Amber Dror

19/10/14

FORENSICS: TEST #2
CORPUS DELICI:
body of the crime
authorities must prove:
o that a crime occurred
o that the person charged with the crime was responsible for the crime
top reasons for committing a crime:
o money
o revenge
o emotion love, hate, anger
source of evidence:
o body
o primary and/or secondary crime scene
o suspect(s)
CRIME SCENE TEAM:
a group of professionals trained in a variety of special disciplines
o first police officer on the scene
o medics (in necessary)
o investigator(s)
o medical examiner (if necessary)
o photographer and/or field evidence
o lab experts
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION:
based on the scientific method, the Locard Exchange Principle, logic, and forensic
techniques
involves:
o recognition scene survey, documentation, collection
o identification classification of evidence
o individualization comparison testing, evaluation, and interpretation
o reconstruction sequences events, reporting, and pressuring
PROCESSING A CRIME SCENE:
isolate and secure the scene
interview the first police officer at scene or the victim to determine what allegedly
happened, what crime took place, and how the crime was committed
examine scene identify possible evidence, point of entry, outline general layout of crime
scene
document the scene pictorial record, rough sketch to demonstrate layout of the crime
scene and to identify the exact position of the deceased victim or other evidence within
the crime scene
search for evidence
collect and package evidence, maintaining the chain of custody
submit evidence to the crime lab for analysis

FIST

OFFICER ON THE SCENE:

A assess the crime scene and assist the injured
D detain the witness
A arrest the perpetrator
P protect the crime scene
T take notes

CRIME SCENE SURVEY:

walk-through:
o performed by crime scene investigator, the first officer, and sometimes the lead
detective
purpose:
o mentally prepare a reconstruction theory
o note change in evidence (transient, conditional)
o note environmental and weather conditions
o note points of entry/exits, paths of travel
o record initial observations (5W, H)
o identify special needs within crime scene
DOCUMENTATION:
notes: date, time, description, weather, description of crime, people involved, etc.
photography: scene, surroundings, close-ups of evidence at different angles (any witness)
sketches: date, time, scale, distance, names of investigators/victims/suspects
videography: allows for narration (non-subjective), different perspectives
SEARCH METHODS:
line or strip method: best in large, outdoor scenes; walking in straight lines across the
crime scene
grid method: basically a double-line search (two or more people overlapping separate line
searches forming a grid) ; effective, but time-consuming
zone method: most effective in houses or buildings; teams are assigned small zones for
searching
wheel/ray method: several people moving from the boundary straight toward the center of
the scene (inward) or from the center straight to the boundary (outward); best on small,
circular crime scenes
spiral method: the investigator move in an inward spiral from the boundary to the center
of the scene or in an outward spiral from the center to the boundary of a scene; best used
where there are no physical barriers
COLLECTING AND PACKAGING EVIDENCE:
one individual should be designated as the evidence collector to ensure that the evidence
is collected, packaged, marked, sealed, and preserved in a consistent manner,
maintaining the chain of custody
each item must be placed in a separate container, sealed and labelled
the most fragile evidence is collected and packaged first
different types of evidence require specific or special collection and packaging techniques
the body is the property of the coroner or medical examiner; collection of evidence on the
body is done by that department
PACKAGING:

most items should be packaged in a primary container and then placed inside a secondary
one
o pill bottles. vials, manila envelopes, and plastic bags are good for most evidence
o trace evidence may be placed on a piece of paper which is then folding a particular
way called a druggists fold
these are then placed inside other containers such as paper bags, canisters,
packets, or envelopes, depending on the type and size of the evidence

CHAIN OF CUSTODY:
there must be a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of
evidence, beginning at the time of collection
o the evidence container must be marked for identification
o the collectors initials should be placed on the seal
o if evidence is turned over to another person, the transfer must be recorded
CRIME SCENE RECONSTRUCTION:
stages:
o data collection
o hypothesis formation
o examination, testing, and analysis
o determination of the significance of the evidence
o theory formulation
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE CORONER:
medical examiner: medical doctor, usually a pathologist, and is appointed by the
governing body of the area
o responsibilities:
identify the deceased
establish the time and date of birth
determine a medical cause of death
determine the mechanism of death (the physiological reason that the person
died)
classify the manner of death (natural, accidental, suicide, homicide,
undetermined)
notify the next of kin
coroner: an elected official who usually has no special medical training
FINGERPRINT PRINCIPLES (3):
fingerprint is an individual characteristic; no two people have been found with the exact
same fingerprint patter
fingerprint pattern will remain unchanged for the life of an individual; however, the print
itself may change due to permanent scars and diseases
fingerprints have general characteristic ridge patterns that allow them to be
systematically identified
DACTYLOSCOPY:
the study of fingerprint identification
o police investigators are experts in collecting dactylograms, otherwise known as
fingerprints

FINGERPRINT CLASSES:
ARCHES 5% of people:
o ridges enter on one side and exit on the other side
LOOPS 60% of people:
o ridges enter on one side and exit on the same side
WHORLS 35% of people:
o consists of circles, more than one loop, or a mixture of pattern types
plain
whorl

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central pocket
whorl

double
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whorl

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RIDGEOLOGY:
r onthe study
r
Loop
r of the uniqueness
of friction ridge structures and their use for personal
oneidentification
Loo
c
of ridges and valleys on the surface of the finger
side oh a fingerprint
pis made ofofaaseries
the uniqueness
fingerprint can be determined by the pattern of ridges
and valleys as well as the minutiae points
and
e point: point where ridge structure changes
minutiae
points of similarity/points of identification: points in which minutiae on two different prints
exit
s
on match
oS no international standard for the number of points required
minimum of 16
the i UK:
Australia: minimum of 12
othe m
RIDGE CHARACTERISTICS:
r fingerprints
have minutiae points, which are points where the ridge structure changes
il
o useful in matching a fingerprint to a specific person
side ar
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AUTOMATED FINGERPTING IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AFIS):
pi
a computerized
system capable of reading, classifying, matching, and storing fingerprints
for criminal justice agencies
ok uses computer algorithms to mark all minutia point, cores, and deltas on the print,
e which are used to find possible matches with fingerprints in the database
in
LATENT PRINTS:
impressions left by friction ridge skin on a surface, such as a tool handle, glass, door, etc.
th
(arent visible to the naked eye consist of the natural secretions of human skins and
require
e development for them to become visible)
o most secretions come from three glands:
c eccrine: secretes largely water with both inorganic and organic compounds
important for fingerprints
e most
apocrine: secretes pheromones and other organic materials
nt sebaceous: secretes fatty or greasy substances
development:
oerrequires substances that interact with secretions, causing print to stand out against
. its background
powders adhere to both water and fatty deposits; choose colour to contrast
with background
iodine fumes react with oils and fats to produce a temporary yellow-brown
colour
cyanoacrylate fuming method (super glue method) superglue fumes
react with water and other fingerprint constituents to form a hard, whitish
deposit
ninhydrin reacts with the amino acids in fingerprints and will produce a
blue or purple colour
silver nitrate reacts with chloride to form silver chloride, a material that
turns grey when exposed to light
prints may be collected by:
revealing them with a dusting of black powder and then lifted with a piece of
clear tape
fluorescent powder and UV lights to help them find latent prints on multicoloured or dark surfaces
magnetic powder to reveal latent prints and works on shiny surfaces or
plastic baggies or containers

CRIME SCENE PERSONNEL:

police officers are typically the first to arrive at a crime scene
o they are responsible for securing the scene so no evidence is destroyed and
detaining persons of interest in the crime
the csi unit documents the crime scene in detail and collects any physical evidence
the district attorney is often present to help determine if any search warrants are required
to proceed and obtains those warrants from a judge
the medical examiner (if a homicide) may or may not be present to determine a
preliminary cause of death
specialists (forensic entomologists, anthropologists, psychologists) may be called in if the
evidence requires expert analysis
detectives interview witnesses and consult with the CSI unit
o they investigate the crime by following leads provided by witnesses and physical
evidence
CRIME SCENE:
any physical location in which a crime has occurred or is suspected of having occurred
o primary crime scene: the original location of a crime or accident
o secondary crime scene: an alternate location where additional evidence may be
found
suspect: person thought to be capable of committing a crime
accomplice: person associated with someone suspected of committing a crime
alibi: statement of where a suspect was at the time of a crime
INVESTIGATING EVIDENCE:
drug chemistry: determines the presence of controlled substances and the identification of
marijuana
trace chemistry: identification and comparison of materials from fires, explosions, paints,
and glass
microscopy: microscopic identification and comparison of evidence, such as hairs, fibres,
woods, soils, building materials, insulation, and other materials
biology/DNA: analysis of body fluids and dried stains such as blood, semen, and saliva
toxicology: tests body fluids and tissues to determine the presence of drugs and poisons
latent prints: identification and comparison of fingerprint or other hidden impressions from
sources like feet, shoes, ears, lips, or the tread on vehicle tires
ballistics (firearms): study of bullets and ammunition through the comparison of fired
bullets, cartridges, guns, and gunpowder patterns on people and objects
toolmarks: examines marks left by tools on objects at a crime scene or on a victim, such
as a hammer used to break a door or a screwdriver used to pick a lock
questioned documents: examination of documents to compare handwriting, ink, paper,
writing instruments, printers, and other characteristics that would help to indentify its
origin
IMPRESSION EVIDENCE:
objects that have retained the characteristics of other objects through direct contact
o impressions are created when one object is pressed against another material with
enough force to leave an impression of the object
e.g. shoeprints, tool marks, tire tracks, bite marks, marks on a fired bullet
several methods:

2-D: using photography impressions may be dusted with fingerprint powder to be

photographed or lifted with tape; may also be collected using an electrostatic dust
lifting process
3-D: using photography and casting involves using dental stone or a similar
substance to preserve the dimensional characteristics of the print