Mod 1 - Intro to Forensic Science
This principle states, "Every contact leaves a trace."
What is Locard’s Exchange Principle?
This term refers to the sequence of evidence handling, ensuring it remains untampered.
What is Chain of Custody?
This is the most common fingerprint pattern.
What is a Loop?
This type of trace evidence includes fibers, paint, and glass fragments.
What is Inorganic Trace Evidence?
This TV-inspired phenomenon has led jurors to expect more forensic evidence in trials than is typically available.
What is the CSI Effect?
The principle that no two objects can be exactly alike is called this.
What is the Law of Individuality?
The first responding officer to a crime scene must take this important step to prevent contamination.
What is securing and barricading the crime scene?
This method is used to develop fingerprints on porous surfaces like paper.
What is Iodine Fuming?
Hair consists of three layers: the medulla, cortex, and this outer layer of overlapping scales.
What is the Cuticle?
Blood types are considered this type of evidence because they can narrow down a suspect pool but not identify an individual.
What is Class/Identified Evidence?
The probability of another person having the same DNA profile as someone else is approximately:
1 in a billion!
The primary crime scene is where the crime occurred, while the secondary crime scene is this.
What is a location related to the crime but not where it happened (e.g., where a body is dumped)?
Super Glue fuming, also called this, is a method used to develop latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces.
What is Cyanoacrylate Fuming?
This specialized microscope allows forensic scientists to compare two samples side by side.
What is a Comparison Microscope?
These are the three main ways to document a crime scene.
What is Photography, Sketching, and Note-Taking?
In 1984, Sir Alec Jeffreys pioneered DNA profiling. What unique forensic case in 1987 first used this technique to convict a criminal?
Why is the Colin Pitchfork case important?
A crime scene is divided into zones, and each investigator searches a section in this search method.
What is the Zonal Search Method?
These three types of fingerprints can be found at a crime scene.
What are Patent, Plastic/Physical, and Latent fingerprints?
To determine if glass fragments found on a suspect match a crime scene, forensic analysts examine these two key properties.
What are Density and Refractive Index Analysis?
The comparison of two paint samples is conducted using this analytical technique that separates chemical components.
What is Gas Chromatography?
This scientist developed the first criminal identification system based on physical measurements.
Who is Alphonse Bertillon?
This type of evidence includes impressions left by tools, weapons, or footwear.
What is Pattern Evidence?
In order to positively match a fingerprint to an individual, forensic analysts must identify between this many ridge characteristics.
What is 8-16?
A fiberglass manufacturer produces a unique blend of synthetic fibers. A crime scene contains a fiber with an exact chemical match to the manufacturer, but the factory sells to multiple buyers worldwide. How could you still link the fiber to a single suspect?
Analyzing trace dyes, weave patterns, and microscopic defects from manufacturing
You are investigating a hit-and-run accident. You find blue paint chips, a partial plastic license plate frame, and microscopic soil particles on the victim’s clothing and the crime scene. Describe three forensic techniques you would use to analyze this evidence and how each could help identify the suspect’s vehicle.
Paint Comparison (Using Gas Chromatography & Spectroscopy) – Determines if the paint chips match a specific make and model.
Plastic Fracture Matching – If police find a suspect vehicle with a broken license plate frame, you can physically match the pieces like a jigsaw puzzle.
Soil Analysis – Identifies unique soil composition to see if it matches the crime scene.