Forensic Identification

start by asking

Who

Is involved?

first officer on scene

specialized officer

forensic scientist

forensic identification officer

What

are the processes of forensic identification?

are the disciplines / types?

includes

biological

non-biological

DNA

facial approximation

fingerprint / friction ridge

footwear impression

biological basis

partially

persistent throughout life

unique & never repeated

made of ridge units

deposits include mix of

levels of detail

  1. overall ridge flow (naked eye)
  1. characteristics & details (magnifying glass)
  1. finite details (microscope)

can lead to identification

is fundamental to this field?

Dr. Edmond Locard

"every contact leaves a trace"

can only lead to exclusions

vs.

include

comparison

evaluation

verification

duties include

secure scene

ducumentation

investigation

of evidence

received specialized training

analysis

includes

2D

3D

photographing both require

camera parallel to print

proper scale

impression methods

electrostatic lifter

mylar film

gelatin

impression methods

casting with

dental stone

sulphur

eccrine sweat

sebaceous oil

foreign particles

examination methods

CA glue fuming

use of chemicals

use of forensic light sources

use of filters

same method does not work for everything, need to use different combinations / methods

applies as well

testify in court

duties include

could be

blood

can lead to

blood stain pattern

gives information about

events transpired

sequence of events

HOW as opposed to WHO

different from all other types of investigation

utilizes technologies

video analysis

high speed

time lapse

microscopic

classifications

passive

transfer

spatter

exceptions

from one surface to another

force of gravity acting alone

external force applied to source

ex. cast off pattern, expirated, mist pattern

ex. drip stain, drip trail, pool pattern

greater applied force, smaller stain size

can be caused by

firearms

can possibly give

ex. wipe pattern, swipe pattern

computer models

area of convergence

enhancement

collection of evidence

hypothesize

laser scanning

for documentation

for training/ research

possibly give information for

also an important part of

shooting scene reconstruction

based on

impact location

physical evidence

documented by using

stringing

laser scanners

lidar

then be used for

photogrammetry

videogrammetry

3D models

recreation

based on

witness statements & theories

has less weight in trial

could be

interactive

used with virtual reality

ie. virtual tour

process include

  1. create likeness
  1. present to public
  1. generate new leads
  1. positive ID

generally not done in other types of forensic ID (except during trials)

how is it done?

manual

digital

American method

clay

advantages include

lifelike texture

can create

different hair models

depends heavily on

audience

cognition (matching)

types include

primed

actively seeking to match

is the ultimate goal / purpose?

present evidence in court of law

same for all types of forensic identification

same as

whether Q & K from same source?

movement

object or mechanism used

urine

semen

skin

hair

number of impacts

combination of knowledge in

anthropology

osteology

anatomy

technology

same for all disciplines of forensic ID

trace evidence

locate using ALS

enhance by using

dilution

insect activity

drying

clotting

lead to alterations

casual

merely passing

also creates

also used in

also used in blood stain pattern analysis

crucial for all types of ID

is it for / is the audience?

the public

ie. facial approximation models

court of law

jurors

judge

prevent contamination

safety & control

to

of crime scene conditions

witness testimony

photography

manual tools

important for all types of forensic ID

oblique lighting for photographing

angled lighting for photographing

establishing "path of contamination"

also used by

by

casting

using

ex.

footwear impression

stringing

bloodstain pattern analysis

shooting reconstruction

used in

used for

scanning tech.

laser

ex.

shooting reconstruction

bloodstain pattern analysis

mapping crime scene

lidar

useful for

light detection and ranging

light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

aka.

aka.

family member of victim

ex.

tissue depth markers

using

orientation

pattern type

ridge endings

ridge paths

pores

end shapes and angles

edge shapes

examines

examines

examines

depends on substrate

to find area of origin

to help calculate bullet trajectory

Rhodamine 6G

porous

non-porous

whether

tracer laser

blue light

uv

Basic Yellow 40

Ardox

ex.

ex.

vary within limits

by migrating to fingers

through process of

data

being

combined

interpolated

extrapolated

compared

formulated

resulting in

new information

that creates

to find

which is

to help calculate

bullet trajectory

are

's

central dogma of forensic science