Forensic Glossary

aboriginal:
"implies having no known race preceding in occupancy of the region; the aboriginal peoples of Australia"
(WWWebster Dictionary On-line).

aboriginal peoples:
"in Canada, aboriginal includes Indian, Inuit and Metis peoples" (Opekokew, 1987).

abuse:
"general term used to describe behavior by one party that results in significant negative emotional or physical consequences on another party" (Office for the Prevention of Family Violence, Alberta Social Services, 1994).

abuse "child":
"general term used to describe behavior on the part of a parent or guardian that results in significant negative emotional or physical consequences for a child. However, there is no consensus in Canadian society about what constitutes abusive behavior or significant negative consequences. Abuse of children can take several different forms: physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect" (Office for the Prevention of Family Violence, Alberta Social Services, 1994).

abuse "child":
"the Ontario- Child and Family Services Act RSO 1990, Section 37, has a legal definition of child abuse: to suffer abuse, when used in reference to a child, means to be in need of protection within the meaning of the Child and Family Service Act" (Children's Aid Society of Metropolitan Toronto, 1995).

abuse "child" (physical):
"in New York State the legal definition of a physically abused child is: a child who is less than 18 years of age whose parent(s) or other person(s) legally responsible for his/her care either: inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon such child physical injury by other than accidental means which causes or creates a substantial risk of death or serious or protracted disfigurement, or protracted impairment or the child's physical health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ – or - creates or allows to be created a substantial risk of physical injury to such child by other than accidental means which would be likely to cause death or serious or protracted impairment of the child's physical health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ. http://www.pasa.org/resources/ica_physical.html

abuse "child" (physical):
"physical child abuse is defined as substantial and observable injury to any part of the child's body that is evidenced by a laceration, a contusion, an abrasion, a scar, a fracture or other bone injury…" (Canada-Alberta Family & Social Services, 1993, p. 3).

abuse "elder" (senior abuse):
"the physical, psychological or financial mistreatment of a senior" (Health and Welfare Canada, 1990).

abuse "elder" (senior abuse):
"any deliberate act or lack of an act that causes harm to an elder person They have divided elder abuse into four different classifications: physical, psychological, financial and neglect (Alberta Family & Social Services, 1990).

abuse "elder" (senior abuse):
"the maltreatment of an elderly person by a family member or other close associate. It may include the infliction of physical injury, restraint, financial exploitation, threats, ridicule, insult or humiliation, forced isolation (physical or social), or forced change in living arrangements. It may also include neglect, that is the refusal or failure to care for the older person whether intentional or unintentional. This could include abandonment, withholding or not providing food, health care, companionship or assistance" (Office for the Prevention of Family Violence, Alberta Social Services, 1994).

abuse "emotional" and "psychological":
"the most common form of all spousal abuse. It can include insults directed at the victims, their family and friends. The abuse might also ridicules his victims beliefs, race or religion and will often threaten suicide if his partner leaves" (Alberta's Protection Against Family Violence Act, 1994).

abuse "family violence":
"described as any act, threatened act or failure to act that causes injury of or property damage" (Alberta's Protection Against Family Violence Act, 1994).

abuse "financial":
" the misuse of someone's monetary funds, as well as their fixed assets, such as property. This misuse is generally related to some form of fraud, trickery, or force" (Alberta Family & Social Services, 1990).

abuse "financial":
"is a state when one partner does not allow the partner to have any control of money. This can include running large debt in the other's name or selling property without permission" (Alberta's Protection Against Family Violence Act, 1994).

abuse "isolating":
"isolating a partner from friends, family and friends and the rest of the community is another common ploy This allows the abuser to stay in control of the partner's life" (Alberta's Protection Against Family Violence Act, 1994).

abuse "medication":
"medication abuse occurs when the victims medication is not given to him at the right times, not given at all, or over medicated. This abuse can occur in the home or institution. The primary care taker may be intentionally abusing the senior by those stated reasons or the medication abuse may be unintentional if the primary caretaker is unable to understand the instructions due to language problems or illiteracy; undermedicated because either the primary caretaker or the patient cannot afford the ongoing cost of the medication and; undermedicated due to the primary caretaker utilizing or even selling the patient's medication (especially barbiturates or narcotics)" (Murphy, 1994).

abuse "neglect":
" neglect is a form of abuse that affects individuals through their need for shelter, food, and clothing. It can also include non-sufficient provisions of necessary medication or professional health and personal care. To void someone from contact with a social environment is also a form of neglect" (Alberta Family & Social Services, 1990).

abuse, neglect and exploitation theories:
"the theory that a variety of theories have been proposed to explain abuse. No one of these theories adequately explains the victim/victimizer phenomenon, but each contributes to an understanding of its possible origins and perpetuation" (Sideleau, 1992).

abuse "physical":
"any abuse that involves harm to the victim's body. This could include hitting, slapping, kicking, punching, or injury with a weapon or object. This type of abuse also includes deliberate exposure to severe weather, cold and hot temperatures, as well as to physically restraining someone unnecessarily. Over medicating or under medicating are also classified as physical abuse" (Alberta Family & Social Services, 1990).

abuse "psychological":
" any abuse that humiliates, intimidates, or threatens a person. To issue an inappropriate control over someone's activities also is a form of this type of abuse. Also included would be the right to make decisions for one's self when this is within one's competent capacity" (Alberta Family & Social Services, 1990).

abuse "sexual":
"abuse can be sexual; the perpetrator can be a caretaker, stranger or a family member. Sexual abuse is any non-consensual sexual contact with a person" (Pritchard, 1996).

abuse "sexual":
"is a common crime in most domestic abuse situations and is described as threatening victims to perform any sexual act they don't want to do" (Alberta's Protection Against Family Violence Act, 1994).

abuse "spousal":
"the physical, psychological, sexual, or financial abuse by a spouse against their partner such that the survival and security of the abused is endangered" (Office for the Prevention of Family Violence, Alberta Social Services, 1994).

abuse "workplace":
"can be defined as the violation of a person by another person in the work environment, through intimidating behavior, physical attack and/or course and insulting language" (Hardingham, 1998, p. 14).

accused:
"includes a defendant in summary conviction proceedings and an accused in respect of whom a verdict of not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder has been rendered" (Martins Criminal Code of Canada, 1998).

acquitted:
"the accused is found not guilty of the charges presented before the court" (Stats Canada, 1999).

active euthanasia:
"exists when death is the result of a positive act (prescribing a fatal drug)" (Cambridge, 1995, cited in Cawsey, 1996, p. 24).

active euthanasia:
"taking deliberate steps to end a person's life" (Kluge, 1992, p. 253).

actus reus:
"guilty by act" (Mason & Mercer, 1998).

addiction:
"in addiction nursing, the definition of addiction includes three components: a compulsion to use; loss of control of use; and continued use despite negative consequences" (Mathre, 1997, p. 23).

addiction:
"physiological or psychological dependence on some agent" (Miller-Keane, 1992, p. 25).

addiction:
"in Webster (n.d.), addiction is defined as devoting oneself obsessively and utilizes gambling as an example. Addiction is considered to be compulsive use of an element known by the subject to be harmful. Both impulse - control disorder and addiction involve loss of control, preoccupation with activity, developed tolerance and withdrawal symptoms following activity cessation" (Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1992).

Addiction severity index:
"This is a nationally [US] recognized tool used to determine the severity of one's addiction at key points of treatment [admission, and then at predetermined time frames thereafter]. It is for adults only. This measurement tool has been well researched, studied and tested. It is widely used thruout the States--in some States it is mandated to be used by licensed treatment providers. It is NOT an assessment tool and is not designed to be such. However, the ASI is useful for treatment planning--in fact, one of the published manuals is a treatment planning guide based on
the results of the ASI".

admissible:
legitimate, legal, proper, lawful, permissible, allowable, permitted (Thesaursus, 1999, Microsoft Word, on-line).

adult:
"a person who is nether a young person or nor a child" (Consolidated Statutes of Canada, 1985).

agent:
"the presence or absence of a factor which can cause a disease. It answers the question "what?" (Harkness, 1995). The primary case of a health related condition" (Clark, 1996, p. 109).

ageism:
"a common form of prejudicial attitude and a source of social discrimination based on erroneous beliefs or overgeneralizations about aging and seniors" (Health and Welfare Canada, National Advisory Council on Aging, 1993).

aggression and violence:
"are terms that are often used interchangeably even though they have very different meanings" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 189).

aggression:
"an abstract concept about which there is much discussion, confusion and concern" (Lanza, 1983, p. 11). aggression: "threatening behaviors, either verbal or physical, directed at others" (Morrison, 1992).

aggression:
"the concept of aggression is in some ways be broader than the concept of violence. Aggression refers to physical violence, but it also includes verbally hostile acts" (Taylor, 1989; cited in Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 189).

aggressive behaviour "interactive":
"includes repeated noncompliance to a direct command, verbal abuse-name calling, verbal abuse-threat, and physical abuse" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 188).

aggressive behaviour "isolated":
"includes: cursing/swearing, intentional destruction of property, and self destructive behaviours" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 188).

aggression "covert":
"the emotional and cognitive components of aggression such as anger and hostility" (Lange et al, 1995, cited in Collins & Robinson, 1997, p. 67).

aggression "intentional destruction of property":
"when the patient destroys or damages any objects, or defaces its surface such that the object's value or usefulness is substantially impaired or substantially reduced at least temporarily, then the behaviour should be classified as intentional destruction of property" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 189).

aggression "minor, interactive aggressive behaviour":
"occurs when a patient, when given a repeated request, fails to meet the criteria specified for complying with the request" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 190).

aggression "overt":
"the tendency to express verbal or physical aggression" (Lange et al, 1995, cited in Collins & Robinson, 1997, p. 67).

aggression "physical":
"referred to any behaviour that results in physical contact with another or the destruction of property" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 189).

aggression "physical abuse":
"incidents that involve patients performing a physical act that would typically produce physical injury or pain to another are classified under the category of physical abuse" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 190).

aggression "self destructive behaviour":
"this category is identified when the patient engages in some form of deliberate self-harm behaviour, i.e. slashing, overdose, head-banging, hanging, etc." (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 190).

aggression "verbal":
"defined as verbal threats or gestures that evoke fear in staff, patients or others whether intended or not" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 189).

aggression "verbal abuse":
"there are two types of verbal abuse; those incidents that involve name calling and those incidents that involve a threat" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 190).

aggression "verbal abuse" (cursing/swearing):
"when the person verbalizes one or more words that are commonly regarded as profane or obscene, regardless of pitch or intensity, what are perceived as threatening , then the behaviour is defined as cursing swearing. If these verbalizations are directed at an individual they are identified as Interactive Aggressive behaviour" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 189).

aggression "verbal abuse" (name calling):
"is identified when a patient directs a negative communication towards one or more persons identified as intended recipients. A negative communication consists of either (i) a derogatory name, or (ii) any other behaviour, verbal or non-verbal, that would typically elicit a clear behavioural indication of annoyance or distress from the intended recipient" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 190).

aggression "verbal abuse" (threat):
"is identified when a patient directs a negative communication that involves a threat toward one or more persons identified as intended recipients. This threat may be accompanied by a physically threatening gesture (i.e. shaking a fist)" (Arboleda-Florez, Crisanti, Rose & Holley, 1994, p. 190).

aging "biological":
"changes to structure and function of the body that occur over the life span influenced by genetic inheritance and internal and external factors" (Gress & Bahr, 1984, p. 36-37).

aging "functional":
"closely related to psychological aging, refers to the capacities of individuals for functioning in society, as compared to that of others of the same age" (Gress & Bahr, 1984, p. 36-37).

aging inmates:
"aging inmates form a distinct cultural subgroup. The antecedents for their unique patterns and needs come from the life cycle of aging within the confines of a total institution. The inmate who ages in place will lack the common social markers experienced by his age cohorts in the outside world" (LaMere, Smyer & Gragert, 1996, p. 29).

aging offender:
"aging is an ongoing process and is effected by cultural and environmental experiences that may influence coping, adaptation and behavior. Incarceration tends to accelerate the aging process" (Armstrong-Ester & Armstrong-Ester, 1995).

aging offender
"elderly offender": "the criminal justice system often classifies those "55 and over" as elderly" (Newman, Newman & Gewirtz, 1984, p. 4).

aging "psychological":
"behavioral changes, changes in self perception, and reaction to the biological changes. Influenced by the condition of the body, such as the CV and renal systems. Also influenced by changes in the brain that affect memory, learning motivation and emotions" (Gress & Bahr, 1984, p. 36-37).

aging "sociological":
"the roles and social habits of others in society; includes changes in norms, expectations, social status and social roles" (Gress & Bahr, 1984, p. 36-37).

aging "spiritual":
"changes of self and perceptions of self, of the relationships of self to others, of the place of self in the world; and of the self-s world view" (Gress & Bahr, 1984, p. 36-37).

AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome):
"the late stage of the illness triggered by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This is simply defined by the presence in an HIV positive person of one of a long list of serious opportunistic diseases or conditions associated with immune deficiency. In the USA (unlike Canada) HIV positivity with a CD4 < 200/mm3 is considered AIDS".

AIDS-defining illness:
"one of a list of serious illnesses that occurs in HIV-positive individuals and is reason for an AIDS diagnosis according to the CDC's definition of AIDS. Among these conditions are PCP, MAC, AIDS dementia complex, AIDS wasting syndrome, invasive cervical cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and CMV retinitis".

AIDS dementia complex:
"a frequent cerebral condition in people with AIDS that results in the loss of cognitive capacity, affecting the ability to function in a social or occupational setting. Its cause has not been determined exactly, but may result from HIV infection of cells in the brain or an inflammatory reaction to such infection".

alcohol abuse:
"disinhibition of impulse control and inattentiveness to the environment contribute to aggressive and neglectful behavior" (Davidovich, 1990).

alcohol abuse theory:
"the theory that disinhibition of impulse control and inattentiveness to the environment contribute to aggressive and neglectful behavior" (Davidovich, 1990).

alcoholics anonymous (AA):
"worldwide fellowship of men and women who meet together to attain and maintain sobriety. Originated in 1935 when Bill W. a New York stockbroker and Br. Bob S. a surgeon, met in Akron, Ohio and started to help each other stay sober. From that modest beginning AA has grown to an estimated 87,000 groups in more than 130 countries, with a total membership of more than 2 million" (Alcolholics Anonymous, 1999, ).

alcoholism:
"In 1972, the U.S. National Council on Alcoholism defined alcoholism as a pathological dependency on ethanol (Criterim Committee, NCA, 1972) Alcoholism is characterized by tolerance, physical dependency, and/or pathological organ changes" (Shkrum, 1990, p. 172).

allege:
"assert; make an accusation without proof; as the alleged assault; Latin allegare (to dispatch)".

alternative measures:
"similar to programs for young offenders, the Bill allows the use of alternative measures for adults where the aim is to deal with minor offenses without using valuable court and correctional resources" (Statistics Canada, Juristat 17(4), 1997).

alternative measures:
"measures other than judicial proceeedings under the Young Offender Act used to deal with a young person alleged to have committed an offence" (Consolidated Statutes of Canada, 1985).

anger:
"cognitively mediated emotional state determined by external events, internal cognitive processes (such as appraisal, expectations and private speech) and behavioural reactions" (Novaco, & Welsh, 1989; cited in (McClelland, 1995, p. 60).

anger:
"anger is the most positive of the negative emotions as it is the only one that confers a sense of power" (Ellsworth & Smith, 1988; Roseman, 1984; cited in Ellsworth & Gross, 1994, p. 45

anger retaliatory rapist:
"most often uses a "blitz" approach subduing victims with direct, injurious physical assault" (Merrill, 1996).

anthropometry or bertillonage:
"identification system devised by Alphonse Bertillon, chief of criminal identification for the Paris police, devised an identification system known as anthropometry or "Bertillonage." His method, later replaced by fingerprint, incorporated a series of body measurements, physical description and photographs which aided police in the identification of criminals" (Chien, 1996).

anthropological model:
"the model that explains violence due to the social organization and cultural patterning, particularly with respect to place of women in society" (Davidovich, 1990).

antiphlogistic:
"literally anti-inflammatory or depleting system which was designed to lower the turbulent spirits" (Russell, 1996; cited in McMillan, 1997, p. 30).

apartheid:
"literally meaning 'apart', was the legal separation of whites and people of color, a concept introduced in South Africa by white colonists. In 1950, the country's 'Group Areas Act' solidified apartheid as a system, forcing blacks to live in specific, impoverished areas" (cnn.com).

apprehend:
"seize; arrest . 'Police apprehend the accused at the scene of the crime'. Latin ad (to) and prehendere (lay hold of )".

assassination:
"to take the life of (a person or persons) unlawfully; murder; slang terms include ice, rub out, take for a ride, off, do away with, zap. Often used to denote a murder of a political figure or for political reasons. No particular legal meaning" (Jerry P. Nims, Ph.D., J.D. Psych List, 1999)

assault:
"was defined as any apparently intentional, physically aggressive act irrespective of severity" (Hodgkinson, McIvor & Phillips 1985; cited in (Whittington & Wykes, 1994, p. 221).

assaults "physical":
"against staff members include kicking, punching, deliberately throwing an object and drawing a lethal weapon" (Flannery, Hanson, Penk, & Flannery, 1994).

assaults "sexual":
"include any unwanted sexual act toward staff including touching, exposure, attempted rape and rape" (Flannery, Hanson, Penk, & Flannery, 1994).

assaults "verbal":
"include verbal threats, statements of intent to harm persons and/or property and non-interpersonal acts intended to frighten staff" (Flannery, Hanson, Penk, & Flannery, 1994)..

assaults "violent":
"Flannery et al, (1994) have identified three classifications for violent assaults: physical assaults, sexual assaults and verbal assaults" (Flannery, Hanson, Penk, & Flannery, 1994).

assault "proneness to":
"proneness to assault can be defined as staff involvement in single or multiple incidents" (Whittington & Wykes, 1994, p. 222).

assessment "psychiatric"
"means an assessment by a medical practitioner of the mental condition of the accused pursuant to an assessment order made under section 672.11, and any incidental observation or examination of the accused. (p. CC 1013) Assessment Order (s. 672.11.) - "A court having jurisdiction over an accused in respect of an offence may order an assessment of the mental condition of the accused, if it has reasonable grounds to believe that such evidence is necessary to determine" the following; fitness to stand trial, exemption from criminal responsibility as a result of mental disorder, mental condition with respect to infanticide, the appropriate disposition where the accused is found unfit to stand trial or not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder and whether an order detaining the accused in a treatment facility after conviction is necessary (Martin's Criminal Code of Canada, 1998, p. 1014).

asylum:
"a sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly taken without sacrilege. So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum or sanctuary (Ayliffe). Note: The name was anciently given to temples, altars, statues of the gods, and the like. In later times Christian churches were regarded as asylums in the same sense; Any place of retreat and security. Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. (Southey); 3. An institution for the protection or relief of some class of destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as, an asylum for the aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan asylum" (Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1913).

asylum era:
"in the 1800's in United Kingdom the-mental patients were banished to 'warehouses' outside towns, and specialized incarceration of criminal lunatics began" (Burrow, 1991, p. 34).

atrocities:
"brutality, wickedness, atrocious deed, cruelty, barbarity, horror, outrage, crime, inhumanity" (Thesaurus, 1998).

attachment theory:
"the theory that suggests that an assaultive male's violent outbursts may be a form of dysfunctional protest behavior directed at his attachment figure and precipitated by perceived threats of separation of abandonment is known as Attachment theory" (Dutton, 1996, p. 573)

attendant:
"the name "attendant" was introduced at Bethlem Hospital in 1845 (McMillan, 1997, p. 31). The 1893 Annual Report referred to attendants and nurses as "servants" even though some had passed Certificate of Proficiency in Mental Nursing examinations. All female attendants were renamed sisters, staff nurses, or nurses, in the early 1900's, but males continued to be called charge attendants, second in charge attendants, ordinary attendants, or temporary attendants (McMillan, 1997, p. 31).

automatism as a defence:
"this defence was used in the Dorothy Jourdrie case, Calgary, 1996 when she was found NCR due to a a "dissociative state" (Alberta Law Case, 1996 Crown vs Dorothy Jourdrie).

autopsy:
"a laboratory test which is of prime importance whenever there is a suspicious or crime-related death" (Mittleman, Goldberg, & Waksman, 1983, cited in Schramm, 1991, p. 676). autopsy: "a post-mortem examination performed to confirm or determine the cause of death" (Mosby, 1994). autopsy: an open dissection of the body, usually in which three cavities of the body are opened - head, chest, and abdomen. Organs are removed and examined individually by the medical examiner/pathologist (Alberta Justice, 1993, p. 9).

autopsy:
"a post-mortem examination performed to confirm or determine the cause of death" (Mosby, 1994).

autopsy:
an open dissection of the body, usually in which three cavities of the body are opened - head, chest, and abdomen. Organs are removed and examined individually by the medical examiner/pathologist (Alberta Justice, 1993, p. 9).

References