Physical Evidence in Forensic Science

by Lee, Henry C.

• ISBN13: 9781930056015
• ISBN10: 193005601X
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-31
• Publisher: Lawyers & Judges Pub Co

Summary

Written in an easy-to-understand format, this outstanding guide by the nation's foremost forensic scientists will introduce to you the basics of crime scene evaluation. The authors list basic information for evidence collection, investigation and reconstruction for just about any crime scene imaginable. They also discuss legal aspects of crime scene investigation including priciples of search and seizure.

Author Biography

Dr. Henry C. Lee is one of the world's foremost forensic scientists. He has been a prominent player in many of the most challenging cases of the last forty-five years. Dr. Lee has worked with law enforcement agencies in helping to solve more than 6,000 cases worldwide, and lectures throughout the world to police, universities, and civic organizations. He has authored hundreds of articles in professional journals and has co-authored more than thirty books, covering such area as DNA, fingerprints, trace evidence, crime scene investigation, and crime scene reconstruction.Dr. Lee is currently the Chief Emeritus for the Scientific Services, was the Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Connecticut from 1998 to 2000, and served as Chief Criminalist for the State of Connecticut from 1979 to 2000. In 1975, he joined the University of New Haven, where he created the school's Forensic Sciences program. Dr. Lee has also been the recipient of medals and awards, including the 1996 Medal of Justice from the Justice Foundation; the 1998 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Science and Engineer Association; the Distinguished Criminalist Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences; the J. Donero Award from the International Association of Identification; and in 1992 was elected a distinguished Fellow of the AAFS.Dr. Lee was born in China and grew up in Taiwan. Dr. Lee first worked for the Taipei Police Department, attaining the rank of Captain. With his wife, Margaret, Dr. Lee came to the United States in 1965, and he earned his B.S. in Forensic Science from John Jay College in 1972. Dr. Lee continued his studies in biochemistry at NYU where he earned his Masters degree in 1974, and Ph.D. in 1975. He has also received special training from the FBI Academy, ATF, RCMP, and other organizations. Dr. and Mrs. Lee have been married for forty years and have two grown children, a daughter, Sherry, and a son, Stanley.Dr. Howard A. Harris is currently the Director of the Forensic Science Program at the University of New Haven. His educational background is in chemistry (A.B. Western Reserve University, M.S. and Ph.D. Yale University) and law (J.D. St. Louis University). He was admitted to and has maintained his membership in the Missouri Bar. Dr. Harris was a research chemist for seven years before entering the forensic field as the Director of the New York City Police Department Police Laboratory. After holding that position for twelve years, he moved upstate to become the Director of the Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory in Rochester. He held that position for eleven years before taking early retirement to make a career change to academics. He assumed his current position at the University of New Haven in the fall of 1996. Dr. Harris and his wife, Carolyn, have one daughter who graduated from Northwestern University.

Table of Contents

General Concepts in Forensic Science
Physical Evidence in Forensic Science	p. 3
Introduction	p. 3
Types of Physical Evidence at Crime Scenes	p. 4
Stages in the Analysis of Physical Evidence	p. 11
Role of Physical Evidence in Investigation and Resolution of Criminal Activity	p. 13
Introduction to Forensic Science	p. 17
Criminalistics	p. 17
Other Forensic Science Specializations	p. 20
Reconstruction	p. 25
Introduction	p. 25
Types of Reconstruction	p. 25
Crime Scene and Laboratory Procedures	p. 27
Stages of Reconstruction	p. 28
Team Concept in Reconstruction	p. 30
Laboratory Analysis of Physical Evidence
Arson and Fire Evidence	p. 33
Introduction	p. 33
Nature and Types of Physical Evidence at Fire Scenes	p. 33
Collection and Preservation of Fire Scene Evidence	p. 35
Laboratory Analysis of Fire Debris	p. 37
Bite Marks	p. 43
Introduction	p. 43
Documentation and Collection of Bite Mark Evidence	p. 43
Analysis of Bite Mark Evidence	p. 46
Blood	p. 49
Introduction	p. 49
Collection of Blood Evidence	p. 49
Field Tests for Blood (Chemical Screening Tests)	p. 53
Laboratory Examination of Blood Evidence	p. 55
AIDS and Other Biohazards in Crime Scene Processing and Law Enforcement	p. 59
Body Fluids	p. 65
Introduction	p. 65
Collection and Preservation of Evidence	p. 65
Laboratory Examination of Body Fluids	p. 67
Bombs and Explosives	p. 71
Introduction	p. 71
Types of Explosives	p. 71
Collection of Explosives Evidence	p. 72
Laboratory Analysis of Explosives	p. 73
Chemical Substances	p. 77
Introduction	p. 77
Nature of Chemical Evidence	p. 77
Collection of Chemical Evidence	p. 78
Laboratory Analysis of an Unknown Chemical	p. 79
Computers as Evidence	p. 85
Introduction	p. 85
Collection of Computer Evidence	p. 85
Preprocessing Interview	p. 86
Processing of the Computer	p. 86
DNA Analysis	p. 87
Introduction	p. 87
Nature of DNA Analysis	p. 87
Collection and Preservation of Evidence for DNA Analysis	p. 88
Laboratory Analysis of DNA evidence	p. 93
Documents	p. 99
Introduction	p. 99
Types of Document Evidence Examinations	p. 99
Collection and Preservation of Document Evidence	p. 101
Laboratory Examination of Document Evidence	p. 102
Drugs and Controlled Substances	p. 113
Introduction	p. 113
Types of Drug Evidence	p. 113
Collection of Drug Evidence	p. 114
Investigation of Clandestine Laboratories	p. 116
Laboratory Examination of Drug Evidence	p. 119
Fibers	p. 125
Introduction	p. 125
Nature of Fiber Evidence	p. 125
Collection and Preservation of Fiber Evidence	p. 126
Laboratory Examination of Fibers	p. 128
Fingerprints	p. 131
Introduction	p. 131
Nature and Classification of Fingerprint Patterns	p. 132
Collection and Preservation of Fingerprint Evidence	p. 134
Laboratory Examination of Latent Prints Evidence	p. 140
Firearms	p. 147
Introduction	p. 147
The Nature of Firearms Evidence	p. 147
Collection of Firearms Evidence	p. 149
Laboratory Examination of Firearms Evidence	p. 154
Glass	p. 157
Introduction	p. 157
Nature of Glass Evidence	p. 157
Documentation and Collection of Glass Evidence	p. 158
Laboratory Analysis of Glass Evidence	p. 159
Gunshot Residue	p. 165
Introduction	p. 165
Source of Gunshot Residue	p. 165
Collection of Gunshot Residue	p. 166
Laboratory Analysis of Gunshot Residue	p. 169
Hair	p. 173
Introduction	p. 173
Characteristics of Hairs	p. 173
Collection and Preservation of Hair Evidence	p. 175
Laboratory Examination and Comparison of Hairs	p. 176
Imprint and Impression Evidence	p. 181
Introduction	p. 181
Nature of Imprint and Impression Evidence	p. 181
Collection and Preservation of Imprint Evidence	p. 182
Laboratory Analysis of Impression/Imprint Evidence	p. 191
Paints	p. 195
Introduction	p. 195
Nature of Paint Evidence	p. 195
Collection of Paint Evidence	p. 197
Laboratory Analysis of Paints and Coatings	p. 199
Pattern Evidence	p. 203
Introduction	p. 203
Pattern Evidence and Interpretations	p. 203
Documentation of Pattern Evidence	p. 212
Collection of Pattern Evidence	p. 212
Plastics	p. 215
Introduction	p. 215
Nature of Plastics	p. 215
Collection of Plastic Evidence	p. 216
Laboratory Examination of Plastics	p. 216
Semen	p. 219
Introduction	p. 219
Nature of Semen Evidence	p. 219
Collection of Evidence Containing Semen	p. 221
Laboratory Examination of Semen Evidence	p. 224
Serial Number Restoration	p. 227
Introduction	p. 227
Collection of Evidence	p. 227
Laboratory Restoration of Obliterated Serial Numbers	p. 228
Soil	p. 231
Introduction	p. 231
Nature of Soil	p. 231
Collection of Soil and Dust Samples	p. 232
Laboratory Analysis of Soil	p. 233
Tape	p. 235
Introduction	p. 235
Nature of Tape Evidence	p. 235
Collection of Tape Evidence	p. 236
Laboratory Examination of Tapes	p. 236
Toolmarks	p. 239
Introduction	p. 239
Nature of Toolmark Evidence	p. 239
Documentation and Collection of Toolmarks	p. 240
Laboratory Analysis of Toolmark Evidence	p. 242
Video Evidence	p. 245
Introduction	p. 245
Nature of Video Evidence	p. 245
Collection and Packaging of Video/Audio Evidence	p. 246
Laboratory Examination and Services	p. 247
Maintenance of Video Equipment	p. 249
Voice Identification	p. 251
Introduction	p. 251
Principle of Voice Analysis	p. 251
Collection of Audio Samples	p. 252
Laboratory Comparison of Recordings and Spectrograms	p. 254
Legal Aspects of Forensic Science
The Proper Seizure of Evidence for Effective Utilization in Court	p. 257
Introduction	p. 257
When Does the Fourth Amendment Apply?	p. 258
Situations When Entry Can be Made Without a Warrant	p. 259
A Search Warrant Must Particularize the Items the Investigator Is Requesting Permission to Seize	p. 265
Effect of Daubert v. Merrill-Dow	p. 267
Professional Handling of Evidence	p. 268
Conclusion	p. 269
Some Screening Test Reagents	p. 273
Preparation of Some Common Blood Screening Test Reagents	p. 273
Acid Phosphatase Reagents	p. 274
Bloody Print Enhancement Reagent	p. 275
The Druggist's Fold	p. 277
References	p. 279
About the Authors	p. 285
Index	p. 287
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