Forensic Science Overview and Professions
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Questions and Answers

The FBI Lab is located in ______, Virginia.

Quantico

Which of the following is NOT a major national crime lab in the United States?

  • FBI Crime Lab
  • DEA Crime Lab
  • CIA Crime Lab (correct)
  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Crime Lab

    • What significant court decisions in the 1960s contributed to the growth of crime labs?

    Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s that put greater emphasis on scientifically evaluated evidence contributed to the growth of crime labs.

    Who is considered the "Father of Ballistics"?

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

    The United States has a national system of forensic labs.

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

    The first crime lab in the United States was established in 1930.

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

    What is the name of Edmond Locard's most important contribution to forensic science?

    <p>Locard's Exchange Principle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following organizations with their corresponding crime labs:

    <p>FBI = FBI Crime Lab DEA = DEA Crime Lab ATF = Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Crime Lab</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first U.S. university institute for Criminology and Criminalistics was established at the University of California, ______.

    <p>Berkeley</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following individuals with their contributions to forensic science:

    <p>Edmond Locard = Established one of the world's first police crime laboratories in Lyon, France Calvin Goddard = Perfected the comparison microscope for bullet and cartridge case examinations Sir Alec Jeffreys = Developed the first DNA profiling test August Vollmer = Established the first forensic crime lab in the United States</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT one of the criteria established in the Daubert test for admissibility of scientific evidence?

    <p>Whether the witness holds a doctorate degree in a scientific field (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Frye Standard requires that scientific evidence be generally accepted within the relevant scientific community to be admissible in court.

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

    What is the role of the judge in determining the admissibility of scientific evidence under the Daubert test?

    <p>The judge acts as a 'gatekeeper' in deciding whether scientific evidence is reliable and admissible in court.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Daubert Test was established in the landmark Supreme Court case of ____.

    <p>Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their corresponding definitions:

    <p>Frye Standard = A standard for admitting scientific evidence based on general acceptance within the relevant scientific community. Daubert Test = A test for admissibility of scientific evidence that considers criteria such as testability, peer review, error rate, standards, and acceptance within the scientific community. Expert Witness = An individual possessing specialized skills or knowledge in a trade or profession who can provide testimony to a court on a matter that is beyond the understanding of an average layperson.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Alabama Department of Forensic Science was established in 1935.

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

    Which of these services is typically offered by a "full-service" crime lab?

    <p>All of the above (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ______ unit in a crime lab analyzes voice recordings from telephoned threats or recorded messages.

    <p>Voiceprint analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following forensic specialties with their primary area of expertise:

    <p>Forensic psychiatry = Examines the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings Forensic odontology = Identifies victims based on dental evidence and analyzes bite mark patterns Forensic engineering = Analyzes failures, reconstructs accidents, and determines causes of fires/explosions Forensic computer and digital analysis = Identifies, collects, preserves, and examines information from computers and digital devices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the meaning of the Latin word 'forensis'?

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

    Forensic science only involves the application of science to criminal cases.

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

    Which of the following fields is NOT included within the scope of the AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Sciences)?

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

    The Journal of Forensic Sciences was first published in ______.

    <p>1954</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'criminalistics' specifically refer to, within the field of forensic science?

    <p>The analysis, comparison, identification, and interpretation of physical evidence found at a crime scene.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following forensic science profession with its area of specialization

    <p>Criminalistics = Study of human remains, skeletal analysis Odontology = Mental health and behavioral analysis Anthropology = Dental and teeth analysis Psychiatry = Study of criminal behavior and evidence analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is considered the "Father of Forensic Toxicology"?

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

    The Bertillon system of anthropometry was never replaced by the fingerprint system.

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

    The first comprehensive book on fingerprints and their use in crime solving was titled "______" by Francis Henry Galton.

    <p>Finger Prints</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was unusual about the discovery of fingerprints by Marcello Malpighi?

    <p>He did not recognize their potential for identification, despite his detailed observations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a blood type discovered by Karl Landsteiner?

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

    The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes was a highly influential figure promoting scientific methods in criminal investigations.

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

    Match the forensics pioneers with their respective disciplines:

    <p>Francis Henry Galton = Anthropometry Mathieu J.B. Orfila = Forensic Toxicology Alphonse Bertillon = Fingerprinting Albert Osborn = Document Examination Karl Landsteiner = Blood Types</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first recorded evidence of a coroner using fingerprints to solve a crime dates back to the ______ century in China.

    <p>3rd</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the "Will West and William West" case?

    <p>It highlighted the limitations of the Bertillon system and led to its eventual replacement by fingerprinting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following individuals is considered the "Father of Fingerprinting"?

    <p>Francis Henry Galton (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Forensic Science Overview

    • Forensic science applies scientific methods to criminal and civil laws within a criminal justice system.
    • It's a broad field encompassing diverse professions.

    Development of Forensic Science Organizations

    • The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) was established in 1948.
    • It has approximately 5,000 members representing various forensic disciplines and specialties.
    • The AAFS started the Journal of Forensic Sciences in 1954.

    List of Forensic Science Professions

    • Criminalistics: Studies criminal behavior.
    • Digital Sciences: Involves computers and technology.
    • Engineering Science: Focuses on buildings and their analysis, e.g., hurricane-proofing, WTC collapse analysis.
    • Jurisprudence: Philosophy of law and its relation to attorneys.
    • Odontology: Studies teeth and dental work for identification and analysis.
    • Pathology/Biology: Focuses on diseases and forensic medical issues, determining cause and manner of death.
    • Anthropology: Studies humans, both past and present, including skeletal analysis.
    • Psychiatry: Deals with mental health.
    • Questioned Documents: Analyzes forgeries and frauds.
    • Toxicology: Investigates chemicals and their effects.

    Scope of the Book

    • The book focuses on chemistry, biology, physics, geology, and computer technology.
    • It emphasizes the application of these sciences within a crime lab setting, analyzing crime scenes.

    Forensic Science vs. Criminalist

    • Criminalistics involves analysis, comparison, identification, and interpretation of physical crime scene evidence.
    • It's used to describe services within a crime lab.
    • Forensic scientist and criminalist are often interchangeable titles.

    Origins of Forensic Science

    • "Forensic" comes from the Latin word "forensis," meaning "forum."
    • In ancient Rome, criminal charges involved public presentations of the case, with arguments from both the accused and accuser.
    • The best argument determined the case outcome.

    Early Developments (China)

    • Yi Yu Ji, a 3rd-century Chinese manuscript, describes a coroner solving a murder case.
    • China was among the earliest to recognize fingerprints for identification.

    Marcello Malpighi

    • In 1686, Malpighi (Italy) produced the first known documentation of fingerprint characteristics.
    • However, his work didn't place fingerprints as a tool for identification until a century later.

    Initial Scientific Advances (Mathieu J.B. Orfila)

    • Orfila (1787-1853), known as the "Father of Forensic Toxicology," published the first scientific study on detecting and analyzing poisons in animals.
    • The publication established forensic toxicology as a scientific field.

    Alphonse Bertillon

    • Bertillon (late 1800s) developed anthropometry, a system of body measurements for identification.
    • Bertillon's approach though, faced limitations, distinguishing between identical measurements becoming an issue.
    • Ultimately, fingerprinting replaced it.

    Francis Henry Galton

    • Galton (1822-1911), "Father of Fingerprinting," developed fingerprinting techniques for identification
    • Galton's work established fingerprints as unique identifiers and led to the publication of Fingerprint, the first comprehensive book outlining this technique.

    Hans Gross

    • Gross (1847-1915), an Austrian public prosecutor, studied and developed principles for criminal investigation, laying foundational theories.

    Sherlock Holmes

    • Sherlock Holmes, a fictional character of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, popularized scientific crime-detection methods.
    • Holmes's fictional stories addressed concepts like serology, fingerprinting, firearm ID, and questioned documents before they became mainstream applications.

    20th-Century Breakthroughs (Karl Landsteiner)

    • Landsteiner (1868-1943) categorized blood types (A, B, AB, O).
    • This insight revolutionized crime scene investigations, enabling improved identification methods.

    20th-Century Breakthroughs (Leone Lattes)

    • Lattes (early 1900s) developed a method for analyzing dried bloodstains for blood type.

    20th-Century Breakthroughs (Albert Osborn)

    • Osborn (1858-1946), "Father of Document Examination", published Questioned Documents.
    • His work led to documentation being accepted as scientific evidence in court.

    20th-Century Breakthroughs (Edmond Locard)

    • Locard (1877-1966), "Father of the Crime Lab," established the world's first police crime laboratory in France (Lyon).
    • His pivotal contribution was the Locard's Exchange Principle - every contact leaves a trace.

    20th-Century Breakthroughs (Dr. Walter McCrone)

    • Dr. Walter McCrone was a prominent microscopist in the early 1900s.

    20th-Century Breakthroughs (Calvin Goddard)

    • Calvin Goddard (1891-1955), "Father of Ballistics", established a crime detection lab and improved the comparison microscope to examine bullets/cartridges.

    Modern Scientific Advances

    • Advances in computer technology have enabled significant improvement in forensics.
    • Examples include DNA profiling, developed by Sir Alec Jeffery.

    Crime Labs

    • The oldest forensic crime lab in the U.S., started in 1923, is in the Los Angeles Police Department, established by August Vollmer, in Berkeley.
    • In the 1930s, Vollmer also created the first U.S. university institute for criminology at University of California, Berkeley.
    • In 1932, J. Edgar Hoover established a national forensic lab that offered services to law enforcement across the U.S.
    • The FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia is currently the largest in the world.

    Crime Lab Services

    • Physical science unit: applies chemistry, physics, geology for crime scene analysis.
    • Biological unit: analyzes DNA, hair, fiber, plants, etc.
    • Firearms unit: tests shell casings, residues, tool marks.
    • Document examination unit: analyzes handwriting, paper, ink, erasures, burned documents.
    • Photographic unit: documents evidence.

    Optional Crime Lab Services

    • Toxicology unit: presence of drugs/poisons
    • Latent fingerprint unit: detecting fingerprints
    • Polygraph unit: lie detector
    • Voiceprint analysis unit: analyzing recorded voice messages
    • Crime-scene investigation unit: dispatch trained professionals to the crime scene.

    Specialized Crime Lab Services

    • Forensic psychiatry: relationship between human behavior and law.
    • Forensic odontology: identifying victims based on dental evidence.
    • Forensic engineering: structural/accident analysis, fire scenes.
    • Forensic computer and digital analysis: Identifying and preserving information from digital devices.

    Supreme Court Cases (Frye v. United States, 1923)

    • Established guidelines for determining the admissibility of scientific evidence in court.
    • Stated the required "general acceptance" by the scientific community for admitting evidence.

    Supreme Court Cases (Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 1993)

    • Ruled the Frye Standard is not the sole criterion for admitting scientific evidence.
    • Judges act as "gatekeepers" in determining admissibility and reliability.
    • Offered guidelines (Daubert Test): testing, peer review, potential error rate factors and widespread acceptance in the science community.

    Expert Witness

    • An expert witness possesses specialized skills or knowledge relevant to a case that isn't typical of lay people.
    • Their testimony aids the court in determining the truth.

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    Forensic Science Chapter 1 PDF

    Description

    This quiz covers the fundamental aspects of forensic science, including its application in criminal justice. Additionally, it details the various fields within forensic science and the organizations that support this discipline, particularly the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Test your knowledge on the wide range of professions in the field!

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