The Crime Scene Vocabulary

Front 1

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

Back 1

physical evidence

Front 2

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

Back 2

rough sketch

Front 3

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

Back 3

finished sketch

Front 4

A list of all persons who came into possession of an item of evidence.

Back 4

chain of custody

Front 5

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

Back 5

standard/reference sample

Front 6

Swab of inner portion of cheek; collected to determine the DNA profile of an individual.

Back 6

buccal swab

Front 7

Uncontaminated surface material close to an area where physical evidence has been deposited. This sample is to be used to ensure that the surface upon which a sample has been deposited does not interfere with the laboratory tests.

Back 7

substrate control