Forensic Science

contact between people and objects during a crime can result in a transfer of material

evidence (if true) that proves a fact (eyewitness account)

evidence that does not directly support a fact (blood stain or fingerprint)

an object used to support elements of a crime

organic matter used to support elements of a crime

evidence that narrows an identity to a group of persons or things

evidence that narrows identity to a single person or thing

a small amount of physical or biological evidence

police officers, detectives, crime-scene investigators, medical examiners, and specialists

recognize, document, photograph, and collect evidence

identify extent of crime scene, secure the scene, and separate witnesses

location of where the crime took place

alternate location where additional evidence can be collected

processes crime scenes (recognize, document, and preserve evidence)

mathematical method of calculating the location of an object based on the position of other objects

folded paper used to hold evidence

document that records how and when evidence has been handled

a permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene

forming a hypothesis of the sequence of evidence before, during, and after the crime

where evidence is analyzed

develops a possible crime-scene scenario

the study of poisons, toxins, drugs, and other substances people use for medical, recreational, or criminal purposes

process it, weigh it, separate it, identify it

science of determining relationship between exposure to a substance and toxic or lethal effects of exposure on humans

natural or manufactured chemicals that can cause severe harm

naturally occurring poisonous substances living things produce

examines the effects of harmful substances on the body, establishes cause and effect of exposure, and develops treatments and techniques for detection

degree to which a substance is harmful to a person at a given time

dose, duration, nature of exposure, interactions, by-products when broken down or metabolized

which substances?

preliminary chemical tests performed by first-responding officers to identify a substance (does not provide positive confirmation)

multistep chemical process that provides a positive identification of a substance

most common form of presumptive testing that results in a color change

most common forms of confirmatory testing

poisoning caused by a high dose over a short period of time; symptoms present themselves immediately

poisoning caused by low doses over long periods of time; symptoms present themselves gradually

poisonous metallic substances that are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes

heavy metal example

gases that cause bodily harm or death when inhaled

lethal gases examples

injection of a lethal substance in the body that causes bodily harm or death

lethal injection examples

chemical substance that controls plants; can be deadly in humans

chemical substance that controls insects and rodents; can be deadly in humans

pesticide examples

herbicide example

toxin examples

based on reactions

narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids

amount of drug that creates an effect

compulsive drug craving and use

intense drug craving without withdrawal symptoms

based on acceptance for medical use and potential for dependency

drugs that are not used medically

illegal drug examples

legal drugs that are restricted because of their effects and high potential for dependency and abuse

illegal drugs that affect perception, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions (effects: elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated pupils)

hallucinogen example

addictive, sleep-inducing drugs that depress the CNS and suppress pain (effects: dizziness, weakness, confusion, contracted pupils)

narcotic examples

stimulants, narcotics, depressants, and anabolic steroids

highly addictive drugs that increase feelings of energy and alertness while suppressing appetite (effects: high blood pressure and rapid heart rate)

examples of stimulants

drugs that relieve anxiety and produce sleep (effects: slowed heart rate, slowed breathing, slurred speech, loss of coordination, coma)

nervous system depressant that can be highly addicting and can impair judgment

substance that promotes cell growth and division; used by bodybuilders and to treat low levels of testosterone

use of substances to enhance athletic performance

can have compounding effects and lead to accidental death

estimation of the deceased's sex, age, stature, and ancestry, along with diseases and injuries, as derived from analysis of skeletal remains

the shaft of a bone

the unattached end of a bone that eventually becomes fused with the bone shaft

the use of skeletal anatomy to identify remains for legal purposes

area of cartilage between the shaft and cap of an immature bone responsible for the lengthening of bone

the processes that replaces cartilage with bone by the deposition of minerals

loss of bone density that can result in increased risk of fractures

the investigation of bones and the marks on them to uncover a potential cause of death

connective tissue that wraps ends of bones for protection and prevents scraping against each other

connective tissue that links two or more bones

connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone

males: 19 or 20

compare amounts of strontium and isotopes in teeth to geographical regions

more square

more rounded

more square shaped

more V-shaped

thicker and larger

thin and slender

prominent

less prominent

low and sloping

higher and more rounded

rough and robust

smooth and gracile

extends to or past ear opening

stops short of ear opening

larger and more robust

smaller