Introduction to forensic science vocabulary

Comparison microscope

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The Fourth Amendment

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Edgar Hoover

...created the first National crime lab in the US in 1932

August Volmer

...creating the first crime lab in Los Angeles in 1923

Albert S. Osborn

Albert Osborn's area of expertise was in questioned documents and forgery. Osborn published two landmark texts called, Questioned Documents and The Problem of Proof. In 1942, Osborn founded the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners. Learn more about Albert S. Osborn.

ATF

Alcoholic beverages, weapons, explosives, gun control, and organized crime

Alphonse Bertillion

Bertillon was a French criminalist who developed a system of identifying repeat offender criminals using the scientific method. The system, referred to as anthropometry, documented a series of 11 body measurements, eye, hair, and skin color. Bertillon is also credited with advancing the use of photography as a means of documenting criminal records.

FBI

Broad investigative powers

Calvin Goddard

Calvin Goddard is responsible for advancements in ballistics because he established an extensive ballistic database. Goddard also contributed to the development of the comparison microscope to be used for bullet comparisons. The first crime lab in the United States was established by Calvin Goddard. You can read more about Goddard, including his role in the St. Valentine's Day massacre.

Forensic Biology Unit

Deals with all body fluids and to identify the person the substances came from. Includes DNA analysis.

Edmond Locard

Edmond Locard established the "principle of exchange." The relevance of this statement drastically changed the practice of gathering evidence for scientific examination and crime solving. The most famous published work by Locard is called, Treaty of Criminalistics.

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

Crime Lab Services

Most crime labs are not equipped or staffed to house all the possible services necessary. The list below includes some of the more common services. For more information and a more complete list, go to the FBI laboratory services page and click on links of interest.

5 Amendment

Right to remain silent

Forensic Odontology

Studies bite marks and uses x-rays to match victims

Daubert Ruling

The Daubert ruling supersedes the Frye standard by setting forth some additional standards. The case went before the United States Supreme Court under the name "Daubert v Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals". Read more about this landmark case.

Frye Standard

The Frye standard pertains to admissibility of scientific examinations/experiments in legal proceedings. The data that is collected from specific types of evidence is reliable and reproducible under the same circumstances. For example, methods used for testing blood alcohol levels are admissible under the Frye Standard, however, polygraph tests (also know as "lie detector" tests) are not "routinely" admissible in court because these tests have not proven to be scientifically reliable: people have been known to "beat" the polygraph.

6th Amendment

The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person

Francis Galton

The work of Francis Galton led to a system of fingerprinting that is still used today. Galton also founded the journal Biometrika in 1901 which is still in publication. Galton had a variety of other interests.

Locard's Exchange Principle

addition to the contributions of these individuals, there have been several court cases that have shaped the way forensic evidence is collected and admitted into court. Specifically there are two landmark cases that all forensic scientists and criminalists need to be aware of.

Felony

an act that is punishable by more than 1 year in prison.

DEA

analysis of drugs and related items

Crime

any illegal act prohibited by the law, breaking a law

Francis Galton

conducted the first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification

USPS

criminal investigations related to the united postal service

Leone Lattes

developed a procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains

Forensic Anthropology

examine and identify human skeletal remains

Forensic Psychiatry

examine relationship between human behavior and legal proceedings

Mathieu Orfila

helped initiate the study of toxicology as it pertained to legal issues. His first book, A General System of Toxicology, was popular in several countries.

Firearms Unit

investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and ammunition

Forensic Science

knowledge of forensic science by publishing their findings and developing techniques. In this lesson you will learn about several of these historical figures, their contributions, and some significant court rulings.

Misdemeanor

punishable for 1 yr or less in jail

Forensic Engineering

reconstruct the crime scene to solve how crime was committed

Forensic Pathology

the study of dead bodies to determine the cause of death.

Forensic Entomology

use insects to determine the time of death.