New Concepts in Forensic Investigation by Dr. Henry Lee

Background and Biography of Dr. Henry Lee

• Professional Credentials: Dr. Henry Lee is recognized as one of the world's foremost forensic scientists. He is currently the Director at the Forensic Research and Training Center and a Distinguished Professor in Forensic Science at the University of New Haven.
• Historical Impact: His work has served as a landmark in modern criminal investigations. His testimony was prominent in the O.J. Simpson trial and many other famous police investigations.
• Global Consulting: Dr. Lee has worked with $46$ different countries and has investigated approximately $8,000$ criminal and civil cases.

History and Milestones of Forensic Science

• Ancient History: The first medical-legal autopsy book was published in China in December (specific ancient date cited).
• Fingerprinting Origins: Modern forensic science credits the English for introducing a classification system in fingerprints known as the "Henry's System" in $1897$, which some countries still use today.
• U.S. Laboratory Foundations:     * 1924: The first forensic crime laboratory in the United States was established by Oxnard Cooper in Los Angeles.     * 1932: The FBI Laboratory was established in Washington, D.C.
• Historical Case Studies:     * Sacco and Vanzetti Case (1921): This case introduced modern firearm identification and comparison techniques.     * Iterative Review: In $1985$, Dr. Lee reviewed the $1921$ laboratory examination conducted by Galen Goddell. Despite a $60$-year span, the results were found to be identical.
• Career Scope: Dr. Lee entered the field in $1960$ and retired from the Connecticut State Police Lab in $2010$. He notes that since the $1960s$, forensic laboratories have advanced from basic conditions to highly sophisticated modern facilities.

Statistics on the United States Forensic Infrastructure

• Law Enforcement: There are approximately $18,000$ law enforcement and police agencies.
• Legal Offices: There are $2,300$ prosecutor's offices and $3,000$ public defender's offices.
• Medical and Laboratory Entities:     * Approximately $2,400$ medical examiner/corner offices.     * Approximately $400$ federal, state, and local crime or forensic science labs.     * These labs employ approximately $1,400$ full-time personnel.

Forensic Specializations and Disciplines

• The field has shifted from generalists to specialists, now encompassing approximately $20$ different disciplines, including:     * Forensic Pathology     * Forensic Oldham College (Odontology)     * Forensic Anthropology     * Forensic Radiology     * Forensic Nursing     * Forensic Pastor College (Psychology/Behavioral)     * Forensic Serology
• Traditional Criminalistics Services:     * Fingerprint and Firearm examination.     * Document and limb print evidence.     * Trace evidence.     * Serological and DNA evidence.     * Chemical, Drug, Arson, and Bomb investigation.     * New Services: E-crime (electronic) evidence.

Broad Applications of Forensic Science

• Legal and Safety Contexts: Forensic evidence is applied to criminal investigations, civil disputes, public safety, environmental protection, and national security.
• Specific Incident Categories: Building collapses, airplane/traffic accidents, bridge and road safety, and international/domestic terrorism.
• Consumer Protection: Monitoring water and food safety, medication integrity, and product contamination.
• Historical Perspectives: Forensic techniques are used to investigate cases of historical importance, such as identifying the remains of Ho Chi Minh or the missing person case of Pocahontas.
• World-Defining Events: Dr. Lee notes that of the $25$ events identified by USA Today as shaping world history, $14$ were directly or indirectly related to forensic science (e.g., 9/11, Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine/Kaliban Massacre).

Evolution of Investigative Techniques by Decade

• 1960s: Primary focus on interrogation and obtaining confessions.
• 1970s: After Supreme Court limits on interrogation, focus shifted to Motive, Means, and Opportunity.
• 1980s: Rise of psychological profiling, STING operations, and crime scene profiling.
• 1990s: Focus on witness statements, crime scene analysis, and physical evidence.
• Modern Era: Application of "Big Data," Artificial Intelligence (AI), expert systems, evidence linkage analysis, and geographic analysis.

The Three-Stage Process of Investigation

• Stage One: The Crime Scene: Recognition, documentation, and collection of evidence; preliminary screening performed by detectives or CSIs.
• Stage Two: The Laboratory: Scientists conduct analysis and comparison, write reports, and form conclusions based on submitted evidence.
• Stage Three: The Courtroom: Reports are submitted to prosecutors/defense, and scientists provide expert testimony regarding their findings.

New Concepts in Crime Scene Management

• Linkage Theory: Based on Professor Locard’s early $18^{th}$-century theory that "every contact leaves a trace." Modern concepts expand this because physical contact is no longer required due to electronic and indirect exchanges.
• The Global and Virtual Scene: Crime scenes are no longer limited to a room or a body. They can be universal (macroscopic), like the entirety of Manhattan during 9/11, or microscopic (pollen, hair). Digital spaces (email, chat rooms) are now considered globally connected crime scenes.
• Bringing the Lab to the Scene: Traditional methods brought the scene to the lab. Modern concepts utilize portable equipment and real-time data linkage to perform testing at the scene.

Classification of Physical Evidence

Transient Evidence

Evidence that can change or disappear over time.

• Odors, temperature, and body fluid conditions.
• Fire Pattern Interpretation:     * Red flame: approx. $900^{\circ}\text{F}$.     * Cherry red flame: approx. $1,100^{\circ}\text{F}$ to $1,300^{\circ}\text{F}$.     * Yellowish-cherry red: approx. $1,400^{\circ}\text{F}$.     * White flame: Indicates high-intensity accelerant.
• Entomology: Utilizing the blowfly development cycle (eggs, maggots, pupae) to determine time of death.

Conditional Evidence

Attributes resulting from specific events or actions.

• Lividity: Normal coloration vs. cherry-red coloration indicates carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Scene Markers: A lifted toilet seat or the presence of urine/tissue inside a bowl.
• Void Patterns: A lack of blood in a specific area on a body (e.g., between the abdomen and thigh) suggests a specific body position during bloodshed.

Pattern Evidence

• Vehicle damage patterns: Indicates point of contact.
• Bloodstain patterns: Developed using chemicals like tetramethylbenzidine.
• Tool marks: Imprints left by pliers or other instruments.

Associative and Electronic Evidence

• Associative: Caller ID, barcodes, VIN numbers, license numbers, and ID cards.
• Electronic: Digital images, voice recordings, text messages, and GPS tracking.

Advances in Laboratory Analysis and DNA

• DNA Evolution:     * First generation: RFLP (required large, fresh samples).     * Second Generation: PCR.     * Current standard: STR (Short Tandem Repeat), which is highly sensitive and requires very little sample.
• Biological Testing Procedure: Presumptive/Screening field tests (identifying body fluids) followed by lab confirmation (crystal tests, immunological tests).
• Future Trends: Familial DNA searches, Rapid DNA analysis, and Generation DNA to identify physical characteristics (eye, hair, and skin color).
• Biometrics (NGI): Next Generation Identification incorporates fingerprinting, eye/retina scans, and other biological traits into massive databases.

Ethics, Challenges, and Integrity

• The NAS Report (2009): A white paper from the National Academy of Science that criticized the scientific reliability of traditional forensics (fingerprinting, ballistics, fire patterns) regarding "positive identification."
• Statistical Pressure: There is a shift toward requiring statistical calculations for "matching" rather than subjective expert opinion.
• Objectivity: Forensic scientists must be equally diligent in reporting inculpatory (incriminating) and exculpatory (exonerating) evidence regardless of which side (prosecution or defense) calls them.
• Legacy Case Issues: Challenges arise when re-testing cases from $30$ years ago (e.g., the $1980s$) because investigators then did not wear gloves (DNA was not a factor), potentially contaminating the original evidence with modern collection DNA.
• Integrity Quote: Dr. Lee concludes by advising forensic professionals to be "winners" by having knowledge in the mind, courage in the body, honesty in the heart, and pride in life.

Questions & Discussion

• Interaction Method: Kristie Jewell reminded participants to submit questions via the "ask a question" box on the left of the screen.
• Response Protocol: Dr. Lee will respond to all submitted questions via email following the conclusion of the web seminar.
• Technical Support: Participants were instructed to use the question box for reporting any issues with audio or visual synchronization.