Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, Seventh Edition

by Fisher; Barry J.

• ISBN13: 9780849316913
• ISBN10: 084931691X
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-09-25
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

This latest edition of Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation examines concepts, field-tested techniques and procedures, and technical information concerning crime scene investigation. It has been widely adopted by police academies, community colleges, and universities and is recommended for preparation for certification exams. Written in an easy-to-read style, this comprehensive text offers up-to-date technical expertise that the author has developed over many years in law enforcement. Includes check-off lists, case studies, and 16 pages of full-color illustrated photos. Also included is an appendix on equipment for crime scene investigations.

Author Biography

Barry A. J. Fisher is a past president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, a past chairman of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board, and is a Distinguished Fellow and past president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. xi
The Author	p. xiii
Prologue	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
Identification and Individualization of Physical Evidence	p. 5
Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence	p. 10
Important Considerations in Crime Scene Investigations	p. 14
Guidelines for Forensic Laboratory Management Practices	p. 15
Expert Witness Tips	p. 20
Before Going to Court	p. 20
Giving Expert Testimony	p. 20
Cross Examination	p. 21
Other Points	p. 21
Teamwork	p. 22
Professional Development	p. 22
First Officer at the Crime Scene	p. 25
The First Officer at the Scene	p. 28
Recording the Time	p. 31
Entering the Scene Proper	p. 32
Protecting the Integrity of the Scene	p. 33
Injured Person on the Scene	p. 34
Dead Person on the Scene	p. 35
Summoning the Coroner	p. 35
Firearms and Ammunition on the Scene	p. 36
When a Suspect Is Found at the Scene	p. 38
What to Do Until Investigating Personnel Arrive	p. 39
Continued Protection of the Scene	p. 40
The Crime Scene Investigator	p. 43
Actual Examination of the Scene	p. 52
Specialized Personnel at the Crime Scene	p. 57
Health and Safety Issues at Crime Scenes	p. 65
Chemical or Biological Terrorist Crime Scenes	p. 65
Indicators of a Possible Biological Terrorist Threat	p. 67
Indicators of a Possible Chemical Terrorist Threat	p. 68
Health and Safety Considerations for Crime Scene Personnel	p. 69
Conclusion	p. 73
Processing the Crime Scene	p. 75
Plan of Action	p. 75
Note Taking	p. 75
Crime Scene Search	p. 77
Crime Scene Photography	p. 79
Types of Cameras	p. 79
Admissibility of Photographs	p. 85
Videotape	p. 86
Sketching the Crime Scene	p. 86
Information Included in Crime Scene Sketches	p. 87
Equipment	p. 87
Types of Sketches	p. 87
Locating Objects in the Sketch	p. 88
Computer Programs	p. 88
Admissibility of Sketches	p. 88
Collection of Evidence	p. 89
Establishing Identity	p. 93
Fingerprints and Palm Prints	p. 93
How Do Fingerprints Occur?	p. 93
Where to Look for Fingerprints	p. 94
Different Types of Fingerprints	p. 97
Fingerprint Developing Techniques	p. 98
Development with Powders	p. 98
Lasers and Alternative Light Sources	p. 104
Image Processing	p. 105
Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems	p. 106
Preservation of Fingerprints	p. 108
How Long Does a Fingerprint Remain on an Object?	p. 109
The Effect of Temperature Conditions on the Possibility of Developing Fingerprints	p. 109
Examination of Developed Fingerprints	p. 110
Palm Prints	p. 110
Packing Objects on which Prints are Found	p. 110
Taking Fingerprints for Elimination	p. 111
Prints of Other Coverings	p. 114
Handwriting Examination	p. 116
Identification of Human Remains	p. 121
Taking Fingerprints	p. 124
Photographing	p. 128
Marks of Trades or Occupations	p. 131
Making a Description	p. 133
The Deceased's Clothing	p. 135
Laundry Marks	p. 135
Watchmaker's Marks	p. 136
Jewelry	p. 136
Eyeglasses	p. 136
Teeth	p. 137
Facial Reconstruction	p. 138
Determination of Gender	p. 138
Determination of Age	p. 140
Length of Body	p. 141
Hair Color	p. 141
Blood Type	p. 141
Identification in Mass Disasters	p. 142
Trace Evidence and Miscellaneous Material	p. 149
Sources of Trace Evidence	p. 149
Clothing	p. 149
Footwear	p. 151
Evidence from the Body	p. 151
Trace Metal Detection	p. 151
Other Objects as Sources of Trace Evidence	p. 152
Collection and Preservation of Trace Evidence	p. 155
Examples of Trace Evidence	p. 157
Building Materials	p. 157
Asbestos	p. 158
Safe Insulation	p. 158
Paint	p. 158
Rust	p. 160
Metals	p. 160
Textiles and Fibers	p. 161
Buttons	p. 165
Cordage and Rope	p. 165
Cigarettes and Tobacco	p. 167
Matches	p. 172
Burned Paper	p. 172
Ash	p. 173
Soil	p. 173
Wood	p. 174
Plant Material	p. 175
Glass	p. 176
Objects Left at the Crime Scene	p. 182
Paper	p. 182
Articles of Clothing	p. 182
Product Markings	p. 183
Foodstuffs	p. 183
Cosmetics	p. 184
Hair	p. 185
Feathers	p. 189
Electrical Wire	p. 189
Broken Tools	p. 189
Tape	p. 190
Headlamps	p. 192
Computer Seizure	p. 192
Collecting Videotape Evidence	p. 194
Determine if There Is a Videotape	p. 194
Stop the Recorder	p. 194
Confiscate the Tapes Immediately, Taking the Usual Chain-of-Evidence Steps	p. 194
Document the Video System's Physical Relationship to the Crime Scene	p. 195
Seek Technical Assistance if Problems Occur	p. 195
Other Trace Evidence	p. 197
Blood and Other Biological Evidence	p. 199
A Word of Caution!	p. 199
Universal Precautions	p. 199
Bloodstain Pattern Recognition	p. 200
Presumptive Tests for Blood	p. 206
Searching for Bloodstains	p. 206
Description and Recording of Bloodstains	p. 208
Collection and Preservation of Bloodstains	p. 208
Removal of Bloodstains	p. 209
Bloodstained Objects	p. 209
Blood Typing	p. 210
Collection of Known Specimens	p. 210
Forensic DNA Typing	p. 211
RFLP-Based Technology	p. 212
PCR-Based Technology	p. 213
Mitochondrial DNA	p. 214
CODIS	p. 215
Forensic DNA and Unsolved Cases	p. 216
SWGDAM	p. 216
The Future	p. 219
Impression Evidence	p. 221
Footprints	p. 225
The Value of Footprints	p. 226
Preservation of Footwear and Tire Impressions	p. 231
Footprints on Floors	p. 232
Preservation of Footwear Evidence	p. 232
Photographing Footwear Impressions	p. 232
Casting with Dental Stone	p. 233
Casting Water-Filled Impressions	p. 233
Casting Impressions in Snow	p. 234
Preservation of Footprints (Dust Prints)	p. 234
Taking Comparison Footprints from a Suspect	p. 236
Comparison of Footprints	p. 238
Marks on Clothes and Parts of the Body	p. 238
Fabric Marks	p. 238
Tooth Marks	p. 240
The Preservation of Bite Marks	p. 241
Casting Material for Bite Mark Evidence	p. 242
Human Skin	p. 243
Foods	p. 243
Tool Marks	p. 243
Preservation of Tool Marks	p. 244
Casting Tool Marks	p. 244
Trace Evidence on Tools	p. 246
Preserving a Tool	p. 251
Fragments of Tools	p. 251
Typed Documents	p. 252
Firearms Examination	p. 257
Characteristics of Firearms	p. 257
Ammunition	p. 260
Firearms Evidence	p. 260
Gunshot Residue Analysis	p. 262
Collecting Firearms Evidence	p. 264
Handling of Firearms	p. 270
Cartridge Cases	p. 273
Bullets	p. 277
Marking Bullets	p. 278
Small Shot	p. 281
Test Firing	p. 283
Powder Pattern Examination	p. 283
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)	p. 284
Arson and Explosives	p. 287
Physical Evidence	p. 289
Explosives	p. 295
Low Explosives	p. 296
High Explosives	p. 297
Blasting Agents	p. 301
Military Explosives	p. 301
Homemade Explosives	p. 302
Bomb Scene Investigation	p. 304
Illicit Drugs and Toxicology	p. 311
Psychoactive Drugs	p. 311
Central Nervous System Depressants	p. 311
Central Nervous System Stimulants	p. 313
Hallucinogens	p. 313
Crime Scene Search	p. 317
Searching a Suspect	p. 317
Searching a Dwelling	p. 317
Searching a Vehicle	p. 319
Clandestine Drug Laboratories	p. 319
Collection and Preservation of Evidence	p. 322
Toxicology	p. 323
U.S. DEA Drug Schedule Classification	p. 325
	p. 325
	p. 325
	p. 326
	p. 326
	p. 326
Investigating Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse Crimes	p. 327
Rape	p. 327
Preliminary Interview	p. 327
Medical Examination	p. 328
Collection of Physical Evidence	p. 330
Date-Rape Drugs	p. 332
Other Sexual and Abusive Assaults	p. 334
Sexual Child Molestation and Incest	p. 334
Homosexual Assault	p. 335
Elder Abuse	p. 335
Conclusion	p. 339
Burglary Investigation	p. 341
Points of Entry	p. 341
Entry through Windows	p. 342
Entry through Doors	p. 343
Entry through Basement Windows and Skylights	p. 345
Entry through Roofs	p. 345
Entry through Walls	p. 346
Entry through Floors	p. 346
Simulated Burglaries	p. 347
Detailed Examination of the Scene	p. 348
Safe Burglaries	p. 351
Safe Burglaries Using Explosives	p. 353
Motor Vehicle Investigation	p. 357
Vehicle Theft	p. 359
Abandoned Vehicles	p. 361
Homicide in a Vehicle	p. 369
Hit-and-Run Investigation	p. 372
Marks from Vehicles	p. 377
Wheel Marks	p. 377
Skid Marks	p. 377
Homicide Investigation	p. 379
Murder, Suicide, or Accident?	p. 380
Cause of Death	p. 380
Suicide	p. 380
Signs of Struggle	p. 383
Location of Weapon	p. 390
Examination of a Dead Body at the Crime Scene	p. 390
Murder	p. 392
Detailed Examination of the Scene of the Crime	p. 394
Outdoor Crime Scenes	p. 398
Discovering a Body Hidden at Another Location	p. 401
Investigation of a Greatly Altered Body or Skeleton	p. 402
The Scene of Discovery	p. 403
Outdoors	p. 403
Indoors	p. 406
Packing and Transporting	p. 406
Determining the Number of Individuals	p. 407
Examining Remains of Clothing and Other Objects	p. 407
Clothing	p. 407
Boots and Shoes	p. 408
Other Objects	p. 408
Estimating the Time of Death	p. 408
Postmortem Signs of Death	p. 409
Decomposition of the Body	p. 410
Action of Insects and Other Animals on a Dead Body	p. 412
Other Indications of Time of Death	p. 414
The Autopsy	p. 416
Injuries from External Mechanical Violence	p. 417
Injuries from Sharp External Violence	p. 418
Marks or Damage on Clothing	p. 422
Defense Injuries	p. 423
Firearm Injuries	p. 423
Bullet Injuries	p. 424
Close and Distant Shots	p. 426
Damage to Clothes from Shooting	p. 431
Modes of Death from Shooting	p. 431
Explosion Injuries	p. 433
Death by Suffocation	p. 434
Death from Electric Currents	p. 442
Violent Death in Fires	p. 442
Death by Freezing	p. 443
Death by Poisoning	p. 443
Rape-Homicide and Sexual Assault-Related Murders	p. 447
Infanticide and Child Abuse	p. 447
Trunk Murder, Dismemberment of the Body	p. 449
Serial Murders	p. 451
Equipment for Crime Scene Investigations	p. 459
Forensic Science-Related Websites	p. 463
Terrorism and Domestic Preparedness Websites	p. 469
Bibliography	p. 475
Index	p. 499
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