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John Toms Conviction
In Lancaster England, John Toms was convicted of a murder by the first use of physical matching. He was convicted based on the turn edge of a wad of newspaper in a pistol matching a piece in his pocket -
Questions Document Analysis
The first recorded use of question document analysis occured in Germany. A chemical test for a particular ink dye was put on a document known as Konigin Hanschritt. -
Polarized Microscope
The Polarized light microscope was invented in 1828 by William Nicol. A polarized light microscope improves the quality of the image obtained with birefringent materials when compared to other techniques. -
Bullet Flaws
Henry Goddard was the first man to examine the visible flaws on a bullet. He then matched it to a mold to catch a murderer. -
Microscopic detection of sperm
H. Bayard did the first reliable procedures for the microscopic detection of sperm. He also noted the different microscopic characteristics of different substrate fabrics. -
Microscopic bullet test
Ludwig Teichmann, in Kracow Poland, developed the first microscopic crystal test for hemoglobin. He used hemin crystals. -
Blood Test
The first known blood test was done by a German scientist named Shinbein. He realized that hemoglobin was able to oxidize hydrogen peroxide into foam. -
Francis Henry Galton
Francis Henry Galton determined that fingerprints are unchangeable throughout life. Everyone’s fingerprints are different -
Human Blood Group
The first discovery of human blood groups was made by Karl Landsteiner. The blood groups were A, B, and C (which is now known as O) -
FBI
President Roosevelt started the FBI. The FBI investigates serious crimes like serious thefts or murders. -
First Crime Lab
Edmond Locard started the first crime laboratory in Lyons, France. This Crime lab was one of the first in Europe and one of the first in the entire world. The U.S. did not have its first crime lab until 1928. -
12 Matching Points
Edmond Locard first suggested 12 matching points as being a successful fingerprint identification. Locard's 12 points were based on an unscientific "improvement" over
the eleven measurements that were used to "identify" criminals before the adoption of fingerprints. -
Charles E. Waite
Charles E. Waite was the first man to catalog data about different types of weapons -
Polygraph
The first portable polygraph was designed by John Larson and Leonard Keeler. It worked as a lie detector when he added respiration recordings to blood pressure recordings. -
Frye v United States
Polygraph test results were ruled inadmissible which brought up the concept of "general acceptance", or evidence accepted by the scientific community. -
Criminalistics
Paul Kirk published the first comprehensive book on criminalistics. The criminalistics section of the AAFS bestows its highest award in honor of Kirk. -
Breathalyzer
R.F Borkenstein invented the breathalyzer to test the soberness of individuals. It indirectly determines the quantity of alcohol consumed by measuring absorption of light by potassium dichromate before and after its reaction with alcohol. -
Identify O Blood Type
A.S Weiner and his colleagues invented a way to positively identify O blood type. They did this through the use of H-lectin. -
BAU
The BAU (behavioral analysis unit) of the FBI was formed in 1972 under the name Behavioral Science Unit. The BAU is responsible for criminal profiling. -
Automated Fingerprint Identification System
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System was introduced by scanning fingerprints through a computer. It is maintained by the FBI. -
Alec Jeffreys
Alec Jeffreys developed the first DNA profiling test. It was used in 1986 to identify the murder of two young English girls. -
People v Pestinikas
Edward Blake used DNA testing to confirm different autopsy samples from the same person. This was the first use of any kind of DNA testing in the United States. -
DNA Profiling
DNA Profiling was first introduced in a US Criminal Court. Tommy Lee Andrews was convicted of a series of sexual assaults in Orlando, Florida -
New York v Castro
This was the first case in which DNA admissibility was seriously challenged. It set in motion a string of events that called for certification, accreditation, standardization, and quality control guidelines for the DNA laboratories and forensic science community -
AFIS Fingerprint Database
The FBI introduced computerized searches of the AFIS database. Live scans and card scan devices allowed for interdepartmental entries -
IAFIS
The FBI upgraded its computerized fingerprint database and implemented the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), which allowed for paperless submissions, storage, and searching capabilities
