Introduction to Criminalistics Final Study Guide

Created by Ananda Addison

TV crime shows often lead the public to believe forensic science is fast, flawless, and always available. This misconception is known as
The CSI Effect

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TermDefinition
TV crime shows often lead the public to believe forensic science is fast, flawless, and always available. This misconception is known asThe CSI Effect
Why is Locard’s Exchange Principle is MOST important in forensic science because itEstablishes that contact between two surfaces results in a transfer of material
Which item should NOT be sent to the biology unit?A bullet.
What qualifies a forensic scientist as an expert witness?They can give a scientific opinion based on evidence.
What happens if evidence is not properly logged in the chain of custody?It may not be admitted in court.
What is the main purpose of national forensic databases?To compare crime scene evidence with known records
What is the primary goal of a forensic autopsy?To determine the cause and manner of death.
Entering a house to prevent destruction of evidence is which exception?Risk of evidence destruction.
Death from inhaling toxic fumes is classified as what cause of death?Asphyxia.
A heart attack in a 70-year-old is what manner of death?Natural.
Who has been found with identical fingerprints?None to date.
What is AFIS?A computerized fingerprint storage and retrieval system.
What must be compared to prove fingerprint identity?Minutiae.
Which microscope is most important in firearms examination?Comparison microscope.
Which microscope is best for birefringent minerals, fibers, crystals?Polarizing microscope.
Which instrument checks for GSR (gunshot residue)?SEM.
Which object is NOT expected to show evidential markings?A shotgun pellet.
Lands, grooves, and twist direction are what characteristics?Class characteristics.
Gunpowder residue around a bullet hole helps determine what?Distance from which the gun was fired.
Most important properties of glass for comparison?Refractive index and density.
Forcibly removed hair provides DNA because it contains what?A follicular tag.
Medullary index 0.24 + flattened scales indicates what?Human hair.
Next step after fibers match in color under a microscope?Analyze dye composition with chromatography.
Which shows psychological dependence?Feeling anxious without marijuana.
Main purpose of a drug screening test?To narrow down possible drug identities.
A mass spectrum matching methamphetamine means what?The sample is confirmed as methamphetamine.
Breath tests accurately estimate BAC because of what?Fixed ratio between blood and alveolar breath alcohol.
Why is segmental hair analysis useful?It estimates when drugs were used.
What technique uses an aerosol in hot plasma for elemental analysis?ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma).
Side-by-side paint comparison evaluates what?Color, texture, and layer sequence.
Which test visualizes faint or cleaned bloodstains?Luminol.
What does the precipitin test determine?Whether blood is human or animal.
Most definitive test for semen?Identification of sperm under a microscope.
Primary function of PCR?To make millions of copies of a DNA segment.
Why analyze 13–20 STR loci?To reduce the chance of a random DNA match.
Best DNA test for male-specific profiling in mixed samples?Y-STR.
An inverted V-shaped burn pattern points to what?The area of origin of the fire.
Best container for storing accelerant evidence?Best container for storing accelerant evidence?
Infrared imaging helps visualize what?Writing obscured by dark ink or marker.
Key evidence in analyzing chemically altered documents?Residual ink that changes color under UV/IR light.