Notables Names
Who developed the first fingerprint classification system?
Sir Francis Galton
Which court case in 1923 said that new science must be “generally accepted” to be used in court?
Frye vs. United States
Which system relies on two opposing sides presenting their case to a judge or jury?
The adversarial system
What does ASCLD/LAB stand for?
American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board
What type of evidence directly proves a fact (like eyewitness testimony)?
Direct evidence
Who developed the first system of criminal identification based on body measurements, known as anthropometry?
Alphonse Bertillon
In the Daubert standard, who decides if the scientific evidence can be used in court?
The judge
What do scientists start with in their work: facts or hypotheses?
Facts
What’s the difference between accreditation and certification?
Accreditation = lab meets standards
Certification = individual passes exams
All forensic evidence is considered what type of evidence?
Circumstantial
Who wrote the first textbook on forensic science? (person + name of book)
Person: Hans Gross
Book name: Criminal Investigation
What is the main purpose of an admissibility hearing?
To check if the evidence is trustworthy and useful for the case.
What is the term for a forensic scientist’s humility and awareness of possible mistakes?
Contrite fallibilism
What’s the difference between a public and private forensic lab?
Public = government-funded
Private = profit-based
Which evidence type links a suspect to a crime (ex: fingerprints, hair)?
Associative evidence
Who is considered the founding father of forensic toxicology?
Mathieu Orfila
The Daubert ruling was later expanded by two more cases, name ONE of them.
1. Joiner
2. Kumho Tire
What is the key difference between how scientists and lawyers approach truth?
Scientists use data and testing; lawyers use argument and persuasion
What is the purpose of a voir dire process in court?
To establish a witness’s qualifications as an expert
What’s the difference between class-characteristic and individual-characteristic evidence?
Class = group level
Individual = specific source
Who developed probability models proving fingerprint uniqueness?
Victor Balthazard
Which older rule was seen as confusing and too strict for new scientific tests?
The Frye Standard
Name one way forensic science bridges the gap between science and law.
1. By distinguishing evidence from coincidence
2. testing hypotheses
3. ranking alternative explanations
What is the main ethical issue forensic scientists must avoid?
Prosecutorial bias
What are the three main scientific groupings of forensic evidence?
Biological, chemical and trace evidence