Do you have an in-depth knowledge of forensic science? Help us define the terms used in CSI: NY.
Though alphabetical order is preferred, it is not necessary. Try to paraphrase and cite information when possible. Thank you for your contributions!

	Term	Definition	Source
A	AAFS	American Academy of Forensic Sciences
	AFIS	Automated Fingerprint Identification System, a database for storing and comparing fingerprints	SMHAI
	ALS	Alternative Light Source, used to make latent fingerprints, blood spatter, etc., difficult to see in conventional lighting, visible	SMHAI
	Arson	Unlawful burning of property	Forensic Science
	Accelerant	A flammable substance used to create and spread fire	SMHAI
	Autopsy	The medical examination of a body to determine COD	SMHAI
	Allele	Forms of a gene that determines certain DNA	Forensic Files
	Antemortem	Anything occurring before death

B	Blood Spatter	The higher the energy of the impact, the smaller the drops of blood. Low velocity - Caused by impact to blood source at a rate of 5 feet per second; usually about 4 millimeters in diameter. Cause(s): Free-falling blood, blows Medium velocity - Caused by impact to blood source at a rate of 5-25 feet per second; usually 1-3 millimeters in diameter. Cause(s): Beatings, stabbings High velocity - Caused by impact to blood source in excess of 100 feet per second; usually less than 1 millimeter in diameter; mistlike. Cause(s): Gunshots, explosions	Deviant Crimes Suite 101
	Ballistics	The scientific study of the characteristics of projectiles, such as bullets or missiles, and the way they move in flight	Dictionary.com
	Blood Volume Test	Test that determines the amount of blood shed in a certain area and how much time needed to make the stain	Forensic Files
	Bullet Track	Path of a bullet	Forensic Files

C	COD	Cause of death
	CODIS	Combined DNA Index System
	Coroner	public official that investigates any death not due to natural causes	Forensic Science
	Caliber	diameter of a rifled firearm usually expressed in hundredths of an inch	Forensic Files
	Cast-off blood	blood that travels due to a moving source usually leaving a cast-off trail	Forensic Files
	Cast-off trail	pattern created by cast-off blood	Forensic Files
	Composite drawing	sketch of a suspect produced by what a witness saw. Created by a sketch artist	Forensic Files
	Computer Forensics	use of technology to research potential evidence	Forensic Files
	Crime Scene Staging	attempt to alter a crime scene in order to hide evidence	Forensic Files
	Criminal Profiling	used to create a profile of a potential criminal	Forensic Files
	Criminology	study of criminal activity and how to deal with it by law	Forensic Files
	Crime scene reconstruction	The use of physical evidence to build a theoretical model of a given crime or accident scene

D	DOA	Dead on Arrival	Forensic Science
	Defuse	To remove triggering device from any weapon	Forensic Science
	DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid; genetic material unique to every human and can be used to identify who created the organic evidence	Forensic Files
	DNA Databanks	databank used to store DNA profiles from previous offenders	Forensic Files

E	Evidence	anything associated during the commission of a crime	Forensic Files

F	Fingerprint	Ridges along the edge of fingers unique to every human	Forensic Files

G	GSR	Gun Shot Residue; what's left behind on the shooter and surrounding the weapon after it has been triggered.
	GC-MS	Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; a method used to to identify different substances within a test sample.

H

I	IBIS	Integrated Ballistics Identification System
	Intent	what the suspect wants from the crime

J	John/Jane Doe	an unidentifiable victim

K

L

M	Motive	A suspect's willingness and intent on commmiting a crime

N

O

P	Postmortem	Anything occurring after death; posthumous

Q

R	Rape kit	Items used to collect evidence from the victim of a rape	SMHAI
	Rigor mortis	The postmortem stiffening of the body	SMHAI

S	Subpoena	The usual writ for the summoning of witnesses or the submission of evidence, as records or documents, before a court or other deliberative body.	Dictionary.com
	Striation	Fine lines in the internal rifling of a firearm caused by the cutting tool which impart an individual identity to the gun and to any bullets fired from it	SMHAI

T	TOD	Time of Death

U

V

W

X

Y

Z