Notes 1.2 Organization and Services of the Crime Lab

Objectives 1. Account for the rapid growth of forensic laboratories in the past forty years. 2. Describe the services of a typical comprehensive crime laboratory in the criminal justice system.

Crime Labs characterized by Rapid growth Rapid growth Lack of national and regional planning and coordination Lack of national and regional planning and coordination Approximately 320 labs Approximately 320 labs

Some function … Some function … As part of the police dept.; As part of the police dept.; under the prosecutor ’ s or DA ’ s office; under the prosecutor ’ s or DA ’ s office; in combined efforts with the medical examiner or coroner in combined efforts with the medical examiner or coroner some affiliated with universities some affiliated with universities some are independent some are independent Not at all centralized or connected to one specific governing body Not at all centralized or connected to one specific governing body

Why such an increase? 1. Supreme Court decision in the 1960 ’ s Made Police place greater emphasis on securing evidence Made Police place greater emphasis on securing evidence Required to advise a criminal suspect of their constitutional rights Required to advise a criminal suspect of their constitutional rights Eliminated confessions as investigative tool Eliminated confessions as investigative tool 2. High rate of crime increase 3. Increase in drug-related arrests All drug evidence had to be sent to lab for analysis All drug evidence had to be sent to lab for analysis 4. DNA profiling

Crime Federal Level Created to assist in the investigation and enforcement of criminal laws that extend beyond the boundaries of state and local jurisdiction 1. FBI 2. DEA Lab (Dept. of Justice) 3. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms,and Explosives (Dept. of Justice) 4. US Postal Inspection Service

Why do the services offered by crime lab vary? 1. Local laws 2. Different capability and function of the agency to which the lab is attached 3. Budget and staff limitations

Full – Service Crime Lab Physical science unit Physical science unit chemistry, physics, geology chemistry, physics, geology Biology Biology DNA of blood and body fluids, comparison of hair and fibers, identification of botanical materials DNA of blood and body fluids, comparison of hair and fibers, identification of botanical materials Firearms Firearms discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells; garments and other objects for discharge residue, distance from target discharged bullets, cartridge cases, shotgun shells; garments and other objects for discharge residue, distance from target

Full – Service (Cont) Documentation Documentation handwriting and typewriting, paper, ink, depressions, erasures, burned/charred documents handwriting and typewriting, paper, ink, depressions, erasures, burned/charred documents Photography Photography recorded physical evidence; digital imaging, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, prep of photographic exhibits for court recorded physical evidence; digital imaging, infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, prep of photographic exhibits for court

Optional Services Toxicology Toxicology body fluids and organs for drugs and poisons body fluids and organs for drugs and poisons Latent fingerprint Latent fingerprint Polygraph – lie detector Polygraph – lie detector Voiceprint analysis Voiceprint analysis telephone threats, tape recorded messages (voiceprint) telephone threats, tape recorded messages (voiceprint) Evidence collection Evidence collection total collection of evidence total collection of evidence (refer to page 13 – anthrax letter) (refer to page 13 – anthrax letter)

In-Class Assignment/Homework 1.2 Review Questions – answer the following questions on your own sheet of paper using today’s notes and the textbook 1.2 Review Questions – answer the following questions on your own sheet of paper using today’s notes and the textbook