What is forensic science?
the application of science to those criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system
Who was Alphonse Bertillion?
The Father of Criminal Indentification who created the first scientific personal identification system and developed the science of anthropometry
Who was Edmond Locard?
He believed that when a criminal came in contact with an object of person, a cross-transfer of evidence occurs (Locard’s Exchange Principle)
Who is Edgar Hoover?
He aimed to offer forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the country and he organized a national fingerprint file
ATF meaning
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
ATF
analyzes alcoholic beverages, weapons, explosive devices, and related evidence
U.S. Postal Inspection Service
criminal investigations related to the postal service
FBI meaning
Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI
maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world
DEA meaning
Drug Enforcement Administration
DEA
analysis of drugs seized in violation of federal laws
fingerprint experts
dactyloscopy (the study of fingerprints)
crime science photographers
photograph and record physical evidence at the crime scene
forensic pathologists
conducts forensic examination of the body via an autopsy
forensic psychologists
develops psychological profile of the criminal
forensic serologists
examine blood and other bodily fluids
forensic odontologist
examine teeth and makes cast of bite marks
ballistic experts
examines everything relating to firearms
forensic chemists
chemical analysis of physical evidence (glass, paint, soil, fiber, drugs, explosives)
forensic geologists
studies soil samples
forensic entomologists
studies insects and stages of bodily decompostion
forensic anthropologists
analyzes bones to determine a person’s height, weight, physical characteristics, sex, and race
forensic artists
draws the likeness of a person based solely on an eye witness description
forensic sculptors
reconstructs with modeling clay the appearance of the face from the structure of the skull
