Questions and Answers
Which of these forensic disciplines is primarily concerned with the analysis of human skeletal remains to identify individuals, determine cause of death, and establish a time frame for the death?
Which of the following techniques would be most useful in determining the time of death in a case where the body was found in a remote, undisturbed location?
A detective finds a small, clear, plastic bag containing a white powder at a crime scene. Which of the following forensic disciplines would be most helpful in identifying the substance?
A suspect is being interrogated by a detective. The detective uses a polygraph to assess the suspect's truthfulness. Which of the following concepts is most closely related to the polygraph?
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A bloodstain is found at a crime scene. The investigators need to determine if the blood is human or animal. Which of the following disciplines would be most helpful in this situation?
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A case involves a victim who was found dead in a wooded area. The investigators need to determine if the victim was moved after death. Which of the following disciplines would provide the most useful information?
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Study Notes
Forensic Science Disciplines
- Autopsy: Examination of a deceased body to establish the cause of death.
- Ballistics: Focuses on the motion of projectiles, crucial for firearm analysis.
- Biometrics: Analyzes unique physical or behavioral traits for identification purposes.
- Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BPA): Studies bloodstains' shapes and distribution to infer events that occurred during a crime.
- Chain of Custody: A tracking system ensuring integrity of evidence through documentation of custody and analysis.
Key Technologies and Systems
- CODIS: The FBI's system that supports DNA databases for criminal justice.
- Cyber Forensics: Investigates crimes linked to computers and digital technology.
- DNA Profiling: Used to identify individuals through their unique DNA sequences.
Specialized Fields and Techniques
- Entomology: Utilizes insect life cycles to estimate time of death at crime scenes.
- Epidemiology: Investigates disease spread, aiding in public health and forensic contexts.
- Fingerprint Analysis: Analyzes ridge patterns in fingerprints for individual identification.
Forensic Investigative Methods
- Forensic Accounting: Scrutinizes financial records to uncover fraud and embezzlement.
- Forensic Anthropology: Identifies human skeletal remains to determine identity or cause of death.
- Forensic Archeology: Applies archaeological techniques to collect evidence at crime scenes.
Evidence and Analysis Techniques
- Forensic Art: Uses artistic methods to create likenesses of suspects or victims.
- Forensic Biology: Employs biological principles in the investigation of crimes.
- Forensic Chemistry: Involves the chemical analysis of substances found at crime scenes.
Medical and Psychological Assessments
- Forensic Dentistry (Odontology): Studies dental records for identification.
- Forensic Psychiatry: Evaluates mental health issues related to legal contexts.
- Forensic Psychology: Examines psychological behavior pertaining to criminal cases.
Body and Environmental Studies
- Forensic Serology: Identifies bodily fluids for investigative purposes.
- Forensic Toxicology: Tests fluids for chemicals and poisons.
- Taphonomy: Explores decay processes to understand decomposition of bodies.
Measurement and Location Techniques
- Gunshot Residue (GSR) Analysis: Detects residues from fired firearms.
- Latent Prints: Invisible fingerprints analyzed for criminal identification.
- Triangulation: Determines positions by forming triangles from known locations.
Post-mortem Examination Techniques
- Postmortem Interval (PMI): Measures the time since death using various indicators.
- Rigor Mortis: The bodily stiffness that occurs after death, indicating time elapsed.
- Vitreous Humor: Analyzes eye fluid for determining time of death.
Additional Forensic Aspects
- Trace Evidence: Collects small evidence pieces like hair or fibers.
- Trauma Analysis: Reviews injuries to ascertain cause and mechanism of events.
- Luminol: Detects blood traces through chemical reactions.
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Description
Test your knowledge of forensic science terms and concepts, including autopsy, ballistics, biometrics, and more. Learn the definition and significance of each term in forensic analysis.
