| Term Definition | the jury who ultimately determines the significance of physical evidence in a trial? | product rule multiplying together the frequencies of independently occurring genetic markers to obtain an overall frequency of occurrence for a genetic profile | liter basic unit for volume |
|---|
Who ultimately determines the significance of physical evidence at trial?
| Term Definition | the jury who ultimately determines the significance of physical evidence in a trial? | product rule multiplying together the frequencies of independently occurring genetic markers to obtain an overall frequency of occurrence for a genetic profile | liter basic unit for volume |
|---|
What is the process of determining a substance’s physical or chemical identity?
The process of determining a substance’s physical or chemical identity.
When a forensic analyst determines the chemical composition?
| Question Answer | when a forensic analyst determines the chemical composition of preparations that may contain illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine, or barbiturates, this is an example of identification |
|---|
When was physical evidence first used in court?
1784
The first documented case of physical matching occurs when an Englishman is convicted of murder because the torn edge of a wad of newspaper in a pistol matches a piece remaining in his pocket.
Who ultimately determines the outcome of a trial?
In short, the jurors determine the facts and reach a verdict, within the guidelines of the law as determined by
the judge
. Many states allow the lawyers to request that certain instructions be given, but the judge makes the final decisions about them.
What type of evidence must be packaged separately from other evidence?
Always
package tubes of blood
separately from any other evidence items in a crushproof container. Evidence that is wet or that may contain body fluids (blood, semen, etc.) must be air-dried completely. Such items should be packaged in paper bags/boxes.
What is the product rule in evidence?
The product rule states that
one must first determine the probability of each characteristic occurring separately, then multiply together the frequencies of all independently occurring characteristics
. The result is the overall frequency of occurrence for that particular combination of characteristics.
What does class evidence mean?
Class Characteristics are
properties of physical evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single source
. … Examples of class evidence include blood type, fibers, and paint.
What database includes more than eight thousand different sole patterns from more than three hundred manufacturers of shoes?
The database that includes more than 300 manufacturers of shoes with more than 8,000 different sole patterns is the:
a. PDQ
.
Which has more probative value?
Fingerprints
are considered to have high probative value because they can belong to only one person. Class evidence does not generally prove a fact, except in cases where it exonerates or eliminates individuals.
What is the purpose of recognizing physical evidence?
What is the purpose of physical evidence? Physical evidence aids in the solution of a case, provides an element of the crime, such as fear or force, and
proves a theory in the case
. Physical evidence will either prove or disprove statements of what may or may not have happened.
Who is known as the father of forensic toxicology?
Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila
(1787–1853), often called the “Father of Toxicology,” was the first great 19th-century exponent of forensic medicine. Orfila worked to make chemical analysis a routine part of forensic medicine, and made studies of asphyxiation, the decomposition of bodies, and exhumation.
When were fingerprints first used as evidence?
No two people have fingerprints that are exactly alike. In the late 19th century, techniques for fingerprint identification and classification were developed, and fingerprint evidence was first accepted in British courts in
1901
.
How reliable is fingerprint evidence?
Latent fingerprints, which are collected from crime scenes, have been
used as courtroom evidence for decades
. But there is little certainty that a set of fingerprints can reliably point to the right person, according to the report. Inaccurate findings can lead to false convictions.
Is the result of fingerprint examination is admissible in court as evidence?
Called upon to decide this point for the first time in the United States, Justice Carter, in an exhaustive opinion, held that fingerprint evidence, even though it may not be of independent strength,
is admissible with other evidence
, as a means of identification and as tending to make out a case.
