Foundations of Forensics
This field applies scientific methods to matters involving crime and the legal system.
Forensic Science
This is any location where evidence related to a crime may be found.
Crime Scene
This type of evidence can be directly linked to a single, unique source.
individual evidence
This fingerprint pattern is the most common among the population.
Bonus for 200: What percent of the population have this?
Loop
60/65%
This hair structure provides color and shape to hair.
Cortex
This forensic professional analyzes evidence in a laboratory but does not arrest suspects.
Forensic Scientist/Criminalist
This is the first priority of the responding officer upon arrival at a crime scene.
Preserving life
Fibers, bloodstains, and soil are examples of this broad category of evidence.
Physical evidence
This type of fingerprint cannot be seen without special processing.
Latent print
This part of the hair shaft may be continuous, fragmented, or absent.
Medulla
This principle explains why materials are transferred whenever two objects or people come into contact.
Locard’s Principle of Exchange
Blocking off areas and limiting access helps prevent this problem with evidence.
Contamination
This written record tracks who handled evidence and when.
Chain of custody
These tiny ridge details are used to individualize fingerprints.
Ridge Characteristics/Minutiae
Cotton fibers are classified as this type of fiber.
Natural plant fibers
This early identification method relied on body measurements and was later replaced by fingerprinting.
Anthropometry (Bertillon system)
This step documents the scene using photos, sketches, and notes before evidence is collected.
Crime scene documentation
This kind of evidence narrows a group but cannot identify one specific individual.
Class evidence
This computerized system stores and compares fingerprint records nationwide.
AFIS (or IAFIS)
Rayon and nylon fall into this fiber category.
Synthetic (man-made) fibers
This Supreme Court case requires judges to evaluate the reliability of scientific evidence before it is presented in court.
Daubert v. Merrell Dow
This process reconstructs the sequence of events using physical evidence and observations.
Crime scene reconstruction
Improper packaging or documentation most directly threatens this requirement in court.
Evidence admissibility
Attempts to destroy fingerprints usually fail because these skin features regenerate.
Friction ridge patterns
DNA evidence from hair is most useful when this structure is present.
Root