Introduction to Criminalistics
Name ____________________
1. Define Criminalist:
crim·i·nal·ist
(kr m -n -l st)
n.
A specialist in the collection and examination of the physical evidence of crime.
2. Define Criminalistics:
crim·i·nal·is·tics
ˌkrɪmənlˈɪstɪksShow Spelled [krim-uh-nl-is-tiks] Show IPA
( used with a singular verb )
1.
the scientific study and evaluation of physical evidence in the commission of crimes.
2.
the science dealing with the detection of crime and the apprehension of criminals.
noun
3. When was the first crime laboratory established? By who? What year?
One of the first crime laboratories was established in 1910 in Lyon, France, by Edmond Locard, a physician.
Locard helped work out scientific methods to investigate crimes
The Importance of Crime Labs
4. Compare and contrast the FBI crime lab and ATF crime lab: (2 similarities and 2 differences)
FBI crime lab:
4 sections: (1) Scientific analysis (DNA, Firearms-toolmarks, Hairs
and Fibers, Materials Analysis, Chemistry and Toxicology, Questioned
Documents; (2) Special Projects (film, photography, composites, art,
computer design); (3) Fingerprinting (some 200 million records); (4)
Investigative Operations and Support (grew out of Questioned
Documents unit and includes lie detection of various sorts). The FBI
lab only handles violent crime, works exclusively for the prosecution,
and is considered the world's largest lab.
ATF crime lab:
Handles (1) Explosives, bombs, arsons (and does it well); (2) Trace
evidence and deciphering firearms ownership and usage; (3) Disaster
response teams (kind of like FEMA); (4) Field support; and (5) some
Gang intelligence record keeping. ATF labs are typically very hightech and have always been accredited.
5. What are the four major division of any crime lab?
It's typical for a Crime Lab to have 4 divisions under a Director's Office:
(1) a section dealing with anything pertaining to fluids, this being called a Serology Division;
(2) a section dealing with unknown substances, drugs, or poisons, this being called a Chemistry or
Toxicology Division;
(3) a section dealing with anything so small, like hairs or fibers, that they need to be looked at under a
microscope, this being called a Trace Evidence, Biology, or Microscopy Division; and
(4) a section dealing with guns, weapons, instrumentation, or whatever, this being called a Ballistics,
Firearms, or Fingerprinting (Dusting and Lifting) Division (where Interns usually work).
6. Define the following:
a. Serology : STUDY of blood and other body fluids
b. Toxicology: STUDY of the nature, effects and detections of poisons
and the treatment of poisoning
c. Trace Evidence: STUDY of hair, fibers and soil etc. Any substance transferred and left behind
after direct contact with an object.
d. Ballistics: The science of projectiles and firearms
7. How many crime laboratories are there in the United States? 400
What agencies are they most affiliated with? Federal, county, state and municipal
How do they determine where a new crime lab should be located? In areas with a dense population
The Problems of Crime labs
Name ___________________
8. What are the 9 steps that fall under the CHAIN of CUSTODY:
discovered (police or criminalist),
collected (police, crime scene technician, or criminalist),
packaged,
labeled,
transported (police supervisor or criminalist).
logged in and assigned an identification number,
placed in storage,
kept from intermingling with other evidence,
and analyzed (criminalist, crime lab technician, or forensic scientist).
9. When evidence is visually inspected and properly documented, what are the three ways this is done?
Often, it will be photographed, weighed, and sketched
10. When evidence is constantly being transported what are some of the concerns?
destruction, mishandling, and contamination.
11. INTEGRITY is defined as:
1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility.
2. : an unimpaired condition : soundness.
3. : the quality or state of being complete ...
12. What is the difference between quality control and quality assurance?
Quality control, or QC for short, is a process by which entities review the quality ...
whereas quality assurance attempts to improve and stabilize production
13. Define the following
a. Tampering To interfere in a harmful manner
b. Contamination To make impure or unclean by contact or mixture
c. Substitution One that takes the place of another; a replacement:
The Basics of Physical Evidence
Name ______________________
14. In homicide and sexual assault cases, physical evidence is the
is the number one determinant of guilt or innocence
15. List the 4 types of evidence and an explanation of each.

Testimonial -- this is the kind of evidence that comes to court through witnesses speaking under
oath or affirmation. They could be testifying about something they saw (eyewitnesses), something
they heard (hearsay witnesses), or something they know (character, habit, or custom witnesses)

Physical -- these are tangible objects that are real (sometimes said to speak for themselves
because they can be taken into the jury room), direct (no preliminary facts needed), and not
circumstantial (do not require an inference to be made), although circumstantial evidence is
sometimes offered and strengthened by expert testimony. Examples of physical evidence would
include the gun used to commit the crime, trace particles found at the crime scene, property
recovered, fingerprints, shoeprints, handwriting, etc.

Documentary -- this is usually any kind of writing, sound or video recording. It may be the
transcript of a telephone intercept. Authentication of the evidence is usually required along with
expert testimony at times.

Demonstrative -- these are types of real evidence used to illustrate, demonstrate, or recreate a
tangible thing; for example, a cardboard model mockup of the crime scene or other constructedto-scale models. The purpose of this stuff to replace timely, expensive, and possibly prejudicial
jury trips to the crime scene.
Concepts and Principles of Physical Evidence
16. Given the example, name the type of minutia mentioned:
a. Scratch marks or striations.
b. paint, hair, & grease chemical composition.
d. Glass fragments or morphology.
17. The three simplest devices used in observing minute details are lights, camera, and microscope.
18. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative information?
Qualitative : refers to specific qualities that an object or person possesses. A quality is either a
property or an attribute that an object possesses. It is used to describe what the object is like. A
quality is subjective and cannot be definitively measured.
Quantitative : refers to the specific quantity associated with an object or person. A quantity is
something that can be counted or measured. It refers with the amount or the magnitude of the
object being described. A quantity can be definitively measured, or quantified.
19. What is the difference between organic and inorganic substances?
Organic- compound containing a minimum of carbon and hydrogen in its composition.
Inorganic- any compound containing other elements, may contain carbon or hydrogen but not
together.
20. Why is it important to have a standard or control for each piece of evidence?
Reliability and integrity are enhanced if the examiner has conducted tests on standards using controls.
Standards consist of simultaneous tests done on items taken from the "background" or nearby the crime
scene (control sample), items similar to one the suspect used, such as test firings of a similar weapon
(standard sample), or items used for calibration purposes kept in stock at the lab (reference sample).