Locard/Frye/Daubert
What does Locard’s Exchange Principle state?
Every contact leaves a trace.
What are the four basic steps in crime scene investigation?
Search, isolate, collect, and record.
What is forensic science?
The application of scientific methods to law/ to solve crimes.
Digital Forensics focuses on the discovery and analysis of evidence found on what?
Computers, networks, cell phones, and other technologies.
What is the first thing an investigator should do upon arriving at a crime scene?
Secure the scene.
What is the Frye standard?
A rule stating that scientific evidence must be generally accepted by the scientific community to be admissible in court.
Why is it important to properly secure a crime scene?
To prevent contamination and loss of evidence.
What is trace evidence?
Small pieces of evidence such as hair, fibers, and gunpowder residue.
Define Ballistics
Examines firearms, ammunition, and other evidence related to guns
Physical, Circumstantial, or Trace?
A strand of hair found on a suspect’s clothing.
Trace
How does the Daubert ruling differ from the Frye standard?
The Daubert ruling allows judges to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence, considering factors such as peer review and error rates.
What is chain of custody, and why is it important?
A documented process tracking evidence to ensure it remains untampered with and admissible in court.
Define circumstantial evidence.
Evidence that implies a fact but does not directly prove it.
What is Odontology?
the study of the identification and comparison of dental evidence
Who is known as the "father of forensic science"?
Edmond Locard.
Name all 5 factors judges consider under the Daubert standard to determine the reliability of evidence.
Peer review, error rates, testability, general acceptance, and relevance to the case(standards).
Why is it important to document a crime scene with photos and sketches?
To properly record the scene for later analysis and legal purposes
What is testimonial evidence?
Statements made under oath, including witness accounts.
The study of testing bodily fluids, tissues, or organs to determine the presence of drugs, poisons, or other chemicals
Physical, Circumstantial, or Trace?
A witness saw a suspect leaving the scene of a robbery.
Circumstantial
Which came first, the Frye standard or the Daubert ruling, and why did courts switch to the other?
Frye came first (1923). Courts switched to Daubert (1993) because Frye was seen as too restrictive, relying solely on general acceptance in the scientific community. Daubert provided a more flexible standard, giving judges more discretion to assess the reliability of scientific evidence based on multiple criteria, such as testability and peer review. (wanted to be more accurate)
When determining the relevance of evidence, what must be considered?
How it directly relates to proving or disproving a fact in the case
What is a secondary crime scene?
A location related to the crime but not where it occurred.
Define Entomology ? AND
how it relates to forensics?
The study of insect evidence
determines the time of death and clues to cause of death
What does "mortis" mean in latin?
Death