CONCEPTS

Holy trinity for solving crimes = physical evidence, witnesses,

and confessions
Most important concept in criminalistics is identification which
Paul Kirk called individualization. Identification produces certain
interpretation, without a shadow of a doubt this is what occurred.
Individual characteristics = when a number of details are put
together so they constitute a class of one they establish an
identity. If there are doubtless similarities between a suspect and
a piece of evidence, the expert can say: Without a doubt, that
identity has been individualized.
Identity = set of characteristics by which a thing is recognizable
or known, a pattern occurs, can be used to eliminate suspects
It is important to distinguish identity, match, class, and individual
characteristics.
Class characteristics alone do not allow matches with a single
suspect
Matches for evidence with individual characteristics do not allow
pinpointing a particular suspect because matches at the
individual level are called similarities (in theory there is no such
thing as a perfect match - fingerprint)
Reliability and integrity enhance when the examiner has
conducted tests on standards using controls. A standard is the
opposite of exemplar. Exemplar always comes from a suspect.
No one uses the term (true) match because the repetition of the
word match allows different disciplines to set their own
standards.
Crime Labs
- FBI 4 sections: Scientific Analysis (DNA, firearms, hairs,
fibers, material analysis, chemistry, toxicology), Questioned
Documents or Special Projects (film, photography, composites,
art, computer design), Fingerprinting (200 million records),
Investigative Operations and Support (grew out of the
Questioned Documents unit and includes detection of various
sorts) FBI lab handles violent crime and works exclusively for
prosecution and is considered the worlds largest lab

ATF handles explosives, bombs, arsons Trace Evidence and

deciphering firearms ownership and usage
For criminalists to keep up with the high standard the field needs
blind and known tests are administered given evidence as if it
was any other case but it really is to test ones abilities, the
American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) and American Academy
of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) also help with keeping criminalists
certified