OSAC Lexicon
The OSAC Lexicon is a compendium of forensic science terms and definitions. This terminology tool was created to help bring consistency and understanding to the way terms are used by the various forensic science. Use of the OSAC Lexicon does not replace the need to reference the original published source.
The terms and definitions in the OSAC Lexicon come from the published literature, including documentary standards and technical reports. It is continually updated with the latest work from OSAC units, as well as terms from newly published documentary standards and standards elevated to the OSAC Registry.
Gradually terms are evaluated and harmonized by the OSAC to a single term. This process results in an OSAC Preferred Term. An OSAC Preferred Term is a term, along with its definition, that has undergone review and evaluation by the FSSB Terminology Task Group and has been approved by the FSSB. The FSSB recommends that subcommittees use OSAC Preferred Terms when drafting standards.
The OSAC Lexicon should be the primary resource for terminology and used when drafting and editing forensic science standards and other OSAC work products.
Any work or interactions with the canine where the canine is attached to a lead.
Any work or interactions with the canine where the canine is attached to a lead.
Procedures performed to verify that the technology or technical procedure is working as expected.
A type of verification in which the subsequent examiner knows the identity of the other examiner(s) and has access to their decisions, conclusions or observed data used to support their conclusion.
A designated search area for the purpose of conducting canine team exercises.
Footwear and tire examiners are aware they are being tested.
Utilizing a canine in a boat to locate the odor of human decomposition in a body of water.
When used in training, operant conditioning involves teaching an animal to perform a response in order to obtain a reward or avoid displeasure.
System software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs.
a specific set of programs that run on a computer or other digital device and provides a software platform for the device to function and on which other programs can run.
Training conducted beyond the initial training of a discipline and designed to maintain a high level of competence or skill by ensuring the canine team's capability to perform desired tasks.
A test conducted (single- or double-blind) in an operational environment in which the canine team will be deployed or utilized.
A test conducted (single- or double-blind) in an operational environment in which the canine team will be deployed or utilized.
A test conducted (single- or double-blind) in an operational environment in which the canine team will be deployed or utilized.
A test conducted (single- or double-blind) in an operational environment in which the canine team will be deployed or utilized.
A test conducted (single- or double-blind) in an operational environment in which the canine team will be deployed or utilized.
A test conducted (single- or double-blind) in an operational environment in which the canine team will be deployed or utilized.
A process that attests to the successful completion of an examination of relevant skills for the canine team to be deployed on operations.
A person's years of training and experience related to mission specific objectives.
A test of the canine's olfactory ability to alert to target odor(s) in a controlled manner that the odor is readily available, but still visibly concealed from the canine and handler. Commonly, the baggage/parcels assessment is utilized for an operational odor recognition assessment.
Training conducted beyond the initial training of a discipline, designed to maintain a high level of competence or skill by ensuring the canine team's capability to perform desired tasks.
Training conducted beyond the initial training of a discipline, designed to maintain a high level of competence or skill by ensuring the team's capability to perform desired tasks.
Training conducted beyond the initial training of a discipline, designed to maintain a high level of competence or skill by ensuring the team's capability to perform desired tasks.
Training conducted beyond the initial training of a discipline and designed to maintain a high level of competence or skill by ensuring the canine team's capability to perform desired tasks.
See mission requirements.
See deployment.
View, judgment, belief - takes into consideration other information in addition to observations, data, calculations, and interpretations.=
Also referenced in ANSI/ASB 167 Standard for Reporting Results from Friction Ridge Examinations.
Height of the surface at position (x, y).
Organization responsible for recovering organs from donors.
A method of isolating DNA from cells involving phenol and other organic chemicals.
residues from the propellant and the priming mixture that are organic compounds.
The general location where a fire or explosion began. (See Point of Origin, or Area of Origin.)
the location of the applied sample or the starting point for the chromatographic development of the applied sample.
an accurate and complete replica of the primary image, irrespective of media.
Discussion—For film and analog video, the primary image is the original image.
in forensic audio, the first manifestation of sound in a recoverable stored format.
The document or other substrate with the handwriting, machine, or other markings that caused indentation(s) on a document(s) or other substrate beneath it (the recipient document).
The Organization of Scientific Area Committees is part of an initiative by NIST and the Department of Justice to strengthen forensic science in the US. The organization is a collaborative body of more than 500 forensic science practicioners and other experts. NIST established OSAC to support the development and promulgation of forensic science consensus documentary standards and guidelines, and to ensure that a sufficient scientific basis exists for each discipline. See the OSAC website.
Technique that uses skeletal measurements and statistical models to objectively compare size and shape relationships between elements.
Ordinate values within a dataset that received an erroneous signal during the measurement and nolonger represent the real surface. These often appear as spikes in the dataset. Detection methodsinclude local slope and neighboring height thresholding.
A term used to describe a specific pattern or arrangement of design elements on an outsoletypically associated with a manufacturer and having a name and/or style number.
Any current in excess of the rated current of equipment or the ampacity of a conductor; it may result from an overload (see short circuit or ground fault).
A fire fighting term involving the process of final extinguishment after the main body of the fire has been knocked down. All traces of fire must be extinguished at this time.
Operation of equipment in excess of normal, full-load rating or of a conductor in excess of rated ampacity that, where it persists for a sufficient length of time, would cause damage or dangerous overheating. A fault, such as a short circuit or ground fault, is not an overload.
oval-shaped, heavily-pigmented inclusions usually found in the hair cortex.
the combination of one compound or element with another that involves the loss of electrons from its atomic structure.
Discussion—Oxidation and reduction always occur simultaneously (redox reactions), and the substance that gains electrons is termed the oxidizing agent.
A substance, not necessarily containing oxygen, that causes oxidation.
compounds generally containing oxygen that react vigorously with fuel compounds (reductants) thereby increasing the energy of the deflagration of the primer.