Forensic science Midterm Review

The application of science to law

The father of forensic toxicology

Devised the first scientific system of personal indentification

Conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification

Developed  from a procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains

Used a comparison microscope to determine if a particular gun fired a bullet

developed the fundamental principles of document examination

utilized microscopy and other analytical methodologies to examine evidence

wrote the first treatise describing describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation

• Physical science unit
• Biology unit
• Firearms unit
• Document unit
• Photographic unit

Applies the knowledge of biological sciences in order to investigate blood samples, body fluids, hair and fiber samples

Provides the skill needed for handwriting analysis and other questioned document issues

for determining the admissibility of scientific evidence into the courtroom.

The evidence in question must be generally accepted by the scientific community

1993 Daubert v. Merrell Dow pharmaceutical, Inc

Trial judges were said to be the gatekeepers for admissibility and validity of scientific evidence presented in their courts

• 1. Whether the scientific technique or theory can be and has been tested
• 2. Whether the technique or theory has been subject to peer review and publication
• 3. The technique's potential rate of error
• 4. Existence and maintenance of standards controlling the technique's operation
• 5. Whether the scientific theory or method has attracted widespread acceptance within a relevant scientific community

in the shortening of muscle tissue and the stiffening of muscle tissue and the body parts

results in the setting of the blood in areas of the body closest to the ground

results in the loss of heat by a body

an hour after death

Uses the heat generated by a nuclear fission process to drive a steam turbine which generates usuable electricity

involves the splitting of atoms and a huge release of energy that produces the atomic mushroom cloud

Uses dynamite to scatter radioative dust,smoke or other material in order to cause radioactive contamination

1.7 miles everything is destroyed

2.7 miles everything is destroyed

4.7 miles suffer heavy damage all windows are gone 90% fatalities

7.4 miles moderate damage 25% of population injured 65% fatalities

• Blast
• Thermal radiation
• Nuclear radiation

Water is enriched with radioactive hydrogen isotope as moderator

• Pressurized
• Boiling water
• Gas cooled
• Heavy water

Pressurized

Boiling

In 1908

• Counterterrroism
• Counterintelligence
• Cybercrime

The frye test plus

Preliminary hearings in which the judge determines whether or not to permit particular scientific evidence to be presented to the jury during trial

Kelly frye test

Kelly Frye test

• 1.Daubert requires a consideration of error rates, whereas Frye typically does not
• 2. Frye case is about admissibility whereas Daubert is about the weight 

Daubert

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Locard

Alphonse Bertillon

Preserving and protecting the area as much as possible

Strip or line search

98.6