Forensic Science Vocabulary Quiz

Crime Scene Investigation

• A primary crime scene is the original location where a crime was committed.

Key Players and Roles

• An accomplice is a person who helps or assists in the commission of a crime.
• The crime scene investigator documents the crime scene in detail and collects any physical evidence.
• A prosecutor is often present to help determine if any search warrants are required to proceed and obtains those warrants from a judge.
• Police officers are responsible for securing the crime scene so no evidence is destroyed and detaining persons of interest in the crime.

Evidence and Protocol

• Physical evidence refers to objects that can link a suspect to a crime scene.
• Trace evidence is used to link a suspect to a crime scene and includes small, often invisible, details.
• The purpose of collecting evidence at a crime scene is to gather information to aid in the investigation and solve the crime.
• Testimonial evidence refers to statements made by witnesses or victims.
• The purpose of creating a pictorial record of the scene, as well as a rough sketch, is to create a permanent and detailed record of the crime scene.

Forensic Disciplines

• Forensic biology involves the analysis of body fluids and dried stains such as blood, semen, and saliva.
• Forensic chemistry involves the identification and comparison of materials from fires, explosions, paints, and glass.
• Forensic ballistics involves the study of bullets and ammunition through the comparison of fired bullets, cartridges, guns, and gunpowder patterns.

Crime Scene Protocol

• The walk-through step in the crime scene protocol helps identify possible evidence, the point of entry and point of exit, and outline the general layout of the crime scene.
• The documentation step involves creating a pictorial record of the scene as well as a rough sketch.
• A secondary crime scene is any location that is related to the original crime scene, but is not the original location where the crime was committed.