1. SEVEN
The Crime Laboratory

2. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Define and distinguish forensic science and criminalistics
Understand the importance of an investigator's understanding of crime laboratory capabilities
Describe the three measures of effectiveness of crime laboratories
Distinguish the Frye test from the Daubert test regarding the admissibility of scientific evidence
Explain the role and importance of DNA analysis in criminal investigation
Identify the latest technologies in DNA evidence investigation and data banking
Highlight the process of fingerprint identification and comparison
Describe AFIS and IAFIS
Describe NIBIN
Briefly explain the techniques and methods used by both the ATF and FBI crime laboratories to examine evidence
7-1

3. FORENSIC SCIENCE
Forensic science is that part of science applied to answering legal questions. It includes:
The examination
The evaluation
And the explanation of physical evidence in law
7-2

4. CRIMINALISTICS
Criminalistics deals with the study of physical evidence related to a crime
From such a study a crime may be reconstructed
Criminalistics is interdisciplinary in nature drawing upon:
Mathematics
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
7-3

5. UNDERSTANDING CRIME LAB CAPABILITIES
It is not unusual to find situations in which investigators not acquainted with the services of the crime laboratory expect too much from scientific analysis
The analysis of evidence can be no better than the samples submitted
The investigator therefore has a vital role to play in the success of laboratory examinations
7-4

6. MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS OF CRIME LABORATORIES
The effectiveness of crime laboratories and the services performed are measured by:
Quality
Proximity
Timeliness
7-5

7. CRIME LAB PERSONNEL Have degrees in physical sciences Are well trained
May testify as experts in courts
(Courtesy New Jersey State Police)
7-6

8. LOCATION OF CRIME LABORATORIES IN FLORIDA
The proximity of crime labs to the police is important
In Florida's model labs are located throughout the state
This maximizes crime lab use by the police
7-7

9. FRYE V. UNITES STATES AND DAUBERT V MERRELL DOW PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Frye v. United States - the 1923 federal court decision ruling that for a scientific technique to be admissible in evidence, it must be sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in its particular field
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc. The 1993 U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that the Frye test was no longer valid in federal courts; a trial court must determine whether the testimony of an expert is based on a scientifically valid methodology and can properly be applied to the facts of the case
The application of Daubert presents a challenge to crime labs to ensure their lab results will be admissible
7-8

10. “SNIFFING” ROBOT Robots are used at crime scenes to: Detect explosives
Locate drugs
Collect physical evidence
(Courtesy Nashville Police Department)
7-9

11. DNA ANALYSIS
Advances in technology have helped DNA testing to become an established part of criminal justice procedure
Questions about the validity and reliability of forensic DNA test methods have been addressed, and for the most part validity and reliability are established
As a result of DNA testing, traditional blood testing and saliva testing have been rendered obsolete
DNA is found in these substances and, if fact, is found in all body tissues and fluids
DNA evidence may be found and collected from virtually everywhere at a crime scene
7-10

12. SOURCES OF DNA EVIDENCE
These are common sources of blood and DNA evidence that investigators need to be aware of in conducting crime scene searches.
Evidence
Possible Location of DNA on the Evidence
Source of DNA
Baseball bat or similar weapon
Hat, bandana, or mask
Eyeglasses
Facial tissue or cotton swab
Dirty laundry
Toothpick
Used cigarette
Stamp or envelope
Tape or ligature
Bottle, can, or glass
Used condom
Blanket, pillow, or sheet
“Through and through” bullet
Bite mark
Fingernail or partial fingernail
Handle, end
Inside
Nose or ear pieces, lens
Surface area
Tips
Cigarette butt
Licked area
Inside or outside surface
Sides, mouthpiece
Outside surface
Person’s skin or clothing
Scrapings
Sweat, skin, blood, tissue
Sweat, hair, dandruff
Sweat, skin
Mucus, blood, sweat, semen, earwax
Blood, sweat, semen, vomit
Saliva
Skin, sweat
Saliva, sweat
Semen, vaginal or rectal cells
Sweat, hair, semen, urine, saliva, dandruff
Blood, tissue
Blood, tissue, sweat
(Source: National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence, National Institute of Justice, “What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know about DNA Evidence,” Pamphlet (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice).
7-11

13. DNA TECHNOLOGIES
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) takes small DNA samples and reproduces many copies for analysis
Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) are smaller pieces of the DNA ladder that can be reproduced using PCR
The PCR-STR Process accelerates the analysis and typing of DNA
7-12

14. DATABANKING AND CODIS
Today, all U.S. jurisdictions have legislation requiring the data banking of DNA evidence of convicted offenders
In addition to individual-jurisdiction data banking, there is a national investigation support database, developed by the FBI, called CODIS (COMBINED DNA Index System)
CODIS is used in the national, state and local index-system networks to link typing results from unresolved crimes with cases in multiple jurisdictions
CODIS can also be used to link persons convicted of offenses specified in the data-banking laws passed by the jurisdictions
7-13

15. FORENSIC IDENTITY TEST
DNA may be used to:
Match victims or suspects
Eliminate suspects
Release persons wrongly convicted
(Courtesy San Bernardino County, California, Sheriff’s Department)
7-14

16. TRADITIONAL FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION AND COMPARISON
In the past fingerprints taken from crime scenes have been classified, filed and searched according to the Henry System
The searches of fingerprints from scenes against a Henry System file are very labor-intensive
Technological advancement since the 1970s have allowed the creation of an automated fingerprint identification process
7-15

17. AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AFIS)
In the early 1970s, the FBI and the National Bureau of Standards conducted feasibility research for establishing an automated fingerprint identification process
AFIS allows law enforcement agencies to conduct comparisons of applicant and suspect fingerprints with literally thousands or millions of file prints in a matter of minutes
7-16(a)

18. AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (AFIS) (cont'd)
AFIS has two major duties
First is performing the functions of classifying searching and matching prints
Second is the storage and retrieval of fingerprints data
In July 1999, law enforcement agencies began to have access to the FBI’S Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIA), a national on-line fingerprint and criminal history database with identification and response capabilities
7-16(b)

19. AFIS FINGERPRINT COMPARISON
Latent prints can be searched against a file of 500,000 prints in one half hour
The system produces a list of possibles called a candidate list
Further determinations are made by a qualified fingerprint examiner
(Source: Courtesy Dallas Police Department)
7-19

20. INTEGRATED AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (IAFIS)
The system was established by the FBI
This is a national on-line system with:
Fingerprint and criminal history databases
Identification and response capabilities
Local law enforcement began to access the system in 1999
7-18(b)

21. INTEGRATED AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (IAFIS) (cont'd)
The local police agency must have a live-scan fingerprint terminal. The agency may then:
Scan an arrestee's prints and mug shots
Electronically transmit the prints, mug shots and personal information to their state's network for fingerprint checks
The state agency then transmits the same information to the FBI fingerprint repository for matches
7-18(b)

22. NATIONAL INTEGRATED BALLISTIC INFORMATION NETWORK PROGRAM (NIBIN)
A joint program of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) of the Treasury Department and the FBI in the Department of Justice
The NIBIN integrates all the elements of Ceasefire and Brasscatcher, both former ATF programs and Drugfire, an FBI program
As each fingerprint is different, a firearm leaves unique identifiable characteristics on expended ammunition
NIBIN compares images of ballistic evidence, both projectiles and casings, obtained from crime scenes and recovered firearms
7-19

23. ATF FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES
These laboratories, in addition to analyzing alcohol and tobacco samples, conduct forensic examination in support of the bureau's explosives, bombing and arson, and illegal-firearm-trafficking investigations, along with major case investigations of state and local authorities
Evidence collected at crime scenes of suspected arsons is examined to identify accelerants, incendiaries, and incendiary-device components
The bureau has four National Response Teams that respond to major bombings and arson disasters, nationally and internationally
7-20(a)

24. ATF FORENSIC SCIENCE LABORATORIES (cont'd)
The ATF forensic labs also conduct:
Comparative trace evidence examinations
Questioned document examinations
Fingerprint, firearm and tool-mark examinations
7-20(b)

25. THE FBI CRIME LABORATORY
The FBI crime laboratory is one of the largest and most comprehensive forensic laboratories
It provides services to state and local law enforcement without charge
Examples of lab services include:
Microscopic examinations
Chemical examinations
Mineralogy examinations
7-21(a)

26. THE FBI CRIME LABORATORY (cont'd)
Firearms examination
Tool mark examinations
Explosives examinations
Metallurgical examinations
Handwriting and document examinations
Chemical, biological and nuclear hazards examinations
7-21(b)