Transcript Law Enforcement - CRIMINAL JUSTICE ONLINE

Law Enforcement
Criminal Investigations
Part One
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Preliminary Investigations
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Recall from our discussion on
Uniformed Patrol – the Alternative
Strategy of Retroactive Investigation
of Past Crimes by Detectives
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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
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Scene
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A location that may
contain evidence of a
crime.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Scenes
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A search of an
offender’s home may
yield evidence, but
not be the location
the crime occurred.
Protocols for scene
protection,
documentation and
evidence recovery are
critical at all crime
scenes
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Initial Response
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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.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Officer Safety
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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.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Securing the Scene
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Boundaries of the scene start at a focal
point, such as a body or point of entry and
extend outward to include:
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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.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Scenes
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Photographs provided by OBS INC.,
Specialty Vehicles
Evidence tends to
deteriorate
Investigator’s often
refer to the “golden
hour;” the time when
evidence is best
recovered.
Some jurisdictions are
taking the crime lab
to the crime scene
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Evidence Collection
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Proper protocols and
techniques for
collecting evidence
are very specific and
critical.
Generally, first
responders preserve
scenes and trained
specialist collect and
analysis evidence
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Evidence Collection
Chain of Custody
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Testimony and documentation that details the
location and condition of evidence from seizure
to trial.
It assures the court that items entered into
evidence are in the same condition as when they
were seized.
The chain of custody and the procedures used
to analyze evidence are more often challenged
than the science behind the analysis.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Forensic Science and Criminalistics
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Forensic comes from the
Latin word "forensis,"
meaning "of the forum,"
where the law courts of
ancient Rome were held
Forensic science is the
application of any type of
science, biological, social,
physical or mathematical
to legal matters.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Forensic Science and Criminalistics
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Forensic Science is the broader term,
meaning the part of the science used to
answer a legal question.
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Toxicology, ondontology, accounting,
pathology, serology
Criminalistics is a branch of Forensic
Science dealing with the study of physical
evidence related to a crime.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Daubert Test
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In order for the analysis of evidence to be
used against a defendant, the court must
accept the scientific conclusion as valid.
The standard for accepting scientific
analysis is the Daubert Test – from
Daubert v Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals,
inc.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
In the Daubert Test
The Court asks 
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Is the science derived by the scientific method?
Has the science been subjected to peer review
or publication?
Does the relevant scientific community generally
accept the science?
What is the error rate of thee scientific
technique used to gain the information?
Are there standards for controlling the
technology used to obtain the scientific
evidence?
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Transfer Theory
Edmund Locard, a French Scientist developed
the theory that contact between individuals or
objects results in a transfer of material
between them.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Trace Evidence
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Hair
Fiber
Glass
Paint
Dust
Dirt
Chemicals
Firearms
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Fluids
Blood
Bite Marks
Shoe Prints
Tool Marks
Wounds
Documents
Fingerprints
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
The First Major Systems of
Personal Identification
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Anthropometery
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exact measurements of an individuals body
yields a characteristic formula for comparison.
Dactlography
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Fingerprints
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
The West Brothers case is
attributed to the
ascendancy of fingerprints
over other means of
personal identification
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
A 1924 Act of Congress
established the FBI Identification
Division
By 1946 they
had 100 Million
Fingerprint cards
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Henry Classification System
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Lifting Prints
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Plastic – Found in a soft surface like wax,
paint or putty.
Visible – Contact with a wet fluid like
blood.
Latent – Meaning “Hidden” These prints
are left by the oils secreted by our hands
and are generally not visible.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Dusting for Prints
Powders have different
properties, for instance
color. Common colors are
black, white, gray,
aluminum, red, and gold.
Color is selected to make
the best contrast between
the print and the surface.
For instance , a white
powder might works best
on a dark surface.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Automatic
Fingerprint
Identification
System
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
AFIS
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A combination of hardware and software
used to scan and classify fingerprints so
that they can be stored in a database.
There are several regional, state and local
AFIS databases:
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Western Identification Network
Arizona DPS
Ontario, CA police Department
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Integrated Automated
Fingerprint Identification System
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National fingerprint
and criminal history
system maintained by
the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI),
Criminal Justice
Information Services
(CJIS) Division.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
AFIS
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Maintains the largest Biometric database
in the world, containing the fingerprints
and corresponding criminal history
information for more than 47 million
subjects.
The fingerprints and corresponding
criminal history information are submitted
voluntarily by state, local, and federal law
enforcement agencies.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Biometrics
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The science of automatically identifying
individuals based on a physiological or
psychological characteristic:
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Fingerprint
Retinal Scan
Voice Print
Facial Scan
Thermal Image
Handwriting, gait, and others
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Returning to IAFIS
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IAFIS provides FIVE services:
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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
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Fingerprint Advances
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The recovery of latent
(hidden) fingerprints
is not longer
restricted to powder:
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Technology has advanced to the
point wherein some jurisdictions
use superglue fuming wands at
the crime scene
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Superglue fuming
Laser applications
Unique powders
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Fuming
There are several types of
fuming, the most recent is
“super glue fuming.”
Super glue contains the
chemical Cyanoacrylate.
When heated this
substance sticks to trace
oils, hardens and when
dry it is visible.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Ballistics
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Class Characteristics are identified by
lands.
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Individual Characteristics are identified by
striations
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Firearms Identification
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
National Integrated Ballistic
Identification System
In 1993, prior to NIBIN’s, the FBI (DRUGFIRE)
and ATF (BULLETPROOF/CEASEFIRE)
established separate computerized ballistics
imaging systems. NIBIN was established in 1997
to unify these systems. There are currently over
220 crime labs participating.
Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Criminal Investigations
Part I
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Copyright 2005-2009:Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster