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Forensic Science the application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law. Criminalistics the scientific examination of physical evidence for legal purposes Pathology the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases/uses medical knowledge for legal purposes Ballistics the science that deals with the motion, behavior, and effects of projectiles, most often firearms and bullets Odontology the examination of bite marks, and dental identification of corpses Entomology the study of insects palynology the study of pollen and spores from plants polygraphy the use of a lie detector in forensic cases the Locard principle at every crime scene there is a cross-transfer of evidence between the suspect and the contents of the location stare decisis "to stand by settled things/to follow precedent" civil law the body of laws regulating non-criminal litigation/tort (deals with financial penalties) criminal law laws governing conduct in society (can result in loss of freedom) equity law laws not covered by common law that deal in preventive/remedial matters like restraining orders or injunctions administrative law the body of rules and principles that governs the duties and operations of federal or state administrative agencies probable cause reasonable ground for a belief that the accused was guilty of the crime (criminal case) or that the grounds for the action existed (civil case) due process the regular administration of the law, according to which no citizen may be denied his or her legal rights and all laws must conform to fundamental, accepted legal principles booking the process by which the police department registers and enters charges against a person believed to have violated the law (ex. mug shot, fingerprinting, record check) arraignment a criminal defendant's first appearance in a court or before a judge on a criminal charge nolo contendere plea when in a criminal trial the defendant accepts punishment without admitting or disputing a charge bail the money put up to ensure that the defendent will appear in court bail bondsman someone who lends bail money to defendants awaiting trial preliminary/evidentiary hearing a proceeding to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial on a charge grand jury a type of preliminary hearing where a group of citizens hear evidence to determine if a suspect should stand trial indictment a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime plea bargain an agreement in a criminal case where the defendant agrees to plead guilty to a charge in return for some concession from the persecutor violation a minor offense that may be proceeded against without a jury (least serious) infraction willful or negligent action that can result in a fine or jail time (low middle serious) misdemeanor a "lesser" criminal act (high middle serious) felony a serious crime that results in either death or over one year of imprisonment (most serious)