Scenes

Primary- Where the body was found
Secondary-Where more evidence is found
Search Patterns-
A)The Crime Scene Search
1)Boundary Determination (same road in is the same road out)
2)Choice of search pattern (type of search you must preform, ex: car, building, etc.)
3)Instruction to Personnel (people used for search parties, very trustworthy)
4)Coordination (how you go about in line)
5)Termination of the scene search (when are you done?)

Car Search-
-Break the car down into components
-Dont put your hands where you can not see them

Search Patterns:

Spiral-A single person searches out or in. This is used outdoors.







Strip-A search up and down until compleated. Search in lanes.






Grid-Similar to the strip but also searches at right angles to the original lanes.





Zone-Each quadrant is searched . Divide a room into seperate areas, Be sure to have extra techs back you up. Zones can be broken down into extra sections if need be.
--------------------
l l l
l A l B l
l l l
--------------------
l l l
l C l D l
l l l
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Pie or Wheel-Area divided into pie shaped sections.

You Shall Not

1. Smoke at a crime scene
2. Allow unnecessary people in the scene
3. Touch a telephone
4. Use the bathroom
5. Interior decorate-dont move furniture
6. Dont bring items into the scene such as food/drinks nor shall one partake of anything already there.
7. Shut off lights, open or shut doors or windows unless its a safety issue.
8. Drive or walk over foot, tire or other impression evidence.
9. Touch where the criminal would have
10. Leave department equipment in or at scene

Contamination

Contamination is the alteration or destruction of physical evidence. It is the process that takes peace when a subject comes into contact with the surroundings or the surrounding with the subject.

Contamination is cause by: chemical composition, leakage in envelope or container, evaporation, mixture, mingling of evidence and alterations of garmets.

Suspect and Comparison Samples are suspect materials that consists of stains, hair, fiber and other trace of gross evidence found in the presence of a known standard.

Comparison Material is a sample of material removed and submitted for the purpose of comparison to the suspect material.
Rape: Wet section of carpet/bed sheet then dry section.
Arson: Charred material with suspect material and a "clean" area.

Individual Characteristics:
Identified as originating with a particular person or source.

Class Characteristics:
Characteristics of physical evidence are common to a group of objects or persons, they may be termed, "class" regardless of how thoroughly examined, such evidence can be placed only into a broad category.
EX: hair, soil, glass gragments, tool marks, shoeprints.

Gathering Evidence

*Items are evidence if they:
-Offer clues to suspects
-Suggest how crime was committed
-Are not usually found at the location
-Scene must be photographed
-Carefully collected
-Cast of footprints
-Tracks
-Tool marks
-Never touch anything with your bare hands!

*Chain of Custody-The initial spotting is recorded all the way to the lab and court.

Evidence-->Office-->Evidence lock up-->court

*Recording a crime scene: Field notes must contain:
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
HOW
WHY

Field notes are used for:
-Committing observations to writting
-Maintaining an order of events
-Helps jog your memory in court

Evidence Scene Consideration-
-Terminology and definitions
-Procedures
-Case Studies

Types of Evidence:
-Transient-easily changed or lost
-Conditional-Has to be documented at the scene or it could be lost forever-ex: lighting cond.
-Pattern-Imprints or markings
-Transfer-of a physical object to another phsical object
-Associative-associates a victim or suspect to a scene

*Types of evidence:
1. Direct-Testimony of a witness that tie the defendant directly to the commission of the crime. First hand knowledge.
2. Real-"Physical Evidence" it is connected with the commission of the crime and can be produced in court. E: weapons, fingerprints and DNA
3. Demonstrative-Not identical to real evidence even though items are tangeable. Maps, diagrams, sketches, photos, tape recording, video, x-rays, anything that assists witnesses in their testimony.
4. Circumstantial-All evidence other than direct. It infers a series of known facts that help witnesses and juries reach a conclusion. You can ontain a conviction with circumstantial evidence.

An officer should be able to:

* An officer should be able to:
1. Recognize evidence
a-what is it?
b-how do you know?
2. Collect evidence
a-what does it take?
3. Preserve evidence
a-keeping evidence safe
4. Document crime or accident scene

*Essential qualities of the investigator:
1. Detail oriented
2. Education
3. Training
4. Focus
5. Patience
6. Organization
7. Good listening skills
8. Compasion/sympathetic

*Duties of first respondant:
1. Arrive
2. Treat injured
3. Arrest
4. Detain witnesses
5. Block off scence
6. Report to sargent
7. Report crime scene

*Evidence must be gathered in a legally and scientifically sound matter.
This will aid in the determination of criminal activity and the successful prosecution of the criminal case.

*Evidence is people and things any item which establishes the facts of a related criminal case. Items found at the scene of the crime or on the cictim. Items found ont he suspect or in the suspects environment.

*Criminalists are persons trained to:
a. Collect evidence
b. Make scientific tests
c. Asses various types of physical evidence

*Crime scene techniques-Officer at the scene must create an accurate and objective visual record before any items are moved or contaminated.

*Equipment check list:
1. Latex gloves
2. Camera, film
3. Rope, tape
4. Evidence tags
5. Containers
6. Envelopes
7. Magnifier
8. Test tubes, bottles
9. Axe, saw, pry bar, tools
10. First aid kit
11. Chalk, chalk line
12. Compass
13. Fingerprinting kit
14. String, knife
15. Flashlight and batteries
16. Pobing rod, wire
17. Metal detecto9r
18. Generator
19. Lighting
20. Extra clothing

Extra Fingerprinting Information

Here are just a few extra notes on fingerprints.

-Fingerprinting procedures use of digitized, electronic reproduction systems.
-10 Print card, is a card for recording fingerprints and other personal data and then filed for future reference.
-Fingerprint Kits are prints taken from crime scene used to match up with prints from those of suspects. Usually issued to every patrol officer. Contains basic black and white powders.
-Fingerprint impressions are:
1. Latent Print
2. Plastic Print (3-D, dirt, mud, blood, etc.)
3. Visible Print
4. Invisible Print

-Methods of Developing Invisible Prints
1. Powders
2. Fuming
3. Lifting Prints
4. Chemicals

-Powders come in:
1. Black
2. White
3. Colors

-Lifting Prints
*Lift with piece of tape
*Lifters, black, white and clear
*Tape pressed on print
*Lifted to card or form
*Always take note of time, place and date.

-Fuming
*Invisible prints are made visible by cyanoacrylate capors, a chemical reaction. AKA super glue.
*Other chemicals use for this are:
1. Iodine-uses cold or warmed crystals of iodine. Works best on latent prints of fat or oil. Creates yellow/brown umpression. Can be used for paper, wood, metal and skin.
2. Ninhydrin-Suspended in ethyl alcohol or acetone. Sprayed or brushed on item, allowed to air dry. Purple/red stain on ridge pattern. Best if used on porous materials, paper, fabric and older prints.
3. Silver Nitrate-Let dry and exposed to light. Develops as brown outline. Uses on paper, unpainted wood, porous materials.
4. Chem print

-Chemical Processing Table:
1. Process
2. Reaction
3. Colors

-Fingerprints as Evidence:
*Admissible in most courts.
*No 2 Fingerprints are alike.
*Systematic comparisons

Fingerprinting-Duties of the police

Section 160.10 of the NY State Criminal Procedure Law

Fingerprints are taken or can be taken under the following conditions:
1. Following an arrest....the arresting or other appropriate police officer or agency MUST take or cause to be taken fingerprints of the arrested person or defendant if an offense which is the subject of the arrest or which is charged in the accusatory instrument filed is:

a-A felony; or
b-A misdemeanor defined in the penal law; or
c-A misdemeanor defined outside the penal law which would constitute a felony if such person had a previous judgement of convection for a crime; or
d-Several loitering sections

2. In addition, a police officer ay take the fingerprints of an arrested individual when arrested for any offense to obtain a true identity.

3. Whenever fingerprints are requires to be taken the photograph and palmprints of the arrested person or defendant, as the case may be, MAY also be taken.

Section 160.20-Fingerprinting; forwarding of fingerprints. Upon the taking of fingerprints....the police officer or agency must without unnecessary delay forward two copies of such fingerprints to the Division of Criminal Justice Services.

The two agencies that require fingerprint cards are:
1.DCJS
2.FBI
3.Local copy optional (all police departments keep local copy.)

Every Contact Leaves its Trace

Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects--all of these and more shall bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong. It cannot perjure itself. It cannot be wholly absent. Only its interpretation can err. Only human failure to find it, study it and understand it can diminish its value.

-Professor Edmund Locard 1877

Explanation of Characteristics on a fingerprint

Core-The approximate center of a pattern

Bifurcation-The point at which one friction ridge divides into two friction ridges.

Enclosure-A single friction ridge that bifurcates and rejoins after a short course and continues as
a single friction ridge.

Delta-That point on a ridge at or nearest to the point of divergence of two type lines, and located at or directly in front of the point of divergence.

Ending Ridge-A single friction ridge that terminates within the friction ridge structure.

Clean Delta-A term popularized by Ron Smith to describe the delta in the interdigital area that is below the index finger. The angles of this delta are usually evenly spaced. This is referred to as the 'clean delta' because it is usually the clearest and most legible.

Arch - plain-A fingerprint pattern in which the ridges enter on one side of the impression, and flow, or tend to flow, out the other with a rise or wave in the center.

Arch - tented-A type of fingerprint pattern that possesses either an angle, an upthrust, or two of the three basic characteristics of the loop.

Loop - Radial-A type of pattern in which one or more ridges enter upon either side, recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line between delta and core and pass out, or tend to pass out, on the same side the ridges entered. The flow of the pattern runs in the direction of the radius bon of the forearm (toward the thumb).

Loop - Ulnar-A type of pattern in which one or more ridges enter upon either side, recurve, touch or pass an imaginary line between delta and core and pass out, or tend to pass out, on the same side the ridges entered. The flow of the pattern runs in the direction of the ulna bone of the forearm (toward the little finger).

Whorl - Accidental-A fingerprint pattern consisting of two different types of patterns, with the exception of the plain arch, with two or more deltas; or a pattern which possesses some of the requirements for two or more different types; or a pattern which conforms to none of the definitions.

Whorl - Central Pocket Loop-A type of fingerprint pattern which has two deltas and at least one ridge which makes, or tends to make, one complete circuit, which may be spiral, oval, circular, or any variant of a circle. An imaginary line drawn between the two deltas must not touch or cross any recurving ridges within the inner pattern area.

Whorl - Double Loop-A type of fingerprint pattern that consists of two separate loop formations with two separate and distinct sets of shoulders and two deltas.

Whorl - Plain-A type of fingerprint pattern which consists of one or more ridges which make, or tend to make, a complete circuit, with two deltas, between which, when an imaginary line is drawn, at least one recurving ridge within the inner pattern area is cut or touched.

Latent Print -Transferred impression of friction ridge detail not readily visible; generic term used for questioned friction ridge detail.

Latent Print Recovery Conditions-Whether or not a latent is recovered is dependant on:
1. The surface (substrate):
a) Its physical composition,
b) Its texture,
c) Condition,
d) and cleanliness.
2. The person touching the item:
a) The condition of their ridges (which could be affected by medical condition or occupation),
b) how much they sweat (which is dependant on age, diet, temperature, emotional state, medical condition and the recent amount of physical exertion),
c) And the pressure they apply.
3. Whether or not there is a transferable substance on the friction skin other than sweat.4. Post transfer conditions:
a) The environment (heat or rain will deteriorate a latent),
b) How it's handled (handling and packaging may destroy a latent)
c) and the developing medium.

Level 1 detail-Friction ridge flow and general morphological information.

Level 2 detail-Individual friction ridge paths and friction ridge events, e.g. bifurcations, ending ridges, dots.

Level 3 detail-Friction ridge dimensional attributes, e.g., width, edge shapes and pores.

Lift-An adhesive or other medium on which recovered friction ridge detail is preserved.

Bracelet Creases-The creases located at the base of the palm. Usually where the friction skin ends

Bridge-A connecting friction ridge between and at generally right angles to parallel running ridges.

Branchings-Friction ridge bifurcation; divergence of a friction ridge path.

Bulb of the Fingers (Thumbs, Toes)-The portion of the friction skin on the tips of fingers, thumbs, or toes in the distal phalanx, from one side of the nail to the opposite side of the nail.

Characteristics-Features of the friction ridges. Commonly referred to as minutia(e), Galton detail, point, feature, ridge formation, ridge morphology.

Characteristics, types of:
Ending ridge
Fork or birfurcation
Island
Dot
Bridge
Spur
Double birfurcation
Trifurcation
Short ridge

Class Characteristics-Characteristics used to put things into groups or classes, e.g., arches, loops, whorls.

ClassificationAlpha/numeric -formula of finger and palm print patterns used as a guide for filing and searching.

Structure of Friction Skin

Cross-section of Friction Skin

Thick skin (which includes friction skin) has two principle layers:

The Epidermis (E) is stratified (layered), squamous (flat) epithelial tissue 5 layers thick and...

The Dermis is much thicker than the epidermis and consists of two layers - the Papillary layer (DPL) an area of loose connective tissue extending up into the epidermis as dermal pegs (DP) and the deeper reticular layer (DRL).




Stratum corneum - consists of 25-30 layers of stratified (layered) squamous (flattened) dead keratinocytes (skin cells) that are constantly shed.
Stratum lucidum - is present only in thick skin (lips, soles of feet, and palms of hands). Little or no cell detail is visible.
Stratum granulosum - 3-4 layers of cell thick consisting of flattened keratinocytes. At this level the cells are dying.
Stratum spinosum - several layers thick, consisting mostly of keratinocytes. Together with the stratum basale it is sometimes referred to as the Malpighian layer (living layer).
Stratum basale - a single layer of cells in contact with the basement membrane. These cells are mitotically active - they are alive and reproducing - the reason why it is often referred to as the generating layer. Four types of cells are present in this layer:
Keratinocytes (90%) - responsible for waterproofing and toughening the skin
Melanocytes (8%) - synthesize the pigment melanin which absorbs and disperses ultraviolet radiation
Tactile cells - very sparse and function in touch reception
Nonpigmented granular dendrocytes - cells that ingest bacteria and foreign debris.


The primary function of the dermis is to sustain and support the epidermis.
The papillary layer (DPL) is made up of connective tissue with fine elastic fibres. The surface area of this layer is increased by the dermal papillae (DP). These fingerlike formations greatly increase the surface area for the exchange of oxygen, nutrients and waste products between the dermis and the epidermis.



The boundary between the dermis and epidermis is a point of potential weakness where the two tissues may be separated from each other. The fingerlike formations (or interdigitation) also serve to strengthen the epidermis/dermis junction.
As one ages the dermal papillae tend to flatten and may increase in numbers. In this situation, each papilla appears to develop into a group...staying at the same overall size but individually much smaller.



Sweat glands, or eccrine glands, are found over the entire surface of the body except a few small areas. They are most concentrated in the palms and soles of the feet. The eccrine sweat glands in this skin section are well developed, and their ducts (dark staining) can be distinguished from the lighter staining secretory portions.
They are simple coiled tubular glands; they consist of a highly coiled secretory portion deep in the dermis, and a relatively straight duct conducts the secretions toward the surface of the epidermis. Each duct opens in the centre of the ridge "unit" (cristae cutis).
Eccrine sweat contains approximately 99% water and 1% solids. The solids are half inorganic salt (mostly sodium chloride) and organic compounds (amino acids, urea and peptides).


Photos and information came from the following website:
http://www.ridgesandfurrows.homestead.com/friction_skin.html

Why Fingerprint Identification

(From a handout given in class)

Fingerprints offer an infallible means of personal identification. That is the essential explanation for their having supplanted other methods of establishing the identities of criminals reluctant to admit previous arrests. Other personal characteristics change. Fingerprints do not.

In earlier civilizations branding and even maiming wereused to mark the criminal for what he was. The thief was deprived of the hand which committed the thievery. The Romans employed the tattoo needle to identify and prevent desertion of mercenary soldiers.

More recently law enforcement officers which extraordinary visual memories, so called "camera eyes" identified old offenders by sight. Photography lessened the burden on memory but was not the answer to the criminal identification problem. Personal appearances change.

Around 1870 a French anthropologist devised a system to measure and record the dimensions of certain bony parts of the body. These measurements were reduced to a formula which, theoretically, would apply only to one person and would not change during his adult life.

This Bertillion System, named after its inventor, Alphonse Bertillion, was generally accepted for thirty years, but it never recovered from the events of 1903. That was the year a man named Will West was sentenced to the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Criminal Investigations 1

This class started off a little slow, reading through the class schedule and policies. Though when we first entered the room Mr. Clark had a slide show going of past cases he had worked on. They were not something most people would enjoy to see. They were all photos of people that had been killed one way or another. Mr. Clark had mentioned if it bothered anyone or if anyone was not interested in learning anything that had to do with this, they could feel free to leave the class right then and there and drop it and/or change their major. I didn't care so much about the pictures, being the nosey girl that I am I wanted to know the story behind each photo, why did they die, who did it, how was it done? Well we are not going to get into that just yet. But I will begin with what we began with. That is Fingerprinting.

History of Fingerprinting
(From a handout)
As far back as the eighth century (A.D) the T'ang Dynasty refer to the use of fingerprints being impressed upon business contracts. The following is a brief development of how fingerprints have shaped modern law Enforcement.

1880's- Sir Francis Galton, a noted British anthropologist, began observations which led to the publication, in 1892, of his book "Finger Prints." Galton's studies established the individuality and permanence of fingerprints. He also devised the first scientific method of fingerprint classification.

1892-The first installation of fingerprint files as an official means of criminal identification. Juan Vucetich, an Argentinian police official, base his system on the patterns by Sir Francis Galton. He also claimed the first official criminal identification by means of fingerprints left at a crime scene.

A woman who had murdered her two songs and cut her own throat, though not fatally (in 1892), blamed the attacks on a neighbor. Bloody fingerprints found on a doorpost were identifid by Vucetich as those of the woman herself and led to her confession.

1901-Marked the official introduction of fingerprinting for criminal identification in England and Wales. The system employed was also developed from Galton's observations and was devised by Mr.-later Sir- Edward Henry, then Inspector General of Police. He later served as Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police. Henry simplified fingerprint classification and made it applicable to police identification. His system and that devised by Vucetich form the basis of all modern ten finger fingerprint identification systems. It is the basic HENRY SYSTEM, with modifications and extensions, which is used by the FBI and throughout the United States today.

1924-On July 1, 1924, Congress established the Identification Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The fingerprint record of the National Bureau of Criminal Identification, The Leavenworth Penitentiary and the St. Louis Police Department, were consolidated to form the nucleus of the FBI files.

Criminal Justice

Well I have not posted much in awhile because I have been busy with school. After graduating high school in 2002, I decided to attend MVCC for Nursing. After one semester I realized that just was not for me. The second semester I changed my major to Social Services. I did alright. I then changed my mind again and wanted to double major in Social Services and Business Management. That did not go to well. After taking approx. 1 year off from school to work and catch up on some bills I decided to re-enroll at MVCC to try and get my degree in Social Services. I was doing well in school. But the life I was living there was not. I had a very mean land-lord who treated my room mate and I like slaves. We were dirt to them. Not so much as, do the dishes, etc. But after moving in, said our chairs were to loud on the floor? How is that possible? The television was to loud...The radio was to loud, we were not allowed to have guests over unless we had their permission, we went from parking in the drive way to having to park across the street and paying rent to park! My room mate and I payed our land lord the money for parking and because they did not give it to the people in time that we were renting from, they super glued notes to every window of our cars. It was just a disaster. After a little mishap with the police, I packed up and moved out the next day. I took some time off again. During that time, I was job-hopping, not to exciting. I realized how much it really sucked not being able to have room for advancement at my jobs because of my lack of college experience. Minimum wage just wasn't cutting it for me. So I decided to research some schools and majors I would be interested in and try to re-enroll in school again. After talking to a friend about what she was doing with her life, she mentioned she had enrolled in online classes at HCCC. I kept that thought in my head. I went home and did a little research on the college and found a major that just rang my bell. Criminal Justice-Forensic Investigations. Most people think of the tv show CSI, to be honest with you, I've only seen one episode of the show, and yes it is very similar to that. I applied to HCCC and was accepted. HOORAY! I enrolled in some online classes for my first semester and loved them. I then took a couple of summer classes to help catch up. I am now in my second semester and am taking 3 online classes and have 2 labs and 2 lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the college. I dont mind the commute it takes just a little over a hour to get there. Going the speed limit, I'm sure it would take a little longer. But anyways, I absolutley love my major and just cant get enough of it. I must also say this school is so much cleaner, and much more professional than the first I had attended. I have the same teacher right now for my labs, lectures and one of my online classes. Mr. Lynton Clark. He is an amazing guy. After all the different agencies he has worked for, I must say he really knows his stuff. (For example, he was on a television show on Court television for a case he helped solve in 1979. I will get back to you with the name of the show. But the case on the television was called Blood Money.) I am so glad I am in his class.

Well now that you have the basic info. on my college life, I would like to share with you everything I learn from a couple of my classes this semester, in hopes that you may find this just as interesting as I do.