HOSA: FORENSIC SCIENCE STUDY
GUIDE EXAMS WITH ELABORATED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
Forensic History and Careers - ANSWER--
Mathieu Orfila - ANSWER-(1787-1853) Founder of forensic toxicology, studied poisons and worked on
the Marie Lafarge poisoning case
Sir Francis Galton - ANSWER-(1822-1911) Developed the first classification system for fingerprints,
published the book Fingerprints in 1892 and described the loop, arch and whorl of fingerprint patterns
Hans Gross - ANSWER-(1847-1915) A generalist who believed in diverse approaches to forensic science
and published the first forensic science textbook, Criminal Investigations, in 1893.
Victor Balthazard - ANSWER-(1852-1950) Paris Medical Examiner who advanced fingerprint, firearm, and
hair analysis, showed that fingerprints are unique to the 10^60 and used photography to help identify
bullets
Alphonse Bertillon - ANSWER-(1853-1914) Developed anthropometry and was the first to solve a case
using fingerprints
Edmond Locard - ANSWER-(1877-1966) Established a forensic lab in Lyons France in 1910, founded the
Locard Exchange Principle and focused on trace evidence
Calvin Goddard - ANSWER-(1891-1955) Established the study of firearms evidence in the US, established
a variety of police labs in the US and invented the comparison scope.
,Anthropometry - ANSWER-System of identification of suspects involving 11 body measurements +
descriptions + photos
Criminalistics - ANSWER-Describes forensic analysis of physical evidence
Locard Exchange Principle - ANSWER-Every contact leaves a trace
Juan Vucetich - ANSWER-(1891) Began the first fingerprint files
The Henry Classification System - ANSWER-Classification for fingerprinting in all European Countries
1 in 64 billion - ANSWER-Sir Francis Galton's odds for two fingerprints being the same
The Scientific Method - ANSWER-System in which forensic scientist work
The adversarial system - ANSWER-System in which lawyers work
finder of fact - ANSWER-Judge or jury who determines "right" in a case
Civil Cases - ANSWER-Occur between individuals and must show a preponderance of evidence (51%)
Criminal Cases - ANSWER-Occur when laws have been broken, the government in the prosecutor and
and guilt but be shown beyond a reasonable doubt (99%)
Felony - ANSWER-In a serious criminal case, the possibility of greater than 1 year in prison.
, Misdemeanor - ANSWER-A minor criminal case, possibility of a fine or less than 1 year in prison.
vior dire - ANSWER-Qualifications of a scientist given in a court of law
subpoena - ANSWER-A statement requiring someone to appear in court and stating when and where the
trial will be held.
Gilbert Thomas - ANSWER-(1882) Who used fingerprints officially in the US for the first time
Dr. Henry Faulds - ANSWER-(1880) First to come up with a classification system based on fingerprints
1892 - ANSWER-When the first criminal fingerprint identification was made
1901 - ANSWER-When the idea of fingerprinting was introduced to England/Wales
Karl Landsteiner - ANSWER-Discovered that blood can be grouped into different types, A, B, AB and O,
and received the Nobel Prize in medicine for this work in 1930.
Alec Jeffreys - ANSWER-Geneticist who developed DNA testing
Colin Pitchfork - ANSWER-The first criminal convicted by DNA evidence
Forensic Nurse - ANSWER-Trained to treat trauma patients (assaulted), take blood and tissue samples,
collect evidence, photograph and measure wounds.
William Hershel (1856) - ANSWER-The first to use fingerprinting as a method of identification
GUIDE EXAMS WITH ELABORATED
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
Forensic History and Careers - ANSWER--
Mathieu Orfila - ANSWER-(1787-1853) Founder of forensic toxicology, studied poisons and worked on
the Marie Lafarge poisoning case
Sir Francis Galton - ANSWER-(1822-1911) Developed the first classification system for fingerprints,
published the book Fingerprints in 1892 and described the loop, arch and whorl of fingerprint patterns
Hans Gross - ANSWER-(1847-1915) A generalist who believed in diverse approaches to forensic science
and published the first forensic science textbook, Criminal Investigations, in 1893.
Victor Balthazard - ANSWER-(1852-1950) Paris Medical Examiner who advanced fingerprint, firearm, and
hair analysis, showed that fingerprints are unique to the 10^60 and used photography to help identify
bullets
Alphonse Bertillon - ANSWER-(1853-1914) Developed anthropometry and was the first to solve a case
using fingerprints
Edmond Locard - ANSWER-(1877-1966) Established a forensic lab in Lyons France in 1910, founded the
Locard Exchange Principle and focused on trace evidence
Calvin Goddard - ANSWER-(1891-1955) Established the study of firearms evidence in the US, established
a variety of police labs in the US and invented the comparison scope.
,Anthropometry - ANSWER-System of identification of suspects involving 11 body measurements +
descriptions + photos
Criminalistics - ANSWER-Describes forensic analysis of physical evidence
Locard Exchange Principle - ANSWER-Every contact leaves a trace
Juan Vucetich - ANSWER-(1891) Began the first fingerprint files
The Henry Classification System - ANSWER-Classification for fingerprinting in all European Countries
1 in 64 billion - ANSWER-Sir Francis Galton's odds for two fingerprints being the same
The Scientific Method - ANSWER-System in which forensic scientist work
The adversarial system - ANSWER-System in which lawyers work
finder of fact - ANSWER-Judge or jury who determines "right" in a case
Civil Cases - ANSWER-Occur between individuals and must show a preponderance of evidence (51%)
Criminal Cases - ANSWER-Occur when laws have been broken, the government in the prosecutor and
and guilt but be shown beyond a reasonable doubt (99%)
Felony - ANSWER-In a serious criminal case, the possibility of greater than 1 year in prison.
, Misdemeanor - ANSWER-A minor criminal case, possibility of a fine or less than 1 year in prison.
vior dire - ANSWER-Qualifications of a scientist given in a court of law
subpoena - ANSWER-A statement requiring someone to appear in court and stating when and where the
trial will be held.
Gilbert Thomas - ANSWER-(1882) Who used fingerprints officially in the US for the first time
Dr. Henry Faulds - ANSWER-(1880) First to come up with a classification system based on fingerprints
1892 - ANSWER-When the first criminal fingerprint identification was made
1901 - ANSWER-When the idea of fingerprinting was introduced to England/Wales
Karl Landsteiner - ANSWER-Discovered that blood can be grouped into different types, A, B, AB and O,
and received the Nobel Prize in medicine for this work in 1930.
Alec Jeffreys - ANSWER-Geneticist who developed DNA testing
Colin Pitchfork - ANSWER-The first criminal convicted by DNA evidence
Forensic Nurse - ANSWER-Trained to treat trauma patients (assaulted), take blood and tissue samples,
collect evidence, photograph and measure wounds.
William Hershel (1856) - ANSWER-The first to use fingerprinting as a method of identification
