Name ______

FORENSICS UNIT 1 STUDY GUIDE – EVIDENCE AND CRIME SCENE ANALYSIS

The following topics are covered in unit 1. Topics in italics are emphasized. Textbook sections are shown in parenthesis. Students should be able to…

-  Define forensic science (Chapter 1)

-  Explain the difficulties with eyewitness evidence and testimony (Chapter 1)

-  Explain proper steps and techniques for analyzing a crime scene (Chapter 2)

-  Distinguish among various types of evidence, including: (Chapter 2 & teacher handouts)

o  Direct and Circumstantial

o  Class and Individual

o  Physical and Biological

o  Trace

o  Reconstructive and Associative

-  Apply the concept of Locard’s Exchange Principle to a crime scene (Chapter 2)

-  Explain how evidence is labeled and know the reasons why (Chapter 2)

-  Evaluate real evidence samples to determine type (class vs individual) (lab)

-  Know all definitions

-  Use examples given in text and handouts to help you understand

-  Use practice questions at the back of each chapter in the text

Unit 1 Review Questions:

1) Define forensic science:

2) Name 3 factors that can cause errors in eyewitness testimony.

3) Explain what the “Innocence Project” is / what it does.

4) Name 2 actions taken by police officers (not forensic scientists) at a crime scene.

5) Name 3 things done by forensic scientists at a crime scene.

6) Explain Locard’s Exchange Principle. Give 3 examples of how it could apply at a crime scene.

7) Define:

a) “reconstructive evidence”:

b) “associative evidence”:

c) “trace evidence”:

d) “CSI effect”:

8) Classify the following examples of evidence by types:

Evidence / Class, Individual, or non-match and WHY? / Physical or Biological? / Reconstructive, Associative, or BOTH?
Blood spatter is found in various places on the floor in a room. A DNA test is done on it.
3 shell cases from bullets are found at the door of a house. They are the same type of bullet but have no unique markings.
Hairs from a suspect and a car seat are the same color and thickness.
Fingerprints from a suspect are found on the door of a bank vault.
A white powder on the suspect is found to be flour. White powder at the crime scene is found to be cocaine.

9) Explain the importance of proper packaging/labeling of evidence and what is meant by “chain of custody”: