Application of physical sciences and their technology to examining physical evidence of crimes.
forensic science
Photographs of those who have been taken into custody and booked.
mug shots
Non-opinionated, fair, and impartial.
objective
What would lead a reasonable person to believe that something connected to a crime is on the premises to be searched.
probable cause
Ted Bundy
Serious crime such as homicide, aggravated assault, or robbery.
felony
First, pencil drawn outline of the crime scene.
rough sketch
In time sequence.
chronological order
External search of a person's clothing; also called a patdown.
frisk
AKA: Milwaukee Cannibal; murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991.
Jeffery Dahmer
Crime or offense that is less serious than a felony.
misdemeanor
Uses straight-line measurements from two fixed objects to an item of evidence at a crime scene.
triangulation
Ease with which a handwritten character is recognizable based on its appearance.
legibility
Establishes that courts cannot accept evidence obtained by unreasonable searches and seizures.
exclusionary rule
Joseph DeAngelo or Golden State Killer
Characteristic way a criminal commits a specific type of crime.
modus operandi (MO)
Item used in a photograph to show accurate or relative size.
marker
Technical report structured in chronological order describing a sequence of events.
narrative
Officers can execute without first announcing themselves.
no-knock warrant
London circa 1888; Victims were women; Throats cut and abdominal mutilations; Never apprehended.
Jack the Ripper
Evidence favorable to the accused that would clear the accused of blame.
exculpatory evidence
Imaging process that reveals evidence not seen by the naked eye.
laser-beam photography
Nonfactual; drawing inferences; to be avoided in police reports.
conclusionary language
Unconcealed evidence that is seen by an officer engaged in a lawful activity.
plain-view evidence
Most famous unsolved murder case in American history.
Zodiac Killer