Law Study
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE STUDY GUIDE FROM TEXT
Chapter 1
1. Define forensic science/criminalistics
2. Recall the major contributions to the development of forensic science.
3. Give examples of typical crime laboratories as they exist on the national, state and local levels of government in the U.S.
4. Describe the services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice system.
5. Explain the different approaches espoused by the Frye and Daubert decisions to the admissibility of scientific evidence in the courtroom.
6. Explain the role and responsibilities of the expert witness.
7. Review the proper collection and packaging of common types of physical evidence (see Appendix A).
Chapter 2
1. Define physical evidence.
2. Discuss the responsibilities of the first officer who arrives at the crime scene.
3. Explain the steps to be taken for thoroughly recording the crime scene.
4. Describe proper procedures for conducting a systematic search of crime scenes for physical evidence.
5. Describe proper techniques for packaging common types of physical evidence.
6. Define the chain of custody.
7. Discuss the implications of the Mincey and Tyler cases.
Chapter 3
1. List the common types of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes.
2. Explain the differences between the identification and comparison of physical evidence.
3. Define individual and class characteristics. Give examples of physical evidence possessing these characteristics.
4. Discuss the value of class evidence to a criminal investigation.
5. Explain the purpose physical evidence plays in reconstructing the events surrounding the commission of a crime.
Chapter 4
1. Define physical and chemical properties. Provide examples of each.
2. List and define the metric system's basic units and prefixes.
3. Distinguish mass from weight.
4. Define density.
5. Define refractive index.
6. Define the flotation and immersion methods
Chapter 1
1. Define forensic science/criminalistics
2. Recall the major contributions to the development of forensic science.
3. Give examples of typical crime laboratories as they exist on the national, state and local levels of government in the U.S.
4. Describe the services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice system.
5. Explain the different approaches espoused by the Frye and Daubert decisions to the admissibility of scientific evidence in the courtroom.
6. Explain the role and responsibilities of the expert witness.
7. Review the proper collection and packaging of common types of physical evidence (see Appendix A).
Chapter 2
1. Define physical evidence.
2. Discuss the responsibilities of the first officer who arrives at the crime scene.
3. Explain the steps to be taken for thoroughly recording the crime scene.
4. Describe proper procedures for conducting a systematic search of crime scenes for physical evidence.
5. Describe proper techniques for packaging common types of physical evidence.
6. Define the chain of custody.
7. Discuss the implications of the Mincey and Tyler cases.
Chapter 3
1. List the common types of physical evidence encountered at crime scenes.
2. Explain the differences between the identification and comparison of physical evidence.
3. Define individual and class characteristics. Give examples of physical evidence possessing these characteristics.
4. Discuss the value of class evidence to a criminal investigation.
5. Explain the purpose physical evidence plays in reconstructing the events surrounding the commission of a crime.
Chapter 4
1. Define physical and chemical properties. Provide examples of each.
2. List and define the metric system's basic units and prefixes.
3. Distinguish mass from weight.
4. Define density.
5. Define refractive index.
6. Define the flotation and immersion methods