weapons
5) Documents: paper, electronic, other physical
Class Characteristics (of physical evidence)
what individual pieces have in common
Individual Characteristics (of physical evidence)
evidence is specific to a person, place, or thing
Locard’s Exchange Principal
every contact leaves a trace
-cross contamination: unwanted transfer of physical evidence
Reference, Control, and Elimination Samples (def)
Reference: taken from reliable source (ex. soil from scene; for later comparison)
Control: uncontaminated/blank to be compared to samples that have been altered by criminal act
Elimination: ex. fingerprints of residents who are victim of burglary
Fingerprints (types, capturing, residue vs void)
anyone who touches evidence must give prints
- 3 Types: arch, loop, whorl
-ID: visible, plastic (3D), Latent (need aid to see)
-Capturing prints: powder, iodine fuming, etc.
-Residue Print: shoe, facial, makeup
-Void Print: snow, mud, tires, etc.
Tool Mark Evidence
Striation Marks: found on windows, doors, locked items
Firearm Evidence
-Firearms: weapon type, size, model, manufacturer
-Ballistics: characteristics of weapon after firing
-Ammunition: all bullets (fired/unfired) & location of fired bullets (entrance/exit)
-Gunshot Residue: found where gun was shot (on hands, clothing, surrounding area)
Presumptive Test
determines if evidence is blood
Blood Spatter Types (3)
1) Low Velocity: created naturally by gravity (dripping)
2) Medium Velocity: cause by blunt force trauma (projected)
3) High Velocity: caused by gunshot (fine mist/small drops)
Investigative Lead
info that can be obtained and used for achieving investigative goals
Criminal Intelligence
info gathered from leads/sources thats been analyzed for knowledge of crime related activities
Surveillance Steps (5)
1) Identification of suspects
2) Identification of witnesses
3) Corroborate information
4) Provide security for undercover operations
5) Establish probable cause to obtain warrants
Surveillance Types (3)
1) Static: stakeout, observing target from a fixed location
2) Mobile: on foot, in vehicles, or use of tracking devices
3) Combined
Methods of Countersurveillance (5)
1) sudden moves
2) traveling in circles
3) using setups
4) asking questions
5) having decoys/convoys
Informant Types (3)
1) Anonymous: provides tips/leads without identifying themselves
2) In-Custody: provide info in exchange for money, protection, or legal consideration
3) persons involved in/know of criminal activity
Tactical vs Strategic (Criminal Intelligence)
Tactical: used to identify/solve an immediate crime
Strategic: develop longterm big picture of specific crime problem
Evidential vs Operational (Criminal Intelligence)
Evidential: gathering info from current evidence that can lead to discovery of other evidence
Operational: focuses on specific large-scale criminal activity to get detailed info on specific crime
Analytic Methods (8)
1) Geoprofiling
2) Crime Pattern
3) Net Worth & Financial
4) Telephone Record
5) Event Flow
6) Commodity Flow
7) Visual Investigative
8) Threat and Vulnerability
Criminal Profiling (4 Types)
1) Organized: demonstrated control
2) Disorganized: impulsive, typically low intelligence/socially withdrawn
3) Mixed: organized/disorganized characteristics
4) Atypical
Profiling Serial Offenders (3 behaviors)
1) Theme: consistent behavior patterns observed in 2 or more signatures
2) Signature: behavior unnecessary to completing criminal act (ex. leaving smth behind)
3) Modus Operandi: behavior that is not necessary to complete the criminal act (particular method)
Altered Crime Scene (4 examples)
1) souvenirs
2) trophies
3) staging
4) undoing
Toxicology
studies physical/behavioral affects of poisons on body
Frye & Daubert Tests
Frye: any science is recognized by a court as legitimate as long as it is a generally accepted standard
Daubert: for a court to recognize forensic science it must be testable, establish error rates, peer reviewed, & accepted by experts
Serology
analyses blood stains and performs testing (for blood type)
Arson & Explosives
fire/explosives evidence, examines burnt/destroyed objects
Trace Evidence
small sized fragments (ex. hair, glass, paint chips, etc)
Questioned Documents
false documents that assist in financial crimes
nDNA (nucleal DNA)
considered a genetic fingerprint which contains codes/instructions for the body to create/sustain itself
Forensic Science Types (5)
1) Forensic Pathology: cause of death
2) Forensic Anthropology: identify human remains
3) Forensic Entomology: study of insects
4) Forensic Psychology/Psychiatry: mental abilities & personality traits
5) Digital Forensic Sci.: electronic crimes
1st Degree Murder
death resulted from deliberate, intentional, and premeditated killing (planned)
Murder vs Manslaughter
Murder: unlawful killing w/ malice/aforethought
Manslaughter: unlawful killing w/out malice/aforethought
2nd Degree Murder
death resulted in deliberate/intentional act w/out premeditation (in the moment)
Involuntary Manslaughter
involved neither planning/intent (ex. car accident)
Voluntary Manslaughter
intentional killing that results from provocation from victim (ex. father killing daughters abuser)
Justified Homicide
death of person killed as a result of their own intention but at anothers hand
Excusable Homicide
accidents where victims are responsible for their own death or a person is killed under legal and unavoidable circumstances
Postmortem Indicators (4)
1) Corneal Clouding
2) Livor Mortis: discoloration of skin (immediate)
3) Rigor Mortis: stiffening of body (brief period)
4) Algor Mortis: cooling/warming of body
Bullet Wounds (6)
1) Entry/Exit
2) Abrasion Ring (around entry)
3) Stippling/Tattooing: unburnt powder on skin
4) Bullet Wipe: material deposited by bullet by contact
5) Bullet Track: path of travel in the body
6) Contact Wound: gun imprint on skin
What can be determined by entry/exit wounds? (3)
1) Shooting distance
2) type of weapon
3) trajectory (path)
Blunt Force Trauma (3 characteristics)
1) Contusions: bruising of skin in areas where force is applied
2) Avulsions: ripping or tearing of the skin
3) Artifacts portions of skin torn from body
Homicide Typologies (10)
1) contract
2) gang
3) kidnap
4) drug related
5) insurance inheritance
6) erotomania
7) domestic
8) authority
9) extremist
10) serial
