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.
A document that is similar in content and structure to a code or standard but that contains only nonmandatory provisions using the word 'should' to indicate recommendations in the body of the text.
process of repairing damaged media to allow the retrieval of data.
Document with observations, statements of results achieved, or evidence of activities performed.
A defined set of fields that contain data as defined in this standard.
The act of converting an acoustic voice signal directly from an individual into a storagemedia, perhaps through contemporaneous, intermediate (transient) signal types. Note:This definition is retained because of its entrenchment in natural language use.Consequently, a record (n) is not recorded, it is created. Transcoding is the term usedfor further processing of the voice signal and any digital or analog representation of thatsignal.
system used to ensure traceability and to identify, store, protect, retrieve, retain and dispose of record(s)
The act of creating a record contained in an ANSI/NIST-ITL transaction.
A record/log in the use of a trained canine team in an operational environment, as opposed to training records. A log constituting a piece of evidence about the past, especially an account of an act or occurrence kept in writing or some other permanent form, i.e., electronic format. (See deployment record or utilization record.)
Objective evidence of a condition, result, work performed, activity conducted, and/or quality of asystem or process for archival purposes.
chemical, term used in analytical and preparative chemistry to denote the fraction of the total quantity of a substance recoverable following a chemical procedure.
Over-writing of segments of a voice signal for the purpose of masking speech content ina way that does not disrupt the time record of the original recording.
Data derived from biological specimens of a known individual.
Data generated from a reference sample.
The assembly of data related to a specific identifiable human group comprising all the relevant information to enable dental age assessment.
A collection of reference material or sequences assembled for use in comparative analyses for purposes of taxonomic identification, individual source evaluation, population assignment, or mitotyping.
A reference measurement of a flat surface (e.g., mirror) which includes the errors and opticalaberrations of the measurement system. This data file can be stored and subtracted from allsubsequent measurements.
A sample of a population used in a method.
an ignitable liquid used for comparison with case data for classification purposes.
Discussion—Reference ignitable liquids can be obtained from a variety of sources, due to the large range of applications of ignitable liquids.
Material, sufficiently homogenous and stable with respect to one or more specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement.
Material, sufficiently homogenous and stable with reference to specified properties, which have been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement or in examination of nominal properties.
Biological specimens of known identity or data derived from them, or from published sources. Voucher specimens are a subset of reference material (see voucher specimen).
material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with respect to one or more specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement processj
j: Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM), International vocabulary of metrology - Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) (Sèvres, France: International Bureau of Weights and Measures [BIPM]- JCGM 200) available at https://www.bipm.org/en/publications/guides.
Material, sufficiently homogeneous and stable with reference to specified properties, which has been established to be fit for its intended use in a measurement or in examination of nominal properties.
Biological specimens of known identity or data derived from them, or from published sources. Voucher specimens are a subset of reference material (see voucher specimen).
Biological specimens of known identity or data derived from them.
Biological specimens, materials or substances of known identity and verified properties, or data derived from them.
Biological specimens, materials or substances of known identity and verified properties, or data derived from them.
material from a known source used for comparison purposes in a forensic process.
Discussion—(1) This includes biological material taken from a person (for example, hair, blood, saliva), and non-biological material (for example, carpet, paint, fabric). (2) A reference sample can be taken from an item to ensure the substrate has no adverse effect on the performance of the test. (3) A reference sample can be used to address the question of the source of an unknown sample, one would compare the unknown sample with a reference sample.
Biological material obtained from a known individual and collected for the purpose of comparison to evidentiary sample(s).
Biological material obtained from a known individual and collected for purposes of comparison to evidentiary samples.
Samples of known origin collected for purposes of comparison to samples of unknown origin.
Samples of known origin collected for purposes of comparison to samples of unknown origin.
A DNA sequence used as a reference to describe variants that are present in a sequence being analyzed.
Measurement standard that is used to calibrate or verify (working reference standard) measuring instruments or measuring systems.
A detailed investigation and analysis of a specific population to relate chronologic age to dental development and maturation.
the ratio of the velocity of light in a vacuum to the velocity of light in some medium.
A lack of response on the part of the canine, or a declination to accept instruction or direction.
in facial identification, (1) the enrollment of an identity in an application using a biometric system; (2) see image registration.
Medicolegal death investigator who has completed the requirements for Registry certification by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators or equivalent.
Checking to confirm that changes or new functionality does not unacceptably alter or terminate a desired functionality that behaved correctly before the change was implemented.
This refers to any consequence, positive or negative, of a response that increases the probability of that response. (See immediacy of consequences.)
fabric (scrim), glass filaments, or plastic filaments added to tape to impart stability and strength.
The rule denoting the number of responses, the interval of time, and/or the duration of the response that will be reinforced.
A return to flaming combustion after apparent but incomplete extinguishment.
The abundance of an ion produced in relation to the abundance of the base peak.
in facial identification, a measure of how often facial features or combinations thereof occur in a given population.
the estimate of the refractive index of a fiber in relation to the index of its surrounding medium.
A particular version of a configuration item that is made available for a specific purpose, for example, a test release.