Autopsy
The internal and external examination of a body after death. An autopsy is performed to confirm or determine the cause of death and establish other pre-death conditions, such as the type of food last consumed and the time it was consumed.
Ballistics
The study of the motion of bullets and their examination for distinctive characteristics after being fired. Examiners can use this evidence to match bullets or bullet fragments to specific weapons.
Blood Splatter
The pattern of blood that has struck a surface. This pattern can provide vital information about the source of the blood. Can help determine the size and type of wound, the direction and the speed with which the perpetrator or victim was moving, and the type of weapon used to create the blood spill.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid. Double helix strand. Genetic code (fingerprint). 50% from mom and 50% from dad. ACGT.
DNA Profiling
The process of testing to identify DNA patterns or types. In forensic science this testing is used to indicate parentage or to exclude or include individuals as possible sources of bodily fluid stains (blood, saliva, semen) and other biological evidence (bones, hair, teeth)
Evidence
Anything that has been used, left, removed, altered, or contaminated during the commission of a crime or other event under investigation
Fingerprint
The unique patterns created by skin ridges found on the palm sides of fingers and thumbs.
Forensic Science
The application of science to law. The application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system. The focus of forensics is the crime lab. The crime lab uses the principles and technique of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, anthropology, and other sciences in order to place physical evidence into a professional discipline.
Latent fingerprint
A fingerprint made by deposits of oils and/or perspiration, not usually visible to the human eye.
Physical Evidence
Any object that can help explain an event under investigation, Can establish that a crime has been committed, and Sometimes can provide a link between a crime and its victim or between a crime and its perpetrator.
Ridge Characteristics
Ridge endings, bifurcations, enclosures, and other ridge details, which must match in two fingerprints for their common origin to be established.
Serology
The science of dealing with the properties and actions of serums in blood
Toxicology
The study of poisons and drugs and their effect on human and animal populations. It is the study of symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning, especially the poisoning of people.
Trace Evidence
Material deposited at a crime or accident scene that can only be detected through a deliberate processing procedure. An individual entering any environment will deposit traces of his or her presence, and this material can be used as evidence. Examples- hairs and fibers
Locard's Exchange Principle
Dr Edmund Locard, a French police officer and forensic scientist. Any physical contact between a suspect and victim will result in physical evidence being exchanged between them.
Suspect
An individual who might possibly have committed the crime under investigation. Guilt is presumed or has been proven
Medical Examiner
Trained medical practitioner who devotes some or all of their time to forensic work
Odontology
Forensic dentistry, The examination of bile marks and dental identification of corpses.
Pathology
The study of the causes and consequences of disease and injury in relation to crime and the law
AFIS
Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Scans fingerprints electronically and plots the positions of their ridge characteristics, comparing them with prints in a database.
Arches
Fingerprint ridges that rise above one another at their center like an arch.
Whorls
Fingerprint patterns that resemble small whirlpools revolving around a point.
Loops
Fingerprint patterns consisting of ridges that double back on themselves.
CODIS
Combined DNA Index System (FBI). Used to share DNA profiles kept in the FBI's National DNA Index System (NDIS) with law enforcement bodies.
Cold Case
An old unsolved criminal case. Many are now being solved with the advent of DNA test.
Rigor Mortis
A stiffening of the body that occurs about 30 minutes after death and continues for up to 18 hours.
Livor mortis
A coloration of the skin of the lower parts of a corpse caused by the settling of the red blood cells as the blood ceases to circulate
Cause of death
The action that resulted in death, a blow to the head or brain hemorrhage
Entomology
The study of insects.