Forensics:
- Use method of science
- Deals with past events: chaotic, start with observations, cannot be repeated
- Application of methods of sciences and social science to the criminal and civil investigations
Coroner System:
Public safety agency
In Ontario, Coroners act determine if inquest is necessary, determine answers to the 5Ws,
collect and analyze information about death to prevent further deaths
Sole jurisdiction in suspicious death investigations
Forensic odontology:
- Use of dentition for individual identification
- Comparisons of bite marks in criminal cases
- Analysis of negligence in dental malpractice cases
Buried remains:
- Decompose slower than remains on the surface
Taphonomy:
- Climatic conditions
- Autopsy procedures before burial
- Body size and age of deceased
- Estimate time of death
- Identify cladenstine graves and deliberate burials
- Identification of deceased
Locards Exchange Principle:
- Every criminal leaves and takes evidence from the crime scene
Geotaphonomy:
- Study of changes in the surrounding environment due to decomposing remains
Rigor Mortis:
- Not permanent
Forensic Serology:
- Urine and blood
- Semen and saliva
Fingerprints:
- Individual characteristic
- With ridge patterns can be classified
- Remain unchanged
- Friction ridges: contain sweat glands
Forensic Anthropology:
- Identification of remains
- Morphoscopic: sex determination based on different regions of skeleton
- Events before and after death
- Estimate age, sex, cause of death
Toxicology:
- Blood sample taken from heart and peripheral vascular source
Forensic Pathology:
- Examination of dead bodies
- Tissues and organs dissected during autopsies
- Dead and alive
Events:
- Peri mortem: time of death
- Livor mortis: discoloration of body settling of RBC after blood stops circulating
Blood Spatter:
- String method: area of origin
- Blood droplet: angle of impact ~ 90degrees = circular
- Arterial pattern: pressure of pumping oxygenated blood OUT of an injury; bright red
- Pointed end faces direction of travel
Area of convergence:
- Intersection of straight lines through long axis of individual blood stains
Linear blood stain pattern:
- When a knife covered with victims blood is swung; cast off spatter
Amount of spatter:
- Falling on a hard, nonporous surface = less than falling on a soft, porous surface
Expirated blood:
- Diluted blood with air vacuoles
Firearm:
- Blood in muzzle = firearm present during injury
Human blood:
- More viscous than water
- Less than surface tension of water
- White blood cells best source of DNA
Impact spatter pattern:
- Forward and backward blood
Passive stain:
- Dripping of blood due to gravity
Diameter and pattern of blood:
- Depends on FIND THIS!!!
Phenylcyclidine:
- Originally surgical anesthetic
RAM:
- Data will be destroyed when shutting off computer
Digital crime scene: preservation required
Pre-employment drug screening:
- Urine
Visible Data:
- Accounting records
- Pictures
- Spreadsheets
Chronic alcohol abuse:
- Fatty accumulation of the liver
TLC:
- Not used in digital forensic investigation
Amphetamines:
- Antidepressants
Morphine:
- Abstracted from opium
THC:
- Marijuana
Decaying cadaver:
- Fluid found in vitreous humour
Cyanide:
- Interrupts the ETC
QUIZ 5
Liquids:
- Flash point and fire point
Blow fly larvae:
- Leave corpse at the end of the 3rd stage
- Adult blow flies dont play a significant role in estimation of time of death
- Cannot be linked directly back to remains
- 3rd instar = ferocious eater
- Infestation of living beings myiasis
- Can retain toxins throughout larval and puparial stages
Psychometric tests:
- Cannot be performed by forensic psychiatrists or family physicians
Backdraft:
- Burning after oxygen smoldering
Flash point:
- Temp at which a liquid gives off sufficient vapors to form an ignitable mixture
Conduction:
- Transfer of heat through direct contact
Low explosive:
- Gun powder
- Ammonium nitrate and fuel oil
Class characteristics:
- Writing attributes observed in a group of writers derived from a penmanship style learned
Spoliation:
- Intentional/negligent destruction of evidence
Albert Osborn:
- Field of questioned documents
Sequence of insects:
- Not affected by type of insects invading first
Forensic document examiners:
- Employed by govt agencies and private organizations
Fraudulent writing:
- Tracings
- Normal hand forgeries
- Freehand simulations
Midterm 1
1. Indicator of time of death: rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis
2. Mechanism of death: biochemical and physiological abnormalities
3. T-shaped incision during autopsy: inframammary incision
4. Forensic serology: examination of body fluids
5. Carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin to disrupt oxygen transport
6. Biotaphonomy: study of remains in regards to their decomposition and destruction
