Comprehensive Exam Review - FRSC510

• First responders • Legal system • Systematic approach • Documentation o Note taking o Photography o Sketching o Measurements o Report writing • Fingerprints • Impression evidence • Bodily fluids •Evidence packaging • Death investigation • Courtroom testimony

Forensic Science

the application of science to criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal jsutice system

Who do CSIs do?

• Recognition of physical evidence

  • Documents (notes, photos, sketches)

• Collection and preservation of evidence

• Conducting analysis/testing process for prints, trajectory, bloodstain pattern analysis, etc.

• Courtroom presentation

Who are CSIs?

• Can be sworn in officers or civilians

• May have varying titles, i.e. crime scene analysis, crime scene specialist, evidence technician, etc.

• Employed by local, state, or government agencies

• Requirements to be a CSI:

  • Currently no national standard

  • IAI certifications (International Association for Identification)

  • ASCLD accreditation (American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors)

What are other forensic professions?

• Forensic Scientist (crime laboratory personnel)

• Forensic Nurse (i.e. SANE nurse)

• Medical Examiner / Forensic Pathologist

• Others (forensic anthropologist, forensic archeologist, forensic botanist, forensic entomology, forensic odontologist)

First Responders

emergency medical personnel, firefighters, patrol officers

• Officer will start a crime scene log / contamination sheet

  • List of people coming in and out of the scene (date, time, reason, signature)

• Officers will set a perimeter to secure the crime scene

  • Set beyond the initial scope of the crime scene and reduced if necessary; bigger is better

Investigators

detectives (homicide/violent crimes, burglary, domestic, robbery, child abuse, sex crimes detectives, etc.)

Forensic Team

• Crime scene investigators

• Crime scene technicians

• Crime scene analysts

• Crime scene agents

• Criminalist

  • Identification technician

Investigative Model

Why do CSIs do what they do?

• To establish associations using physical evidence

  • Forensic Linkage Triangle (based on Locard’s Exchange Principle)

Physical Evidence

any tangible item that can be used to establish the facts of the case (corpus delicti)

• May help reveal modus operandi

• Corroborate witness statements

• Identify suspect(s)

• Classify materials / substances

  • Class characteristics vs. individual characteristics

• Reconstruct the scene

• Provide linkages

Corpus Delicti

Body of the crime; objective proof that a crime occurred before someone can be convicted

Modus Operandi (MO)

Method of operation

Locard’s Theory of Exchange

Cross contamination; every contact leaves a trace

1. Traces of the victim and the scene will be carried away by the perpetrator

2. Traces of the perpetrator will remain on the victim, and the victim may leave traces of himself/herself on the perpetrator

3. Traces of the perpetrator will be left at the scene

How do you protect the scene from contamination?

Must be documented if the follow occurs:

• No eating

• No smoking

• No drinking

• No chewing tobacco

• No phone usage

• No bathroom usage

• No spitting

• No touching anything

• Do not remove anything

• Do not adjust thermostat

• Do not adjust lights

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Tyvec

• Goggles

• Gloves

• Masks

• Respirators/SCBA

Hazards

• Biological, chemical, environmental or mechanical hazards

  • Sharp objects (syringes, broken glass, ex. sharp containers)

  • Confined areas, use mirrors and flashlights, not hands

  • Poisonous snakes, spiders, exotic pets

  • Blood-born pathogens (Hep, HIV)

  • Airborne pathogens (TB)

  • Use biohazard bags and stickers

• Decontaminate equipment

  • 1:10 bleach/water solution

Crime Scene Report Components

• Cover sheet

• Introduction

• Incident overview

• Preliminary scene survey

• Scene documentation

• Evidence collection

• Evidence documentation

• Victim removal

• Final scene documentation

• Autopsy examination

• Latent fingerprint processing

• Laboratory submitted

• Conclusion

Cover Sheet

• Case #

• Offense

• Location

• Date

• Times

• Investigator

• Victims

• Suspect

• Photographs

• Latents

• Evidence

• Autopsy

Introduction (Initial Phase)

• Day of the week

• Date

• Time contacted

• Contacted by whom

• Time arrived

• Location of scene

• Authority to search

• Case agent

• Temperature

Incident Overview (Initial Phase)

• Name of the person briefing you on the incident

• Elements of what occurred

• Identifying the victim(s) and his/her actions

• Identifying the suspect(s) and his/her actions

• Identifying the witness(es) and his/her actions

• Who, what, when, where

Preliminary Scene Survey (Initial Phase)

• Description of location (which direction did the scene face, type of dwelling)

• Neighborhood and surroundings (what’s to the north, south, east, and west of scene)

• Conditions (exterior lighting, vehicle description with direction vehicle faced, doors/windows description and condition, etc.)

• Description of rooms

• Furnishing and their position based on direction

• Windows, closets, doors, flooring, interior lighting

• Brief description of obvious evidence

• Victim description, position, direction, clothing, obvious wounds/livor/rigor, etc.)

Scene Documentation (Initial Phase)

• Note taking

• Overall photographs

• Videotaping

• Initiation of rough sketch

Evidence Collection (Collection Phase)

• Brief description of all items be collected in your notes

  • Location of items, item position, item description, and item number designation

• Midrange and close-up photographs with and without scale of each item

• Measure each item and place on sketch

Evidence Documentation (Collection Phase)

• Detailed description of each item collected with item number designation and dimensions of item in list bulleted format

• Note: brand, size, color, bullet holes, tears, blood, patterns, what the item is made of, condition of item)

• This portion may be conducted at scene or after scene collection back at the crime scene unit

Victim Removal

• Time/date funeral home or OCME Investigator arrived

• Funeral home / OCME name

• Were hands bagged?

• Was a primer residue kit completed? Include item # designation

  • Will be done at the scene because all of the tiny particles could be lost during transportation

• Time/date victim was place in body bag and sealed

• Time/day funeral home / OCME Investigator cleared

Final Scene Documentation (Final Phase)

• Overall measurements of the scene

• Latent fingerprint processing on scene with results

• Trajectory analysis, bloodstain analysis, shoe print processing, etc.

• Final scene walk-through (“fresh-eyes”)

• Time/date scene was cleared

Autopsy

• Date

• Time arrived

• Medical examiners case number

• Performing physician

• Body documentation (photos, notes, sketch)

• Injury description

• Detailed description of all items received from OCME with item number designation (including color, defects, patterns and dimensions, for items such as clothing, DNA card, fingerprint clippings)

• Time cleared

Latent Fingerprint Processing

• Date processed

• Item # and description of each item processed

• Processing technique used

• Results of processing

• Submission to fingerprint unit

Request for Laboratory Examination (RFLE)

• Date submitted

• Section of analysis

• Exam requested

• Item # and description of each item submitted

• Department of Forensic Science Lab #

Conclusion (Final Phase)

Example:

• All other items of evidence have been transported to the Evidence Section for storage on 5/15/2003

• Nothing furhter has been requested at this time

  • TOT Detective J.E. Moore

  • Copy to Detective J.E. Moore

Crime Scene Photography

a means of documentation that can be used at a later time for memory refreshment, court presentation, and possibly laboratory analyssi

• Must be true/fair and accurate representation of the scene

• Must be “as is” before items are touched

Overall Photographs

taken during the initial phase of the systematic approach

Exterior Overall Photographs

• Start with these photographs

• Approximately 100ft from scene at a natural perspective

• Show all possible approaches to the scene (entrance to the scene, commission of the crime, and exit from the scene)

  • Entries/exits

  • House numbers

  • Mailboxes with names

  • Balconies or stairwells

  • North, south, east, and west sides of building

  • Vehicles

Interior Overall Photographs

• Comes after exterior overall photographs

• Want the photos to tell a story for the jury

• Stand in each corner of the room to provide a 360-degree view with floor and ceiling

• The photos taken from each corner of the room will provide a full and accurate overview of the scene (overlapping photos)

• Take photos of every room, even if evidence is not present

Midrange Photographs

• Taken during the collection phase of the systematic approach

• Used to show relation between items/objects at a natural perspective

• Approximately 12-15ft away from items/objects

• Form isosceles triangle with items/objects

Close-Up Photographs

• Taken during the collection phase of the systematic approach

• A position directly over the evidence is taken with the film plane parallel to the evidence surface (90-degrees)

• The lens is focused so the item takes up the majority of the view finder (“fill the frame”)

Close-Up Photographs with Scale

• Taken during the collection phase of the systematic approach

• A photo scale will be placed adjacent to the item and a photograph is taken

  • Case number

  • Item number

  • Initials

  • Date

• Scale should be level with item

When can items of evidence be moved?

• After close-up photographs, with and without scale, are taken

• May take additional photos of items (i.e. other side of item)

  • Serial numbers

  • Different views

  • Marks, damage, stains, etc.

  • Trace evidence

Photography Log

• Case #

• Photographer

• Date

• Location

• Log

  • Photo number

  • Description of photograph

  • Lens

  • Light

• Must follow the systematic approach when taking photographs

  • Initial Phase:

    • First, exterior overalls from all views

    • Second, interior overalls from all views

  • Collection Phase:

    • Third, midrange of item #1 (ex. gun) to north wall, then close-up of item #1 without scale, then close-up of item #1 with scale

    • Fourth, midrange of item #2 (ex. bullet) to item #1, then close-up of item #2 without scale, then close-up of item #2 with scale

Case Files

• You must include case number and your name or initials on every page in your case file

  • This is part of accreditation, but also important so we can keep our files together and know exactly what that photo log pertains to and what the sketch pertains to

  • If for some reason something gets lost or papers are dropped everywhere, we are able to look at the initials and case number at the top of the page and figure out what it associates to

What are the two measurement techniques?

1. Triangulation

2. Base Line

Triangulation

two fixed reference points, measure to same point on each item

• The two points/corners should make a triangle

• Measure to a corner—any corner that makes a triangle

  • For example, with a water bottle on the table, measure to one corner of the table and the other corner

Base Line

fixed zero-point perpendicular measurements

• Establish a baseline - 0 point

• Lay down measuring tape and extend beyond the last item of evidence

What is the purpose of sketches?

• Record the actual size of the scene

• Record distance relationships between items in the scene

• Places witnesses, suspects, and victims for interviewing

• Shows spatial relationships not available through photography

• Shows hidden objects (ex. items under the bed or couch)

• Allows you to place only those items of evidence that are directly relevant to the court trial

Types of Illustrations / Perspectives

• Overhead / Birds Eye View (also referred to as floorplan)

• Elevation View

• Three-Dimensional View

What are the essential elements of the sketch?

• Indicate North

• Legend (Case #, Address, Date, Name, “Not to Scale”)

• Key (item numbers and description)

• Symbols (identify any symbols used, including evidence levels—floors, elevated, hidden, and furniture or fixtures)

  • If an object does not have a symbol, then it must be labelled

  • All words must read in the same direction on your sketch

Types of Sketches

• Rough

• Finished

• Final or Court

Rough Sketch

• Completed at the crime scene

• Use graph paper and pencil

• After photographs and prior to actual collection of evidence (initial phase)

• “Not to Scale” — approximation of configuration

• May contain measurements and notes

• Very detailed

Finished Sketch

• Plain paper and permanent ink

• Cleaned of version of rough sketch—more legible and clear

• Uncluttered and accurately represents location of physical evidence

• Computer or templates and straight edges are used when possible

• No measurements, no triangulation points, no baseline

Final / Court Sketch

• Similar to Finished Sketch, but limited to pertinent items

  • Should still show overall layout of room(s)

• Courtroom presentation

• Largest scale per media

• The prosecutor may not want all their items of evidence brought into court, so we need to figure out what the prosecutor and defense attorney want as evidence, and those will be portrayed on our sketch

Visible Evidence

on the ground where it can be seen

Hidden Evidence

under something

Elevated Evidence

on top of something

3 Phases of the Systematic Approach

1. Initial Phase

2. Collection Phase

3. Final Phase

When should notes be written?

• While at the crime scene

• Contemporaneously: done at the same time

Macro Lens

only use when taking pictures of latent prints

OJ Effect

establishment of protocols (general orders/policies, special orders)

• LAPD had issues with handling evidence; learned we must follow procedures and that evidence is accounted for and properly logged into evidence

• LAPD made significant changes in the scientific investigations division after the O.J. Simpson case

Legal Considerations

• Admissibility of evidence

• Two ways to ensure we have a legal right be somewhere:

  • (1) Search Warrant

  • (2) Consent to Search

Admissibility of Evidence

must follow guidelines to ensure admissibility of evidence

Search Warrant

• The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable search and seizure

  • “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmations, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized”

• Must have level of probable cause

  • Level of Proof

  • Affidavit

  • Magistrate

Level of Proof

judges as to whether there is a fair probability that the subject has committed or is about to commit a crime

Affidavit

a sworn statement of fact completed by police demonstrating probable cause

Magistrate

judicial officer who issues warrant; must contain specific location and specific items to be searched for

Consent to Search

• Person should be present for search

• Person may retract consent at any time

  • Itemized list of evidence that will be collected at the scene is listed

  • Leave copy behind for the person who is consenting to the search

Executing the Search Warrant

• Read the warrant for correct information

• Record all items collected

• Leave a copy of warrant and affidavit at scene, in vehicle, or handed directly to person

• The original paperwork must be filed with the Clerk of the Courts within 3 days

  • Does not include weekends or holidays

• Keep a copy of your records

• Must be executed and filed by certified (sworn) personnel (police officer)

Mincey v. Arizona (1978)

• Dictated what actions law enforcement personnel are authorized to take without first obtaining a warrant

  • First, officers can enter a scene to search for victims and render aid in areas in which a victim could reasonably be found

  • Second, officers may enter a scene to search for perpetrators—only in areas where a suspect could be loated

  • Third, while officers are legally in a location performing either of the two aforementioned actions, they may seize items of evidentiary nature that are in plain view—however, this should only occur in exigent circumstances, such as a drug baggie blowing away in the wind

• Seizing evidence in pain view circumvents the documentation aspects of the crime scene search, and should not be utilized unless the evidence is transient, or presents a danger to those present

Transient Evidence

physical evidence that may be lost forever if not immediately preserved (ex. a shoe impression in a melting bank of snow would be considered [type of evidence] in that it must be photographed, measured, and cast with dental stone before it melts away)

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree

• Evidence obtained illegally which may not be admitted into court

  • Any subsequent information that may be derived from the excluded physical evidence

  • If the tree (physical evidence) is tainted, then any fruit (subsequent information) derived from that evidence would also be tainted

Chain of Custody

• The chronological timeline of the journey of each item of evidence

• Documents the location/person in possession of all evidence at all items (time/date)

• Anything after a break in the chain may result in some evidence, such as fingerprints and DNA, to be inadmissible

What are methods used to maintain chain of custody?

1. PD3 Form: on the back of the card, the date/time the evidence was checked out and back in is recorded, as well as who it was received by, and the evidence technician who turned it in

2. Barcode System: each item of evidence is tagged with a barcode and can be scanned; log of each action and every person who has handled it

What is the goal when documenting a crime scene?

• Create a permanent record of the condition of the scene and physical evidence

  • Every observation and action must be documented

  • Crucial for court testimony to show accuracy

  • The ways we document crime scenes:

    • (1) Taking notes

    • (2) Photograph / Videography

    • (3) Sketching

Initial Phase I of Systematic Approach

• Preliminary scene survey

  • Story (what happened, when, key players, etc.)

  • Setup (# scenes, security, initial evidence secure)

  • Strategy (additional resources, K9, SCUBA, Total Station)

  • Initial walk-through (look, don’t touch!)

    • Identify evidence

    • Prioritize evidence collection sequence

• Note taking—document existing conditions

  • Setting (location, case #, weather, lighting, time, etc.)

  • Scene observations

• Overall photographs

  • Will have a complete 360-degree rendition of the crime scene

• Videotape (if available)

• Begin rough sketch

Collection Phase II of Systematic Approach

• Examine evidence—take more notes

• Midrange / close-up photography, with and without scale

• Measure evidence and place on rough sketch

• Collect evidence

  • Now you can touch the evidence after doing everything required

• Package / preserve evidence

Final Phase III of Systematic Approach

• Processing, i.e. latent fingerprinting, trajectory, etc.

• Overall measurements of scene

• Discuss findings / evidence evaluation

• Final scene walk-through (“fresh eyes”)

• Notify case agent

Note Taking

• Pen and paper

• Tape recorder

  • Every word that enters the tape recorder must be transcribed and put into print

  • Should not only rely on tape recorder

• May use pre-printed forms/checklists

• Legibly written

• Be consistent

• Logical and organized

• Only state facts, not opinions

Note Taking — Crime Scene Basic Case Information

• Time/date received call, who received the call, what was told

• Time/date arrived at the scene, who you met with, what you were told

• Time/date left the scene or responded to other locations

• Case #, location, type of offense, surroundings

• Search warrant / consent, personnel at scene, scene security

• Victims/suspects name, address, date of birth

• Weather, temperature, lighting, smells

• Detailed observations / conditions (what’s open/closed, on/off, locked/unlocked, damaged/forced entry, missing items, food preparation, dated material)

• Use compass direction

Bertillion System

• 1882 — Alphonse Bertillion, French, anthropologist, devised method of body measurements to produce a formula used to classify individuals

• Took measurements of a person’s body parts and recording them on a card

Will West Case

• Will West was sent to Leavenworth, Kansas in 1903 and his measurements and picture were taken—it was determined he (William West) was already in prison for murder

  • Their measurements were the same

  • Will West and William West were cousins, but based on their measurements and similar names, it caused confusion

Dermatoglyphics

the study of patterns of dermal ridges present on fingers, palms, toes, and soles; friction ridge patterns

Dermal Papillae

upward extensions of the dermis into the epidermic forming the ridges of the fingerprint; they continue to regenerate, therefore the ridges remain permenant

Hills

referred to as ridges

Valleys

referred to as furrows

Epidermis

• Outermost layer

• Protection

• Skins that are shed off daily

Dermis

• Innermost layer

• Protection of internal organs

• Nutrient exchange

Fingerprints can be used as a means of identification because of what two characteristics?

1. Permanence

2. Uniqueness

When are friction ridges formed?

they are formed early in embryonic development (4th fetal month)

Do friction ridges change, and if so, when?

they never change; except to amputations, mutilation, and/or scars; growth will only change relative size of fingerprints

True or False: Papillae arrangement is genetically based

True

_________ environment will determine the final arrangement of the ridges

maternal

True or False: identical twins do not have identical fingerprints

True

What are the three types of fingerprints?

1. Latent

2. Patent (visible)

3. Plastic/3D

Latent Fingerprints

made when a person leaves the oil, water, salt (perspiration) from their hands onto another object; typically invisible to the naked eye

Patent / Visible Fingerprints

made when a print is contaminated with a foreign substance and is deposited onto another object (ex. blood, paint, ink, food)

Plastic / 3D Fingerprints

made when a print is left in a malleable material (ex. clay, chocolate, wax, gum)

Loops

• 65% of the population

• Can be ulnar or radial

• Will have a delta and core

Whorls

• 30% of the population

• Four classes

  • (1) Plain

  • (2) Central pocket loop

  • (3) Double loop

  • (4) Accidental

• Have at least two deltas

Arches

• 5% of the population

• Can be plain or tented

• Have no delta or core

Core

the center of the pattern

Delta

the area of the pattern where there is a triangulation or dividing of the ridges

Individual Characteristics of Fingerprints

• Points of minutiae

• Ridge details within fingerprint patterns that make it possible to compare and individualize prints; unique

• An average of 75 individual minutiae on a given print

• Comparing unknown to known samples

  • The more minutiae in common, the better

  • Research suggests 8-16 minutiae, but no set standard