Forensic ScienceForensic Science

Christie OsorioChristie Osorio

Who Killed the IceManWho Killed the IceMan

http://store.discoveryeducation.com/product/show/50006

Forensic ScienceForensic Science

Forensic ScienceForensic Science The application of a broad spectrum The application of a broad spectrum

of sciences to answer questions of of sciences to answer questions of interest to the legal system which interest to the legal system which can include both criminal and civil can include both criminal and civil cases.cases.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Charlotte Mecklenburg Police DepartmentPolice Department

One of the only police departments One of the only police departments in NC to have their own crime labin NC to have their own crime lab

Most departments have to rely on Most departments have to rely on the SBI the SBI

Creates a backlog of casesCreates a backlog of cases Crimes are generally not solved in a Crimes are generally not solved in a

short period of timeshort period of time

CMPD Forensic Crime CMPD Forensic Crime LabLab

Chemistry SectionChemistry Section Firearms Examination SectionFirearms Examination Section Microanalysis/ DNA SectionMicroanalysis/ DNA Section Fingerprint Identification SectionFingerprint Identification Section Question Documents SectionQuestion Documents Section

How does forensic science How does forensic science help the police department?help the police department?

CMPD CSICMPD CSI

Civilian Position / $30,000 yearlyCivilian Position / $30,000 yearly Need college educationNeed college education Learn on the jobLearn on the job Job is to locate, identify and Job is to locate, identify and

preserve and package any physical preserve and package any physical evidence evidence

Photography, sketches and diagramsPhotography, sketches and diagrams Testify in courtTestify in court

Types of CallsTypes of Calls

Homicide & serious assaultsHomicide & serious assaults Suicide & unintended deathsSuicide & unintended deaths Home break-ins and burglariesHome break-ins and burglaries Robberies and sexual assaultsRobberies and sexual assaults Domestic violence, child abuse, & Domestic violence, child abuse, &

elder abuseelder abuse Mass disastersMass disasters

Detective's JobDetective's Job

CSI works under a detective or a CSI works under a detective or a patrol officer’s directionpatrol officer’s direction

Decide what is to be sent to the lab Decide what is to be sent to the lab and what is to be analyzedand what is to be analyzed

Forensic science is one piece of the Forensic science is one piece of the puzzle puzzle

Combine with interviews, confessions, Combine with interviews, confessions, and eye-witness identifications to and eye-witness identifications to solve crimessolve crimes

Make the CaseMake the Case

Generally Forensic Science is used Generally Forensic Science is used to make a solid case in Mecklenburg to make a solid case in Mecklenburg CountyCounty

Detectives identify a suspect and Detectives identify a suspect and forensic science confirms or forensic science confirms or exonerates him or herexonerates him or her

Break the CaseBreak the Case

The only time forensic science gives The only time forensic science gives a name out of thin air is in a case a name out of thin air is in a case involving DNA, fingerprints, or involving DNA, fingerprints, or firearms examinationsfirearms examinations

We may have no idea who We may have no idea who committed a crime, but if this committed a crime, but if this evidence is put into CODIS, AFIS, or evidence is put into CODIS, AFIS, or IBIS-it can tell us who likely IBIS-it can tell us who likely committed a crimecommitted a crime

CODISCODIS

Combined DNA Index SystemCombined DNA Index System DNA began to be used in the 1980sDNA began to be used in the 1980s Based on finding genetic markers of a Based on finding genetic markers of a

crime scene sample that matches a crime scene sample that matches a standard from a suspectstandard from a suspect

Uses old evidence to clear cases that Uses old evidence to clear cases that would have never been solved otherwisewould have never been solved otherwise

DNA is still only one small piece of the DNA is still only one small piece of the puzzlepuzzle

AFISAFIS

Automated Fingerprint Identification Automated Fingerprint Identification SystemSystem

No 2 fingerprints are the same-DNA not No 2 fingerprints are the same-DNA not truetrue

Fingerprints are made up of a series of Fingerprints are made up of a series of arches, loops, and whorls arches, loops, and whorls

Forms 6 months before we are bornForms 6 months before we are born Never change except for scarsNever change except for scars Quality prints can be put into AFIS and can Quality prints can be put into AFIS and can

produce a name of a suspectproduce a name of a suspect

FingerprintFingerprint

AFIS SystemAFIS System

IBISIBIS Intergrated Ballistics Identification SystemIntergrated Ballistics Identification System Firearms examination is less of an exact Firearms examination is less of an exact

sciencescience When a bullet is fired, all kinds of When a bullet is fired, all kinds of

markings appear on the shell casing and markings appear on the shell casing and projectile projectile

Lands, grooves, striations Lands, grooves, striations Pictures of markings are put into the IBIS Pictures of markings are put into the IBIS

system and matched with other bullets system and matched with other bullets from the same gunfrom the same gun

Autopsies Autopsies

Have nothing to do with the crime labHave nothing to do with the crime lab Mecklenburg County Medical Mecklenburg County Medical

Examiner’s OfficeExaminer’s Office 3 forensic pathologists in Mecklenburg 3 forensic pathologists in Mecklenburg

countycounty Handle autopsies in Mecklenburg and Handle autopsies in Mecklenburg and

the surrounding countiesthe surrounding counties Some smaller counties use coroners Some smaller counties use coroners

with no medical experience at allwith no medical experience at all

Medical ExaminersMedical Examiners

Ultimately decides the cause of deathUltimately decides the cause of death Open body, probe the wounds, Open body, probe the wounds,

recover the bulletsrecover the bullets Sometimes can tell what kind of knife Sometimes can tell what kind of knife

was usedwas used No one can touch the body without No one can touch the body without

the medical examiner’s permission the medical examiner’s permission until after the autopsy is doneuntil after the autopsy is done

Livor MortisLivor Mortis Settling of blood in the lower portion of the Settling of blood in the lower portion of the

bodybody Purplish-red discoloration of the skinPurplish-red discoloration of the skin Does not occur in areas where the body is in Does not occur in areas where the body is in

contact with other objectscontact with other objects Medical personal can use livor mortis as Medical personal can use livor mortis as

indication not to start CPR or to stop if it is in indication not to start CPR or to stop if it is in progressprogress

Can be used to tell if the body has been movedCan be used to tell if the body has been moved Starts 20 min- 3 hrs after deathStarts 20 min- 3 hrs after death

Livor MortisLivor Mortis

Rigor MortisRigor Mortis

Stiffening of the bodyStiffening of the body Helps to determine time of deathHelps to determine time of death Begins to set in 3-4 hrs after deathBegins to set in 3-4 hrs after death Full rigor at 12 hrs.Full rigor at 12 hrs. Relaxes again at 36 hrs.Relaxes again at 36 hrs.

Rigor MortisRigor Mortis

Medical Personnel Medical Personnel How can they help?How can they help?

Person/body is a crime scene Person/body is a crime scene Medical personnel are usually the first ones to Medical personnel are usually the first ones to

talk to the victim and sometimes the lasttalk to the victim and sometimes the last Listen and make notes of what your patient Listen and make notes of what your patient

sayssays Domestic violence & child abuse casesDomestic violence & child abuse cases Projectiles sometimes fall out of the victim’s Projectiles sometimes fall out of the victim’s

clothingclothing Try not to cut through any holes made by the Try not to cut through any holes made by the

bullet in the clothingbullet in the clothing Traffic accident victims may have glass or Traffic accident victims may have glass or

paint chips in their clothingpaint chips in their clothing Don’t let the clothing get thrown awayDon’t let the clothing get thrown away

Hands Bagged for GSRHands Bagged for GSR

GSR KitGSR Kit

Stab WoundsStab Wounds

Gun Shot WoundGun Shot Wound

Defensive WoundsDefensive Wounds

LuminalLuminal