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.
To confirm the truth or correctness of something.
Performing subsequent testing to ascertain if the results are concordant.
Independent examination by one or more examiners to ascertain if a decision, conclusion, or opinion is reproduced or is in conflict with the decision, conclusion, or opinion of another examiner.
NOTE 1 Verification may be implemented in multiple ways including blind verification, open verification, and consensus review. The general term verification is inclusive of these various types.
NOTE 2 Verification is a quality assurance measure for friction ridge examination.
NOTE 3 The use of the term “independent” indicates an autonomous examination but not necessarily one without knowledge of a prior decision, conclusion, or opinion.
Independent examination by one or more examiners to ascertain if a decision, conclusion, or opinion is reproduced or is in conflict with the decision, conclusion, or opinion of another examiner.
NOTE 1 Verification may be implemented in multiple ways including blind, open, and consensus. The general term verification is inclusive of these various types.
NOTE 2 Verification is a quality assurance measure for friction ridge examination.
NOTE 3 The use of the term “independent” indicates an autonomous examination but not necessarily one without knowledge of a prior decision, conclusion or opinion.
Independent examination by one or more examiners to ascertain if a decision, conclusion, or opinion is reproduced or is in conflict with the decision, conclusion, or opinion of another examiner.
NOTE 1 Verification may be implemented in multiple ways including blind, open, and consensus. The general term verification is inclusive of these various types.
NOTE 2 Verification is a quality assurance measure for friction ridge examination.
NOTE 3 The use of the term “independent” indicates an autono
Independent examination by one or more examiners to ascertain if a decision, conclusion, or opinion is reproduced or is in conflict with the decision, conclusion, or opinion of another examiner.
NOTE 1 Verification may be implemented in multiple ways including blind, open, and consensus. The general term verification is inclusive of these various types.
NOTE 2 Verification is a quality assurance measure for friction ridge examination.
NOTE 3 The use of the term “independent” indicates an autonomous examination but not necessarily one without knowledge of a prior decision, conclusion, or opinion.
Independent examination by one or more examiners to ascertain if a decision, conclusion, or opinion is reproduced or is in conflict with the decision, conclusion, or opinion of another examiner.
NOTE 1 Verification may be implemented in multiple ways including blind verification, open verification, and consensus review. The general term verification is inclusive of these various types.
NOTE 2 Verification is a quality assurance measure for friction ridge examination.
NOTE 3 The use of the term “independent” indicates an autonomous examination but not necessarily one without knowledge of a prior decision, conclusion, or opinion.
opinion is reproduced or is in conflict with the decision, conclusion, or opinion of another examiner.
NOTE 1 Verification may be implemented in multiple ways including blind verification, open verification, and consensus review. The general term verification is inclusive of these various types.
NOTE 2 Verification is a quality assurance measure for friction ridge examination.
NOTE 3 The use of the term “independent” indicates an autonomous examination but not necessarily one without knowledge of a prior decision, conclusion, or opinion.
Confirmation, by examination of evidence, that a product, process or service fulfills specified requirements.
Performing subsequent testing to ascertain if the results are concordant.
Any individual who carries out duties under the direction or authority of the veterinarian. Individuals performing these various duties may be technicians, other veterinarians, veterinary medical students, or law enforcement personnel.
A postmortem examination performed by a veterinarian for the documentation of legal cases.
A diagnostic procedure consisting of the dissection of a deceased animal by a veterinarian for the purpose of determining the cause of death. Synonyms include necropsy and autopsy.
the scientific examination, comparison, or evaluation of video in legal matters.
any process intended to improve the visual appearance of video sequences or specific features within video sequences.
The analysis of links, primarily in fraudulent documents.
the process of re-positioning individual frames such that a selected object or person will remain in the same location on the playback screen as the video is played.
Alleles that are not present in the allelic ladder, but have been previously reported or discovered during developmental validation of a particular chemistry. (GeneMapper a ID-X Software and Bin Overlap User Bulletinb,)
The association of homologous (i.e., left-right) elements based on similarities in morphology.
The digital, encoded file primarily containing the sounds of vocalizations of bothspeech and non-speech content, convertible to an acoustic signal replicating the original acoustic signal. A voice data file is extracted from an audio recording, but not all audiorecordings contain voice signals and not all voice data is speech. A physical medium,such as a phonograph record, contains a voice signal but is not a voice data file.
Use of tonal changes and volume to effectively communicate with the canine.
spoken message used to guide the user through a dialog with a voice response system
The examination of an expert witness in a court proceeding to assist the court in determining whether the expert has the necessary qualifications to testify about the subject-matter.
readily evaporated into the vapor state.
data on a live system or digital device that is lost after the device loses power.
the tendency of a solid or liquid material to pass into the vapor state at a given temperature.
The unit of electrical pressure (electromotive force) represented by the symbol 'E'; the difference in potential required to make a current of one ampere flow through a resistance of one ohm.
Biological specimen that is representative of its species in accordance with the relevant taxonomic authority and is therefore valid for comparative purposes. Voucher specimens are of known identity, and are curated with available associated geographic, field collection, and life history data.
Biological specimen that is representative of its species in accordance with the relevant taxonomic authority. Voucher specimens are of known identity, and are curated with available associated geographic, field collection and life history data.
Biological specimen that is typical of its species in accordance with the relevant taxonomic authority. Voucher specimens are of known identity, and are curated with geographic, field collection, and life history data.
World Wide Web Consortium. It is an international community that develops standardsfor web development.
in knitted fabrics, a column of successive loops in the length direction of the fabric; in woven fabrics, one of a series of raised portions or ribs lying warp-wise in the fabric.
the yarn running lengthwise in a woven fabric.
Discussion—Warp fibers in a scrim fabric run lengthwise in the machine direction of a reinforced tape.
the yarn running lengthwise in a woven fabric.
a slurry explosive that uses a crosslinking agent as the thickener.
Unit of power, or rate of work, equal to one joule per second, or the rate of work represented by a current of one ampere under the potential of one volt.
Waveform Audio File Format.
A specific implementation of the RIFF file format for audio data.
an electronic device that provides a graphic display of a video signal.
the evaporation of a liquid.
the yarn running from selvage to selvage at right angles to the warp.
Discussion—Weft yarns run crosswise, perpendicular to the warp direction in the scrim fabric of reinforced tape. Also known as fill yarns.
in a woven fabric, the yarn running from selvage to selvage at right angles to the warp.
The treatment that a canine receives providing for its physical and mental needs.
The state of the canine (positive or negative) as a function of his/her ability to cope with its environment (internal or external).