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78 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Forensic Science
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Science applied to law.
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How often are eyewitness accounts inaccurate?
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Over 70% of the time
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What was the first recorded application of medical knowledge to the solution of crime?
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1248 Chinese book "His DuanYu" or "The Washing Away of Wrongs."
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What was used before photography & fingerprinting?
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The Bertillonage System
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_____ of the ____________ population has blood type O.
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40%
Caucasian |
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Individualization
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1. Fingerprinting
2. Serology 3. DNA |
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Scientific Method
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The process by which scientists, collectively & over time, endeavor to construct an accurate representation of the world.
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What does the scientific method attempt to minimize?
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The influence/bias/prejudice in the experimenter when testing a hypothesis.
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You can prove a hypothesis.
True or False? |
False
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Scientific Project Flow Chart
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1. Choose your topic
2. Identify a problem 3. Research the problem 4. Develop a hypothesis 5. Design the experiments 6. Test the hypothesis 7. Analyze the results 8. Formulate conclusions |
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Falsification
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Karl Popper
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Paradigm Shifts
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Thomas Kuhn
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Paradigm
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A shift in belief or view.
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Paradigm Shift (Definition)
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Consensual world view that involved an agreed upon set of assumptions, methods, language (a paradigm) in which science progresses incrementally.
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Error
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Specific to scientific measurement.
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Law
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Justice within a time limit.
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Science
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Truth with no time limit.
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Match
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Non-falsifiable
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Kaufman Recommendation #2
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"Evidence that shows only that an accused cannot be excluded as the donor of an unknown hair is likely to have sufficient probate value to justify its reception at a criminal trial as circumstantial evidence of guilt."
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Kaufman Recommendation #5
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Hair & fibers "clearly articulate for the jury the limitations upon the findings made by the experts."
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Kaufman Recommendation #7
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"Reports must contain conclusions drawn from
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Kaufman Recommendation #11
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The scientific method means that scientists are to work to vigorously challenge or disprove hypothesis, not prove them.
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Kaufman Recommendation #74
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Avoid tunnel vision. Tunnel vision means the single-minded & overly narrow focus on a particular investigative or prosecutorial theory, so as to unreasonably color the evaluation of information received.
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Confessions
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1. 22% of DNA exoneration involve a false confession (mental illness/lighter sentence)
2. Many were voluntary |
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Frye Standard
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"General acceptance"
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Expert Testimony
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1. Peer review
2. Error Rates 3. Adequate testing 4. Regular standards & techniques 5. General acceptance |
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Fingerprinting is viewed as a _____ match.
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100%
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Steps in DNA Forensic Sampling Process
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1. Biology
2. Technology |
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Biology
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DNA Extraction --> DNA Quantification --> PCR Amplification of Multiple STR Markers
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Technology
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Separation & Detection
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mtDNA (Mitochondrial DNA)
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(1) 25-100 copies per cell
(2) Maternally inherited |
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Sources of Biological Evidence
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1. Blood
2. Semen 3. Saliva 4. Urine 5. Feces 6. Hair 7. Teeth 8. Bone 9. Tissue |
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CODIS
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Combined DNA Index System
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National DNA Data Bank
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1. The Convinced Offender Index (COI)
2. Crime Scene Index (CSI) |
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Relation of DNA to Biological Material
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Can identify & individualize it
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What does DNA identify?
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1. Species of organisms
2. Micro-organisms |
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What is DNA used in?
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1. Wildlife Forensic
2. Forensic Entomology 3. Forensic Botany 4. Environmental Science 5. Food Forensics 6. Medical Forensics 7. Bioterrorism |
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Wildlife Forensics
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1. Native species
2. Domestics 3. Exotics |
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Conservation
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1. Enforcement of harvesting laws/agreements
2. Pertinence of molecular data to investigations |
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Application
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1. Species identification
2. Sex identification 3. Individual identification |
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CITES
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Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
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Illegal to Trade:
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1. Tigers
2. Elephants 3. Rhinos 4. Black bears 5. Certain plants |
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Wildlife cases
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1. Processed meat
2. Antlers 3. Feathers 4. Fish scales & eggs 5. Dried animal parts 6. Gut piles 7. Plant material |
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CSI Effect
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1. Jurors expect forensic evidence as opposed to relying on good eyewitness testimony.
2. Creates courtroom challenges as people from the general public are the ones who make up the Jurys. 3. Increased popularity of forensics resulting in more money spent on it. |
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Forensic Identification Services
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1. Photography
2. Video 3. Diagrams 4. Fingerprints 5. Footwear Impressions 6. Exhibit Collection |
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Other Forensic Services
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1. Forensic Anthropology
2. Physical Matches 3. Tool Marks 4. Bloodstain Analysis |
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Forensic Entomology
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Application of insect biology to criminal matters.
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Application
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1. Time since death
2. Neglect 3. Regions of Trauma 4. Cause of death 5. Drug consumption 6. Location of Death |
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Post Mortem Interval
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1. Used in cases over 72 hours old
2. Determined using maggot age or succession patterns |
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Arthropod Arrival
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Stage 1: Necrophagous Species
Stage 2: Omnivores Stage 3: Predators Stage 4: Incidentals |
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Problems with PMI
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1. Temperature
2. Maggot Mass 3. Geography 4. Buried or clothed remains 5. Larval crowding 6. Identification of correct species important to determine correct growth rate |
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Less Traditional Forensic Applications
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1. Black fly larvae on a submerged car
2. Clothes moths on a ski mask 3. International drug trafficking |
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Errors made in Forensic Science can be a result of what?
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1. Method
2. Practitioner |
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Error Rates: Spectrographic Voice ID
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63%
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Error Rates: Handwriting Errors
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40%
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Error Rates: Bite Mark Errors
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64%
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Error Rates: Microscopic Hair Comparison Patterns
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12%
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Error Rates: Fingerprinting
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25%
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Error Rates: Fingerprinting (Mistaken for Twin)
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20%
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"Even monkeys fall from trees" OR "Pride comes before a fall"
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"saru mo ki kara ochiru"
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Basic Services Provided by Full-Service Crime Laboratories:
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1. Physical Science Unit
2. Biology Unit 3. Firearms Unit 4. Document Examination Unit 5. Photography Unit |
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Functions of the Forensic Scientist
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1. Analyzing Physical Evidence
2. Providing Expert Testimony 3. Furnishing Training in the Proper Recognition, Collect & Preservation of Physical Evidence |
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Types of Search Patterns
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1. Line/strip
2. Grid 3. Spiral 4. Wheel/ray 5. Quadrant/zone |
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Vehicle Searches
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1. Blood
2. Tissue 3. Hair 4. Fibers & fabric impressions 5. Paint/broken glass |
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Night Searches
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1. Scene taped off & left undisturbed
2. Guarded until daylight |
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Three methods of crime scene recording:
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1. Notes
2. Photographs 3. Sketches |
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Notes should include:
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1. Contact information
2. Personnel information & movements 3. Task assignments 4. Observations of victim & scene 5. Information about evidence before & after processing |
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Crime scene photographs can show:
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1. Layout of scene
2. Position of evidence 3. Physical relationships of objects |
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Sketching must include:
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1. Title block
2. Legend 3. Compass 4. Body of sketch |
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Karl Landsteiner
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Announced typing of blood in 1901.
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Blood Factors:
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1. Controlled genetically
2. Highly distinctive feature for personal identification |
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Test for Blood
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1. Kastle-Meyer test
2. Luminol test 3. Bluestar test 4. Microcrystalline test 5. Precipitin test |
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Testing for Seminal Stains
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1. Acid phosphatase
2. Microscopic Examination of Semen 3. Prostate |
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Collection of Sexual Assault Evidence: Physical Evidence
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1. Blood
2. Semen 3. Hairs 4. Fibers |
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Non-motile sperm
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Can be found from 3-6 days afterwards.
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Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
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Most successfully and widely used DNA profiling procedure.
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When STR is selected for analysis:
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1. Identify & number of core repeats must be defined
2. Sequence of lases flanking the repeats must be known |
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Sex Identification using STR's:
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1. Amelogenin gene - Located on both X & Y chromosomes
2. Males show two bands; females have just one 3. Y-STR's - Useful for analyzing blood, saliva or a vaginal swab |