criminal investigations (part one)

Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

Law EnforcementLaw EnforcementCriminal InvestigationsCriminal Investigations

Part OnePart One


Preliminary InvestigationsPreliminary Investigations

Recall from our discussion on Uniformed Patrol – the Alternative Strategy of Retroactive Investigation of Past Crimes by Detectives If the call involves a crime, the officer

conducts a preliminary investigation and often refers the case to a detective who then conducts a follow up investigation of the crime


Crime SceneCrime Scene

A location that may A location that may contain evidence of contain evidence of a crime.a crime.


Crime ScenesCrime Scenes A search of an A search of an

offender’s home may offender’s home may yield evidence, but yield evidence, but not be the location not be the location the crime occurred.the crime occurred.

Protocols for scene Protocols for scene protection, protection, documentation and documentation and evidence recovery evidence recovery are critical at all are critical at all crime scenescrime scenes


Initial ResponseInitial Response Note/log information Be aware of any persons or vehicles leaving. Approach the scene cautiously, scan the entire

area to thoroughly assess the scene, and note any possible secondary crime scenes.

Be aware of any persons and vehicles in the vicinity that may be related to the crime.

Make initial observations (look, listen, smell) to assess the scene and ensure officer safety before proceeding.

Remain alert and attentive. Assume the crime is ongoing until determined to be otherwise.

Treat the location as a crime scene until assessed and determined to be otherwise.


Officer SafetyOfficer Safety The safety of officers and others, in and

around the crime scene, is the first responder’s responsibility.

After controlling any dangerous situations or persons, the next responsibility is ensuring medical attention is provided to injured persons while minimizing contamination of the scene.


Securing the SceneSecuring the Scene

Boundaries of the scene start at a focal point, such as a body or point of entry and extend outward to include: Where the crime occurred. Potential points and paths of exit and

entry of suspects and witnesses. Places where the victim/evidence may

have been moved.


Crime ScenesCrime Scenes

Evidence tends to Evidence tends to deterioratedeteriorate

Investigator’s often Investigator’s often refer to the “golden refer to the “golden hour;” the time hour;” the time when evidence is when evidence is best recovered.best recovered.

Some jurisdictions Some jurisdictions are taking the are taking the crime lab to the crime lab to the crime scenecrime scene

Photographs provided by OBS Photographs provided by OBS INC., Specialty VehiclesINC., Specialty Vehicles


Evidence CollectionEvidence Collection

Proper protocols and Proper protocols and techniques for techniques for collecting evidence collecting evidence are very specific and are very specific and critical.critical.

Generally, first Generally, first responders preserve responders preserve scenes and trained scenes and trained specialist collect and specialist collect and analysis evidenceanalysis evidence


Evidence CollectionEvidence CollectionChain of CustodyChain of Custody

Testimony and documentation that details Testimony and documentation that details the location and condition of evidence the location and condition of evidence from seizure to trial.from seizure to trial.

It assures the court that items entered into It assures the court that items entered into evidence are in the same condition as evidence are in the same condition as when they were seized.when they were seized.

The chain of custody and the procedures The chain of custody and the procedures used to analyze evidence are more often used to analyze evidence are more often challenged than the science behind the challenged than the science behind the analysis.analysis.


Forensic ScienceForensic Science and Criminalistics and Criminalistics

Forensic comes from the Forensic comes from the Latin word "forensis," Latin word "forensis," meaning "of the forum," meaning "of the forum," where the law courts of where the law courts of ancient Rome were held ancient Rome were held Forensic scienceForensic science is the is the application of any type application of any type of science, biological, of science, biological, social, physical or social, physical or mathematical to legal mathematical to legal matters.matters.


Forensic Science and CriminalisticsForensic Science and Criminalistics

Forensic Science is the broader term, Forensic Science is the broader term, meaning the part of the science used meaning the part of the science used to answer a legal question.to answer a legal question. Toxicology, ondontology, accounting, Toxicology, ondontology, accounting,

pathology, serologypathology, serology Criminalistics is a branch of Criminalistics is a branch of

Forensic ScienceForensic Science dealing with the dealing with the study of physical evidence related to study of physical evidence related to a crime.a crime.


Daubert TestDaubert Test

In order for the analysis of evidence In order for the analysis of evidence to be used against a defendant, the to be used against a defendant, the court must accept the scientific court must accept the scientific conclusion as valid.conclusion as valid.

The standard for accepting scientific The standard for accepting scientific analysis is the Daubert Test – from analysis is the Daubert Test – from Daubert v Merrel Dow Daubert v Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals, inc.Pharmaceuticals, inc.


In the Daubert TestIn the Daubert TestThe Court asks - The Court asks -

Is the science derived by the scientific Is the science derived by the scientific method?method?

Has the science been subjected to peer Has the science been subjected to peer review or publication?review or publication?

Does the relevant scientific community Does the relevant scientific community generally accept the science?generally accept the science?

What is the error rate of thee scientific What is the error rate of thee scientific technique used to gain the information?technique used to gain the information?

Are there standards for controlling the Are there standards for controlling the technology used to obtain the scientific technology used to obtain the scientific evidence?evidence?


Transfer TheoryTransfer Theory

Edmund Locard, a French Scientist developedEdmund Locard, a French Scientist developed

the theory that contact between individuals orthe theory that contact between individuals or

objects results in a transfer of materialobjects results in a transfer of material

between them. between them.


Trace EvidenceTrace Evidence

HairHair FiberFiber GlassGlass PaintPaint DustDust DirtDirt ChemicalsChemicals FirearmsFirearms

FluidsFluids BloodBlood Bite MarksBite Marks Shoe PrintsShoe Prints Tool MarksTool Marks WoundsWounds DocumentsDocuments FingerprintsFingerprints


The First Major Systems of The First Major Systems of Personal IdentificationPersonal Identification

Anthropometery Anthropometery exact measurements of an individuals body exact measurements of an individuals body

yields a characteristic formula for yields a characteristic formula for comparison.comparison.

Dactlography Dactlography FingerprintsFingerprints


The West Brothers case is attributed to the ascendancy of fingerprints over other means of personal identification


A 1924 Act of Congress established the FBI Identification Division

By 1946 they had 100 Million Fingerprint cards


Henry Classification SystemHenry Classification System


Lifting PrintsLifting Prints

Plastic – Found in a soft surface like Plastic – Found in a soft surface like wax, paint or putty.wax, paint or putty.

Visible – Contact with a wet fluid like Visible – Contact with a wet fluid like blood.blood.

Latent – Meaning “Hidden” These Latent – Meaning “Hidden” These prints are left by the oils secreted by prints are left by the oils secreted by our hands and are generally not our hands and are generally not visible.visible.


Dusting for PrintsDusting for PrintsPowders have differentPowders have different

properties, for instanceproperties, for instance

color. Common colors arecolor. Common colors are

black, white, gray, black, white, gray,

aluminum, red, and gold. aluminum, red, and gold.

Color is selected to make Color is selected to make

the best contrast between the best contrast between

the print and the surface. the print and the surface.

For instance , a whiteFor instance , a white

powder might works best powder might works best

on a dark surfaceon a dark surface..


Automatic

Fingerprint

Identification

System


AFISAFIS

A combination of hardware and A combination of hardware and software used to scan and classify software used to scan and classify fingerprints so that they can be fingerprints so that they can be stored in a database.stored in a database.

There are several regional, state and There are several regional, state and local AFIS databases:local AFIS databases: Western Identification NetworkWestern Identification Network Arizona DPSArizona DPS Ontario, CA police DepartmentOntario, CA police Department


Integrated Automated Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification SystemFingerprint Identification System

National fingerprint National fingerprint and criminal and criminal history system history system maintained by the maintained by the Federal Bureau of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Investigation (FBI), Criminal Justice Criminal Justice Information Information Services (CJIS) Services (CJIS) Division. Division.


AFISAFIS

Maintains the largest Maintains the largest BiometricBiometric database in the world, containing the database in the world, containing the fingerprints and corresponding fingerprints and corresponding criminal history information for more criminal history information for more than 47 million subjects.than 47 million subjects.

The fingerprints and corresponding The fingerprints and corresponding criminal history information are criminal history information are submitted voluntarily by state, local, submitted voluntarily by state, local, and federal law enforcement and federal law enforcement agencies. agencies.


BiometricsBiometrics

The science of automatically The science of automatically identifying individuals based on a identifying individuals based on a physiological or psychological physiological or psychological characteristic:characteristic: FingerprintFingerprint Retinal ScanRetinal Scan Voice PrintVoice Print Facial ScanFacial Scan Thermal ImageThermal Image Handwriting, gait, and othersHandwriting, gait, and others


Returning to IAFISReturning to IAFIS

IAFIS provides FIVE services: Ten-Print Based Fingerprint Identification

Services Latent Fingerprint Services Subject Search and Criminal History Services Document and Imaging Services Remote Ten-Print and Latent Fingerprint

Search Services


Fingerprint AdvancesFingerprint Advances

The recovery of The recovery of latent (hidden) latent (hidden) fingerprints is not fingerprints is not longer restricted to longer restricted to powder:powder: Superglue fumingSuperglue fuming Laser applicationsLaser applications Unique powdersUnique powders

Technology has advanced to Technology has advanced to the point wherein some the point wherein some

jurisdictions use superglue jurisdictions use superglue fuming wands at the crime fuming wands at the crime

scenescene


FumingFumingThere are several types ofThere are several types offuming, the most recent isfuming, the most recent is““super glue fuming.” super glue fuming.” Super glue contains the Super glue contains the chemical Cyanoacrylate. chemical Cyanoacrylate. When heated this When heated this substance sticks to trace substance sticks to trace oils, hardens and when oils, hardens and when dry it is visible.dry it is visible.


BallisticsBallistics

Class Characteristics are identified Class Characteristics are identified

by by lands.lands.

Individual Characteristics are Individual Characteristics are

identified by identified by striationsstriations


Firearms IdentificationFirearms Identification


National Integrated Ballistic National Integrated Ballistic Identification System Identification System

In 1993, prior to NIBIN’s, the FBI (DRUGFIRE)In 1993, prior to NIBIN’s, the FBI (DRUGFIRE)

and ATF (BULLETPROOF/CEASEFIRE)and ATF (BULLETPROOF/CEASEFIRE)

established separate computerized ballisticsestablished separate computerized ballistics

imaging systems. NIBIN was established in 1997imaging systems. NIBIN was established in 1997

to unify these systems. There are currently overto unify these systems. There are currently over

220 crime labs participating.220 crime labs participating.


Criminal InvestigationsCriminal InvestigationsPart IPart I

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criminal investigations (part one)

Education

crime scenes evidence

scientific evidence

analysis evidence

analysis of evidence

condition of evidence

crime scene photographs

evidence recovery

crime lab