UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL EXPERIMENTAL DE LA

SEGURIDAD
CENTRO DE FORMACIONES- UNES, SEDE CATIA
PNF: T.S.U. Investigacin Penal
TRAYECTO: V
SECCIN: 3B, Ambiente: 23 Sede Vieja

Glossary Criminology

FACILITADORA:

DISCENTES:
Abg. Luis Pericaguan
C.I: V 20.098.627

Caracas, 20 de Junio de 2015.

Basic Concepts
Criminalistics, as a multidisciplinary science, employs diverse investigation
techniques and procedures, as well as natural sciences, with the purpose of
obtaining the concrete results that would allow to identify, and single out the
subjects involved in a crime through the study of physical evidence, thus
providing the penal system with the scientific tools to prove the investigated
event, as well as the verification of its authors and victims. These are some of
the basic concepts commonly used in Criminalistics:
Ballistic Trajectory: Imaginary line described by a projectile, from the time it
leaves the bore of the cannon of the firearm, until its collision with the point of
impact, or target.
Bullet: Ammunition designed to be used in rifled firearms, normally
accommodating or having one single projectile.
Cartridge: Ammunition manufactured for firearms like shotguns, with no
spiral rifling. A cartridge is comprised by: shell, percussion cap, cartridge
case, gunpowder, wad, and multiple projectiles (slugs or pellets).
Crime Scene: Physical space in which the crime took place, limited by its
own characteristics. Prone to be modified and/or contaminated, it does not
allow for improvised approaches. It is subjected to different techniques to
observe, recognize, search, protect,set, collect, pack, mark label, transport,
and preserve physical evidence.
Criminal Ballistics: Is the regressive study of all bodies thrown into the air,
such as projectiles and pellets, as well as the study of firearms, shells, and
other ballistically interesting evidence, located at the site of an event, and

which are related to a criminal offense, in order to determine the weapon

involved, the perpetrator of the crime, and, at the same time, establish a
victim-victimizer relationship.
Evidence: Every element found at the site of the crime scene, and that
contributes information related to the event, whether it was left by the
perpetrator of the crime or in possession of the victim, in its vicinity or distant,
and in other locations subjected to investigation.
Expert Testimonies: Set of procedures that facilitate the gathering of
information of forensic interest through the analysis of physical evidence, so
as to provide the investigation with the necessary data to solve the crime, and
which, actively or passively, are linked to such crime.
Firearm: Mechanical, semi-automatic, or automatic instruments capable of
shooting a projectile into the air, by means of the driving force of the gases
originated by the deflagration. It constitutes a suitable mean used to
discharge a firearm.
Percussion Cap: Receptacle containing the mixture that ignites the
gunpowder and produces the ignition. It may or may not be comprised by
lead, barium, and antimony, as todays manufacturers are using other
components.
Planimetric Survey: Scaled graphical representation of all the elements that
constitute the site of the event, so as to express the circumstances, details,
and particulars of the place, as this will allow for the recreation and location of
criminally interesting evidence, from the general to the particular.

Projectile: Mobile element or elements of the ammunition to be shot into the

air from the firearm to reach its objective, and cause the intended effect.
Reconstruction of Events: Artificial recreation, in a descriptive, testimonial,
and perceptive manner, of the presumably criminal behavior perpetrated
under specific circumstances at the time of the commission of a crime, or of
its events and episodes, referring to certain testing means, to verify their
accuracy, feasibility, or authenticity.
Shell: Constituent element of ammunitions for firearms, which has to be able
to withstand high temperatures, oxidation, and corrosion. It is comprised by a
hollowed cylindrical receptacle designed to contain the gunpowder, be an
assembling piece for the components of the ammunition, and have a certain
elasticity level, as it is the expansion chamber at the time of the deflagration
of the gunpowder.
Technical Inspection: It is the procedure by which personnel duly certified
by legal regulations in force approach the site of the event, the body, or the
vehicle, in order to make a legal record of the disposition of said site, body, or
vehicle, conduct detailed tracing in search of evidence of forensic interest,
and, in case they find any, properly collect and set them, in accordance with
the provisions of the Comprehensive Handbook for the Chain of Custody of
Physical Evidence; and also perform the proper photographic shooting of the
evidence.
Ballistics: from the Greek ballein throw, it is the scientific (physical,
chemical) study related to the movement of projectiles (bullets, rockets,
ballistic missile).
Autopsy: it is a procedure carried out by a specialist in which a corpse is
dissected, in furtherance of the determination of anatomical information

regarding the cause, nature, extension and complications of an illness an

individual might suffer. It also allows the formulation of a final medical
diagnosis that can explain any suspicious clinical observation or to assess a
given treatment.
Exhumation: Removal of a human corps from its grave.
Forensic Anthropology: this discipline focuses on the study of human
identification. It uses Physical Anthropology methods and techniques, by
merging them with other sciences, in order to use the biological variability of
an individual.
Morgue: it is a place where the anatomopathological study of a corpse is
hold.