Observations

Question 1

Forensic science

Answer 1

application of scientific knowledge to legal questions

Question 2

What does a forensic investigator do?

Answer 2

Observe, interpret, and report observations clearly

Question 3

Observation

Answer 3

what a person perceives using his or her senses

Question 4

Perception

Answer 4

info received from the senses

Question 5

Perception elements

Answer 5

Limited
Faulty
Not always accurate
Not always reflective reality

Question 6

What influences our observations?

Answer 6

Filtering information
Filling in the gaps
Applying previous knowledge to situations

Question 7

Witness observations are affected by

Answer 7

Emotional states
Alone or with a group
Number of people or animal
Type of activity and how much activity

Question 8

Eyewitness accounts vary based on

Answer 8

Level of interest
Stress
Concentration 
The amount and kind of distractions 
Prejudices
Personal beliefs
Motives
Lapse in event

Question 9

How to be a good observer?

Answer 9

1. Examine systematically
2. Look at everything
3. Don’t make conclusions until all data has been gathered
4. Document everything

Question 10

Skills of a forensic scientist

Answer 10

Analytical skills

Deductive reasoning

Question 11

Deductive reasoning

Answer 11

deriving a conclusion from the facts using a series of logical steps

Question 12

Locard’s Principle of Exchange

Answer 12

Intensity
Duration
Nature

Question 13

Types of evidence

Answer 13

Direct

Circumstantial

Question 14

Direct evidence

Answer 14

first hand observations (confessions, eyewitnesses, video recording)

Question 15

Circumstantial

Answer 15

indirect evidence that can be used to imply a fact but that does not prove it (trace evidence)

Question 16

Class evidence

Answer 16

narrows an identity to a group of persons or things

Question 17

Individual evidence

Answer 17

narrows an identity to a single person or thing

Question 18

Trade evidence

Answer 18

transferred between people, objects, or the environment

Question 19

Seeing the scene

Answer 19

taking pictures and videos
unit of measure
point of reference

Question 20

Scanning the scene

Answer 20

looking through the scene & observing to find evidence

Question 21

Separating witnesses

Answer 21

separate eyewitnesses from other eye witnesses

Question 22

Securing & collecting evidence

Answer 22

packets, envelopes, and bags

chain of custody

Question 23

Securing the scene

Answer 23

caution tape to make a perimeter
first responder is blocking off the scene
securing a log of people at the crime scene
trying to not tamper evidence

Question 24

Searching for evidence

Answer 24

can use tools
divide people into different areas
evidence markers
start from the outside into the inner

Question 25

Sketching the scene

Answer 25

bird’s eye view
units of measures (scale)
compass rose
triangulation & rectangulation (point of references)