Vocab
The application of science to law
Forensic science (broad definition)
The application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system.
Forensic science (accepted definition)
This is the 1st step of a criminal proceeding - defendant is brought to court to hear charges and enter a plea.
Arraignment
Helps to determine time of death - this is released into the inner surface of the eyeball after death
Potassium Level
Individual whom the court determines possesses knowledge relevant to the trial that is NOT expected of the average person.
Expert Witness
States that the cross transfer of evidence occurs - every criminal can be connected to a crime
Locard's Principle
A hearing before a magistrate or a judge to determine whether a person charged with a crime should be held for trial.
Preliminary/Evidentiary Hearing
Court must decide if the questioned procedure, technique or principle are "generally accepted" by a meaningful segment of the relevant scientific community.
Frye Standard
These are the 5 classifications of death;
Natural, Homicide, Suicide, Accident, and Undetermined
Field of study that involves the investigations of sudden, unnatural, unexplained or violent deaths.
Forensic Pathology
The medical condition that occurs after death and results in the shortening of muscle tissue and stiffening of body parts in the position of death.
Rigor Mortis
A group of people sworn to inquire into crime and, if appropriate, bring accusations (indictments) against the suspected criminals.
Grand Jury
Governs the admissibility of ALL evidence including expert testimony, in federal courts, and many states have adopted codes similar to those federal laws.
Federal Rules of Evidence
Basic service of crime lab that applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics and geology to the identification and comparison of crime scene evidence.
Physical Science Unit
Post mortem changes that cause the body to lose heat.
Algor Mortis
The medical condition that occurs after death and results in the settling of blood in the areas of the body closest to the ground.
Livor Mortis
Proceeding where evidence is presented by prosecutors and cross-examined by defendants. Jury decides the fate of the defendant based upon testimony and evidence.
Trial
US Supreme Court asserted that "general acceptance" or the Frye Standard is NOT an absolute prerequisite to the admissibility of scientific evidence under Federal Rules of Evidence.
Daubert vs Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical
Basic Unit of crime lab that focuses on the identification of DNA profiling of body and living samples.
Biology Unit
Identification and examination of human skeletal remains.
Provides information about the identification of victims when body about the identification of victims when body is left in unrecognizable state - teeth.
To formally accuse a person of a crime.
Indict
In this case, it was determined that the trial judge is the "gatekeeper" in judging admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence.
Daubert Case
Basic service of crime lab that focuses on handwriting and types documents to hep determine the authenticity of the documents.
Document Examination Unit