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