Technology in Investigations

Copy Right Protected 2005: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

Police TechnologyPolice TechnologyChapter ThirteenChapter Thirteen

Technology in InvestigationsTechnology in Investigations


Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

How technology has changed crime How technology has changed crime scene protection and evidence scene protection and evidence gatheringgathering

Basic science of DNABasic science of DNA Fingerprint technologyFingerprint technology Issues surrounding DNA databasesIssues surrounding DNA databases Digital photography Digital photography Investigative softwareInvestigative software


Forensic ScienceForensic Science

The word forensic comes from the Latin – The word forensic comes from the Latin –

Foren. Essentially, it means to debate. InForen. Essentially, it means to debate. In

modern terms it has come to mean bringingmodern terms it has come to mean bringing

any science into the courtroom. Any scienceany science into the courtroom. Any science

or specialty brought into the courtroom such or specialty brought into the courtroom such

as:as: Forensic pathology or forensic accountingForensic pathology or forensic accounting


Transfer TheoryTransfer Theory

Whenever two objects Whenever two objects

come into contact they come into contact they

exchange evidence of exchange evidence of

that contact.that contact.


Chain of CustodyChain of Custody

Testimony and documentation that details Testimony and documentation that details the location and condition of evidence the location and condition of evidence from seizure to trial.from seizure to trial.

It assures the court that items entered into It assures the court that items entered into evidence are in the same condition as evidence are in the same condition as when they were seized.when they were seized.

The chain of custody and the procedures The chain of custody and the procedures used to analyze evidence are more often used to analyze evidence are more often challenged than the science behind the challenged than the science behind the analysis.analysis.


Daubert TestDaubert Test

In order for the analysis of evidence In order for the analysis of evidence to be used against a defendant, the to be used against a defendant, the court must accept the scientific court must accept the scientific conclusion as valid.conclusion as valid.

The standard for accepting scientific The standard for accepting scientific analysis is the Daubert Test – from analysis is the Daubert Test – from Daubert v Merrel Dow Daubert v Merrel Dow Pharmaceuticals, inc.Pharmaceuticals, inc.


In the Daubert TestIn the Daubert TestThe Court asks - The Court asks -

Is the science derived by the scientific Is the science derived by the scientific method?method?

Has the science been subjected to peer Has the science been subjected to peer review or publication?review or publication?

Does the relevant scientific community Does the relevant scientific community generally accept the science?generally accept the science?

What is the error rate of thee scientific What is the error rate of thee scientific technique used to gain the information?technique used to gain the information?

Are there standards for controlling the Are there standards for controlling the technology used to obtain the scientific technology used to obtain the scientific evidence?evidence?


Crime ScenesCrime Scenes

A crime scene is any location wherein A crime scene is any location wherein evidence of a crime may be located.evidence of a crime may be located.

For instance, a search of an offender’s For instance, a search of an offender’s home may yield evidence, but not be home may yield evidence, but not be the location the crime occurred.the location the crime occurred.

Protocols for scene protection, Protocols for scene protection, documentation and evidence documentation and evidence recovery are critical at all crime recovery are critical at all crime scenesscenes


Crime ScenesCrime Scenes

Evidence tends to Evidence tends to deterioratedeteriorate

Investigator’s often Investigator’s often refer to the “golden refer to the “golden hour;” the time hour;” the time when evidence is when evidence is best recovered.best recovered.

Some jurisdictions Some jurisdictions are taking the are taking the crime lab to the crime lab to the crime scenecrime scene

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Fingerprint AdvancesFingerprint Advances

The recovery of The recovery of latent (hidden) latent (hidden) fingerprints is not fingerprints is not longer restricted to longer restricted to powder:powder: Superglue fumingSuperglue fuming Laser applicationsLaser applications Unique powdersUnique powders

Technology has advanced to Technology has advanced to the point wherein some the point wherein some

jurisdictions use superglue jurisdictions use superglue fuming wands at the crime fuming wands at the crime

scenescene


DNA BasicsDNA Basics

Transfer theory demonstrates that Transfer theory demonstrates that wherever we are – we leave behind wherever we are – we leave behind evidence we where there!evidence we where there!

Perhaps our fingerprints; or, Perhaps our fingerprints; or, Our bodies are constantly shedding Our bodies are constantly shedding

cells, releasing vapor containing cells cells, releasing vapor containing cells and shedding hair – we leave it and shedding hair – we leave it everywhereeverywhere


DNA BasicsDNA Basics(smaller and smaller)(smaller and smaller)

Our bodies contain 100 trillion cells.Our bodies contain 100 trillion cells. Most cells contain a center piece Most cells contain a center piece

called a nucleus.called a nucleus. The nuclei of our cells contain 23 The nuclei of our cells contain 23

pairs of chromosomes which are the pairs of chromosomes which are the biological instructions of who we arebiological instructions of who we are

During conception our parents During conception our parents contribute one half of each pair.contribute one half of each pair.



Inside each chromosome there are as Inside each chromosome there are as many as a hundred thousand pair of many as a hundred thousand pair of genes – the fundamental building genes – the fundamental building blocks of our hereditary traits.blocks of our hereditary traits.

There are many variations for genes, There are many variations for genes, but really two classifications.but really two classifications. General – those that identify us as General – those that identify us as

humanshumans Specific – those that give us individual Specific – those that give us individual

characteristicscharacteristics



Our genes are made up of Our genes are made up of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

DNA consists of a long string of four DNA consists of a long string of four repeating nucleotides:repeating nucleotides: Adenine (A)Adenine (A) Cytosine (C)Cytosine (C) Guanine (G)Guanine (G) Thymine (T)Thymine (T)

This long This long string of string of repeating repeating nucleotides is nucleotides is called a called a polymerpolymer



CellsCells

NucleusNucleus

ChromosomeChromosomess GenesGenes

DNADNA



The order of the four nucleotides (A, C, The order of the four nucleotides (A, C, G, T) within the polymer determine the G, T) within the polymer determine the information contained therein.information contained therein. Different order – different informationDifferent order – different information



A complete DNA A complete DNA molecule has to molecule has to polymer strands polymer strands with four bases – it with four bases – it is a tightly woven, is a tightly woven, double helix, with double helix, with 3.3 billion pairs of 3.3 billion pairs of nucleotidesnucleotides

Base PairsBase Pairs



DNA, like digital information has DNA, like digital information has beginning codes and ending codes – beginning codes and ending codes – to tell us where “packets of genetic to tell us where “packets of genetic data” or segments begin and end.data” or segments begin and end.

With DNA, at the end and beginning With DNA, at the end and beginning of DNA stands are A/T and G/Cof DNA stands are A/T and G/C



Most of our DNA is exactly the same, Most of our DNA is exactly the same, only a small percentage is different only a small percentage is different from each other.from each other.

The location where specific DNA The location where specific DNA information is located is called a information is located is called a locus.locus.

The information that is different The information that is different between individuals is called between individuals is called Polymorphisms – the part examined Polymorphisms – the part examined during forensic DNA analysis.during forensic DNA analysis.



DNA analysis can compare:DNA analysis can compare: short repeating patterns and look short repeating patterns and look

at the variation in length – called at the variation in length – called Variable Number of Tandem Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VTNR) Repeats (VTNR)

base pairs – called Polymerase base pairs – called Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) within Chain Reaction (PCR) within Polymorphisms (specific genes)Polymorphisms (specific genes)



Recall general and specific genes:Recall general and specific genes: General genes (DNA) are called General genes (DNA) are called

MonomorphismsMonomorphisms Specific genes (DNA) are called Specific genes (DNA) are called

PolymorphismsPolymorphisms

DNA Analysis is conducted DNA Analysis is conducted on Polymorphismson Polymorphisms


DNA DatabasesDNA Databases

Like fingerprint information, DNA Like fingerprint information, DNA information is converted to a numerical information is converted to a numerical value for ease of search.value for ease of search.

Combined DNA Information System Combined DNA Information System (CODIS) is actually a combination of (CODIS) is actually a combination of databases.databases. 153 Laboratories in 49 states153 Laboratories in 49 states Actually includes three different type of Actually includes three different type of

databasesdatabases Convicted Sex Offender, other offenders, missing Convicted Sex Offender, other offenders, missing

personspersons


DNA DatabasesDNA Databases

Database ConcernsDatabase Concerns Who is included? Convicted, arrested or Who is included? Convicted, arrested or

suspected? It varies from state to state.suspected? It varies from state to state. What about juveniles? While juvenile What about juveniles? While juvenile

arrest records don’t necessarily follow a arrest records don’t necessarily follow a juvenile into adulthood, the DNA database juvenile into adulthood, the DNA database does?does?

Since a portion of DNA information is Since a portion of DNA information is familial – if your sibling or parent is in the familial – if your sibling or parent is in the database – so is a part of you.database – so is a part of you.

What about research?What about research?


SoftwareSoftware Investigative workload Investigative workload

Case assignmentCase assignment Clue managementClue management Witness managementWitness management Case coordinationCase coordination ProductivityProductivity

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SoftwareSoftwareCrime Scene DrawingsCrime Scene Drawings

Crime scene drawings areCrime scene drawings areoften used as a means ofoften used as a means ofdocumenting the locationdocumenting the locationof evidence, assisting inof evidence, assisting indetermining the sequencedetermining the sequenceof events and explaining aof events and explaining acrime to a jury. Software,crime to a jury. Software,some very similar to draftingsome very similar to draftingsoftware aids in thesoftware aids in theproduction of two dimensionproduction of two dimensioncrime scene representations.crime scene representations.

Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Photograph provided by Robert Eplett, California Governor’s Office of Emergency ServicesGovernor’s Office of Emergency Services


SoftwareSoftwareLink AnalysisLink Analysis

Link analysis Link analysis software can often software can often help in organizing help in organizing the vast amount of the vast amount of information and information and evidence a complex evidence a complex case can producecase can produce

Screen Capture provided by Pen-Screen Capture provided by Pen-Link™Link™


Digital PhotographyDigital Photography

Digital photography is a picture stored in Digital photography is a picture stored in the language a computer can understand. the language a computer can understand. It takes that information and converts it It takes that information and converts it into a visual display.into a visual display. It has numerous benefits like storage and It has numerous benefits like storage and

analysis.analysis. Because it is easier to manipulate a digital Because it is easier to manipulate a digital

image than a traditional photograph, additional image than a traditional photograph, additional software security, procedures and protocols software security, procedures and protocols are necessary to maintain the chain of custodyare necessary to maintain the chain of custody


High Definition SurveyHigh Definition Survey

Using laser technology a Using laser technology a three dimensional three dimensional representation of a crime representation of a crime scene is created.scene is created.

New New InformationInformation

Hyperlink to more Information

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High Definition SurveyHigh Definition SurveyNew New InformationInformation

Investigators, Investigators, prosecutors and juries prosecutors and juries can now return to the can now return to the scene of the crime in a scene of the crime in a virtual world.virtual world.

ReconstructionReconstruction

TrialsTrials

TrainingTrainingA three dimensional representation of A three dimensional representation of a seated man with a guna seated man with a gun

Photograph provided by lecia-geosystemsPhotograph provided by lecia-geosystems


Police TechnologyPolice Technology

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