CSI: Glossary

A

ammunition

bullets or shells used in firearms

anthropologist

a scientist who studies bones

authorities

the police, attorneys and other law officials

autopsies

exams of the bodies of dead persons or animals

C

cross contamination

to move, mix, or transfer blood, germs, or fingerprints from one piece of evidence to another

D

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid - the part of a cell that holds details specific to each person or animal

E

evidence

things left at a crime scene on purpose or accidently

F

footprint

mark left by a foot in mud, soil or sand

forensics

Latin for public - or related to law

forgery

signing someone else's name illegally

fraud

a fake or trick method of obtaining money

I

intention

on purpose or with a plan

investigator

a person who looks into the details of a crime

K

kidnapping

to forcefully take a person as a hostage

P

physical evidence

evidence that can be seen or measured

poaching

killing animals illegally

prevention

to stop something before it happens

professional

a person who works in a career

psychiatrist

a doctor of the mind

S

splatter

the pattern a liquid makes when it splashes

T

toxicologist

a scientist who studies dangerous poisons

V

victim

someone who has suffered a crime

W

witness

a person who has seen a crime