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Intro to Forensics
Introduction to Forensic Science- people, parts of a crime lab, etc
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Forensic Science | Application of science to criminal and civil laws |
Mathieu Orfila | Founder of forensic toxicology (poisons) |
Alphonse Bertillion | Devised firstscientific system of personal identification. Used physical measurements |
Francis Galton | Conducted first difinitive study of fingerprints and their classification |
Leone Lattes | Devised procedure to determine blood type (A, B, O) from dried bloodstains |
Calvin Goddard | Used a comparison microscope to determine if a particular gun fired a bullet (ballistics) |
Albert Osborn | Developed fundamental principles of document examination |
Walter McCrone | Used microscope and other analytical methodologies to examine evidence. Ex: fibers |
Hans Gross | Wrote first treatise describing application of scientific principles to criminal investigation. Ex: organized crime lad, trained professionals, special equipment, etc. |
Edmund Locard | Incorporated Gross' principles into first workable crime lab |
Locard's Exchange Principle | When a criminal comes in contact with an object or person, a cross transfer of evidence occurs |
Sir Alec Jeffreys | 1984, developed first DNA profiling test |
Why, in the past few years, has there been an increase in crime labs around the country? (3 reasons) | -Supreme Court decisions in the 1960's responsible for polics placing greater emphasis on scientific evidence. -Drug specimens -DNA profiling |
What are the 5 basic categories of tech support for crime labs? | Physical Science, Biology, Firearms, Document, Photographic |
Physical Science Unit | Identifies and compares physical evidence using physics, geology, and/or chemistry) |
Biology Unit | Investigates blood samples, body fluids, hair, fiber samples, insects, etc. |
Firearms Unit | Investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and ammunition |
Document Unit | Handwriting analysis and other questined document issues |
Photographic Unit | Photographic techniques for recording and examining physical evidence |
Optional Services in a crime lab | Toxicology, latent fingerprint, polygraph, voiceprint analysis, evidence collection |
Toxicology Unit | Examines body fluids and organs for presense od drugs and poison |
Latent Fingerprint Unit | Processes and examines evidence for latent fingerprints |
Polygraph Unit | Conducts polygraph tests |
Voiceprint Analysis | Attempts to tie a recorded voice to a suspect |
Evidence Collection Unit | Collect and preserve physical evidence; in smaller units police men train to do this job |
Expert Witness | Individual who court determines possesses knowledge relevent to the trial that is not expected of the average person |
Expert Opinion | An expert witness is the only witness able to give an opinion as to the significance of their findings |
Train Law Enforcement | Forensic Scientists also train law enforcement professionals in proper recognition, collection, and preservation of physical evidence |
Frye v United States | Established Frye Standard; guiidelines for who is an expert witness. Evidence must be generally accepted by scientific community |
Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc | Established Daubert Criteria for Admissibility; trial judges ultimately responsible for admissibility and validity of scientific evidence |
Daubert Criteria for Admissibility (5 standards) | - Can it be tested? -Has technique been subject to peer review and/or publication -What is the technique's rate of error? - Existance and maintenance of standards -Widespread acceptance |
Special Forensic Science Services | Forensic Pathology, Anthropology, Entomology, Psychiatry, Odontology, Computer Science, and Engineering |
Forensic Pathology | Autopsies; cause of death (medical examiner) |
Forensic Anthropology | Skeletal Remains |
Forensic Entomology | Insects; insect eggs |
Forensic Psychiatry | Human behavior (profilers) |
Forensic Odontology | Dental impressions/bite marks- how they got Bundy |
Computer Science | Digital evidence |
Forensic Engineering | Structural failures; accidents |