University of Rhode IslandDigitalCommons@URI

Senior Honors Projects Honors Program at the University of Rhode Island

2007

Forensics: Crime Scene Investigation Case ClosedChristina ParenteUniversity of Rhode Island

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Recommended CitationParente, Christina, "Forensics: Crime Scene Investigation Case Closed" (2007). Senior Honors Projects. Paper 64.http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/srhonorsprog/64http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/srhonorsprog/64

Forensics: Crime Scene Forensics: Crime Scene InvestigationInvestigation

CASE CLOSEDCASE CLOSED

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Christina Christina ParenteParente

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What exactly is forensics?What exactly is forensics?Forensics is the application of a broad Forensics is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest in the legal system. interest in the legal system.

A field comprised of many disciplines A field comprised of many disciplines

CSI @ URICSI @ URI

Example SubExample Sub--divisionsdivisionsPathologistPathologist: Medical examiners: Medical examinersAnthropologyAnthropology: Identification of : Identification of remainsremainsEntomologyEntomology: Decomposition in : Decomposition in relation to insectsrelation to insectsOdontologyOdontology: Tooth enamel as : Tooth enamel as identification identification

CSI @ URICSI @ URI Basic Stages: Crime Scene SearchBasic Stages: Crime Scene Search

Approach the sceneApproach the sceneSecure & Protect the sceneSecure & Protect the sceneInitiate preliminary surveyInitiate preliminary surveyEvaluate physical evidence possibilitiesEvaluate physical evidence possibilitiesPrepare narrative descriptionPrepare narrative descriptionDepict scene photographically/videoDepict scene photographically/videoPrepare diagram / sketch the scenePrepare diagram / sketch the scene

CSI @ URICSI @ URI Basic Stages Continued:Basic Stages Continued:

Conduct detailed searchConduct detailed searchRecord and collect physical evidenceRecord and collect physical evidenceConduct final surveyConduct final surveyRelease Crime SceneRelease Crime Scene

CSI @ URICSI @ URI Physical Evidence AnalysisPhysical Evidence Analysis

Is concerned with the recognition, Is concerned with the recognition, identification, comparison, identification, comparison, individualization, interpretation and individualization, interpretation and reconstruction of evidence.reconstruction of evidence.

CSI @ URICSI @ URI Physical evidence examination canPhysical evidence examination can ::

Link a suspect with the victimLink a suspect with the victimLink a person to a crime sceneLink a person to a crime sceneLink an object to a crimeLink an object to a crimeDisprove or support witness Disprove or support witness testimonytestimonyIdentify a personIdentify a personAid in the Reconstruction of a Aid in the Reconstruction of a crimecrime

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Project ObjectivesProject ObjectivesBreaking forensics down into a Breaking forensics down into a science concentrating onscience concentrating on

>Fingerprints>Fingerprints

>DNA Typing >DNA Typing

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Fingerprint ClassificationFingerprint Classification

Three basic patternsThree basic patterns1.1. ArchArch2.2. LoopLoop3.3. WhorlWhorl

CSI @ URICSI @ URIFingerprints…its all in the Fingerprints…its all in the

touchtouchAge old technique beginning in 1892Age old technique beginning in 1892

First forensic discipline of professional First forensic discipline of professional certificationcertification

Remains the most commonly used Remains the most commonly used forensic evidence worldwideforensic evidence worldwide

Outperforms any other identification Outperforms any other identification systemsystem

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CSI @ URICSI @ URI

““Every Contact Leaves a Trace”Every Contact Leaves a Trace”((LocardLocard))

LatentLatent: : Accidental impression hidden from the Accidental impression hidden from the naked eyenaked eyePatentPatent: : Impression seen through the Impression seen through the transference of materialstransference of materialsPlasticPlastic: : Impression deposited into a material Impression deposited into a material

LATENT PRINTSLATENT PRINTS

Not everything is as it seems…

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Methods of Obtaining PrintsMethods of Obtaining Prints

TapeTape: : Lifting Lifting

PowderPowder: Magnetic : Magnetic

FumingFuming: : CyanacrylateCyanacrylate

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Finger FactsFinger FactsNo two fingerprints have ever been found No two fingerprints have ever been found to be identical between individuals to be identical between individuals There are over 40 million ten digit print There are over 40 million ten digit print cards in the criminal data basecards in the criminal data baseData base IAFISData base IAFISThis is 20x the amount of DNA files This is 20x the amount of DNA files

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DNA TypingDNA Typing(deoxyribonucleic acid)(deoxyribonucleic acid)

Began in 1986 in BritainBegan in 1986 in BritainGenetic calling card or architectural blueprintGenetic calling card or architectural blueprintFound within blood, hair, bone, semen, tissue, Found within blood, hair, bone, semen, tissue, tooth pulp, and salivatooth pulp, and salivaRelatively stable Relatively stable

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DNA’s role within Forensics DNA’s role within Forensics Helps piece together events of crime, link Helps piece together events of crime, link and identify individualsand identify individualsMore powerful than any other biochemical More powerful than any other biochemical analysisanalysisFast resultsFast resultsPrecise conviction Precise conviction

CSI @ URICSI @ URIDNA FactsDNA Facts

Two databases, national index NDIS Two databases, national index NDIS and international CODISand international CODISApproximately 3.7 million profiles within Approximately 3.7 million profiles within all databases as of December ’06all databases as of December ’06Can be processed through many Can be processed through many different number coded techniques different number coded techniques

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DNA at WorkDNA at WorkFollowing the events of 9/11 DNA was the Following the events of 9/11 DNA was the primary aid in identifying victimsprimary aid in identifying victims2,7492,749 people missingpeople missing>300>300 bodies intactbodies intact20,73020,730 fragments of remainsfragments of remains11--196196 body parts per a personbody parts per a person1,5981,598 people identified (53%)people identified (53%)

CSI @ URICSI @ URI

Semester AdventuresSemester Adventures

RI STATE CRIME LABORATORYRI STATE CRIME LABORATORY

ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION•• DENNIS & HELENDENNIS & HELEN

LATENT PRINT SECTIONLATENT PRINT SECTION•• ED & MARKED & MARK

TRACE SECTIONTRACE SECTION•• AMY & KIMAMY & KIM

FIREARMS SECTIONFIREARMS SECTION•• BOB & LAWRENCEBOB & LAWRENCE

Criminal Investigation: Scientific Evidence

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CSI @ URICSI @ URI

CSI @ URICSI @ URI

“Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool mark he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot be wrong, it cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value”.

- Professor Edmond Locard

CSI @ URICSI @ URI