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 coating sample of established origin
Biological material for which the identity of the donor is established and used for comparison purposes.
known samples of geological ma- terial are intentionally collected, typically from crime scene or alternate locations, for comparison to a questioned sample. 3.1.7.1 Discussion—Geological materials are typically more heterogeneous than manufactured materials, so a greater num- ber of known samples of geological material are needed to represent the range of variation (see Guide E3272). Reference sample and control sample are synonyms of known sample.
known soil samplesare intentionally collected, typically from crime scene or alternate locations, for comparison to aquestioned soil sample.
A voice signal from an individual who has been identified, or individuated in a waythat allows linking to additional, available information about that individual.
Equipment or materials to which has been attached a label, symbol, or other identifying mark of an organization that is acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction and concerned with product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of labeled equipment or materials, and by whose labeling the manufacturer indicates compliance with appropriate standards or performance in a specified manner.
The entity providing the analysis, including the staff and the physical facility.
body that performs one or more of the following activities: testing; calibration; sampling, associated with subsequent testing or calibrationNote 1 to entry: In the context of this document, laboratory activities refer to the three above-mentionedactivities.
Point on a map where the person was last identified or spotted by a witness.
Learning that takes place unintentionally, and does not manifest in overt behavior at that time, but may become evident at a later stage.
An impression or image of friction ridge skin left on a surface.
Any public employee whose duties primarily involve the enforcement or investigation of alleged or suspected violations of law.
The systematic process of removing debris from the top down and observing the relative location of artifacts at the fire scene.
ammunition incorporating a primer that does not contain lead. Gunaratnam
A period in which early progress in learning appears to have stopped and improvement is at a standstill. The plateau is followed by a new period of progress.
Indicates that the transaction element was valid in previous versions of the standard.Systems claiming conformance to this version of the standard shall only use the elementwhen transmitting information stored prior to the adoption of this version of the standard.
In facial identification, a verbal or numeric scale that indicates the level of confidence regarding identification or exclusion of a subject
In facial identification, a verbal or numeric scale that indicates the level of confidence regarding identification or exclusion of a subject.
This characterizes the dispersion of values used for measuring dental age assessment based on the variation within the data.
Storage library created by Google for fast key-value storage that provides an ordered mapping from string keys to string values. See GitHub project: https://github.com/google/leveldb
An adhesive or other medium used to capture and preserve an impression.
A product of an EDD examination. The developed toner image on the imaging film is preserved by applying fixing film to create a lift.
A microscope that employs light in the visible or near-visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum
a microscope that employs light in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.
In facial identification, an automated conclusion based upon threshold scores with no human involvement
In facial identification, an automated conclusion based upon threshold scores with no human involvement.
A subclass of ignitable liquid characterized in ASTM E1618-11 "Standard Test Method for Ignitable Liquid Residues in Extracts from Fire Debris Samples by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry" as a petroleum distillate where the majority of components have a boiling range between that of butane (C4) and nonane (C9). There will be no major components with a boiling range greater than undecane (C11).
The majority non-carbohydrate portion of wood; it is an amorphous polymeric substance that cements cellulosic fibers together and is the principal constituent of woody cell walls
the majority non-carbohydrate portion of wood; it is an amorphous polymeric substance that cements cellulosic fibers together and is the principal constituent of woody cell walls.
A site designed to test the canine's ability to search and indicate independently of the handler.
An estimate of the lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably differentiated from blank matrix and identified by the analytical method.
An estimate of the lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably differentiatedfrom blank matrix and identified by the analytical method.
Lowest amount of an analyte that is detectable with a given confidence level
An estimate of the lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably differentiated from blank matrix and identified by the analytical method.
An estimate of the lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably differentiated from blank matrix and identified by the analytical method
An estimate of the lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably differentiated from blank matrix and identified by the analytical method.
An estimate of the lowest concentration of an analyte in a sample that can be reliably differentiated from blank matrix and meets identification criteria for the analytical method.
Quantification technique to estimate the actual number of individuals based on the number of paired and unpaired bones.
Utilization of a canine to scent discriminate among a predetermined sequence of items with target odor/scent(s) versus non-target odor/scent(s).
The borders defining the differences in fire effects on materials between the affected area and adjacent, less-affected areas.
Consists of finding the best-fit linear relationship between the instrument response (Y) and the concentration of the analyte in the calibrator (X)
Type of analysis often used by law enforcement that uses visual or other means of showing relationships between people, places, events, and things by linking them through timelines, telephone calls, emails, or any other consistent scheme
Document(s) exposed to or immersed in liquid(s).