OSAC Lexicon

The upper or lower concentration limit at a specified temperature and pressure of a flammable gas or a vapor of an ignitible liquid and air, expressed as a percentage of fuel by volume that can be ignited.

A liquid that has a closed-cup flash point that is below 37.8C (100F) and a maximum vapor pressure of 2068 mm Hg (40 psia) at 37.8C (100F). (See also 3.3.34, Combustible Liquid.)

The range of concentrations between the lower and upper flammable limits.

A fire that spreads by means of a flame front rapidly through a diffuse fuel, such as dust, gas, or the vapors of an ignitible liquid, without the production of damaging pressure.

The lowest temperature of a liquid, as determined by specific laboratory tests, at which the liquid gives off vapors at a sufficient rate to support a momentary flame across its surface.

Excess material from a molding process. (SWGDOC E04)

A transition phase in the development of a compartment fire in which surfaces exposed to thermal radiation reach ignition temperature more or less simultaneously and, given sufficient availability of oxygen, fire spreads rapidly throughout the space, resulting in full room involvement or total involvement of the compartment or enclosed space.

A fingerprint image resulting from the touching of a single finger to a livescan platen orpaper fingerprint card without any rolling motion. Also known as a single-finger plainimpression.

A form of relief printing like letterpress, but using a flexible rubber or resilient photopolymer relief plate(s).

A writing movement that is designed to be ornamental.

An increase in the density of the ink line caused by excess ink running back onto the previous portion of a stroke, occurring as the pen is lifted from the paper.

A process by which radiant flux of certain wavelengths is absorbed and reradiated nonthermally at other, usually longer, wavelengths. (ANSI/ASB Std 035)

Surface topography measurement method whereby the sharpness of the surface image (or anotherproperty of the reflected light at optimum focus) in an optical microscope is used to determine thesurface height at each position along the surface.

Various colored foils made of metals or other materials which are typically combined with embossing or debossing, carried on a plastic sheet, and transferred through a stamping or heated die process on to a substrate.

The subconscious impulse to work to obtain food.

related to methods (3.35), techniques and processes used for recovery (3.51), analysis (3.2), interpretation (3.30) and reporting of observations (3.36) and opinions (3.37), which can be used for law enforcement investigations or for legal proceedings

Numbers in the parenthesis refers to additional terms in the standard.

Also referenced in ANSI/ASB Standard 169 Standard for Clinical Veterinary Forensic Examination, ANSI/NIST-ITL 1-2011 Update:2015 Data Format for the Interchange of Fingerprint, Facial & Other Biometric Information. ANSI/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2011
 

The application of science to answer questions of interest to the legal system.

The application of specialized knowledge of the human skeleton and its cartilaginous structures, as well as archaeological methods, to assist with medicolegal death investigations.

Any environment where human remains and material associations, potentially relevant in a medicolegal setting, may be recovered, and where a forensic anthropology or forensic archaeology practitioner is requested to assist a jurisdictional authority.

The use of artistic techniques in a medicolegal context for creating composite images, age progressions, and facial approximations to aid in the identification of missing, wanted, or unidentified deceased individuals.

Autopsy authorized by law and typically performed under the jurisdiction of chief medicolegal officer for criminal justice, civil, and/or public health purposes.

An individual who provides an assessment of an individual's dental age based upon accepted methodology. Note: The term 'practitioner' will be used instead of 'Forensic Dental age assessment Practitioner' throughout this document as an abbreviated way to describe an individual who provides an assessment of an individual's dental age based upon accepted methodology.

The use of DNA technologies for the evaluation of biological evidence that may be involved in legal matters.

A forensic service provider who addresses inquiries that arise in matters where the authenticity, genuineness, or source of a document is questioned, and does not provide personality assessment, creation of a personality profile, or analysis, or judgment of a writer’s personality or character.

A forensic service provider who addresses inquiries that arise in matters where the authenticity, genuineness, or source of a document is questioned, and does not provide personality assessment, creation of a personality profile, or analysis, or judgment of a writer's personality or character.

Physician who is board-certified in forensic pathology by an accredited credentialing body; currently American Board of Pathology and American Osteopathic Board of Pathology.

Practice of medicine in which the principles of pathology are applied to problems of potential legal, public health, or public safety significance; a common function is the performance of autopsies to determine the cause and manner of death.

The act of producing an accurate depiction of a scene or physical evidence using photography for the purpose of an investigative or legal proceedings.

set of interrelated or interacting forensic activities

Note 1 to entry: The forensic process can include item handling and control, examination and reporting.
Note 2 to entry: See Annex A for a flowchart of the forensic process.

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

The application of scientific principles and techniques to matters of criminal justice especially as relating to the collection, examination, and analysis of physical evidence.

The application of scientific principles and techniques to matters of the law especially as relating to the collection, examination, and analysis of physical evidence.

An individual who (1) applies scientific or technical practices to the recognition, collection, analysis, or interpretation of evidence at issue in criminal, civil, or administrative investigations and proceedings, and (2) issues test results, provides reports, or provides interpretations, conclusions, or opinions through testimony with respect to such evidence.