decedent
the person who died in forensic or medical cases
link method
a search method with no set pattern, follows logical links between crime scene activity and places with more evidence
zone method
search method used with crime scenes of small, definable zones searched by teams
spiral method
search method used for scenes with no physical barriers, begin at critical point into outward spiral or outer edge into inward spiral
line / strip method
search method used for large, outdoor areas with search teams arranged at regular intervals searching along straight lines
wheel / ray method
search method used for small circular areas, start at critical point and travel outward on many straight lines
grid method
search method used for large, outdoor spaces along multiple line patterns
What do crime scene sketches need?
point of origin to take specific measurements from, to SCALE, key with observable evidence, legend
What is in a crime scene legend?
date, time, location, temperature
person of interest
people the police think have info related to possible crime
physiological response
involuntary biological reactions to felt, detected, and measured stimuli
polygraph test
determine truth with many graphs in forensics, BG checks, employment screening; not admissible in court
What is needed for a polygraph test?
yes or no questions, control for baseline questions for vital sounds
What is measured in polygraph tests?
heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, skin conductivity
skin conductivity
amount of sweats’ impact on ability to conduct electricity
Locard’s exchange principle
every time one makes contact with a person, place, thing, they leave a physical trace behind; impossible for a criminal to act without a trace
trace evidence
tiny fragments of physical evidence (e.g. hair, clothing fibers, pieces of glass)
forensic technician
process scene and deliver evidence to appropriate labs
hair analysis
determine race, sex, age
shaft
hair seen above skin
root
hair below skin
cuticle
outermost hair layer
cortex
middlemost hair layer
medulla
innermost hair layer
hair growth cycle
anagen (grows 2-6 years), catagen (follicle shrinks 2 weeks), telogen (sheds 5-6 weeks)
What makes hair identifiable?
medulla, diameter, artificial treatment damage, diseases, color
fingerprint analysis
minutiae and fingerprint types used to identify
What are the fingerprint types?
arch, loop, whorl
What does a tented arch look like?
pointy
What direction is a radial loop?
point to thumb
What direction is an ulnar loop?
point to pinky
minutiae
minute characteristics of the fingerprint, 12 points similarity means same person (12 point match)
digital forensics
evidence on devices that store data