criminalistics
Evidence analysis field
Criminalistics is the application of scientific techniques to criminal investigation—the analysis of physical evidence like fingerprints, blood spatter, ballistics, and DNA.
Distinguished from criminology, which studies crime as a social phenomenon, criminalistics focuses on the forensic laboratory work that links suspects to crime scenes: The criminalistics unit matched fibers from the suspect's car to the victim's clothing.
Hereditary code molecule
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
- toxicologyScience of poisons
- serologyStudy of blood antibodies
microscopy · chromatography · spectroscopy · toolmarks · biometrics · genetics
Professional crime investigator
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- suspectsThinks someone's guilty
witnesses · alibis · testimony · deduction · profiling · reconstruction · leads · motive
Hints toward answers
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
- anomaliesDepartures from expected patterns
- indicatorsSigns that reveal status
- traceMinute remnant or pursue
comparison · identification · classification · documentation · photography · examination · interpretation · correlation
Recording unique digit patterns
DNA
Hereditary code molecule
- fingerprintsRidge patterns identifying individuals
- ballisticsProjectile motion science
- toxicologyScience of poisons
serology · microscopy · chromatography · spectroscopy · toolmarks · biometrics · genetics
detective
Professional crime investigator
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
suspects · witnesses · alibis · testimony · deduction · profiling · reconstruction · leads · motive · perpetrator
clues
Hints toward answers
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
- anomaliesDepartures from expected patterns
- indicatorsSigns that reveal status
trace · comparison · identification · classification · documentation · photography · examination · interpretation · correlation · matching
fingerprinting
Recording unique digit patterns
- forensicsDNA, DNA analysis, fingerprints, forensics, fingerprint
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
criminalisticseyewitness testimony
Evidence from direct observers
interrogation · detective work · testimonial evidence · witness interviews · hearsay
criminalisticscriminal defense
Advocacy for the accused
evidence tampering · obstruction of justice · evidence suppression · cover-up · spoliation
criminalisticsjunk science
Faulty claims dressed as research
pseudoscience · trial by ordeal · intuition · speculation · conjecture
crime, criminal, criminologist, criminology, criminalist, criminological, criminalists