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Forensics Laboratory

Forensics Laboratory. CJUS 201 Criminal Investigation Part 15. Forensics. Called forensics - pertains to law and courts - scientific organization to aid the criminal justice process - private / government agency a. Evidence : - suspect leaves at the crime scene

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Forensics Laboratory

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  1. Forensics Laboratory CJUS 201 Criminal Investigation Part 15

  2. Forensics • Called forensics - pertains to law and courts - scientific organization to aid the criminal justice process - private / government agency a. Evidence: - suspect leaves at the crime scene - suspect takes from crime scene - anything connected to the crime

  3. Forensics b. Evidence consists of ‘elements’ - legal requirements - submitted to a competent court - by a forensic laboratory - help uncover the truth (1) Forensic science - physical / biological sciences - examination of physical evidence (2) Forensic evidence

  4. Forensics - fingerprints / tool marks / fibers / paints / etc. c. Forensic experts - interpret laboratory analysis - testify to characteristics of evidence - biologist / pathologist / chemist / geologist 2. Forensic evidence / judicial process - submitted to a laboratory - aid in solving the case

  5. Forensics a. 3 important roles in the judicial process (1) Establishes elements - “suspected” controlled substances - prove they are illegal - crime has been committed (2) Associate / disassociatedefendants - fingerprints - DNA (hair / body fluids / etc.)

  6. Forensics (3) Help to reconstruct crime scene - position of evidence - movement of suspect / victim b. Ways lab can assist (1) Aid in solution by: - developing MO’s - proving / disproving an alibi - connecting / eliminating suspects - identify property / contraband

  7. Forensics - verify investigative leads (2) Prove an element of the crime - death caused by poison (3) Identify a suspect or victim - DNA / prints (4) Develop associate evidence - tool mark / tool

  8. Forensics (5) Test statements / alibis - paint on fender - other accident (6) Reconstruct a crime - powder burns on victim - show distance (7) Corroborate evidence - match torn cloth to shirt

  9. Forensics c. Laboratory responsibilities (1) Inform CJS members of functions - knowing what lab can do - provide training to police / prosecutors (2) Professional testing / examination - established credentials / expertise (3) Provide feedback - copies of lab results sent to agencies

  10. Forensics (4) Testify in court - explain process used - what was found d. Concepts bearing on quality / usefulness - all evidence (1) Mathematical probability - blood type (O / A / B / AB) - O = 40% (8 of every 20 people) - A = 40% (8 of every 20 people)

  11. Forensics - B = 15% (3 of every 20 people) - AB = 5% (1 of every 20 people) (2) Class characteristics / similarity - shoeprint made by Bass Wingtip (3) Individual characteristic - individuality of an item (4) Comparisons - impression compares to original

  12. Forensics (5) Rarity - show uniqueness of evidence - piece of soil / rare to location (6) Exchange - suspect to victim - victim to suspect 3. Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory - RCW 43.43.670 - legislature created crime lab as part of WSP

  13. Forensics a. Objective / authority - analyze / scientifically handle - any physical evidence related to a crime (1) Provide training / assistance - local law enforcement personnel - collection / preservation / packaging (2) Priority: crimes against person - overworked / understaffed - homicides on a daily basis

  14. Forensics b. State laboratories - 7 crime labs within state - 5 full service / 2 limited service (1) Seattle Crime Lab - arson examination - biochemical analysis (serology) - controlled substances analysis - DNA analysis / microanalysis (trace) - forensic chemistry - forensic documents

  15. Forensics (2) Spokane Crime Lab - all Seattle’s except DNA / documents - firearms examination - tool mark examination (3) Tacoma Crime Lab - same as Spokane (4) Marysville Crime Lab - same as Tacoma - except tool mark / forensic chemistry

  16. Forensics (5) Vancouver Crime Lab - same as Tacoma (6) Longview Crime Lab - limited in analyzing - physical evidence (7) Kennewick Crime Lab - same as Longview

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