Chapters 1&2 Flashcards
(37 cards)
Who developed the area of Ballistics and what is an example of its use
Henry Goddard. To use bullet and firearm comparisons to trace bullets found in
victims to the individual weapons that fired them, thereby tying the victim and
the weapon together.
Who developed the area of Anthropometry and what is an example of its use
Alphonse Bertillon
developed a detailed system involving the measurement of
anatomical features which he believed could be used to identify a particular person
Who developed the area of The Exchange Principle and what is an example of its use
Edmond Locard. When two objects come into contact, some materials or information is transferred between the two.
If this transferred evidence can be found, then the connection between the two can be established.
What is Locard’s Exchange Principle
When two objects came into
contact, physical matter is exchanged between the
two.
Basic science vs applied science
Basic: the discovering the hows whats and whys of things. Applied: it scours basic research field and uses those
tools to build in specific fields of research
Principle of individuality
Nothing can be truly identical, at some level they have to be different. (even to Atomic or molecular)
Who developed the area of Toxicology and what is an example of its use
Mathiew Orfila. The branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons.
Who developed the area of Fingerprints and what is an example of its use
Francis Galton He developed systems for classifying fingerprints for personal
identification based upon similarities in patterns found in each print’s details.
How has fiction contributed to the development of forensic science
Fingerprints, chemical analyses for blood, logical deductive reasoning, and aspects of toxicology are just some of the techniques of
detection that were employed in fictional literature long before they were widely accepted or even discovered for real-life situations.
CSI Effect
“A phenomenon reported by prosecutors who claim that television shows based on scientific crime solving have made actual jurors reluctant to vote to convict when, as is typically true, forensic evidence is neither necessary nor available.”
The CSI Effect has certainly engendered the public image that forensic science is fast, infallible, and always successful in catching the criminal – things that in reality are not always true.
The Frye Case
The Frye decision became the
standard for the admissibility of all expert scientific testimony in the US, both in federal and in state courts. The key feature of the Frye Standard is that
the “relevant field” of science became the decider as to what was admissible in court. A potential expert and their
testimony must meet the “Frye test” before they were allowed to testify and have the evidence admitted.
The Daubert Standard
Set the trial judge as the “gatekeeper” for what scientific testimony is admissible.
Joiner Case
Requires that experts limit their opinions to straightforward extensions of the data and have limitations on what they can say
Khumo Tire Case
Requires that an all expert
testimony meets the Daubert standard – not just scientific expert testimony.
Melendez-Dias
Defendants may be require analysts to “face” them in court when presenting scientific
analyses.
What is the definition of forensic science and criminalistics
The application of science to law. Scientific tests or techniques used in connection with the detection of crime
Prejudicial Evidence
Evidence that pertains to
some matter not previously decided (such as a prior conviction) or establishes a
preconceived bias in a matter being decided. In some ways, all evidence against someone is prejudicial, but must not be unfairly prejudicial.
Probative Evidence
Evidence that has the ability to prove or demonstrate something relevant to the case.
What is Physical
evidence
Physical evidence is generally recognized to be a
material object, such as a weapon, fingerprint, or item of clothing. It forms part of the broader world of evidence,
however, that encompasses other types of forensic evidence that includes chemical, biological, cyber, linguistic and behavioral
evidence.
The crime scene is secured upon arrival. What is the one exception in which people will be allowed on the scene even before it is photographed?
Paramedics if someone’s life is in jeopardy.
Class characteristics
Those that place the piece of evidence within a particular group, such as a lead pipe, or a particular model automobile tire, or type of blood (e.g., AB+).
Individual characteristics
Relate the sample to a unique and specific origin with a very high degree of certainty, such as the fine details found in the pattern in a fingerprint or scratches on a test fired bullet.
Fourth Amendment Rights
A person’s 4th amendment protection from unreasonable search and seizure currently only applies to searches by government officials (e.g., police officers, court officials, etc.) and not to private security guards.
Required for a search warrant.
The police must first show a probable cause and present
to the judge objective facts or evidence that support that they will find what they are looking for during the search.
