Glossary

American common law system

A body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents called stare decisis as established by the courts.

Amido Black

An amino acid staining dye method used in forensic investigations to detect fingerprints deposited with blood. Amido black stains the proteins in blood a blue-black color (C22H14N6Na2O9S2).

Angle-finder

A useful digital or mechanical tool used for measuring the vertical angle of a bullet defect.

Anoxia

The complete deprivation of oxygen to the brain.

Ardrox

A fluorescent spray that is designed for enhancing latent prints that have been developed with cyanoacrylate

Area of convergence (bloodstain)

The area containing the intersections generated by lines drawn through the long axes of individual stains that indicates in two dimensions the location of the blood source (SWGStain).

Area of convergence (shooting)

The two-dimension intersection of lines drawn by matching fracture lines in safety glass in a shooting incident.

Artery

Tubular branching muscular-walled vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the heart through the body to organs and tissues.

Asphyxia

The partial deprivation of oxygen to the body that may result in hypoxia.

Avulsive laceration

An injury where the impacting force strikes the skin at an angle causing the skin to slip or rip.

Back-spatter pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops that traveled in the opposite direction of the external force applied

Ballistics

The forensic study of bullets or other projectiles in flight (Hueske).

Baseline

The tape-measure line in diagramming starting at a fixed point and a known compass direction used as a bases for other intersecting measurements.

Basic Yellow 40

A fluorescent yellow dye stain used with an Alternate Light Source to visually enhance fingerprints developed by cyanoacrylate ester fuming.

Battery

The condition of a weapon when it is ready to fire (Hueske).

Bird’s Eye View

A form of diagram where the two-dimensional depiction of the crime scene is from above and looking down with a zoomed-out perspective.

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis is the interpretation of bloodstains found at a crime scene in order to understand or reconstruct the actions that caused the bloodshed.

Bluestar™

A very sensitive latent bloodstain reagent that produce an intense blue chemiluminescence.

Bolt-action

A firearm with a breech that is line with the bore and requires manual manipulation to load, cock, fire (typically the release of a firing pin) and extract a cartridge and cartridge case (Hueske).

Bore

The internal aspect of a barrel beyond the chamber (Hueske).

Breech

The opening in a firearm where cartridges are loaded into the chamber (Hueske).

Buccal swabs

A cotton or other applicator-tipped swab used to collect cells from the inside of a person's cheek for DNA confirmatory testing. The word "buccal" means "cheek" or "mouth" and is pronounced as “buckle.”

Bullet

The projectile component of a cartridge (Hueske).

Bullet defect

A suitable term for a bullet or pellet hole (Hueske).

Bullet jacket

The metallic outer skin of a bullet (Hueske).

Bullet wipe

A combination of grease and soot surrounding the margins of a bullet defect caused by the progression of a bullet (Hueske).

Caliber

The cross-sectional diameter of the interior of a barrel from land to land. This is also the cross-sectional diameter of a bullet (Hueske).

Cartridge

The complete components of a round of ammunition including a cartridge casing, primer, propellant, and bullet. A cartridge should never be defined as a “bullet” in your report (Hueske).

Cartridge case

The metal or paper container that holds the propellant, bullet, and primer (Hueske).

Casting

A process that uses a casting material like dental die stone to create a 3D model of an impression found at a crime scene.

Cast-off pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops released from an object due to its motion.

Center-fire cartridge

A cartridge that has a primer pocket in the center of the headstamp where a primer is seated (Hueske).

Cessation cast-off pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops released from an object due to its rapid deceleration.

Chamber

The cavity attached to the barrel that is constructed to fit a particular cartridge, into which is loaded in order for it to be fired. Revolvers will have multiple chambers (Hueske).

Chamber marks

The transferred striations, impressions, or indentations on a cartridge casing from the imperfections within the chamber walls. These marks are significant of individual characteristics (Hueske).

Clip

A device used to load ammunition into a magazine (Hueske).

Close contact shot

A shot fired with the muzzle of the firearm pressed against a target (Hueske).

Clinical photographs

Non-prejudicial photographs taken of wounds that show only the wound without blood, painful expressions, or any other image that will cause a sympathetic response by the judge, jury, or attorneys.

Close-up photographs

Photographs taken with the intent to provide detailed images of an item of evidence. The object will appear larger than normal size and centered in the frame. A scale is necessary for comparative purposes.

CODIS

An acronym for the Combined DNA Index System, which is a computer software program that operates local, state, and national databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene evidence, and missing persons (Bureau of Justice Statistics).

Compound fracture

A broken bone that protrudes from the skin.

Contusion

A contusion, also known as a bruise, is a type of tissue hematoma that occurs when small blood vessels under the skin burst and leak blood into the surrounding tissues.

Coomassie Blue

An enhancement chemical used to dye blood-contaminated fingerprints on porous or non-porous surfaces, which produce bright blue visible prints (C45H44N3NaO7S2).

Cyanoacrylate ester fuming

A chemical development method that uses esters from cyanoacrylate adhesives to detect latent fingerprints on non-porous surfaces.

Cylinder gas deposit

The deposition of soot on surfaces of a firearm where a gap exists between the cylinder and the barrel. This is most commonly associated with revolvers (Hueske).

Datum

The fixed point of the baseline where the tape measure begins at zero.

Diagramming

The process of creating a two-dimensional depiction of the crime scene using accurate measurements.

Dithiooxamide

A chemically specific chromophore test for the presence of copper (C2H4N2S2 ).

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that wrap around each other to form a double helix, which carries genetic information.

Dog dots

Circular and colorful self-adhesive stickers that are used in crime scene mapping to ensure that photographs are taken parallel to the film plane.

Double action

A firearm with a trigger mechanism that cocks and releases the hammer without the need for manual cocking (Hueske).

Double-barrel

Commonly, a shotgun with barrels arranged side-by-side or over-under

Drip trail

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the movement of a source of drip stains between two points (SWGStain).

Edge characteristic

A physical feature of the periphery of a bloodstain (SWGStain).

Ejection

The removal, whether manual or automatic, of the fired cartridge casing from the breech to facilitate a reload (Hueske).

Ejection pattern

A clustering of ejected fired cartridge cases that may assist in determining the direction a firearm was discharged from a given position (Hueske).

Ejector marks

Small marks left on the soft metal of a cartridge case or shot shell as it is being ejected from the breech (Hueske).

Evi-Vac System

A forensic vacuum cleaner that captures trace evidence in a sterile container.

External ballistics

Also called exterior ballistics, the forensic discipline associated with bullets upon leaving the barrel of a fired firearm (Hueske).

Exploded view diagram

A two-dimensional visual depiction of a crime scene where the ceiling and walls are connected but laid flat.

Expectoration pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood forced by airflow out of the nose, mouth, or a wound (SWGStain).

Exsanguination

A significant loss of blood from the body to no longer sustain life.

Firing pin

The mechanism that strikes a primer and causes a discharge of the cartridge (Hueske).

Firing pin impression

The three-dimensional impression left on the primer by the firing pin (Hueske).

First Responder

A person with specialized training and authority who is among the first to arrive at an incident or emergency.

Flow pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the movement of a volume of blood on a surface due to gravity or movement of the target (SWGStain).

Footwear impression

A detailed impression of a shoeprint either in two-dimension as a transfer or in three-dimension as a molded deposit in a soft material.

Forward spatter pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops that traveled in the same direction as the impact force (SWGStain).

Fractures

A complete or partial break in a bone.

Function testing

The process of testing a firearm to determine operability (Hueske).

Gassing

A felonious battery by the intentional placing, throwing, or projecting of human bodily fluids, excrement, or other bodily substances on correctional personnel.

Gas operated

A firearm that utilizes gas from the discharge of a cartridge to cycle additional cartridges into the breech and chamber (Hueske).

Gauge

In a shotgun, the gauge is the number of pellets or shot by size that equal to one pound (Hueske).

Grid pattern search

A search technique whereby large areas are reduced to smaller areas that can be easily searched by fewer people. This technique can also be used in smaller areas where it is necessary to locate and document minute trace evidence.

Grooves

The helical grooves in the interior of the barrel that prove stabilizing spin on a fired bullet (Hueske).

Gunshot Residue (GSR)

Residue associated with the primer and propellant upon firing (Hueske).

Hammer

The mechanism that delivers energy to the firing pin (Hueske).

Handgun

Any weapon that is designed to be held by hand without support (Hueske).

Hexagon (Bluestar) OBTI Immunochromatographic Rapid Test™

A two-part presumptive screening test to determine if a blood specimen is consistent with the human species.

Horizontal

Parallel to the plane of the horizon

Hungarian Red

An aqueous solution used to enhance fingerprint deposits in blood when used with an Alternate Light Source (between 520nm-560nm).

Impact spatter pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from an object striking liquid blood SWGStain).

Incised wounds

Also known as a cut or slash, is a clean, straight cut in the skin caused by a sharp object with a sharp edge or tip that leaves a wound that is generally longer than it is wide or deep.

Infrared Imaging

A photographic technology that captures images of the IR spectrum (750nm +/-) which is invisible to the human eye. It is useful to detect bodily fluids or GSR on dark colored fabrics.

Inmate manufactured improvised handheld weapon

A common object that has been altered by an inmate to increase its potential as a weapon, or the assembly of objects that can be used as weapon that is small enough to be held in a hand. A “shank” or “shiv” is a specific term used for a stabbing-type weapon.

Internal ballistics

The forensic science that deals with the firearm prior to the bullet exiting the barrel (Hueske).

International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts (IABPA)

Founded in 1983 be Professor Herbert MacDonell, an organization of forensic experts specializing in the science of bloodstain pattern analysis (iabpa.org).

International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI)

Formed in 1949 and chartered in 1951, an organization dedicated to support fire, arson, and explosive investigation professionals through leadership in education, training, professional development, certification, networking, advocacy, and the provision of resources (firearson.com).

International Association for Identification (IAI)

Founded in 1915 by Harry H. Caldwell of the Oakland Pollice Department in California, the IAI is the oldest and largest association for forensic practitioners, which also maintains certification programs in numerous forensic disciplines including bloodstain pattern analysis, crime scene investigations, and latent print examination, amongst others (theiai.org).

Indeterminate range

A shot fired from a distance that cannot be determined.

Intermediate range

A shot fired when the muzzle of the weapon is held away from the body at the time of discharge yet is sufficiently close to cause powder “tattooing” and stippling (Hueske)

Jugular vein

A paired venous structure that collects blood from the brain, superficial regions of the face, and neck, and delivers it to the right atrium of the heart. The jugular veins are not protected by bone or cartilage (NIH).

Keyholing

A bullet impact that resembles a keyhole the result of a bullet that tumbles or wobbles in flight (Hueske).

Laceration

A blunt-force injury produced by a shearing or crushing force, such as caused by a fist, a lock-in-a-sock, a broom handle, or an impact-type weapon.

Langer’s lines

Also called cleavage lines, Langer’s lines were first described by Karl Langer in 1861 and are skin tension lines.

Latent

Invisible to the human eye.

Leucomalachite Green (LMG)

A presumptive test for blood that can also be used to visually enhance blood prints. The reaction to blood will produce a greenish-blue result. LMG is a known carcinogen and therefore personal protective equipment must be used.

Leuco-Crystal Violet (LCV)

Also known as Aqueous LCV, a reduced form of gentian violet, it is a highly sensitive formula to visually enhance blood prints. The reaction to blood will produce a vibrant violet result.

Lever action

A firearm that uses a lever to open, close, or cycle cartridges into the breech (Hueske).

Ligature

In forensic pathology, a device used to externally constrict the throat causing the deprivation of oxygen.

Ligature marks

Contusions on the neck created by a ligature.

Ligature strangulation

The act of strangulation with the use of a cord, rope, wire, or other cord-like device.

Lividity

The settling of the blood in the lower portions of the body dependent to gravity after death resulting in a reddish-purple discoloration of the skin.

Long gun

A firearm designed to be supported by the shoulder (Hueske).

Magazine

The internal or detachable box that contains a supply of ammunition that is fed into the chamber of a firearm (Hueske).

Manual strangulation

The external constriction of the throat using the hands, fingers, arms, or other articulable body part resulting in a deprivation of oxygen.

Mapping

A process of identifying, measuring, and documenting important items of evidence in a crime scene

Microcrystalline drug test kits

An empirical presumptive test for drugs in which there is a chemical reaction between a narcotic or controlled substance and a reagent that yields a crystal formation that can be observed as a color change.

Mid-Range photography

Also known as evidence-establishing photographs, mid-range or medium view photographs record the position of items of evidence in relation to other items of evidence and their position within the crime scene.

Mist pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood reduced to a spray of micro-drops as a result of the force applied (SWGStain).

Molded

Also known as a plastic impression, a molded impression is an impression deposited in wax, mud, dirt, or any soft, rubbery surface.

Mutual Aid

An agreement between two or more law enforcement or criminal justice entities to provide support regardless of jurisdiction.

Muzzle

The open end of the barrel (Hueske).

Muzzle blast

The explosive shockwave at the muzzle as the result of combustion of propellants after discharge (Hueske).

Muzzle imprint

An abrasion in the skin resembling the muzzle of a firearm following a close or near contact shot (Hueske).

Muzzle velocity

The speed of a bullet at the moment of exiting the barrel (Hueske).

N-95 mask

A respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles (FDA).

Near contact shot

A shot fired from a firearm where the muzzle of the firearm is not firmly pressed against the target but exhibits a small gap between the muzzle and the target (Hueske).

NIBIN

The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms (ATF).

Ninhydrin

A chemical reagent used to process ridge print impressions on porous materials. Ninhydrin reacts with amino acids, which produces a deep purple impression called Ruhemann’s purple.

Oblique

Held at a slant or angle.

Overall photographs

Also known as scene establishing photographs, overall or over-view photographs document the entirety of the crime scene, its location, and boundaries.

Parallel photographs

Photographs taken with the lens parallel to the evidence in an effort to reduce or eliminate distortion.

Patent

Impression evidence that can be seen with the human eye without the need of enhancements.

Pellet

Small round shot used in shotgun shells (Hueske).

Penetration

A bullet that enters a target but remains within the last substrate it impacted (Hueske).

Perforation

A bullet that remains within the last substrate it impacts (Hueske).

Perspective photographs

Crime scene photographs taken with the photographer standing at full height (natural perspective) or at the same height of the person who did the action and with the camera lens set to mimic what the human eye may see.

Phenolphthalein

A presumptive test for the presence of blood. It reacts to the heme molecule and produces a bright pink positive result.

Pinch-point

The first impact point of a ricochet (Hueske).

Point of origin (bloodstain)

Also referred to by area of origin, the three-dimensional location from which spatter originated.

Point of origin (fire)

A place where a fire first started.

Pooled blood

A bloodstain pattern resulting from an accumulation of liquid blood on a surface (SWGStain).

Powder stippling

Powder particles the result of the discharge of a cartridge that impact the skin causing small abrasions that are imbedded into the skin (also known as tattooing) (Hueske).

Prejudicial photographs

Photographs that may play on the emotions of the judge or jury and therefore, outweigh their probative value.

Primer

A cup containing a shock-sensitive propellant containing lead, antimony, and barium, that is seated in the base of a cartridge when struck produces the ignition process of the cartridge propellant (Hueske).

Projected bloodstain pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the ejection of a volume of blood under pressure.

Propellant

The combustible unit of a cartridge or shotgun shell (Hueske).

Revolver

A firearm that uses a rotating cylinder to hold and fire cartridges (Hueske).

Rhodamine 6G

A fluorescing dye used to enhance latent fingerprints developed on non-porous surfaces with cyanoacrylate ester fuming and when used with a laser or Alternate Light Source.

Ricochet

A bullet that has altered its original trajectory by skipping, bouncing, or deflecting off of a surface but maintains its integrity (Hueske).

Ricochet crease

An indentation or furrow in a surface caused by a bullet striking a surface but being deflected without penetration of perforation (Hueske).

Rifling

Spiral grooves cut into the interior of a barrel consisting of lands and grooves that provide spin for the bullet as it travels the length of the barrel.

Rifling twist

The direction of the rotation of rifling (right or left) in which the grooves are cut (Hueske).

Rigor mortis

The stiffening of joints and muscles by the depletion of adenosine triphosphate following death.

Rough sketch

A rough, hand-drawn sketch of a crime scene noting important objects and items of evidence.

Safety glass

Glass that uses layers of transparent coatings to prevent glass from shattering into shards with sharp edges and is commonly found on the doors of automobiles.

Same plane photographs

A photographic technique where a scale is placed on the same plane as the object being photographed in order to produce examination quality photographs minimizing distortions.

Scene perimeter

The designated demarcation of the scene of a crime separated from its boundaries.

Semi-automatic

A firearm that automatically fires, ejects and loads cartridges in its chamber after every shot fired and with each pulling of a trigger (Hueske).

Shell casing

A suitable term for a cartridge casing (Hueske).

Shotgun shell

A rimmed, cylindrical (straight-walled) cartridge used in shotguns (Hueske).

Skin Print Black™

A magnetic carbon-free powder developed by Doje’s Forensic Supplies for developing fingerprints on skin.

Slug

A single projectile loaded into a shotgun shell (Hueske).

Small Particle Reagent

An aqueous development medium used for latent ridge print impressions deposited on wet, non-porous surfaces including glass, plastic, metals, and adhesive sides of tape.

Sodium Rhodizonate

A presumptive test used to detect the presence of lead.

Spatter

A bloodstain resulting from a blood drop dispersed through the air due to an external force applied to a source of liquid blood (SWGStain).

Stab wounds

A penetrating trauma to the skin that results from a knife or a similar pointed object with an injury that is deeper than it is wide.

Sticky-Side tape formula

An aqueous solution used for developing ridge print impressions on the adhesive side of tape.

Strangulation

The obstruction of blood vessels and airflow in the neck by constriction of the throat that may result in asphyxia.

Swipe bloodstain pattern

A bloodstain pattern resulting from the transfer of blood from a blood-bearing surface onto another surface, with characteristics that indicate relative motion between the two surfaces.

Tempered glass

A type of safety glass produced by controlled thermal or chemical treatments to increase its strength and is commonly used in vehicles (Hueske).

Trace evidence

Any type of evidence that is so small that it can be easily transferred or exchanged between two surfaces without being noticed and may need magnification or other enhancement techniques to locate and document.

Trajectory

The flight path of a bullet or shot after leaving the barrel (Hueske).

Trajectory rod

A plastic, metal, wood, or fiberglass rod inserted into a bullet defect presenting two points of reference and used to determine the vertical and horizontal angles of impact (Hueske).

Transfer bloodstain pattern

A bloodstain resulting from contact between a blood-bearing surface and another surface (SWGStain).

Transfer bloodstain impression

A bloodstain pattern resulting from contact between a blood-bearing surface and another surface leaving behind a distinct shape of the bloodstained object.

Triangulation diagramming

A measurement method that uses two or more permanent fixed positions forming a triangle in a crime scene to record the location of an item of evidence.

Unintentional discharge

The discharge of a firearm through human interaction with the trigger when the action was not intended.

‘V’ notch

In full or partial suspension hanging, the ligature may, upon finding a point of suspension, produce a mark on the neck that resembles an inverted ‘V’ around the neck.

‘V’ pattern

Also known as a classic ‘V’ burn pattern, a pattern produced by the fire burning up and away from the point of origin.

Vertical flight path

At right angles to the horizontal plane, the vertical flight path of a bullet will determine if the bullet was traveling upward or downward upon impact with a surface.

Void bloodstain pattern

An absence of blood from an otherwise continuous bloodstain pattern.

Wave castoff

As a drop of blood impacts a target at an angle, the direction of travel is determined by the “tail” or “cast off” caused by inertia.

Wipe bloodstain pattern

An absence of blood in an otherwise continuous bloodstain or bloodstain pattern.

Zero-edge protractor

A protractor with a flat edge that crime scene investigators use to determine the horizontal, and vertical, angle of impact (Hueske).

Zone of possibility

In shooting scene reconstruction, the zone of possibility is determination of the likely position of a shooter or shooters based on bullet defect analysis, trajectory analysis, shell casing ejection pattern analysis, and the understanding a firearm may not be in a fixed position (Hueske).