Forensic Science Overview

The initial visual inspection of evidence to identify any visible stains or damage.

Documenting the condition and details of the evidence item using a specific form called the GER.

Recording all details about the evidence, like measurements and diagrams, while the examination is happening.

The process of restoring an item to its original condition before packaging to ensure accurate documentation and analysis.

Incorrect handling or alteration of evidence that can compromise its integrity and validity in court.

Logging every movement of evidence, including who handled it, when, and where it was taken.

Signatures on evidence indicate individuals who have handled, transported, or examined it. These signatures ensure accountability and provide a record of custody.

Proper labeling of evidence includes details like the name of the suspect, the item's description, location of discovery, and date of collection. This ensures clear identification and organization of collected items.

Packaging evidence with tamper-proof tape and marking it with the collector's initials and date helps prevent tampering and ensures the evidence's integrity.

All label information must match the corresponding logbook entry, ensuring accuracy and consistency in the chain of custody.

Any compromise in the packaging of evidence, such as broken seals or tears, indicates potential contamination or tampering.

Crime scene sketches should be detailed and accurate, providing measurements and positions of objects. This helps visualize the scene and understand the spatial relationships of objects.

Comprehensive documentation of a crime scene includes various forms, such as hand-written notes, voice recordings, photographs, videos, and sketches.

A fundamental principle in forensics that states that every contact leaves a trace, meaning that any interaction between individuals or objects will result in the transfer of material.

Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, and gowns, used to protect both the investigator and the crime scene from contamination.

The type of information contained within a document, including the visible content (writing, printing) and the deeper analysis (author identification, printing source, alterations).

The process of examining and analyzing documents to determine their authenticity, identify the author, detect alterations, and uncover hidden messages.

Changes made to a document after its original creation.

Identifying the sequence of events by analyzing the layers of writing or printing to determine what happened first.

Analyzing indented marks left on a document below the original writing, often revealing erased or hidden information.

The process used to uncover hidden messages, such as through the use of invisible ink or chemical treatments.

The study of handwriting to determine personality traits or authorship.

A technique used to identify the order in which inks were applied to a document.

A method of revealing hidden writing by applying heat or ultraviolet light.

A technique used to determine the type of printer used to produce a document.

Tiny dots of yellow ink left by color printers, which can be used to trace the specific printer used.

A form used by police to document the submission of evidence to a laboratory.

A form filled out by forensic examiners when examining an item of evidence.

The process of collecting fingerprints under controlled conditions.

A fingerprint accidentally left at a crime scene.

A system of identification based on body measurements, introduced by Alphonse Bertillon in 1883.

The study of body measurements used for identification. Also referred to as Bertillonage.

Distinct patterns formed by ridges on fingers and palms, used for identification due to their uniqueness and permanence.

A fingerprint pattern characterized by ridges flowing from one side to the other, rising smoothly in the center like a wave.

A fingerprint pattern resembling an arch but with a central upthrusting ridge(s) meeting at a 90-degree angle.

Fingerprints that are invisible to the naked eye and require specialized techniques to make them visible.

Techniques that utilize chemical or physical processes to enhance latent fingerprints, making them visible for analysis.

The process of selecting the most effective fingerprint enhancement techniques based on the surface, type of mark, and environment it has been exposed to.

A comprehensive guide that provides recommendations on which fingerprint enhancement techniques to use, for which surfaces, and in what order.

The application of procedures and techniques to make latent fingerprints visible and suitable for analysis.

Chemical reactions utilized in fingerprint enhancement that produce colored or fluorescent products, increasing contrast and improving visibility.

The process of enhancing contrast between a fingerprint and the background using light and filters.

Using a specific light angle to create shadows, making ridge details more visible.

Illuminating the fingerprint from the front, making the ridges appear dark against a bright background.

A technique using light scattered from the sides of the fingermark to make it appear bright against a dark background.

Using colored filters with white light to enhance contrast between the fingerprint and the background, or to suppress distracting colors.