accelerant
Flammable liquid used to start fires
anthropometry
measurement system of the size and makeup of the body
arch fingerprint
fingerprint pattern in which ridges enter from one side, rise in the center, and flow out the other side. only 5% have arches
arson
deliberate, criminal starting of fires
autopsy
An examination of the body after death usually with such dissection as will expose the vital organs for determining the cause of death.
ballistics
the study of the dynamics or flight characteristics of projectiles
black box
(noun) equipment that records information about the performance of an aircraft during flight
blood group
A, B, AB, O
caliber
A measure of the inside diameter of a firearm barrel
cartridge case
cylinder holding explosive charge and bullets/ pellets
cause of death
action that caused death, as determined from medical examination
chain of custody
trail of evidence from crime scene to court by a piece of evidence held by police and forensic scientists
chromatography
series of lab tests to separate components of a mixture
cleansuit
suits forensic scientists wear to avoid contamination of evidence
comparator
enlarges two images of fingerprints for easy comparison
comparison microscope
a double microscope used to examine two similar items side by side.
computer tomography
An x-ray technique that produces a three-dimensional image of a part of the body
database
an organized collection of data
dusting
brushing for latent fingerprints with a powder to make them visible
e-fit system
computerized version of the photographic identification system that creates faces of suspects
electrophoresis
A process where DNA fragments are separated according to size using electrical charges
electrostatic detection apparatus
Most modern forensic laboratories use ESDA to recover indented writing, even 3-4 pages down from original document
entomology
study of insects
evidence marker
marker that marks key evidence
fiber evidence
evidence from human, animal, or synthetic hairs
fingertip search
crime scene search carried out by kneeling officers shoulder to shoulder.
forensic anthropology
study of skeletons, usually identification
gunshot residue
microscopic powder from explosive that is spread on the hand, last six hours
homicide
murder or man slaughter
larva
stage before metamorphosis
laser beam
intense beam of monochromatic light
latent fingerprint
not visible and must be dusted
lie detector
polygraph
linen tester
magnifying glass
locard's exchange principle
every contact leaves a trace
loop
most common fingerprint. 60-70%
luminol
finds bloodstains
magnetic wand
used with magnetic powder to dust for fingerprints
mass spectometry
used to measure very small amounts of substance
mortuary
a building (or room) where dead bodies are kept before burial or cremation
odontology
forensic dentistry
paramedic
someone trained to give emergency
pathology
study of disease on body tissue
pattern evidence
evidence significant for its pattern
polygraph
instrument that measures blood pressure and heart rate to detect lies.
polymerase chain reaction
A method of producing thousands of copies of DNA segment using the enzyme DNA polymerase
postmortem interval
time after death
precipitin test
test to distinguish human from animal blood
presumptive test
test to see if it is blood
provenance
record of objects history
rifling
raised, spiraling pattern in a gun barrel
rigor mortis
stiffness of a corpse that happens hours after death
scanning electron microscope
use electrons to magnify image
search pattern
organized method of searching a crime scene
serology
study of blood and bodily fluids
sniffer dog
dog trained to sniff out specific things
suspect
someone who may be involved with a crime but not formally charged
tape lift
recovering trace evidence from surface using tape
tool mark
mark left by tool on surface
toxicology
study of drugs and poisons
trace evidence
small objects or substances that can be used for evidence
voice print
Distinguishing differences in people's speech sounds and patterns.
x-ray
Electromagnetic radiation having a very short wavelength; can penetrate substances such as skin and muscle.