Glossary

Abrasion – An injury causing superficial damage to the skin.

Accident Reconstruction – The re-creation of an accident scene using physical evidence or software.

Accuracy – The degree to which a measurement or calculation conforms to the actual value.

Accelerant – An agent used to initiate or increase the spread of fire. Typically a flammable liquid.

Algor Mortis – The post-mortem cooling of the body until ambient temperature is reached.

Anthropology – A branch of science relating to the study of humans. In a forensic context, this is typically used to refer to the study of skeletal remains.

Arches – A pattern found in fingerprint ridges.

Arson – The unlawful, intentional initiation of a fire at a building or other property.

Asphyxiation – Suffocation causing lack of oxygen, potentially leading to unconsciousness or death.

Autopsy – A medical examination of the body post-mortem, used to establish the cause of circumstances of the death of the individual.

Back Spatter – Blood directed backwards due to the force creating the blood spatter. For example, following the firing of a gun in close proximity to the victim.

Ballistics – The study of firearms and projectiles.

Bertillonage – Developed by Alphonse Bertillon, a method of identification based on an individual’s body measurements. This technique is not utilised anymore.

Blood Spatter – The impact of blood on a surface.

Blood Spatter Pattern Analysis – A field of study involving the analysis of blood spatter patterns in order to establish the circumstances before, during and after an incident involving blood occurred.

Bloodstain – The transfer of blood resulting from contact between blood and a surface.

Calibre – In relation to firearms, refers to the internal diameter of the gun barrel/the diameter of the bullet. Typically expressed in hundreds of an inch.

Cartridge Case – A cylindrical case which may hold the bullet/shot, propellant and primer.

Cast-Off Stain – A bloodstain caused when a bloodied object is moved with enough force to release/throw blood onto another nearby surface.

Cause of Death – An injury or disease leading to death. This is typically confirmed by a medical examiner/coroner.

Chain of Custody – A chronological record of all individuals who have possessed a particular item of evidence and any analysis relating to that evidence. Ensures evidence is not altered, damaged or lost.

Chromatogram – A visual representation of separated chemical compounds following chromatography.

Chromatography – An analytical technique used to separate mixtures of components based on their interactions with a stationary phase and a mobile phase.

CODIS – Combined DNA index system. The DNA database utilised in the United States.

Cold Case – Refers to an unsolved legal case which is still open but no longer involving an active investigation.

Composite Drawing – An artist impression of a suspect/victim produced from eyewitness testimony.

Contact Wound – An injury obtained due to contact between some form of weapon and skin.

Controlled Substance – A chemical/drug whose manufacture, possession and distribution is regulated by law, unless appropriate permissions/licences are held.

Coroner – A medical professional who deals with death investigations in which the cause of death is unknown and/or suspicious.

Crime Scene – An area, person or object from which evidence is obtained. This may be the actual scene of an incident or a related location.

Crime Scene Investigator – A person tasked with the documentation and processing of a crime scene.

Crime Scene Reconstruction – The use of physical and eyewitness evidence to reconstruct the sequence of events at a crime scene.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid – DNA. A molecule carrying genetic instructions within living organisms. In a forensic context, DNA can be utilised to confirm the donor of a bodily fluid.

Decomposition – The natural process of the breakdown of the body after death.

DNA Profiling – Process involving the creation of a DNA fingerprint from a biological sample that can be used for comparison between and identification of individuals.

Electrophoresis – A technique utilising an applied electrical charge to separate charged molecules through a support medium.

Entomology – In forensics, the study of insect evidence in relation to a crime. The presence of particular insect species can be used to assist in establishing time since death and location of an incident.

Expert Witness – An individual with specialist knowledge in a particular field that may be called upon to offer their expert opinion regarding a piece of evidence or situation.

Exsanguination – Cause of death due to loss of blood.

False Negative – A test result that indicates an analyte of interest is absent, when it is actually present.

False Positive – A test result that indicates an analyte of interest is present, when it is actually absent.

Fingerprint – A unique pattern caused by ridges on the fingers when they come into contact with a surface. May be used to compare and identify individuals.

Floater – A corpse found in water. The body has begun to float due to the build up of decomposition-related gases in the abdomen.

Gas Chromatography – An analytical technique used to separate chemical compounds based on their interaction with a gaseous mobile phase and a solid stationary phase.

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) – A quality system utilised in laboratories to ensure reproducibility, reliability, integrity and quality.

Graphology – The study of a person’s handwriting to determine characteristic traits. Not a validated method of analysis.

Grid Search – A crime scene search pattern in which the scene is divided into smaller areas to be individually searched.

Gunshot Residue – GSR. The residues propelled from a firearm when the weapon is fired. GSR may be found on the shooter, victim or nearby objects following a gunshot.

Hemastix – A presumptive test for blood.

Hypostasis – The pooling of blood at the lowest regions of the body after death. May be studied to determine the position of the body at the point of, or shortly after, death.

IBIS – Integrated Ballistics Information System. A firearm identification database used for the tracking of firearm-related information and comparison of projectiles.

Impression Evidence – Evidence left behind by an object causing an imprint in another object or surface. May include tire tracks, toolmarks or footprints.

Limit of Detection – The lowest amount of a substance that can be distinguished from the background (blank).

Maggots – The larvae of insects. These may be found at an incident scene, particularly in the presence of cadavers.

Mass Spectrometry – An analytical technique used in the identification of substances based on the mass-to-charge ratio of ions produced.

Odontology – In a forensic context, a branch of science involving the study of teeth and bite marks. May be used to assist in the identification of an individual, either for victim identification purposes or suspect identification purposes.

Palynology – In a forensic context, the study of pollens and spores that may be used to link individuals or objects to a location.

Pathologist – A medical professional who may be charged with determining the cause of death of an individual.

Polygraph – An instrument used to measure physiological processes such as blood pressure, heart rate, respiration and perspiration, often used to determine whether an individual is lying. Not a validated means of analysis.

Postmortem – Relating to after death.

Postmortem Interval – PMI. Refers to the time since death of an individual.

Putrefaction – One of the latter stages in the process of decomposition.

Reliability – The degree to which a measurement/experiment/calculation produces the same result on repeated trials.

Residue – Small amounts of matter than remain after the removal of a larger item.

Ridge Characteristics – The collection of patterns and features present in a fingerprint.

Rigor Mortis – The post-mortem stiffening of the body. To an degree, the extent of rigor mortis can be used to determine the time since death.

Serology – The study of biological materials.

Superglue Fuming – A technique used to develop latent fingerprints using the fumes of cyanoacrylate or a similar chemical.

Tape Lift – The use of adhesive tape to lift trace evidence from an object or crime scene.

Toxicology – An area of forensic science involving the analysis of body fluids or tissues to determine the presence of drugs or other chemicals.

Trace Evidence – Refers to evidence such as hair, fibres, pollen and soil. Small pieces of evidence that are easily transferable between people/objects/environment. Can be used to link an individual or object to a particular location.

Trajectory – The path of a fired projectile.

Validation – The process of conducting a series of experiments to confirm that a particular method is suitable for use in terms of repeatability, reliability, robustness, etc.

Whorls – A pattern found in fingerprints.