Biological evidence - Answers Originates from a living source and includes things like DNA, blood, other
bodily fluids, hair, skin, bone, animals, or plants. This must be dried and protected from sunlight and
moisture when it is collected and preserved by the CSI.
Chain of custody - Answers
Circumstantial evidence - Answers Is the most common type of evidence examined in the forensic lab.
This evidence requires a forensic scientist to provide an explanation through his or her analysis. It is
more objective than direct evidence.
Corpus delicti - Answers Providing essential information on the facts of the case. !!!!!!
Crime scene investigator (CSI) - Answers
Direct evidence - Answers Establishing a fact without the need for further analysis. An example of this is
a video of a store robbery where the perpetrator's face is clearly identifiable on the recording.
Forensic anthropologist - Answers A person who studies bones; can help determine the age, sex, race,
approx height, overall health of the subject, and identify the number of victims.
Forensic evidence - Answers Is used to provide impartial facts and is often referred to as the "silent
witness."
Forensic nurse - Answers Person who provides an additional investigative function, because he or she
works directly to treat the injuries of victims of violence, criminal activities, and motor vehicle crashes.
They are also valuable in recognizing potential victims of elder abuse, sexual assault, psychological or
child abuse, and individuals who are under the control of human traffickers and domestic violence.
Forensic scientist - Answers Works in the crime laboratory performing scientific analyses on physical and
biological evidence submitted by the CSI.
Modus operandi (MO) - Answers The preferred method of operation !!!!
Physical evidence - Answers Covers items of nonliving origin, such as fingerprints, footprints, fibers,
paint, tire or shoe impressions, weapons, ammunition, and building materials. May be used as
corroborative evidence, which tends to confirm or support the theory of the crime.
Transient evidence - Answers Defined as physical or biological evidence that may be lost forever if not
immediately preserved (usually observed by the first officer at the scene).
Forensic archaeologist - Answers A scientist who utilizes archaeological recovery techniques at scenes of
mass graves or exhumations.
Forensic botanist - Answers A specialist who can aid in determining time since death or assist in placing a
suspect or victim at a location by studying the anatomy of plant evidence.
, Forensic entomologist - Answers A scientist who can evaluate the life cycle of insects found at the scene
or on the body of a victim to assist in establishing investigative leads such as the movement of a body
after death, manner of death, and the postmortem interval (PMI).
Forensic odontologist - Answers A dentist with special training in the evaluation and handling of dental
evidence, including bitemark comparison and the identification of victims/suspects.
Forensic pathologist - Answers A medical doctor with additional specialty training in determination of
injuries and disease that cause death.
Medical examiner - Answers A medical doctor with five or more years of specialized training in
recognition of the cause and manner of death.
Coroner - Answers An elected or appointed official who conducts death investigations. The coroner is
not required to have a medical background, and his or her duties are dictated by jurisdiction.
American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) - Answers The largest professional organization of
practitioners, researchers, and scientists. They also publish the Journal of Forensic Science and conducts
annual meetings at which members from every profession-including engineers, dentists, educators,
psychiatrists, lawyers, physicians, and many other fields of expertise-present research findings that
enhance the practice of forensics from the crime scene to the courtroom.
Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) - Answers Provides accreditation to those certifying
bodies that meet stringent requirements for training, education, experience, and testing of individual
forensic scientists and specialists. Was also formed to objectively assess, recognize, and monitor the
various forensic specialty boards that certify individual forensic scientists and specialists.
How may an expert witness' testimony be challenged? - Answers -The case may not require expertise
-Basic qualifications and ability to give an opinion in the field may be at issue
-The examiner may have insufficient education or experience to have anything of value to offer (no
value needed)
-The methodology utilized to support the opinion may not be scientifically sound or capable of
supporting the proffered opinion
-The methodology may be scientifically sound, but the opinion based on the method is not sufficiently
derived from that scientific method
Testimony must be: - Answers Objective and free of bias
Act of commission - Answers
Act of omission - Answers
O.J. effect - Answers Discrediting the chain of evidence, the scientists, or the science