Types of PHYSICAL evidence
Scent of cigarette smoke
What is transient and/or conditional evidence
Pipe bomb and fuse found at explosion - same type of fuse found at suspect's home.
What is both:
class because fuses are mass produced
individual because pipe bomb has a "unique" signature of the maker
The methods of documenting a crime scene include
What are photographs, notes, video, sketches
Modus Operandi is
What is the criminal's usual routine or characteristic method of operation
An observation is
What is Information gathered through our 5 senses
Something produced by contact between person and object or 2 persons
What is pattern and/or transfer evidence
Torn papers
The first officer on the scene does what
What is requests medical assistance, secures the scene, detains the suspects or interviews witnesses
The 5 classifications for manner of death
What are natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, and undetermined
An inference is
What is Logical interpretation based upon prior knowledge and experience; based upon observations
Blood Spatter
Fibers from a shirt
The top reasons for committing a crime
What are money, revenge, emotions
The chain of custody is
What is a written record of all people who have had contact with evidence
important so evidence isn't compromised
Objective observations are
What is involves observable facts only; words are "neutral" (no emotion)
Personal belongings that may link someone to a crime scene
What is associative evidence
Shoe print found
What is both:
Class - would be able to tell the type of shoe (brand)
Individual - wear patterns on the shoe/size (suspect) if found.
The Medical examiner does this
What are ID victim, estimate time of death, determine cause of death, collect evidence on body, autopsy, determines mechanism of death, and notifies next of kin
Testimonial evidence is
What is direct evidence - made under oath (eyewitness)
Subjective observation are
What is involves emotion and/or opinion; conveys attitude, perspective, mood
Temporary evidence - easily lost
What is transient or conditional evidence
Can someone be convicted with only class evidence?
What is YES - if enough evidence is there the probative value increases
Corpus Delicti means
What is Body of the Crime
Circumstantial evidence is
What is indirect evidence - includes physical and biological evidence (it is an object/material)
Crime Scene Investigators are responsible for what at the crime scene?
What is:
Interview 1st officer on the scene
identify points of entry/exit
make observations and document
search scene, collect, and package evidence
Position of body or types of wounds
What is conditional evidence
Factors that can affect an eyewitness account
What are the nature of the offense, characteristics of the witness, manner the info is retrieved, witness's prior relationship with the accused, length of time, prior IDs
Inductive reasoning is
What is specific to general - conclusion is never certain
Forensic Scientists do this
What is analyze evidence
Physical evidence is VALUABLE because
What is - it proves a crime has been committed, backs up or disproves witness testimony, links a suspect with a victim or crime scene, IDs people associated with a crime, allows investigators to reconstruct a crime
Search methods used by law enforcement (can draw pictures)
What are:
Grid - useful in any area
Strip - large outdoor area
Spiral or wheel - useful in a room
Zone - useful in a house or building
Deductive reasoning is
What is general to specific - conclusion is always certain
The Lead Investigator does this
What is reconstructs the scene of the crime