Crime Laboratories Functions of the Forensic Scientist History

Crime Laboratories & Functions of the Forensic Scientist

History of Crime Labs in United States 1923 (oldest) University Institute for Criminology and Criminalistics at Univ. of California 1932 FBI Laboratory- forensic services to law enforcement agencies, currently worlds largest forensic laboratory 1981 - FBI Forensic Science Research and Training Center Local law enforcement jurisdictions have independent crime labs Approx 400 Crime Labs in United States overall

Rapid Growth of Crime Laboratories Greater demand of scientific evidence Confessions have decreased due to requirement to tell suspects their constitutional rights New technology Increase In crime rates Drug related arrests- chemical analysis must be done on all drug seizures before adjudication DNA profiling- blood, semen, hair, saliva, etc

4 Major Federal Crime Laboratories FBI Forensic Science Crime Laboratory- Quantico, Virginia; largest crime laboratory Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratories- investigates drug seizures Laboratories of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives- investigates alcohol, documents, firearms, weapons, explosives, etc US Postal Inspection Service Laboratories- crime investigations dealing with postal service

Functions of the Forensic Scientist Analyze Physical Evidence Present evidence findings to jury

Analyzing Physical Evidence Scientific Method – A process that uses strict guidelines to ensure careful and systematic collection, organization, and analysis of information. 1. QUESTION to investigate 2. HYPOTHESIS- a reasonable explanation proposed to answer a question 3. PROCEDURE – testing your hypothesis through experimentation. 4. DATA – recording the results 5. CONCLUSION – analyzing the results Unbiased Scientific Approach - Cannot ignore contrary evidence

Determining Admissibility of Evidence Frye v. United States - For evidence to be admissible in court, the procedure technique or principles must be “generally accepted” by the scientific community. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, inc. “general acceptance is not an absolute prerequisite”. Rule 702 from the Federal Rules of Evidence assigns the trial judge the task of ensuring an experts testimony rests on a reliable foundation and is relevant to the case. The trial judge is a “gate keeper” Kumho Tire Co. , Ltd. V. Carmichael – the “gatekeeping role” applies to expert scientific testimony AND any other expert testimony. Coppolino v. State - shows wide discretion of what can be admitted for evidence

CASE FILES: Dr. Coppolino’s Deadly House Calls Shows wide discretion given to trial judges It was questioned if the results of a new procedure could be admitted as evidence EVEN THOUGH they had not been widely accepted in the scientific community Trial judge allowed evidence to be admissible which led to Dr. Coppolino being convicted of 2 nd degree murder.

Providing Expert Testimony Expert Witness – An individual whom the court determines to possess knowledge relevant to the trial that is not expected of the average layperson. An expert witness may be asked questions to demonstrate competence. Expert witness defends own techniques and conclusions of analysis. Cannot be biased in any way Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts & Crawford v. Washington – requires the expert witness to be present in the courtroom to allow for cross examination and for the suspect to confront the witness testifying against him/her (cannot just use affidavit or recorded statement).

Crime Lab Units Choose one of the following units for your activity. Physical Science Unit – Chemistry, Physics and Geology to compare crime scene evidence Biology Unit- biologists and biochemists examine DNA profiling Firearms Unit- analyzes firearms, bullets cartridge cases, shells, ammunitions, etc Document Examination Unit- examines handwriting and typewriting, paper, ink, and indented writing Photography Unit- uses photographic techniques to record physical evidence

Optional Services of Crime Laboratories You can also choose from these units Toxicology Unit- analyzes body fluids and organs to check for drugs and poisons Latent Fingerprint Unit- processes latent fingerprints Polygraph Unit- lie detectors Voiceprint Analysis Unit- uses telephoned threats and taped messages to link voice to suspect Crime Scene Investigation Unit- concerned with collection of evidence from crime scene to take to laboratories

Other Forensic Science Services You can also choose one of these units!! Forensic Psychiatry-typically determine if defendant is competent to stand trial Forensic Odontology- use dental evidence to identify victim Forensic Engineering- accident reconstruction, causes of explosions, etc Forensic Computer and Digital Analysis-analyzing information from computers Forensic Pathology - Studies the causes and effects of diseases. Determines the cause of death by examining a corpse. Forensic Anthropology - Examination of human skeletal remains to determine the identity of unidentified remains. Forensic Entomology – use of insects and arthropod relatives that inhavbt decomposing remains to aid legal investigations.