Forensic Science History Overview
24 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to Lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Who directed the criminology department at the University of California, Berkeley in 1948?

  • Paul Kirk (correct)
  • Mary Jones
  • John Smith
  • Richard Roe

    • What is the main purpose of the 2009 publication 'Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States'?

  • To discuss criminal justice policies
  • To catalog forensic methods
  • To improve standards in forensic evidence (correct)
  • To promote forensic science education

    • What was the primary function of the Commission of Forensic Science established by NIST in 2013?

  • To create standards for forensic practices (correct)
  • To develop new forensic technologies
  • To train forensic science professionals
  • To oversee forensic laboratories

    • What does the Frye standard require for expert testimony to be admissible in court?

    <p>The principle must have gained general acceptance in its field (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the Daubert Criteria for assessing scientific evidence?

    <p>Existence of a theoretical framework (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the trial judge play according to Daubert v. Merrell Dow?

    <p>The judge serves as a 'gatekeeper' for scientific evidence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organization bestows its highest award in honor of Paul Kirk?

    <p>AAFS (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When did the charter for the Commission of Forensic Science expire?

    <p>2017 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of criminology?

    <p>Exploration of crime causes and social impacts (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scientist is known as the 'Father of Forensic Toxicology'?

    <p>Mathieu Orfila (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who devised the first test for arsenic in corpses?

    <p>Carl Wilhelm Scheele (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What key contribution did Francis Galton make to forensic science?

    <p>Creation of a fingerprint classification system (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which scientist was the first to testify in a criminal trial?

    <p>James Marsh (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What scientific method did Alphonse Bertillon develop?

    <p>Anthropometry for identification (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what year did Leone Lattes develop a procedure for determining blood groups from dried blood stains?

    <p>1915 (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is recognized for creating the character Sherlock Holmes?

    <p>Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who authored the first significant text in the field of forensic document examination?

    <p>Albert Osborn (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theory developed by Edmond Locard states that whenever two objects come into contact, there is a transfer of material?

    <p>Locard's Exchange Theory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which individual is known as the world's preeminent microscopist and founded a significant research institute?

    <p>Walter McCrone (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary contribution of Hans Gross to forensic science?

    <p>Writing <em>Criminal Investigation</em> and promoting scientific methods (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which police chief started the first forensic laboratory in the United States?

    <p>August Vollmer (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the FBI's first national laboratory established under J. Edgar Hoover?

    <p>To provide forensic services to all law enforcement agencies (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which field did Walter McCrone make significant contributions aside from forensic science?

    <p>Microscopy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which forensic journal, introduced by Hans Gross, has been important for the field since its inception?

    <p>Kriminologie (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Forensic Science

    A discipline that applies natural, life, and social sciences to recognize, identify, evaluate, and individualize physical evidence in legal matters.

    Criminalistics

    The study and evaluation of physical evidence, synonymous with forensic science.

    Criminology

    A sociology field that examines the causes, effects, and societal impacts of crime.

    Marcello Malpighi

    Noted the characteristics of fingerprints in 1686, marking a significant development in forensic identification.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Anthropometry

    The first scientific identification method developed by Alphonse Bertillon, measuring physical traits.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Francis Galton

    Published the first definitive study of fingerprints in 1892, establishing a classification system for them.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Karl Landsteiner

    Discovered human blood groups in 1901, awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his work.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Leone Lattes

    Developed a procedure in 1915 for determining blood type from dried blood stains.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Albert Osborn

    Responsible for acceptance of documents as scientific evidence; authored 'Questioned Documents'.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Hans Gross

    Public prosecutor; wrote 'Criminal Investigation' detailing scientific fields for investigations.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Locard's Exchange Theory

    States that whenever two objects come into contact, material is always transferred.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Edmond Locard

    Founder of the first police crime laboratory; educated in medicine and law.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Walter McCrone

    World's leading microscopist; founded McCrone Research Institute and educated forensic scientists.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    J. Edgar Hoover

    FBI director who organized the first national forensic laboratory in 1932.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    August Vollmer

    Established the first forensic laboratory in the U.S. in 1923 at LAPD.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Kriminologie

    Forensic journal introduced by Hans Gross, reporting on crime detection methods.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Paul Kirk

    A famous criminalist who established the criminology department at UC Berkeley in 1948.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States

    A 2009 publication by the National Academy of Sciences that catalyzed improvements in forensic science.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    NIST

    National Institute for Standards and Technology, involved with forensic science standards.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Frye v. United States

    A 1923 case that established the general acceptance standard for scientific evidence in courts.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 702

    Allows expert testimony if it helps the fact-finder understand the evidence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Daubert v. Merrell Dow

    A 1993 case that established the Daubert Criteria for scientific evidence evaluation.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Daubert Criteria

    Guidelines to assess the reliability of scientific evidence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Kumho Tire Co., Ltd v.

    A case related to the application of the Daubert Criteria beyond traditional scientific evidence.

    Signup and view all the flashcards

    Study Notes

    Forensic Science History

    • Forensic science is the scientific discipline focused on identifying, evaluating, and individualizing physical evidence. It uses natural, life, and social sciences for legal matters.
    • Criminalistics and criminology are different. Criminalistics utilizes the study/analysis of physical evidence, while Criminology examines the causes, effects, and social impact of crime.
    • Chinese were early adopters of fingerprint identification.
    • Marcello Malpighi (1686) first documented fingerprint characteristics.
    • Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1775) developed the first arsenic detection test for corpses.
    • Valentin Ross (1806) developed a more accurate arsenic detection method in stomach linings.
    • Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is known for creating Sherlock Holmes.
    • Mathieu Orfila (1787-1853), considered the "father of forensic toxicology," wrote on poison detection in animals.
    • 1828 saw the introduction of polarized light microscopy.
    • 1863 marked the first presumptive blood test.
    • James Marsh (1839) was the first scientist to testify in a criminal trial related to arsenic poisoning.
    • Advances in photography (1850s-1860s) simplified crime scene documentation and prisoner identification.
    • Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914) invented anthropometry—a method of criminal identification, predating fingerprints.
    • Francis Galton (1822-1911) studied fingerprints and their uniqueness.
    • Karl Landsteiner (1901) discovered human blood groups (A, B, AB, O).
    • Leone Lattes (1887-1954) developed a technique for determining blood type from dried bloodstains.
    • Calvin Goddard (1891-1955) developed the comparison microscope for firearms analysis.
    • Albert Osborn (1858-1946) wrote the influential "Questioned Documents" text, standardizing document examination.
    • Hans Gross (1847-1915) wrote "Criminal Investigation," encompassing various disciplines.
    • Edmond Locard (1877-1966) established a police crime lab and developed Locard's Exchange Principle.
    • Walter McCrone was a prominent microscopist, educating numerous forensic scientists.
    • J. Edgar Hoover (1932) organized the FBI's first national forensic lab.
    • August Vollmer (early 1920s) established the first forensic lab in the US, in Los Angeles.
    • Paul Kirk (1948) helped establish a criminology department at UC Berkeley.

    Daubert Standard and Frye Standard

    • Daubert v. Merrell Dow (1993) established the Daubert Standard for evaluating scientific evidence in court. The trial judge acts as gatekeeper and uses five criteria to ensure the validity of scientific evidence:
      • Testable
      • Peer-reviewed
      • Error rate
      • Standards
      • Widespread acceptance
    • The Frye Standard is an older precedent, focusing on whether a scientific technique or theory has gained "general acceptance" within the relevant scientific community.
    • Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael extended the gatekeeping role for expert testimony to all fields, not just scientific testimony.
    • Copolino v. State of Florida (1968) highlights the admissibility of novel scientific techniques.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    History of Forensics Notes PDF

    Description

    Explore the fascinating history of forensic science, from its early concepts to notable figures and advancements. This quiz covers key developments, including fingerprint identification and toxicology, highlighting the contributions of pioneers such as Marcello Malpighi and Mathieu Orfila. Test your knowledge on how these elements influenced modern forensic practices.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser