Forensics Test #1

Photograph includes

- case number - type of scene - date - location of scene -description of the camera and lenses being used - film type and speed (if applicale) - photographers name and title

Crime Scene notes

- note taking begins when the investigator is contacted and requested to report to the crime scene NOTES BEGIN WITH 1) identity of the person who contacted the investigator 2) time of contact and arrival at the crime scene 3) preliminary case information 4) personnel present on arrival and those being contacted

Criteria for Admissability

- scientific technique can be tested - subject to peer review and publication - existence of maintenance of standards - whether scientific theory or method has attracted widespread acceptance within a relevant community

search

- systematic and thorough - search patter selected will normally depend on size and locale of the scene and number of collectors - physical evidence can be massive or microscopic traces

The Grim Sleeper

-1985 killing in LA and apparently ended in 1988 -All 8 were Prostitutes 2002 killing resumed, by 2007 there were 3 more victims -Always left behind DNA evidence -DNA database search always came up empty -2010 a familial DNA search (links close relative) gave a result -The killers son was in prison which provided the suspect -DNA from discarded pizza crust linked Lonnie David Franklin to all the crimes.

Golden State Killer

-At least 13 murders, more than 50 rapes and over 100 burglaries in California from 1974-1986 -AKA- East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker. -DNA left at the scene never gave hit when entered into CODIS -Was caught April 24, 2018 using genealogy services

Natural VS. Evidential Limits

-Modern analytical techniques have become so sophisticated and sensitive that natural variations in objects become almost infinite. Evidential variations are not the same as natural variations.

Securing the Scene

-detailed log of personnel movements in and out of the crime scene (names and time of entry and exit) -NEVER do anything that might alter the scene (smoking, eating, drinking, littering)

Common types of identification

-gasoline residues -explosive residues - biological samples

1999 Troy Graves

-leaves Philadelphia, joins air force, gets married and settles down in Colorado -8 sexual assaults leads to his arrest -DNA taken and links him to Philadelphia's "Center City rapist" - 4 attacks one death in 1997-1999 -life without parole

Gerald Wallace

-murdered in 1975; no witness, evidence collected didn't lead to a suspect -1986; single fingerprint lifted was entered into the PA database that gave a match -directed investigators to a witness and eventually to a suspect later convicted

Notes are

-personnel log, all observations made by the investigator, and the time observations were made -notes are taken in uniform layout, concurrently as the observations are made -notes are written in BOUND notebook in blue or black in -if mistakes are made, one line is placed through the mistake and initialed and dated -mistakes are never erased -can chose to record crime scene notes on audio tapes

All rough sketches include

1) Title block with information about the case, crime scene and person creating the sketch 2) Legend with identity and dimensions of objects in the sketch 3) Compass with the North direction 4) Body containing the sketch itself

DatabasesSICAR (Shoeprint Image Capture and Retrieval)

1) is a shoeprint database. This product has a comprehensive shoe sole database (SoleMate®) which contains more than 22,000 footwear patterns. 2) A second database, TreadMate®, also has been created to house tire tread patterns. Currently, it contains 6,000 records

Photographs taken at a crime scene:

1) show the layout of the crime scene 2) show position of collected and uncollected evidence 3) show POV of victims, suspects, and witnesses 4) show the original condition of items of evidence at scene

Hypothesis

1. Formulate a question worthy of investigation 2. Formulate a reasonable hypothesis to answer the question 3. Test the hypothesis through experimentation 4. Upon validation it becomes suitable as scientific evidence

The Walkthrough

1. Perpetrators point of entry and exit are located 2. Indirect path is taken to the center of the crime scene 3. Obvious items of evidence are located and documented 4. Conditions of the scene are observed and recorded 5. Special attention is paid to items or conditions that suggest TIMING of the incident or do not appear to belong

3 reasons for increase in crime labs

1. Supreme Court decisions in the 1960's responsible for placing greater emphasis on scientifically evaluated science 2. crime labs inundated with drug specimens due to accelerated drug abuse/WAR ON DRUGS 3. advent of DNA PROFILING

Forensic comparison

1. combinations of select properties are chosen from the suspect and the standard/reference specimen 2. once examination is complete, the forensic scientist must be prepared to render a conclusion with respect to the origins with a DEGREE OF PROBABILITY

4 minimum photographs required at a crime scene

1. overview 2. medium range 3. close-up 4. close-up photograph with scale

Present number of crime labs

400

Third Century China

A husband's death in an "accidental" kitchen fire used pigs to recreate scene and interpret data

chain of custody

A list of all people who came into possession of an item of evidence

Crime Scene Sketch

A rough drawing used to document a crime scene 1)clearly show the layout of a crime scene 2)Illustrate the relationship in space of all significant items and features 3) clarify objects and features already described in notes or shown in photographs 4) show measurements over long distances and topography of outdoor scenes 5) depict possible paths of entry, exit, and movement through the scene 6) Demonstrate whether the account of a victim, suspect, or witness is feasible

Physical Evidence

Any object that can establish that a crime has been committed or can link a crime and its victim or its perpetrator. -Established that a crime has or has not been committed -provide link between crime and its victim or perpetrator -has to be recognized

Packaging Continued

Biological or stained material should not me stored in airtight containers (mold). Contamination is key concern during the collection of DNA- CONTAINING SPECIMENS SUCH AS BLOOD, SALIVA, SWEAT, OR SKIN CELLS

1934

Bruno Richard Hauptmann used marked bills - analysis showed tool was used to make ladder, wood found in attic of Bruno'd house and handwriting analysis showed he wrote the ransom note

The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)

Enables federal, state, and local crime laboratories to electronically exchange and compare DNA profiles. Launched in 1998, it contained 992,000 profiles in its forensic index from unsolved crimes. Contains 14 million in its "offender" index. 4 million arrestee profile

Locard's Exchange Principle

Every contact leaves a trace

Alphonse Bertillon

Father of Anthropometry

Calvin Goodard

Father of Ballistics

1806

German Chemist more precise method of detecting arsenic in the walls of a stomach

Frye vs. US

In this case they established 'general acceptance' evidence that is accepted into court and you have to go in with what isn't accepted, there is an official list.

1828 William Nichol

Invented polarizing microscope

Night searches

Investigators avoid carrying out outdoor or dark indoor crime scene searches at night. If possible, the crime scene is secured and guarded until morning.

1932

Lindbergh baby, Charles Jr, taken from second floor nursery - evidence: ranson notes - $50,000 ransom paid with serial numbers recorded - Analysis of ladder led to lumber yard: traced wood from S. Carolina mill to lumber yard in NY. trail went cold when lumber yard didn't keep records of transactions

Search and seizure landmark cases

MINCEY v ARIZONA, court dealt with the legality of a four-day search at a homocide scene and determined that the evidence was illegally seized because a warrant was never issued and the circumstances of the case did not justify a warrantless search MICHIGAN v TYLER, fire destroyed a business establishment leased by Loren Tyler and a business partner. The court decided that evidence obtained from the initial search was legally seized, but evidence obtained from searched 4, 7, and 24 days after were illegally seized.

1686

Marcello, professor of anatomy Italy records first notes on fingerprints

Line/Strip Search Pattern

One or two investigators start at the boundary of the crime scene and search in straight lines across to the other side of the crime scene

Vehicle Searches

Police may search with probable cause. At scene or crime lab garage

Procedure for collection

Prevent contamination, breakage, evaporation, accidental scratching or bending through improper or careless packaging. Each item or similar items collected at different locations must be placed in separate containers

Class Characteristics

Properties of evidence that can be associated only with a group and never with a single source. High DIVERSITY

latent fingerprint photography

Require photographs with a 1:1 scale using a special latent fingerprint camera or a regular camera fitted with an adapter

Impression photography

Requires oblique lighting to show details and a scale to later create a 1:1 scale photograph for comparison to footwear or tire samples

Wheel/Ray Search Pattern

Several investigators search in straight lines from the center to the boundary (outward) or from the boundary to the center (inward).

Overview photographs

Show the crime scene in wide angles

1775

Swedish chemist Carl Winhlm Scheele developed an assay for detection of arsenic in tissue

forensic science

The application of scientific knowledge to questions of civil and criminal law.

Quadrant/Zone Search Pattern

The crime scene is divided into smaller sections (zones). One or more investigators are assigned to search each zone.

Forensic Odontology

The study of teeth and bite marks to identify a body or tie a suspect to a crime.

Grid search pattern

Two or more investigators form a grid by searching in line patterns that overlap and are perpendicular to each other.

Search and Seizure

U.S. Supreme court determined that search and seizure without court-approved warrant is justified in 1) emergency circumstances 2) prevent immediate loss pr destruction of evidence 3) search of a person and property within immediate control of the person provided it is made incident to a lawful arrest 4) search made by CONSENT of the partied involved

Role of Probability

Whether the research has confirmed the hypothesis to a high degree or not

expert witness

a person who is permitted to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.

Spiral search pattern

a search pattern often used outside by one person in which the searcher begins at a certain point and walks in increasingly larger circles to the outmost boundary of the search area.

Class evidence

additive: more objects of class point to a specific individual, probability of involvement increases; product rule: multiply the frequency of each event to find the probability of such an occurrence. exonerate

The National Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN)

allows firearm analysts to acquire, digitize, and compare markings made by a firearm on bullets and cartridge casings. Nearly 1.6 million items and 34,000 hits have been recorded

Photography unit

applies specialized photographic techniques for recording and examining physical evidence

Voice-print Analysis unit

attempts to tie a recorded voice to a particular suspect

Secondary Crime scene

becomes part of the scene due to secondary activities

Physical evidence can include

blood, semen, saliva, documents, explosives, fibers, fingerprints, hairs, glass, organs, impressions, paint, and tool marks

Comparison analysis

compare a suspect specimen to a standard/reference specimen

Hot zone

contaminated area; PPE

the finished sketch

created from the information in the rough sketch but is drawn to scale with care and concern for appearance. Current standard methods utilized Computer-Aided Drafting CAD programs to create finished sketch. CAD programs allow for the creation of 3D finished sketches

International Forensic Automotive Paint Data Query (PDQ)

database contains chemical and color information pertaining to original automotive paints. Contains information for about 13,000 vehicles.

1814

detection of poisons and their effect on animals

Leone Lattes

developed a procedure to determine blood type from dried bloodstains

Sir Alec Jeffreys

developed the first DNA profiling test in 1984

Albert Osborn

developed the fundamental principles of document examination

1901 Dr. Karl Landsteiner

discovered blood groupings

Crime Scene Investigation unit

dispatches specially trained personnel to the crime scene to collect and preserve physical evidence

Individualized characteristics

evidence that can be associated to a common source with an extremely high degree of probability is said to possess individual characteristics. more points of comparison, the higher that value that particular type of evidence (ex. ridges of two fingerprints, handwriting, bullet or tool marks)

Toxicology unit

examines body fluids and organs for the presence of drugs and poisons

Forensic Computer and Digital Analysis

examines digital evidence

Forensic Psychiatry

examines human behavior

Mathieu Orfila

father of forensic toxicology

1892 Francis Galton

first definitive study of fingerprints and their classification

1796

first forensic paper published on the workings of the body "A Treatise on Forensic Medicine and Public Health"

1854

first tests for hemoglobin, 10 years later first presumptive test for blood

Physical Science unit

identifies and compares physical evidence

Edmond Locard

incorporated Gross' principles within a workable crime laboratory

Biology unit

investigates blood samples, body fluids, hair, and fiber samples

Firearms unit

investigates discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells, and ammunition

Polygraph unit

lie detector

Packaging Evidence

liquid and arson remains must be secured in airtight unbreakable containers and biological evidence must be dried before packaging. Sharps and Weapons need special internal packaging. Small amounts of trace evidence can also be packaged in a folded paper "druggist fold". Evidence from arson scenes should be packaged in airtight containers

Purpose of crime scene search

locate all physical evidence

Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)

national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the FBI and launched in 1999. Contained fingerprints for nearly 149 million subjects

Constitutional issues

people not convicted of a crime but had their DNA taken and subject to CODIS search against DNA collected from unsolved crimes

Indoor photography

photographs of points of entry and exit, all walls, floors, ceiling

Arson photography

photographs point of fire's origin and use of special equipment or techniques to provide maximum contrast in photographs of charred areas

standard/reference sample

physical evidence whose origin is known, such as blood or hair from a suspect, that can be compared to crime-scene evidence

Latent Fingerprint unit

processes and examines evidence for latent fingerprints

Forensic Document Examination unit

provides the skills needed for handwriting analysis and other questioned-document issues

Fourth Amendment

removal of any evidence from a person or the scene must be done in conformity with the fourth amendment

Outdoor photography

requires location of photographs to be recorded by a Global Positioning Device or measurements from landmarks

Sexual assault photography

requires photographs of all wounds and clothing while showing discretion to the victim.

Bloodstain photography

requires photographs of all pertinent stains and determined AREA OF CONVERGENCE and AREA OF ORIGIN

1786

scientific paper published on fingerprints but didn't recognize identification potential

Medium range photographs

show the layout of smaller significant areas of the crime scene

Close up photographs

taken last and show greater detail of individual objects or evidence. Taken at 90 angel to the object with and without evidence markers and scales

forensic palynology

the use of pollen and spore evidence to help solve criminal cases

continuity of possession

to be established whenever evidence is presented in court

identification

to determine physical or chemical identity of a suspect

Walter McCrone

utilized microscopy and other analytical methodologies to examine evidence

Primary Crime Scene

where the crime originated

Hans Gross

wrote the first treatise describing the application of scientific principles to the field of criminal investigation