CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Accelerant
Flammable materials used by arsonist to accelerate the burning of property or to increase
the amount of destruction.
2. Accessory
A person who contribute before, during, or after an unlawful act in a subordinate or
secondary capacity.
3. Acquittal
A setting free or deliverance from a charge by verdict.
4. Adjudication
A formal judicial decision that ends a proceeding by a judgment of conviction, acquittal,
or dismissal.
5. Admissible evidence
Evidence deemed material and relevant so as to be allowed in a judicial proceeding.
6. Affidavit
A written statement made under oath or an attachment to a warrant where in the police
detail probable cause.
7. Affinity scams
Bunco frauds that target a specific ethnic or racial group to entice victims to invest in
illegal investment schemes.
8. Aggravated assault
An attack by one person on another with the purpose of inflicting severe bodily injury;
usually involving a weapon or some other means likely to cause death or serious bodily
harm.
9. Alias
A false name used to conceal true identity.
10. Alibi
A statement or defense attempting to prove that a subject suspected of a crime could not
have committed the offence.
11. Alligatoring
A patterning or deep cracking on the surface of a material that has been burned, indicativ
of the point of ignition of the fire.
12. Amber Alert
A notification system that uses the media, highway signs, and other means to inform the
public of details pertaining to the abduction of a juvenile by a stranger suspect.
13. Amphetamines
Drug compounds that have a stimulating effect on the central nervous system.
14. Anabolic steroids
Drug compounds related to the hormone testosterone that stimulate muscle growth and
the development of male sex characteristics.
15. Anoacrylate fuming
A method of developing latent fingerprints in which fumes of cyanoacrylate esther are
discharged from certain types of glues.
16. Anthropometry
The system of criminal identification development by Alphonse Burlington based on 11
measurement of the human frame.
17. Appeal
A request that a case be removed from a lower court to a higher court for the purpose of
judicial review.
18. Arch fingerprint
A fingerprint pattern in which ridges enter from one side, rise in the center, and flow out
the other side.
19. Arrest
To take a person into custody, by authority of law, for the purpose of answering legal
charges.
20. Arson
The willful and malicious intentional act of setting fire to property for some improper and
illegal motive.
21. Artificial intelligence
A computer program that manipulates data and infers conclusions.
22. Aspermia
A lack of spermatozoa in semen.
23. Asphyxia
Death caused by a sudden or gradual cessation of oxygen intake.
24. Assignment by caseload
Assigning investigative duties without consideration of the nature of a crime; a method
that assumes all officers to be generalists equally competent to investigate any offence.
25. Assignment by priority
A case assignment method in which investigations are signed by their perceived
important.
26. Atomic absorption spectroscopy
A laboratory technique used to detect elements based on the absorption of light by
vaporized atoms.
27. Auto chopping
The dismantling of the major body components of a vehicle for profit.
28. Automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS)
Computerized system that compare fingerprints to a local, state, or federal fingerprint
database to produce identification.
29. Autopsy
A post mortem Surgical examination to determine the cause of death.
30. Bailiff
An officer of the court who aids in the judicial proceeding.
31. Ballistic identification system
Computerized program that compares and catalogs bullets and shell casings.
32. Ballistics
 The science dealing with the flight behavior of various types of projectiles.
33. Bank examiner swindle
A type of fraud in which a victim is deceived into withdrawing money under the pretense
of aiding a bank investigation.
34. Barbiturates
Drug compounds that have a depressive or sedative effect on the central nervous system.
35. Benzidine color reaction test
A test that indicates the presence of blood.
36. Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments of the US Constitution, which through judicial interpretation
guide the action of criminal investigators.
37. Biometrics
Any form of identification or technology development linked to the use of unique
biological material.
38. Blackmail
Some form of payment obtained from a person to prevent disclosure of information that
would bring disgrace or ruin if made public; also referred to as extortion.
39. Bookmaker
An individual who takes in records bets on various events, typically sports activities or
horse racing. Often called a bookie
40. Booster devices
Any object used to assist in a theft, other than the clothing of the thief; typically
encountered in shoplifting cases.
41. Bow Street Runners
An early group of English criminal investigators who operated from a court located on
Bow Street in London.
42. Bribery
The giving, offering, or taking of anything, especially money, as an inducement to do
something illegal or wrong.
43. Bunco swindles
Frauds that involve deceit and trickery as the main method of operation.
44. Burden of proof
The requirement of a continuous demonstration of guilt or a proving of each element of a
crime held against the accused by the prosecution.
45. Burglary
The unlawful entry of a legal define structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft.
46. Car clouting
47. A suspect method of operation involving the theft of property from a vehicle.
48. Career criminal
A criminal perpetrator who has made criminal activity his or her life's work.
49. Cargo robbery
The seizure and robbery of loaded tractor trailer trucks by armed offenders; also known
as truck hijacking.
50. Carjacking
A form of robbery in which occupied vehicles are targeted for auto theft.
51. Chain of custody
The process by which evidence is handled, transferred, and accounted for between the
time of discovery and disposition of the case.
52. Check kiting
A method of suspect operation in which several checking accounts based upon non-
existent funds are opened in an attempt to withdraw funds.
53. Child abuse
Any action or failure to act that endangers or in pairs a child's physical or emotional
health and development.
54. Circular fracture lines
Rounded fractures resulting from an object striking glass that appear on the same side of
the striking force.
55. Circumstantial evidence
Evidence that does not directly prove the truth of a fact in issue, but that may establish a
strong influence as to the truth of the fact; also known as indirect evidence.
56. Civil forfeiture
Government seizure of assets used during a criminal enterprise.
57. Closing report
The concluding investigative report that causes further investigative action to cease due
to the lack of Leeds, arrest of suspect, or expiration of statute of limitations.
58. Cocaine
A narcotic extracted from the leaf of the coca bush that produces an intense stimulant
effect.
59. Coercion
The use of forceful or physical compelling means to obtain information.
60. Cognitive interview
An interviewing technique based on questions designed to improve or focus memory
recall.
61. Cold Case Squad
Investigative unit that reopens and investigates formerly unsolved cases.
62. Common law
Early English judge law that was common to the English people. It formed the basis for
subsequent English and American criminal law.
63. Computer-aided identification
Using computer software to assist victims and witnesses in the identification or facial
recognition of criminal suspects.
64. Computer crime
Frauds that are perpetrated through the misuse of electronic data processing devices.
65. Concluding investigation
The final phase of the investigation terminating an unsuccessful case or preparing a
successful case for prosecution.
66. Cone fracture
Cone-shaped opening produced from an object passing through a glass surface. The
smaller fracture opening indicates the side from which the force originated.
67. Confession
A direct acknowledgement of guilt for the commission of a criminal act.
68. Confidence swindles
Frauds or other crimes that are based on deceit or a misrepresentation of facts.
69. Consensual crimes
Offenses that are committed by mutual consent of all parties involved, since said to be
victimless. Vice offences or typical.
70. Conspiracy
An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime in concert.
71. Contusions
Injuries in which the skin is not broken but blood vessels are ruptured.
72. Coordinated photo series
A series of crime scene photographs taken in a sequential manner from general to specific
subject matters.
73. Coroner
An official, generally elected, who is legally responsible for investigating deaths within a
jurisdiction as determined by law.
74. Corpus delicti
The facts constituting or proving the body of a crime, or the necessary elements of a
crime that together demonstrate it commissions.
75. Crack cocaine
Nearly pure cocaine that through a heating process is ripped off its hydrochloride
granules. After heating, the cocaine is cooled and compressed into dense chunks and
typically smoked.
76. Credit card fraud
Illegal transactions to defraud individuals or businesses utilizing a personal, altered, or
stolen credit card number.
77. Crime scene
A location at which a suspected criminal offense has occurred.
78. Crime scene equipment kits
Portable forensic science kits that contain commonly needed crime scene processing
items used to protect, record, search, and collect physical evidence from indoor and
outdoor scenes.
79. Crime scene investigator
An officer specially trained in the processing of physical evidence commonly found at
crime scenes.
80. Crime scene sketch
A measured drawing of a scene, showing the relative location of all important items,
particularly physical evidence.
81. Criminal insanity
 A mental state that precludes understanding of the criminal nature of the act committed,
and/or the inability to determine right from wrong during the commission of the crime.
82. Criminal investigation
An inquiry into possible criminal activity based on logic, objectivity, and legal
guidelines.
83. Criminalistics
The application of many fields of natural science to the detection of crime.
84. Crips and Bloods Gangs
Blackstreet Gangs based in Los Angeles, heavily involved in the sale and distribution of
narcotics in many states.
85. Critical thinking
A reasoning process characterized by fair mindedness, intellectual caution, and an
openness to question common or assumed beliefs.
86. Cross examination
The courtroom questioning of a witness by an attorney.
87. Cross projection
A method of crime scene sketching allowing for a three-dimensional view of the scene.
88. CSI effect
Unrealistic jury expectations that convincing forensic evidence will be located at all
crime scenes and dramatically be presented as evidence during a trial. The lack of such
evidence may induce jurors to believe that reasonable doubt exists, & a verdict of not
guilty may result.
89. Cyanoacrylate fuming
Latent fingerprint development method that uses the ester released from cyanoacetyl
chloride during evaporation. Commonly termed the superglue method.
90. Cyberstalking
A computer crime in which victims are harassed, stopped, or threatened by emails or
some other form of computer-generated communication.
91. Cyclical crimes
Offences that occur or reoccur in certain patterns of regularity involving persons, time, or
place.
92. Crime scene equipment kits
Portable forensic science kits that contain commonly needed crime scene processing
items used to protect, record, search, and collect physical evidence from indoor and
outdoor scenes.
93. Crime scene investigator
An officer specially trained in the processing of physical evidence commonly found at
crime scenes.
94. Crime scene sketch
A measured drawing or a scene, showing the relative location of all important items,
particularly physical evidence.
95. Criminal insanity
 A mental state that precludes understanding of the criminal nature of the act committed,
and/or the inability to determine right from wrong during the commission of the crime.
96. Criminal investigation
An inquiry into possible criminal activity based on logic, objectivity, and legal
guidelines.
97. Criminalistics
The application of many fields of natural science to the detection of crime.
98. Crips and Bloods Gangs
Blackstreet Games based in Los Angeles, heavily involved in the sale and distribution of
narcotics in many states.
99. Critical thinking
A reasoning process characterized by fair mindedness, intellectual caution, and an
openness to question common or assumed beliefs.
100. Cross examination
The courtroom questioning of a witness by an attorney.
101. Cross projection
A method of crime scene sketching allowing for a three-dimensional view of the scene.
102. of future realities.