test one Flashcards
is science that is done in “service to the law literal latin root is “having to do with argumentation and debate”
Forensic science:
Major contributions of forensics to criminal Justice System:
Element of the crime support/disprove statements Identify substances Identify persons Provide investigative leads Establish linkages or exclusions
the study of diseases – medical doctors that are experts in determining cause of death
Forensic pathology:
study of insects
Forensic entomology:
experts in skeletal remains
Forensic anthropology:
study of poisons, toxins, and drugs in the body
Forensic psychiatry and psychology: evaluate the mind, “profilers”
Forensic toxicology:
investigate automobile accidents, transportations, structural collapses
Forensic engineering:
investigate use of computer technologies and electronic records
Forensic computer science:
use of specialized equipment ex: specialized lights, ground penetrating sonar
Forensic/ investigation technologies:
this encomposses all of hte speciality aras found in full- service forensic science laborites
Criminalistics:
Criminalistics 4 major categories
biological analysis,
materials analysis,
forensic chemistry,
pattern evidence
- being able to tell what is potential evidence at a scene
Evidence recognition
- this is identifying what is examined
Classification
being able to exclude something as not being something
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Disassociation -
recognizing something as unique, a way to classifying something as different they the rest of a group
Individualization
- using evidence to determine how the event that caused the evidence, occurred.
Reconstruction
2-D image as a result of contact with a hard surface
Imprints:
example of an imprint
Example: handprint on cloth would not be
: 3-D image produced by pressing into a soft surface
Indentation
example of an indentation
a footprint in the soil
Results of a hard surface being marking up by another object in motion
Usually done on metal or wood
These can sometimes be seen with the naked eye, and sometimes it requires a microscope
Striations:
This when material ends up on a surface by traveling through the air (no direct contact)
Example: blood/ paint splatter, dust, pollen
Deposits:
Classification of physical evidence:
Identification
Individualization
Reconstruction
Demonstrating exclusion can have as much value as inclusions
Three databases exist for physical evidence
AFIS (Automated fingerprint identification system)
CODIS (Combined DNA Indexing system)
NIBIN (National integrated Ballistics Information network)