FORENSIC TEAM
Introduction
• The basic requirement for any forensic team is to capture & record the
data & review & examine the data to produce evidence of the activity. It is
not a single handed discipline. Forensic investigation requires a number of
experts from diff erent fi elds.
• A forensic team is a group of trained professional who are involved in
investigating the crime, collecting the evidence, document the evidence &
present evidence in legal cases.
• Their primary role is to investigate & provide testimony to aid in the
administration of justice. Forensic teams are crucial in unravelling the
truth behind complex situation.
QUALITIES OF A FORENSIC TEAM
Integrity: All members should be honest and not able to be influenced by anything or any one that
may compromise the investigations ’objectives.
❑Objectivity: They should analyze the evidence objectively, including contradictory evidence, and should
not take premature decisions.
❑Perseverance: They should ensure the root cause of issues, identify deficiencies in evidence, and trace
them back if possible.
Curiosity: Each member should be inquisitive and show interest to learn more, asking probing questions,
and seeking deeper explanations of initial findings.
OTHERS:
❑Humility
❑Tact
❑Technical skills
❑Imagination
ROLE OF A FORENSIC TEAM
✓Collect data, facts, and evidence.
✓Establish the sequence of events leading up to the occurrence.
✓Analyze and integrate available evidence.
✓Develop findings and interpret the findings.
✓Document the findings and reach the conclusions.
✓Write the investigation report.
Forensic Team
1. Police officer 8. Evidence Recorder
2. Crime scene investigator
9. Crime Scene Technician
3. Forensic scientist
4. Forensic nurse 10. Autopsy Technician
5. Forensic Specialist 11. Ballistic Expert
6. Photographer &
12. Forensic manager
Photographic log Recorder
7. Sketch Preparer 13. Forensic Accountant
Responsibilities of Members of a
Forensic team
Team leader
• Assume control over the situation & direct the investigation.
• Ensure that sufficient supplies & equipment are available for the
personnel.
• Assigns duties to the team.
• Obtain the services of specialist advisors as required.
• Keep observation of the team’s finding.
• Act as a liaison or mediator between members of the forensic
team
• Keep communication & coordination with law enforcement
1. POLICE OFFICER
• They arrive first at the
crime site.
• They are responsible for
securing the scene &
detaining persons of
interest in the crime.
• They conduct interviews
of witnesses & take
statements.
2. Crime scene investigator (CSI)
• They secure the scene
• They document the crime scene in detail.
• They locate & preserve the physical evidences at the scene.
• They investigate the crime by following leads provided by witnesses &
physical evidence.
• They testify in court.
• They do scientific & technical work of criminal investigation.
3. Forensic Scientist
AT THE CRIME SCENE
• Identifying the evidence that include sample taking of
plants, soil, blood, hair etc.
• Taking photographs of physical evidences, a crime
scene, a fi ngerprint or a bone.
• Collection, packing & safe transportation of evidence
to the forensic lab.
• Data collection & recording of any & all information,
even if it seems unimportant at the time.
continue.....
AT FORENSIC LAB
• Examination of the evidence & fi ndings relevant to the
crime.
• Conducting test applying various scientifi c methods like
infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry .
• Supervising activities of crime scene collection, safe
preservation & transportation of evidence to the court.
• Maintain the standard & protocols of laboratory &
monitoring functioning of equipment.
• Preparing report
• Acting as an expert witness at the court if deemed
necessary.
• Maintain database of forensic activities of the
laboratories.
• Act as a liaison between forensic laboratory,
4. FORENSIC NURSE
• Forensic Nurse play a signifi cant role in collecting &
documenting the forensic evidences.
• Forensic nurse starts from history taking at the crime scene
& head to toe assessment.
• She takes care of the victim & their families.
• Collect evidence & take photographs of injuries for
evidence.
• Work in collaboration with Forensic Pathologists during
5. Forensic
Forensic Pathologists:
Specialists
• The forensic Pathologist is a forensic Specialist having
expertise in determining the cause & manner of death.
• Perform autopsies to determine the presence or absence of
disease, injury or poisoning or any other cause of death.
• Identify the stages of decomposition.
• Document sexual assault & the manner of assault.
• Act as the case coordinator for the medical & forensic
scientifi c assessment of a given death .
5.1. Forensic Toxicologist:
• Identify any substances in the body such as alcohol,
drugs, other chemical, poison etc.
• Perform a test of bodily fl uids & Tissue samples
during autopsies.
• Document each process of testing & write detailed
report of fi ndings.
• Provide expert witness testimony.
5.2. Forensic Anthropologists:
• They are specialist in analyzing hard tissues like
bones.
• Use various techniques to analyze skeleton which
are badly decomposed or unidentifi ed.
• Involve in the recovery of scattered or fragmented
remains.
• Establish the victim’s identity.
5.3. Forensic Archaeologist:
• An archaeologist is a person who studies past
human societies and cultures by examining artifacts,
structures, and other physical remains left behind
by ancient civilizations. They explore and analyze
these items to understand how people lived in the
past and how societies evolved over time.
• They work for excavation, search & location of grave
sites.
5.4. Forensic
Psychiatrist:
• Psychiatrist is required to produce legal documents for
determining mental capacity of an individual .
• Their opinion is required in suicidal cases, while
making valid will, taking custody of child whose parents
are mentally ill & in case of feigned insanity.
5.5. Fingerprint
specialist:
• Locate fi ngerprints left at the scene of the crime.
• Examine fi ngerprints
• Enter the fi ngerprints into the Automated Fingerprint
Identifi cation System to fi nd a match to fi ngerprints already
saved in database or suspected person.
6. Photographer & Photographic log recorder
• Photograph entire area before it is entered.
• Photograph of Victim, crowd & vehicles.
• Photograph entire scene with medium & close coverage,
using measurement scale when appropriate.
• Photograph major evidence items before they are moved
• Coordinate with Sketch preparer & evidence recorder.
• Photograph all latent means existing fi ngerprint 7 other
impressions before lifting.
• Maintain photographic log (records of Photo) &
Photographic sketch.
7. Sketch preparer
• Diagram immediate area of scene & orient with sketch.
• Set or draw the major items of evidence on sketch.
• Label the area to be searched
• Obtain appropriate assistance for taking measurement.
8. evidence recorder
• Identify potential evidences at the crime scene.
• Take photographs of signifi cant evidence before
collection.
• Collect & package of evidence to maximize evidence
integrity.
• Mention evidence & its site of collection on the bag or
envelope.
• The bag should be properly label with date & time of
collection of evidence.
• Use appropriate protective techniques & equipment
(gloves) when dealing with infective evidences.
• Maintain Evidence log
9. Crime Scene Technician
• Test items for biological samples like hair, blood and saliva to determine whether the evidence
contains DNA of the suspect and their victims.
• Analyze videos, photographs, videos or other evidence.
• Forge a model of how a crime scene looked
10. Autopsy Technician
• Carrying out examinations on the dead
body and identifying the presence of
poison, injuries, or organ failure.
• They act as a helpful source for both,
investigation teams and law enforcement
agencies.
11. Ballistic Expert
• Perform firearms analysis & various test on
bullets to identify the type of gun used by the
expert.
• Conduct test to match the gun of the suspect
with the gun used in committing the crime.
12. Forensic manager
• Look after the productivity of a crime
lab.
• Supervise quality control & coordinate
with crime scene officers
• Communicate with staff regarding any
changes in the protocol or lab
procedures.
• Conduct training & induction process
for all new employees.
13. Forensic accountant
• Forensic accountants are like fi nancial detectives.
• Examine data to detect any Fraud.
• Investigate suspected individual & companies to identify
fraud.
• Their main job is to investigate fi nancial records and
transactions to uncover fraud, embezzlement( to secretly take
money that is in your care or that belongs to an organization),
or other fi nancial misconduct.
• Examine the evidence & submit a report to offi cials.
Thank you
very much!
