criminalistics midterm

Forensic Science

application of science and law → anything applied to a court case

death, rape, forgeries, fraud, negligence, assault, kidnapping

does NOT solve crime; investigators solve crime (witnesses, interviews, confessions)

Cocaine

2 parts of Hydrochloride (alkaloid extracted from the Erythroxylum coca plant) 1 part of baking soda

mix in 20ml of water

solution is heated until white precipitates form

heating stills when precipitation stops

precipitate is filtered and retained then washed

blocks pain sensation and stimulates nervous system, sudden increase in heart rate, temp and BP, serotonin and norepinephrine,

Substance= benzoylecgonine

Deaths reportable to the County Medical Examiner’s office

all sudden deaths not caused by readily recognizable disease, or under suspicious circumstances with anything that may have a direct effect

• COD cannot be properly certified by physician

• operative, peri-operative, and post operative deaths where it’s not readily explainable on basis of prior disease

• excessive drug/alcohol amounts during surgeries

• body is unidentified/unclaimed

• any hospital death as result from diagnosis/procedure

• all jail deaths

Manner of death

natural, homicide, suicide, accident, pending, undetermined

Forensic Engineer

a specialist who investigates materials, products, structures, or machinery that fail, malfunction, or cause injury and property damage

What happened, why it happened, how did it happen?

Who can sign a death certificate?

any licensed physician can issue natural death certificate, only coroners or medical examiners can sign untarual → whichever state the body is pronounced dead in signs

All jail deaths…

reported both in system and physical incarceration with majority mandated autopsy

Disposition of unclaimed bodies

no one is financial responsible for next of kin, biohazard, goes to be cremated→common grave, “pauper’s grave” buried as unclaimed body

Medical Examiner office duties

Identification and information keeping

Epidemiology, community relations, teaching facility, public presentations, underage drinking program

Hospital deaths occured from the result of…

accidental trauma during diagnosis/procedure must be reported as unnatural death, and investigated (root cause analysis)

Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE)

non-profit that manages donation activity for 155 hospitals

1 organ/tissue or corneal donation may directly help 200-400 people

Cornea’s renew sight and tissue which may help restore ability to walk, run, move freely without pain

Forensic Odontology

study of teeth, present dental activity and evidence in court

characteristics of teeth, their alignment, and the overall structure of the mouth provide individual evidence for identifying a specific person. With the use of dental records such as X-rays and dental casts or even a photograph of the person’s smile, a set of dental remains can be compared to a suspected victim

bite marks- interpretation to identify potential perpetrator with mark on victim

Forensic Anthropology

The use of anthropological knowledge of human/man and skeletal structure to examine and identify human skeletal remains for purpose of court

If the ME/coroner’s office refuses to do an autopsy…

the death is typically classified as a natural or expected death that falls under the jurisdiction of an attending physician rather than forensic investigation

natural death from known condition, lack of suspicion/harm, does not meat cause for unnatural death

Hair consists of

Protein Keratin

root- provides tools to product hair

Outer cuticle is strongest part of the fiber and protects inner cortex (dead keratinized cells)

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

deceased by any objects caught/swallowed in nose/mouth (secretions)

Check: last feeding date/time/food

position of baby, time and place of death, bed/home conditions

Medical- recent illness, prior Hx or treatments, weight/defects, shot records

were well baby exams conducted- where, when, who and date?

falls, accidents exposure to contagious diseases

*avoid by putting baby on back instead of stomach

Guideline checklist for Gunshots and Stabbings

• description of gun, knife, bat

• type, make, caliber, serial #

• ownership, registration, normal place kept

• disposition of weapon casings, bullet fragments

Transfer of evidence

links objects → location → victim → suspect

trace evidence: fibers, blood, seaman, debris

Locard: contact btwn 2> evidence will leave traces of each other

Evidence collection by

Police, crime scene investigator, forensic scientist,

*1 person should collect to ensure consistency of labeling

Pubic hair

pulled from root- 25 hairs minimum from all 5 public regions

isn’t subject to change as much as hair on head → discontinuous medulla and buckling

Medullary index

diameter of medulla/hair- made up of cells that run through center of cortex like a canal

human index is < 1/3

animal index is > 1/2

Hair phases

early anagen → anagen (active transition) → catagen (regressive) → telogen (resting)

Anagen

actively growing, materials are deposited in hair shaft by cells found in follicle 80% anagen

Catagen

Active hair growth stops, the hair follicle shrinks to a fraction of its size, and the hair detaches from its blood supply (dermal papilla) to become a club hair 2%

hair color is

Provided by pigment produced by melanocytes, pigments are called melanin

the fiber has no color, if bleached it will look white because it reflects white

Evidence sent in for hair is considered

class evidence- color, shape, refractive index,

*absolute identification is NOT possible

Ordinary compound microscope was

..replaced by the comparison microscope for forensic hair and fiber analysis. 2 compound microscopes put together to add 2 slides to compare evidence

Most alcohol is…

slower due to carbohydrates (slow recation time)

absorbed 20% in stomach and 80% in small intestine

water soluble → fat determines absorbtion

Normal beer decreases speed of

absorption because of lower concentration and higher water & carbohydrates → takes longer to get to small intestine

Coroner must

determine death - how, why, when, where, who

• prevent similar deaths from happening

• question witnesses

• find out what happened, do not assign blame/find someone to punish

• make recommendation of charges

A suicidal investigation should

be presumed a homicide until proven: investigate-

• clothing/conditions

• visible defense/hesitation wounds, injection site, blood stain spatter

• sites logical

• artificial injection site by rescue personnel

• known user, dealer

• weapon- right or left hand (dominant hand?)

• personal problems

• behavior changes

• previous attempts/talk of suicide

*women commit 2x more than men but men have a higher success rate

Forensic geology

the legal application of earth and soil science

Steroids

Large group of naturally occurring and synthetic lipids fat-soluble

mostly oral contraceptives consisting of female sex hormones to inhibit ovulation

most widely used steroid- cortisone

prescription drugs: skil ailment, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and allergies, various eye diseases

Skin structure

epidermis- outer surface layer

dermis- inner layer

dermal papillae- show fingerprint pattern (identifiable and original characteristics)

Friction ridges

found on palms, fingers, feet, toes, create resistance to slippage

-oils left behind give a fingerprint a certain look

*papillary pattern determins form and pattern of friction ridges

Ridge patterns

Loops, whorls, arches

L: 1 ridge entering for 1 side and leaving same side

W: must have type lines and 2 deltas

A: ridgest enter 1 side and leave opposite side, no types, deltas

anabolic steroids

increase weight gain and muscle mass, male testosterone first tested on dogs in 60s

decreases immune system activity that affects white blood cells, accelerates puberty that halths skeletal growth, stems liver problems and infertility issues

Heroine is

diacetylmorphine → not natural and more potent 100x faster than morphine

Heroine use

effects: drowsy for several hours, mental functions clouded, cardiac functions decrease, breathing decreases, sometimes lead to death, withdraw in hours *cannot die from withdrawal but can cause fetus death

lasts 1-4 days in urine

Ketamine

phenylcyclohexylamine, ideal for anesthetic respiratory and heart control

stopped because of unacceptable increase in hallucinations, confusion and mental cravings

liquid injection, smokeable, and taken in drinks- used for animals but also recreational

“K-hole” - dreamy feeling floating outside body (closest to near death experience)

rapture, paranoia, boredom

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate GHB

treats narcolepsy and cataplexy, hits in 10-20 min and lasts 4 hours

hard to find in urine, initial euphoria then drowsiness, dizziness, and possible coma

odorless,, colorless, a liquid frequently combined with alcohol…”date rape drug” correlates with high memory impairment and reduces motor skills

Who used GHB and for what?

elders: “ati-aging” puts you into deep rem sleep to product growth hormone and get better sleep to stop body progression

burns fat and develops muscle;

strippers: used to “dance sexier”

Drugs are

substances of natural/synthetic origin, which can alter emotional states, perception, bodily functions, or behavior of an organisms,

Freebase cocaine

alkaline mix (water insoluble) that extracts pure coke- easily smokeable

first in california by dealers in hollywood media

reason stopped: explosive

Women vs Men taking sedatives

-women absorb slower than men

-women store sedatives longer because an increase in body % fat

-women become addicted 2x more than men and eliminate it slower due to less liver enzyme

physical evidence

any evidence that can establish a crime has/has not been committed or link a crime to a suspect/victim

common types: blood, semen, saliva, documents, drugs, explosives, fibers, fingerprints, firearms/ammunition, glass, hair, impression marks, organs/fluids, paint, petroleum, plastic bags, rubber/polymers, powder residue, serial #s, soil/minerals, tool marks, vehicle parts, wood

Photographs by forensic photographer should

capture all raw and untouched evidence of the scene

after body is removed, the surface under should also be captured

overview, medium-range, close-up, and close-up with a scale

Crime scene security

first officer that arrives on scene is responsible for preserving and protecting the area

officers direct medical assistants to work around evidence as clearly as possible

potential witness/suspect must be detained and all other personnel removed from scene

responding officers must keep a log of who enters/exits scene

Processing a crime scene

note-taking: identify all contacts from scene, complete walkthrough (conditions), observe body

photograph: capture entire scene - rough sketch and final sketch instituted

use elaborate search patterns: strip/line, grid, perpendicular, spiral, wheel/ray, quadrant/zone

Handling evidence

prevent any changes from collection to lab arrival

-use latex gloves and disposable forceps

-non-disposable collection devices should be cleaned in-between each collection

-use plastic pill bottles for minute evidence (hair, fibers, etc.)

-druggist fold, NO mail envelops, residue/chemical should be sealed *only disposable tools for biological matter

impression evidence

Objects retaining physical characteristics of other objects through contact. Tire markings, shoe prints, depressions in soft soils, and all other forms of tracks. Glove and other fabric impressions are also included

*must be photographed before lifted (90 degrere angle)

2D uses electronic lift, 3D uses dental stone

District attorney’s office

chief prosecutor for specific jurisdiction, executive branch, discretionary power to file formal criminal charges against suspect dependent on police evidence

chief law enforcement officer of county- cannot make physical arrests but evaluate police investigation