OSAC Lexicon

A canine trained to locate and indicate items in question by means of detecting a trained odor/ human scent.

Data generated from an evidentiary sample and not from a reference sample.

Data derived from biological specimens of unknown source.

Biological sample recovered from a crime scene or collected from persons or objects associated with a crime.

part of the forensic process consisting of the recovery and analysis of items, and the interpretation of observations obtained from the analysis of items

Note 1 to entry: See Annex A for a flowchart of the forensic process.

The process of observing, searching, detecting, recording, prioritizing, collecting, analyzing, measuring, comparing, and/or interpreting.

The process of observing, searching, detecting, recording, prioritizing, collecting, analyzing, measuring, comparing, and/or interpreting.

part of the forensic toxicology process consisting of the analysis of specimen(s) and the interpretation of observations from the analysis

A photograph that is scalable and captures a sufficient level of detail for conducting a forensic footwear or tire examination.

choice of method(s) and sequence of methods for the examination 

Note 1 to entry: An examination strategy is based in part on relevant case questions and background information.
Note 2 to entry: An examination strategy can be applied to the examination of a scene, the examination of items or sequential multi-discipline examination of items.
 

An individual authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the forensic service provider by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports and/or providing testimony. Use of the term “examiner” in this document refers to a “competent friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee.”

An individual authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the forensic service provider by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports and/or providing testimony. Use of the term “examiner” in these documents refers to a “competent friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee.”

An individual who has successfully completed their FSP’s training program, and is authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the FSP by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports, and/or providing testimony. 

NOTE Use of the term “examiner” in these documents refers to a “friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee.”

An individual authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the FSP by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports and/or providing testimony. Use of the phrase examiner in these documents refers to a “competent friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee.”

An individual who has successfully completed their FSP’s training program, and is authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the FSP by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports and/or providing testimony. Use of the term “examiner” in these documents refers to a “friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee,” refer to those definitions for further clarification.

An individual who has successfully completed their FSP’s training program, and is authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the FSP by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports and/or providing testimony. Use of the term “examiner” in these documents refers to a “friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee.” Refer to those definitions for further clarification.

An individual authorized to conduct independent friction ridge examinations for the forensic service provider by observing and interpreting data, making decisions, forming conclusions and opinions, issuing reports and/or providing testimony. Use of the term “examiner” in these documents refers to a “competent friction ridge examiner” and not a “trainee.”

Although NIEM contains thousands of elements it does not contain everything needed inan XML exchange. It contains the most common building blocks. In addition,implementers can define, in other exchange schemas, user-defined elements from theimplementers domain.

Elevation of the energy levels of atoms, molecules, or ions to higher energy levels. (CIE S 017/E:2011 ILV)

The known footwear or tire exhibits differences in class characteristics or distinguishing characteristics that indicate the footwear or tire did not make the questioned impression and thus is not part of the pool of potential sources for the questioned impression.

A result that compared items did not originate from the same source, are not the same substance, or do not share the same composition or classification, based on an exclusionary difference.

Also referenced in ASB 097, Terminology Used for Forensic Footwear and Tire Evidence.

The determination that there are sufficient characteristics in disagreement, with no significant limitations, to support an opinion that two or more items did not originate from the same source.

A type of location search in which a scent match is not indicated by the canine thereby excluding an individual as the scent contributor.

A conclusion that eliminates an individual as a contributor of DNA obtained from an evidentiary sample based on the comparison of DNA data.

A difference in one or more characteristics between compared items that is sufficient to determine that the compared items did not originate from the same source, are not the same source, or do not share the same composition or classification. 

NOTE What is sufficient depends on the performance and limitations of the method used on the material in question.

a difference in one or more characteristics between compared items that is sufficient to determine that the compared items did not originate from the same source, are not the same source, or do not share the same composition or classification.

Also referenced in ANSI/ASTM E1732 Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Science
ANSI/ASTM E1732 Discussion—What is sufficient depends on the performance and limitations of the method used on the material in question.

Evidence that may be favorable to the accused, impeach the prosecution’s evidence, or mitigate the offense.

The friction ridge prints of an individual, associated with a known or claimed identity,and deliberately recorded electronically, by ink, or by another medium (also called 'known prints').

The deliberately recorded images or impressions from the friction ridge skin of an individual. 

NOTE Examples may include inked tenprints, inked palm prints, Livescan prints, powder and lift prints, casted/molded prints, or photographs of friction ridge skin.

The deliberately recorded images or impressions from the friction ridge skin of an individual. 

NOTE Examples may include, but are not limited to, inked tenprints, inked palm prints, Livescan prints, powder and lift prints, casted/molded prints, or photographs of friction ridge skin.

The deliberately recorded images or impressions from the friction ridge skin of an individual. NOTE Examples may include, but are not limited to, inked tenprints, inked palm prints, Livescan prints, powder and lift prints, casted/moulded prints, or photographs of friction ridge skin.

The deliberately recorded images or impressions from the friction ridge skin of an individual. NOTE Examples may include, but are not limited to, inked tenprints, inked palm prints, Livescan prints, powder and lift prints, casted/moulded prints, or photographs of friction ridge skin.

The deliberately recorded images or impressions from the friction ridge skin of an individual. 

NOTE Examples may include, but are not limited to, inked tenprints, inked palm prints, Livescan prints, powder and lift prints, casted/moulded prints, or photographs of friction ridge skin.

The deliberate recorded images or impressions from the friction ridge skin of an individual.

Samples of handwriting, printed text, paper, ink, etc., known (or purported) to have been produced by a particular individual, machine, or manufacturer.

Samples of handwriting, printed text, paper, ink, etc., known (or purported) to have been produced by a particular individual, machine, or manufacturer.

Circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to believe that relevant prompt action was necessary to prevent physical harm to persons or animals, the destruction of relevant evidence or some other consequence improperly frustrating legitimate law enforcement efforts.

Quantity defining an interval about a result of a measurement that may be expected to encompass a large fraction of the distribution of values that could reasonably be attributed to the measurand. DISCUSSION(1) The fraction may be regarded as the coverage probability or level of confidence of the interval. (2) To associate a specific level of confidence with the interval defined by the expanded uncertainty requires explicit or implicit assumptions regarding the probability distribution characterized by the measurement result and its combined standard uncertainty. The level of confidence that may be attributed to this interval can be known only to the extent to which such assumptions can be justified. (3) An expanded uncertainty U is calculated from a combined standard uncertainty uc and coverage factor k using: U =k X uc.

The number of distinct alignments expected by chance; the default sorting metric in BLAST search results.

Anyone testing any idea has a strong expectation that leads to an influence about the outcome.

A person displaying special skill and knowledge in a given area derived from training, education, or experience.

A software program or set of software programs that interprets the data generated from a DNA analysis instrument platform in accordance with laboratory defined quality assurance rules and accurately identifies the data that does and does not satisfy such rules.

The testimony made by a qualified person about a scientific, technical, or professional issue. An expert is often called upon to testify due to his/her familiarity with the subject or special training in the field.