Glossary

A post-mortem examination of a body to determine the cause, mechanism, and manner of death.

The study of projectiles in motion, applied in forensic contexts to match ammunition and firearms.

The chronological documentation of the seizure, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of evidence.

A forensic technique used to identify individuals based on characteristics of their DNA.

The study of insects; forensic entomology uses insect evidence to determine post-mortem intervals and other facts.

The process of comparing friction ridge detail on fingers to establish identity.

An analytical technique used to separate and identify volatile compounds in forensic samples.

The killing of one human being by another; classified as murder, manslaughter, or justifiable.

Evidence produced when one object is pressed against another, leaving a mark, such as tyre tracks or tool marks.

A chemical that produces a blue bioluminescent glow when it contacts blood, used to detect blood traces at crime scenes.

An analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to identify compounds.

Laboratory procedures used to identify and quantify controlled substances.

Forensic dentistry; the application of dental science to legal matters, including victim identification.

The time elapsed between death and discovery of a body, estimated through various biological indicators.

The examination of documents to detect alterations, forgeries, or to establish authorship.

The stiffening of muscles after death, used as an early indicator of post-mortem interval.

The study of blood and body fluids; in forensics, used to identify and characterise blood stains.

The study of poisons, their effects, and detection; forensic toxicology analyses biological specimens for drugs and poisons.

The use of UV light to visualise trace evidence, forgeries, and biological fluids invisible to the naked eye.

A preliminary hearing to determine the admissibility of expert witness testimony or evidence.