Intro To Criminalistics - Ch 1 - 3

Front 1

What is forensic science?

Back 1

The application of the principles of natural science to the criminal justice system.

Front 2

What is criminalistics?

Back 2

The examination of physical evidence

Front 3

Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853)

Back 3

Established field of forensic toxicology in Spain

Front 4

Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914)

Back 4

Anthropometry (study of body measurements)

Front 5

Calvin Goddard (1891-1955)

Back 5

Developed comparison microscope

Front 6

Francis Galton (1822-1911)

Back 6

Developed the first system of identification through fingerprints

Front 7

Dr. Leon Lattes(1887-1954)

Back 7

Lattes crust method for typing dried stains; Discovered blood could be grouped into different categories.

Front 8

Albert S. Osborn (1858-1946)

Back 8

1st significant text on Questioned Documents

Front 9

Hans Gross (1847-1915)

Back 9

Principles of criminal investigation

Front 10

Edmond Locard (1877-1966)

Back 10

Scientific method (cross-transfer theory)

Front 11

What is the Locard Exchange Principle?

Back 11

Whenever two objects come into contact with one another, there is an exchange of materials between them.

Front 12

First lab in U.S. created by August Vollmer in _________________ in 1923

Back 12

LA (LAPD)

Front 13

FBI lab organized in ________.

Back 13

1932

Front 14

Forensic Science Research & Training Center established in _______.

Back 14

1981

Front 15

Federal Labaratories?

Back 15

FBI, ATF, USPS, DEA, US Army, Navy & Air Force, Secret Service, US Customs

Front 16

Lab Services?

Back 16

Physical science – chemistry, physics, geology; Biology- DNA; Firearms; Documents; Photography; Toxicology
Latent Prints; Polygraph; Crime Scene Unit

Front 17

State Laboratories?

Back 17

Most populous states have lab or lab system

Front 18

What lab accredidation is required in Texas?

Back 18

Required by state law
ASCLD-LAB
ISO-17025

Front 19

What is the Daubert Standard?

Back 19

Set forth a new standard for admissibility of scientific evidence in U.S. federal courts.

Front 20

Kumho Tire Co. V. Carmichael

Back 20

applied Daubert to all expert testimony in federal court

Front 21

The Frye Standard of 1923

Back 21

general acceptance in the relevant field

Front 22

Purpose of Frye

Back 22

to prevent…the introduction into evidence of specious and unfounded scientific principles or conclusions based upon such principles”

Front 23

What is the biggest drawback of Fry?

Back 23

excludes relevant, probative evidence; allows arbitrary decision by Judge

Front 24

Federal Rules of Evidence 702

Back 24

“If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise.”

Front 25

Applying Daubert

Back 25

Evaulation by Judge; Judge says your an expert

Front 26

Federal Rule of Evidence 703

Back 26

the facts or data relied upon in the formulation of an expert opinion be of “a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the particular field in forming opinions or inferences upon the subject.”

Front 27

What is an expert witness?

Back 27

qualifications; competnency; appearance/demeanor; gives opinion testimony; conclusions rendered :...to a reasonable forensic certainty..."

Front 28

Daubert evaluation criteria?

Back 28

Empirical testimony (can be tested); publication or peer review; acceptable known or potential rate of error; genearl acceptance in the scientific community.

Front 29

Sensitivity?

Back 29

minimum amount of a substance required to give positive analytical results

Front 30

Specificity ?

Back 30

ability to distinguish a substance to the exclusion of all other substances

Front 31

Lawyers vs. Scientists

Back 31

Speculation vs. confirmation
Innuendo vs. fact-based
Absolute vs. no absolutes (terms lawyers use that forensic scientists do not)

Front 32

How does the scientific method apply to a crime scene?

Back 32

Each aspect of physical evidence presents an opportunity for applying the scientific method.

Front 33

autopsy

Back 33

The medical dissection and examination of a body in order to determine cause of death.

Front 34

What is Livor Mortis?

Back 34

Settling of blood after death; Gravity causes blood to settle at lowest spot;
Apparent 20 minutes – 4 hours after death; Not “fixed” (non-changing) for ~ 3 hrs (blanching upon finger pressure);
6-8 hrs will be fixed

Front 35

Variables that can affect livor mortis?

Back 35

Bodies in water, etc. where no fixed position; Situations w/o gravitational effect (spacecraft murder?); Decomposition; Suntan/dark skin;
Anemia; Massive loss of blood

Front 36

What is the visual appearance of livor mortis?

Back 36

Usually dark red or purple;
Carbon monoxide poisoning, cyanide results in cherry red or pink appearance; exposure to cold will affect

Front 37

What is Rigor Mortis?

Back 37

Chemical changes after death cause muscle tightening; Starts in small muscles and moves to larger; Muscles of face and jaw usually go first; normally occurs within 24 hours and disappears within 36 hours after death.

Front 38

What causes rigor mortis?

Back 38

Chemical changes involve accumulation and breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP); ATP is the facilitator of muscle movement; When ATP depleted, full rigor results; Loss of rigor due to muscle fiber decomposition;

Front 39

Stages of Rigor Mortis

Back 39

3 hrs. – no effect
4-6 – neck and jaw
6-8 – more advanced throughout body
12 hrs – full rigor
18-24 hrs – begins resolving, head and jaw are slack
30 hrs – rigor resolved, body limp

Front 40

What variables can affect rigor mortis?

Back 40

Muscular individuals experience to higher degree; Antemortem activity can deplete ATP and speed up onset; Death in sleep can slow down due to more ATP at death

Front 41

What is a Cadavaric Spasm?

Back 41

Onset of rigor is instantaneous but diminishes in normal manner; Brought on by sudden, violent impact such as instantly fatal gunshot wound or collision; Happens but extremely rare

Front 42

What is Algor Mortis?

Back 42

Time of death determination based on body temperature; Ambient temperature determined as well as body temperature;
Rate of cooling must be known

Front 43

Stomach contents and time of death determination

Back 43

Typically digestion begins 15 minutes following ingestion; Lots of variables;
Generally unreliable; Not something a crime lab would be involved with

Front 44

Deduction?

Back 44

once a theory has been proposed, the investigator has moved from inductive reasoning to deductive reasoning

Front 45

Testing/reevaluating?

Back 45

it is important to constantly reassess the theory to avoid the major pitfall of deductive reasoning: tunnel vision

Front 46

The goal of reconstruction:

Back 46

To develop a likely or probable sequence of events

Front 47

What is the purpose of crime scene reconstruction?

Back 47

To determine Who?, What?, When?, Where?
How?, Why?

Front 48

What are the duties of the first officer at the scene?

Back 48

Make scene safe for entry; Provide medical attention to injured; Secure scene; Preserve physical evidence; Detain witnesses; Request assistance as needed.

Front 49

When is the team leader established?

Back 49

Prior to arrival.

Front 50

Duties of team leader

Back 50

Meet with first officer for briefing; Confirm security; Determine legality of search (search warrant); Call for additional personnel/equipment; Survey scene with first officer; Note fragile evidence/establish priorities; Make notes as to initial observations; Work out action plan with team

Front 51

What is appropriate crime scene attire?

Back 51

Gloves; Shoe covers; Disposable suit; Head gear; Eye protection; Breathing apparatus

Front 52

What is appropriate crime scene behavior?

Back 52

Do not smoke, eat, drink, etc. within the scene ;Do not bring equipment into scene and set down within the scene if at all possible; Do not place foreign items down in scene

Front 53

What is used to document the scene?

Back 53

Photography; Video Taping; Sketching; Diagramming; Note Taking (evidence recovery log – chain of custody); Report Writing

Front 54

What is the evidence recovery log and why is it important?

Back 54

The evidence recovery log is an important document which records all pieces of physical evidence found at a crime scene. This is critical if the case is to be successfully prosecuted later.

Front 55

Types of scene searches.

Back 55

Scene Searches; Spiral search; Line (strip) search; Grid search; Quadrant (sector)

Front 56

Procedure for vehicle search?

Back 56

Photograph as found; Begin with exterior exam/print search;
Divide interior into areas; Undercarriage exam (hit & runs);
Inventory and document items as removed; Have items tested as appropriate

Front 57

Types of autopsy evidence.

Back 57

Hair standards; Blood samples – purple-topped tubes; Prints;
Fingernail scrapings; GSR test; Sexual assault kit; Recovered bullets, etc.

Front 58

When do you NOT use plastic for packaging evidence?

Back 58

biological evidence

Front 59

How is most evidence packaged?

Back 59

Most evidence is best packaged by placing into a clean sheet of paper, folding, taping and placing in an envelope and sealing

Front 60

Other rules of collecting evidence.

Back 60

Package evidence separately; Use sharps containers when needed; Obtain required control samples; Maintain a chain of custody record; Use biohazard bag to dispose of contaminated items (gloves, shoe covers, etc.)

Front 61

Basics for crime scene photography.

Back 61

First frame is data card (ea. Roll); General to specific; Outside to inside; Special documentation (street sign, house number, VIN tag, etc.)

Front 62

What is scaled photography?

Back 62

Camera back is in same plane as subject; Fill frame with subject; Include a scale in 1 photo & 1 w/o scale; Use oblique lighting as required; Use a tripod and remote shutter release.

Front 63

What are some specialized crime scene photography techniques?

Back 63

Painting with light; Fill-flash; Spray paint “shadowing”;
Luminol

Front 64

Types of physical evidence:

Back 64

Blood, Semen and Saliva; Documents; Drugs; Explosives; Fibers; Fingerprints; Firearms evidence; Glass; Hair; Two-dimensional and three-dimensional Impressions; Body fluids and organs; Paint; Petroleum products; Polymers & Plastics; Gunpowder Residues; Serial Numbers; Soil and Minerals; Tool Marks; Vehicle Lamp Bulbs; Wood; Vegetative Matter

Front 65

What is the goal of physical evidence?

Back 65

To obtain positive identification, association, circumstantial. Individualization.

Front 66

Types of crime scene reconstruction.

Back 66

On-scene; Off-scene; Re-enactment; Live actors; Mannequins

Front 67

What is a class characteristic?

Back 67

General and/or measurable features of a specimen which indicate a restricted group source. They result from design factors, and are therefore determined prior to manufacture.

Front 68

Define subclass characteristic?

Back 68

Features that may be produced during manufacture that are consistent among some items fabricated by the same tool. These are not determined prior to manufacture and are more restrictive than class characteristics.

Front 69

Define individual characteristic?

Back 69

Marks or features produced by the random imperfections or irregularities of tool surfaces. These characteristics can be used to individually associate a tool to a toolmark.

Front 70

How is evidence that may contain DNA stored?

Back 70

wrapping paper, mainlla envelopes, and paper bags

Front 71

How is clothing that is to be used as evidence stored?

Back 71

air-dried; placed individually in separate paper bags to ensure constant circulation of air.

Front 72

How is evidence that is charred from fire to be stored?

Back 72

Sealed in an airtight container to prevent the evaporation of volatile petroleum residues; new paint cans or tightly sealed jars

Front 73

What is chain of custody?

Back 73

A list of people who came into possession of an item of evidence.

Front 74

What is a standard or reference sample?

Back 74

physical evidence whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from a suspect, that can be compared to crime-scene evidence.

Front 75

What is a buccal swab?

Back 75

A swab of the inner portion of the cheek.

Front 76

What is a substrate control?

Back 76

Uncontaiminated surface material close to an area where physical evidence has been deposited.

Front 77

What is physical evidence?

Back 77

Any object that can establish that a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator.

Front 78

What is a rough sketch?

Back 78

A draft representation of all essential information and measurements at a crime scene. This sketch is drawn at the crime scene.

Front 79

What is a finished sketch?

Back 79

A precise rendering of the crime scene, usually drawn to scale.

Front 80

What does indentification of physical evidence mean?

Back 80

The process of determining a substance's physical or chemical identity with as near absolute certainty as existing techniques permit.

Front 81

What does comparison of physical evidence mean?

Back 81

The process of ascertaining whether two or more objects have a common origin.

Front 82

What is probability?

Back 82

the frequency of occurrence of an event

Front 83

IAFIS

Back 83

Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (US- FBI)

Front 84

AFIS

Back 84

Automated Fingerprint Identification System - each state has that is linked to IAFIS

Front 85

CODIS

Back 85

FBI's combined DNA Index System