Question

The term Criminalistics was first coined by:

• A. Edmund Locard
• B. Paul Kirk
• C. Alphose Bertillon
• D. Henry Fanids (likely a misspelling of Hans Gross)

Hint:

Remember Hans Gross as the "grandfather" of the field who first named it "Kriminalistik." Paul Kirk was a key figure in modernizing and defining "Criminalistics" in the English-speaking world.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Analyze the origin of the term. The term "Criminalistics" (in German, "Kriminalistik") was introduced to describe the systematic, scientific approach to crime investigation.

Step 2: Evaluate the contributors.
(1) Edmund Locard: A pioneer in forensic science, famous for his "exchange principle" (every contact leaves a trace). He established the first crime lab.
(2) Paul Kirk: A prominent American criminalist who was instrumental in developing forensic science in the US. He defined criminalistics as "the science of individualization." He is often credited with coining the term in its modern English usage.
(3) Alphonse Bertillon: Developed the system of anthropometry for personal identification.
(4) Hans Gross: An Austrian magistrate and professor of criminology, often regarded as the "Father of Criminalistics." He published the book "Handbuch für Untersuchungsrichter als System der Kriminalistik" (Handbook for Examining Magistrates as a System of Criminalistics) in 1893, where he first used the term to describe the synthesis of scientific disciplines for legal investigation. The name "Henry Fanids" in the option is almost certainly a typographical error for Hans Gross.
Conclusion: Hans Gross is historically credited with coining the term.