| A | B |
|---|
| expert witness | individual whom the court determines to possess knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson |
| Locard's exchange principle | two objects come into contact with one another, they exchange materials between them |
| scientific method | process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information |
| forensics science | application of science to the criminal and civil laws enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system |
| criminalistics | identify evidence, and link suspect, victim, and crime scene through evidence |
| forensic odontology | use of dental science to identify unknown human remains and bite marks, using both physical and biological dental evidence |
| pathology | study of disease through autopsy, investigate circumstances surrounding death |
| forensic anthropology | identify individuals killed in disasters such as plane crashes, explosions, fires, and other tragedies resulting in the loss of life and mutilation of bodies |
| forensic psychiatry | used to determine determine competency to stand trial, evaluate behavior disorders, examine behavior patterns to build criminal behavioral profile |
| questioned documents | proves the facts concerning documents and related material |
| toxicology | study of harmful effects of chemicals or drugs on living systems |
| Mathieu Orfila | the father of forensic toxicology |
| Alphonse Bertillion | devised the first scientific system of personal identification in 1879 |
| Francis Galton | conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification |
| Leone Lattes | developed a procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains |
| Calvin Goddard | used a comparison microscope to determine if a particular gun fired a bullet |
| Albert Osborn | developed the fundamental principles of document examination |
| Walter McCrone | utilized microscopy and other analytical methodologies to examine evidence |
| Hans Gross | wrote the first treatise describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation |
| Edmond Locard | incorporared Gross’ principles within a workable crime laboratory |
| Sir Alec Jeffreys | developed the first DNA profiling test in 1984 |
| anthropometry | series of body measurements to ID individuals |
| Physical Science Unit | uses chemistry, physics, earth science to test drugs, glass, paint, explosives, soils |
| Biology Unit | uses biology, biochemistry for DNA profiling, blood, hair, fiber, plant material analysis |
| Firearms Unit | uses chemistry, physics to study firearms, discharged bullets and ammo, discharge residues |
| Document Examination Unit | uses chemistry, psychometrics to do handwriting analysis, paper and ink analysis |
| Photography Unit | uses physics, chemistry for digital imaging, infrared, x-ray, ultraviolet photography |
| Toxicology Unit | uses chemistry, biology to test fluids/organs for drugs, poison usually in Medical Examiner’s Office |
| Latent Fingerprint Unit | uses chemistry to uncover and identify fingerprints |
| Polygraph Unit | uses physics, biology to verify witness veracity, usually used during interrogation |
| Voiceprint Analysis | uses physics to use of sound spectrograph |
| Evidence-Collection Unit | personnel specially trained to collect and preserve crime scene evidence |
| forensic entomology | study of insects and their relationship to a crime scene |
| forensic engineering | concerned with failure analysis, accident reconstruction, causes and origins of fires and explosions |
| forensic computer/digital analysis | involves identifying, collecting, preserving, and examining information on computers and other digital devices (cell phones, PDAs etc.) |
| Frye Standard (Frye v.US | set guidelines for the admissibility of scientific evidence, evidence must be “generally accepted” by the scientific community |
