Forensics Science Chapter One

What is the definition of forensic science?
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What is the definition of forensic science?
The application of science to criminal and civil law that are enforced by police in a criminal justice system.
Which area of science is NOT involved in criminalistics (forensics)?
None; geology, chemistry, biology, and metallurgy are involved.
Who established the first workable crime laboratory?
Osborn
Who postulated the exchange of evidence principle?
Osborn
Where is the oldest forensic laboratory in the United States?
The Los Angeles Police Department.
Approximately how many operating crime labs are there in the United States (federal, state and country)?
300+
What caused the rapid growth of crime labs during the last 25 years?
-Advent of DNA profiling, increase in drug related arrests, staggering increase in crime rates in the United States, Supreme Court decisions in the 1960's
Which entity maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world?
FBI
Which disciplines are included in the work of the biology unit of a crime lab?
body fluids, DNA, blood factors, hair, fibers, and plant life using biology, biochemistry, and microbiology.
Which unit has the responsibility for the examination of body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons?
Toxicology Unit
The concept of "general acceptance" of scientific evidence relates to the?Frye StandardIn the case of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceutical, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court advocated that a "gatekeeper" determine the admissibility and reliability of scientific evidence. This gatekeeper is the?The trial judgeAn expert witness must be able to demonstrate?Knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education.Who is the final evaluator of forensic evidence?juryWhat is the LEAST important consideration in the gathering of evidence at a crime scene?Guilty of the suspectsWhich matter is the province of civil litigation?refuse medical treatment, sell property, prepare a will, purchase a vehicle.Bite marks would be likely to be found in cases involving:sexual assault, murder, and child abuse.Forensic odontology refers to the study of:teethWhat services are typically provided to law enforcement by crime laboratories?CriminalisticsThe case of Coppolino v. State highlights issues dealing with?The acceptability of new scientific testsThe scientific method requires that scientific evidence be validated by?Formulating pertinent questions, formulating hypotheticals, performing experiments.The tendency of the public to believe that every crime scene will yield forensic evidence and their unrealistic expectations that a prosecutor's case should always be bolstered and supported by forensic evidence is known as:The CSI EffectWhat is the major problem facing the forensic DNA community?backlog of unanalyzed DNA samplesThe _____________ unit applies principles and techniques of chemistry, physics, and geology to the identification and comparison of crime-scene evidence.Physical ScienceWhich specialized area of forensic science examines the relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings?Forensic PsychiatryA crime scene which involved the collapse of a structure would be analyzed by specialists in the area of:Forensic EngineeringWhat factor(s) do(es) the court usually take into consideration as sufficient grounds for qualification as an expert witness?Experience, training, and education.Specially trained personnel called ____________________ are employed by some crime laboratories on 24-hour call to retrieve evidence and have all the proper tools and supplies for proper collection and packaging of evidence at their disposal.Crime Scene InvestigatorsWhich court case determined that police officers cannot search your home or obtain evidence from your home without a search warrant?MAPP V. OHIOA man was suspected of murdering a young girl. Through casual conversation in the police vehicle, he admitted the location of the girl's body. Later the man believed that evidence improperly obtained during the car ride should not be used against him. The judge decided to uphold his murder conviction because the evidence of murder would have been discovered regardless of if Williams told the police or not in a ruling known as the Inevitable Discovery Exception. What famous court case gave rise to the Inevitable Discovery Exception?Nix v. Williams in 1984.List the function of a forensic scientistprovides expert testimonyDiscuss the underlying reasons for the rapid growth of crime laboratories in the United States since the late 1960s.-The increasing demand for Drugs and DNA analyses. -The increasing volume of physical evidence recovered from crime scenes as a result of rising crime ratesDescribe the advantages of incorporating an evidence collection unit into the organizational structure of the crime laboratory.-Evidence technicians under the continuous direction of the crime laboratory are more likely to have received thorough training in the gathering of evidence at the crime site. ~Evidence technicians, who are continuously exposed to the problems and techniques of the forensic scientist, are better prepared to adopt new procedures or modify existing procedures to improve evidence collection.Discuss in detail, the 4th Amendment and why it is vital to collection of evidence. protects citizens against "unreasonable searches and seizures."The only time police can search your car for example is if they have probable cause, or a vial I'd reason. But if they want to search your house then they need a warrant.