Police Technology Chapter Thirteen

1. Police TechnologyChapter Thirteen Technology in Investigations Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

2. Learning Objectives • How technology has changed crime scene protection and evidence gathering • Basic science of DNA • Fingerprint technology • Issues surrounding DNA databases • Digital photography • Investigative software Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

3. Forensic Science The word forensic comes from the Latin – Foren. Essentially, it means to debate. In modern terms it has come to mean bringing any science into the courtroom. Any science or specialty brought into the courtroom such as: • Forensic pathology or forensic accounting Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

4. Transfer Theory Whenever two objects come into contact they exchange evidence of that contact. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

5. Chain of Custody • Testimony and documentation that details the location and condition of evidence from seizure to trial. • It assures the court that items entered into evidence are in the same condition as when they were seized. • The chain of custody and the procedures used to analyze evidence are more often challenged than the science behind the analysis. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

6. Daubert Test • In order for the analysis of evidence to be used against a defendant, the court must accept the scientific conclusion as valid. • The standard for accepting scientific analysis is the Daubert Test – from Daubert v Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals, inc. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

7. In the Daubert TestThe Court asks - • Is the science derived by the scientific method? • Has the science been subjected to peer review or publication? • Does the relevant scientific community generally accept the science? • What is the error rate of thee scientific technique used to gain the information? • Are there standards for controlling the technology used to obtain the scientific evidence? Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

8. Crime Scenes • A crime scene is any location wherein evidence of a crime may be located. • For instance, a search of an offender’s home may yield evidence, but not be the location the crime occurred. • Protocols for scene protection, documentation and evidence recovery are critical at all crime scenes Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

9. Crime Scenes • Evidence tends to deteriorate • Investigator’s often refer to the “golden hour;” the time when evidence is best recovered. • Some jurisdictions are taking the crime lab to the crime scene Photographs provided by OBS INC., Specialty Vehicles Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

10. Fingerprint Advances • The recovery of latent (hidden) fingerprints is not longer restricted to powder: • Superglue fuming • Laser applications • Unique powders Technology has advanced to the point wherein some jurisdictions use superglue fuming wands at the crime scene Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

11. DNA Basics • Transfer theory demonstrates that wherever we are – we leave behind evidence we where there! • Perhaps our fingerprints; or, • Our bodies are constantly shedding cells, releasing vapor containing cells and shedding hair – we leave it everywhere Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

12. DNA Basics(smaller and smaller) • Our bodies contain 100 trillion cells. • Most cells contain a center piece called a nucleus. • The nuclei of our cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes which are the biological instructions of who we are • During conception our parents contribute one half of each pair. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

13. DNA Basics(smaller and smaller) • Inside each chromosome there are as many as a hundred thousand pair of genes – the fundamental building blocks of our hereditary traits. • There are many variations for genes, but really two classifications. • General – those that identify us as humans • Specific – those that give us individual characteristics Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

14. DNA Basics(smaller and smaller) • Our genes are made up of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) • DNA consists of a long string of four repeating nucleotides: • Adenine (A) • Cytosine (C) • Guanine (G) • Thymine (T) This long string of repeating nucleotides is called a polymer Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

15. DNA Basics(smaller and smaller) Cells Nucleus Chromosomes Genes DNA Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

16. DNA Basics(smaller and smaller) • The order of the four nucleotides (A, C, G, T) within the polymer determine the information contained therein. • Different order – different information Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

17. DNA Basics • A complete DNA molecule has to polymer strands with four bases – it is a tightly woven, double helix, with 3.3 billion pairs of nucleotides Base Pairs Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

18. DNA Basics • DNA, like digital information has beginning codes and ending codes – to tell us where “packets of genetic data” or segments begin and end. • With DNA, at the end and beginning of DNA stands are A/T and G/C Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

19. DNA Basics • Most of our DNA is exactly the same, only a small percentage is different from each other. • The location where specific DNA information is located is called a locus. • The information that is different between individuals is called Polymorphisms – the part examined during forensic DNA analysis. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

20. DNA Basics • DNA analysis can compare: • short repeating patterns and look at the variation in length – called Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VTNR) • base pairs – called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) within Polymorphisms (specific genes) Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

21. DNA Basics Recall general and specific genes: • General genes (DNA) are called Monomorphisms • Specific genes (DNA) are called Polymorphisms DNA Analysis is conducted on Polymorphisms Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

22. DNA Databases • Like fingerprint information, DNA information is converted to a numerical value for ease of search. • Combined DNA Information System (CODIS) is actually a combination of databases. • 153 Laboratories in 49 states • Actually includes three different type of databases • Convicted Sex Offender, other offenders, missing persons Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

23. DNA Databases Database Concerns • Who is included? Convicted, arrested or suspected? It varies from state to state. • What about juveniles? While juvenile arrest records don’t necessarily follow a juvenile into adulthood, the DNA database does? • Since a portion of DNA information is familial – if your sibling or parent is in the database – so is a part of you. • What about research? Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

24. Software Investigative workload • Case assignment • Clue management • Witness management • Case coordination • Productivity Screen Capture provided by Crimestar Corporation Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

25. SoftwareCrime Scene Drawings Crime scene drawings are often used as a means of documenting the location of evidence, assisting in determining the sequence of events and explaining a crime to a jury. Software, some very similar to drafting software aids in the production of two dimension crime scene representations. Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

26. SoftwareLink Analysis • Link analysis software can often help in organizing the vast amount of information and evidence a complex case can produce Screen Capture provided by Pen-Link™ Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

27. Digital Photography • Digital photography is a picture stored in the language a computer can understand. It takes that information and converts it into a visual display. • It has numerous benefits like storage and analysis. • Because it is easier to manipulate a digital image than a traditional photograph, additional software security, procedures and protocols are necessary to maintain the chain of custody Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

28. New Information High Definition Survey • Using laser technology a three dimensional representation of a crime scene is created. Photograph provided by lecia-geosystems Hyperlink to more Information Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

29. New Information High Definition Survey Investigators, prosecutors and juries can now return to the scene of the crime in a virtual world. Reconstruction Trials Training A three dimensional representation of a seated man with a gun Photograph provided by lecia-geosystems Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

30. Police Technology Explore Forensic Science at www.forensicprofiles.com Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster