1 / 13

Factors for Rapid Growth of Forensic Laboratories And Four Major Federal Crime Laboratories

Factors for Rapid Growth of Forensic Laboratories And Four Major Federal Crime Laboratories. Chapter 1: Introduction. Unparalleled Growth. Several reasons explain the unparalleled growth of crime laboratories during the past forty years. Supreme Court Decisions. 1960’s:

fathia
Download Presentation

Factors for Rapid Growth of Forensic Laboratories And Four Major Federal Crime Laboratories

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Factors for Rapid Growth of Forensic LaboratoriesAndFour Major Federal Crime Laboratories Chapter 1: Introduction

  2. Unparalleled Growth • Several reasons explain the unparalleled growth of crime laboratories during the past forty years.

  3. Supreme Court Decisions • 1960’s: • Supreme Court decisions compelled police to place greater emphasis on securing scientifically evaluated evidence. • The requirement to advise criminal suspects of their constitutional rights and their right to immediate access to counsel has all but eliminated confessions as a routine investigative tool.

  4. Staggering Increase in Crime Rates • During the past 40 years • Staggering increase in crime rates; however, only a small percentage of police investigations generate evidence requiring scientific evaluation. • ONE IMPORTANT EXCEPTION to the above is DRUG – RELATED ARRESTS! • All illicit-drug seizures must be sent to a forensic laboratory for confimatory chemical analysis before the case can be adjudicated.

  5. Drug – related Arrests • Since 1960’s • Drug abuse has accelerated to nearly uncontrollable levels and has resulted in crime laboratories being inundated with drug specimens.

  6. DNA Profiling • Since 1990’s • The advent of DNA profiling has led to the growth and maturation of crime laboratories. • The technology of DNA profiling has progressed to the point at which traces of bloodstains, semen stains, hair and saliva residues left behind on stamps, cups, bite marks and so on have made possible the individualization or near individualization of biological evidence.

  7. Four Major Federal Crime Laboratories • Four major federal crime laboratories have been created to help investigate and enforce criminal laws that extend beyond the jurisdictional boundaries of state and local forces.

  8. FBI • The FBI (Department of Justice) maintains the largest crime laboratory in the world. • Located in Quantico, Virginia. • Its expertise and technology support is broad investigative powers.

  9. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) • DEA (Department of Justice) • Analyze Drugs seized in violation of federal laws regulating the production, sale, and transportation of drugs.

  10. ATF • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (Department of Justice) • Analyze alcoholic beverages and documents relating to alcohol and firearm excise tax law enforcement and examine weapons, explosive devices, and related evidence to enforce Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970.

  11. U. S. Postal Inspection Service • Maintains laboratories concerned with criminal investigations relating to the postal service.

  12. Services of the Crime Laboratory • Basic Services • Physical Science Unit • Biology Unit • Firearms Unit • Document Examination Unit • Photography Unit

  13. Optional Services • Toxicology Unit • Latent Fingerprint Unit • Polygraph Unit • Voiceprint Analysis Unit • Crime-Scene Investigation Unit

More Related