Crime Scene Technicians Research Articles

Retsmedicinske findestedsundersøgelser

AbstractDuring the years 2000 to 2020 the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Southern Denmark performed 293 medical crime scene investigations in Southern Denmark involving 320 deceased (200 men). The medical examiner was called out in homicides (24%), suspicious cases (58%), fire related deaths (15%) and bone findings (2%). The medical examiner was responsible for the medical examination of corpses in cooperation with the crime scene technicians. The goal was to determine the cause of death, the manner and mechanism of death, and the time of death. Most were autopsied after the crime scene investigation. The scene was considered suspicious if displacedor broken furniture, or bloodstains, were found. Actions by alcohol or drug intoxicated individuals may resemble a crime scene. Blood stains can arise from natural causes. Suicide by stabbing or shooting may give rise to a suspicious scene, as may deaths during autoerotic procedures and deaths due to hypothermia. Most crime scenes were indoors, but a quarter occurred outside. The deceased included a high proportion of individuals with chronic alcoholism (36%) and many suffered from psychiatric disease (23%). Based on autopsy, manner of death was determined to have been homicide (30%), accident (27%), suicide (18%), natural death (14%) and unknown causes (6%). 5% was not autopsied.The pattern of lesions are important in determining the mechanism of death, but must always be viewed in relation to findings at the scene and the deceased’s history. Medical crime scene investigation underwent improvements during the period, most notably the introduction of DNA-trace analysis. Photo and video documentation also improved.Photogrammetry and the use of drones are being introduced.

Swabbing Dogs and Chauffeuring Pizza Boxes

This paper discusses the alignment work that Swedish crime scene technicians perform at the crime scene. It takes as its point of departure the understanding that the criminal justice system is a collaboration of very different epistemic cultures with at times different understandings of “the same” forensic evidence and its production. Nonetheless, the collaboration and the legal security of forensic evidence depends on knowledge in the form of forensic evidence(-to-be) moving easily and stably through it, despite epistemic differences. One way of attaining such stable movement, the article argues, is the crime scene technicians’ alignment work when they recover and package traces from the crime scene – for example body fluids, fingerprints, and fibers – for transport to the forensic science laboratory. Their crime scene alignment work, it shows, is not only a core part of the crime scene technicians’ contribution to the collaborative production of forensic evidence, it is also a source of professional pride, identity, and community for them. Thus, the crime scene technicians’ alignment work is not only important for the movement of knowledge through the Swedish criminal justice system, but is also an integral part of their professional self-understanding.

Scene of death investigation in apparent suicidal deaths in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Guidelines from the Netherlands describe that unnatural deaths should be investigated by a forensic physician and Crime Scene Technicians, but this is not always the case. In this study, we aimed to determine what predicts the non-attendance of the Crime Scene Technicians at the scene of the death of suicides in the police region in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Data of 315 suicides (2016-2017) that have been externally examined by forensic physicians and reports from the Crime Scene Technicians were analysed. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the factors predicting the involvement of the Crime Scene Technicians at the scene of death. The Crime Scene Technicians were not attending in 23% (n = 72) cases, and over half of these cases were not found in the registration system of the Crime Scene Technicians. About some the Crime Scene Technicians was not informed. Predictors of the non-attendance of the Crime Scene Technicians were suicide by poisoning, the individual was found by an acquaintance or family, a history of suicide attempts and examination of the deceased in the hospital. In this study, we observed that the Crime Scene Technicians were sometimes not attending the investigation of apparent suicides. More research on this topic should be done to investigate the value of the presence of the Crime Scene Technicians at the scene before concluding that non-attendance of Crime Scene Technicians on-site influences the quality of the scene of death investigation and corresponding conclusions. Since 2017, several quality improvements were made, but an (inter)national conjoint protocol for uniform and structural suicide investigation could secure the quality of the scene of death investigation of suicides and would provide information useful for evaluation.

Measuring changes in drug particulate on evidence packaging due to routine case analysis

The presence of drug residue and drug background in a forensic context continues to be of interest for a variety of reasons. While prior work has studied the presence of these residues on laboratory surfaces and on drug evidence, the contribution of residue on the exterior of drug packaging from the analysis process itself has not yet been studied. This work aims to qualitatively and quantitively identify what, if any, effect the analysis of drug evidence has on drug residue levels on the exterior of the evidence packaging. Using wipe collection techniques, samples from the exterior of drug evidence packaging were taken prior to opening cases and after repackaging to measure changes in residue composition and mass. A total of 64 submissions were analyzed, and an increase in drug residue mass was observed 85.5% of the time. After analysis and repackaging, 95% of packages had detectable drug residue on their exterior even though some of the cases were repackaged into new bags. Drug residue masses on the exterior of drug packaging were found to be as high as tens of micrograms. The presence of drug residue on the exterior of drug evidence packaging is expected given the collection and analysis procedures, therefore potential ways to minimize these levels are currently being studied. The presence of these residues is an important factor to consider when developing protocols for the entire evidence handling process and its impact on personnel – from evidence handling technicians to crime scene technicians to submitting officers.

Swedish crime scene technicians: facilitations, epistemic frictions and professionalization from the outside

ABSTRACT This article investigates the role of crime scene technicians in the Swedish criminal justice system, and particularly how Swedish crime scene technicians not only examine crime scenes but also facilitate the criminal justice system’s joint production of forensic evidence. It proposes thinking about the criminal justice system as a conglomeration of epistemic cultures, that is, of communities with different ways of producing and understanding forensic evidence. Such a perspective makes it possible to understand interprofessional frictions as epistemic frictions as well as to draw attention to the facilitations, mediations and translations that crime scene technicians perform. This perspective also makes it possible to illuminate how the crime scene technicians’ professionalization – a professionalization from the outside – affects both their future crime scene work and their facilitations.

Автоматизированное рабочее место эксперта-криминалиста: требования и современные решения

The study looks at the fact that modern technology facilitates the detection and investigation of crimes and discusses the prerequisites for introducing modern technical developments and information technology into expert activities to investigate ele-ments subject to examination and improve the work-flow of highly specialized staff. Based on forensic literature, the author analyzes the concept of work-station and defines the characteristics, advantages, principles, and arrangements of a crime scene tech-nician workstation. The relevant requirements should be fulfilled. In particular, it is necessary to provide a high level of information security and pro-tect against unauthorized access to system data-bases designed to automate expert activities and increase their efficiency. In the author’s opinion, in addition to the considerable importance of equip-ment and technology that help develop professional skills, the full-fledged information support for work-stations plays a great role in performing the tasks assigned to crime scene technicians. Software and hardware systems necessary for traditional examina-tions are exemplified. The emphasis is placed on the need to train qualified staff capable of using the developments under discussion.

Становление экспертного мышления в профессиогенезе эксперта-криминалиста

The study reveals the essence and content of expert thinking, its development mechanism and place in the subject and professional genesis of the crime scene technician. In addition, the paper substantiates the need to develop and apply the new modern approaches to dealing with the problem of expert thinking. This process requires the theoretical rethinking and practical reassessment of the methods that affect the professional level of the above-mentioned expert. Moreover, the author presents a model of the genesis of expert thinking in the professional genesis of the crime scene technician of internal affairs bodies. The model reflects the stages of professional development of an expert’s personality through the professional and subject genesis that helps develop expert thinking. This process cannot take place outside expert and legal activity. Such an activity creates a favorable environment for the improvement of expert thinking.

Quantifying the effectiveness of cleaning agents at removing drugs from laboratory benches and floor tiles

Understanding the effectiveness of laboratory and in-field cleaning methods for drugs is growing in importance as drug analysts, crime scene technicians, and hazardous materials response teams encounter traditional drugs, opioids, and novel substances with increasing regularity. While previous work has evaluated cleaning methods qualitatively, the quantitative effectiveness of cleaning agents in removing drugs from surfaces has received comparatively little attention. The goal of this work is to establish quantitative values for the effectiveness of cleaning agents in the removal of drugs from laboratory and first responder scenarios by investigating drug removal in particulate and residue form from laboratory benches and ceramic floor tiles. The cleaning techniques studied here include methanol, soap and water, OxiClean™, adhesive and methanol, and Dahlgren Decon. The removal of particulate drugs obtained from adjudicated casework was tested on a laboratory bench and ceramic floor tile; drug residue removal was tested on a laboratory bench. All cleaning agents had greater than 97% removal efficiency for both powders and residues off laboratory benches. Additional experiments completed with Dalhgren Decon and OxiClean™ on ceramic floor tiles, for the first responder scenario, found intact opioids could be recovered from surfaces and from within the cleaning solutions even after thirty minutes of interaction time. Solution-phase studies quantified the extent of degradation of opioids by these cleaning agents. The results from these experiments show that performance of typical cleaning agents is sufficient in the removal of drugs from surfaces, though additional studies to determine optimal methods of implementation are required.

Turn on the lights!

Over the decades that I’ve been a reporter and editor in the news business, I've never met a technical expert who was not just a bit pleased and more than a little passionate about the work they do once you coax it out of them. A crime scene technician relishes every little detail in the forensic evidence they collect. Meteorologists enthuse over El Nino or become giddy at the latest iteration of the Madden-Julian oscillation. Nuclear scientists are fascinated by radioactive daughter products. Despite this passion, most scientists don't make a splash about what they're up to. They go about work every day, picking apart technical details in obscurity, even acting mildly surprised if an outsider shows an interest. What cuts across many “subject matter” disciplines is curious modesty and often the mistaken notion by experts that their work is boring or of little public interest. My advice? Speak up. We're anxiously listening, and while you may have to repeat yourself a couple of times for us to “get it,” we want to understand. We have the ability to shine a light on what you do, and explain why it is important, so help us help spread your important messages.

Casting of 3-dimensional footwear prints in snow with foam blocks

Commercially available foam blocks are presented as an alternative material for the casting and preservation of 3-dimensional footwear impressions located in snow. The method generates highly detailed foam casts of questioned footwear impressions. These casts can be compared to the known outsole standards made from the suspects’ footwear. Modification of the commercially available foam casting blocks is simple and fast. The foam block is removed and a piece of cardboard is secured to one side of the block with painter's masking tape. The prepared foam block is then placed back into its original box, marked appropriately, closed and stored until needed. When required the foam block is carefully removed from its storage box and gently placed, foam side down, over the questioned footwear impression. Next, the crime scene technician's hands are placed on top of the cardboard and pressure is gently applied by firmly pressing down onto the impression. The foam cast is removed, dried and placed back into its original container and sealed. The resulting 3D impressions can be directly compared to the outsole of known suspected item(s) of footwear.

A Quick Determination Method of Reloaded Pistol Cases by Observational Studies: A Precaution for Forensic Crime Scene Investigation

A quick determination whether a fired cartridge case is a reloaded case or not has several practical implications for responding officers, crime scene technicians, and criminal investigators in the field. Such a determination would give them a precaution: (1) The fired case may have been be fired by one or several weapons. (2) A quick determination of reloaded and fired pistol cases should assist criminal investigation in narrowing down the type of ammunition used, the type of suspects involved, and a possible link between the reloaded case(s) and the reloading machine at the suspect's residence. (3) If the case goes to the court, the expert opinion from the examiner would be challenged heavily by the defense. Currently, little information and research is available on the topic. Based on the observational examinations of reloaded and fired pistol cartridge cases (N=100) with three types of calibers (.45, .40, and 9 mm), this study offers three practical guidelines for a quick determination of these reloaded and fired cases by naked eyes or a magnifier. These three guidelines should be relevant and useful in identifying reloaded and fired pistol cartridge cases at the scene and as reference later in comparing them in the lab to improve criminal investigations.

Coping with Work-related Traumatic Situations among Crime Scene Technicians.

Crime scene technicians collect evidence related to crime and are therefore exposed to many traumatic situations. The coping strategies they use are thus very important in the process of facing the psychological consequences of such work. The available literature shows that crime scene technicians are an understudied subgroup of police workers. Our study is therefore the first unfolding insights into technicians' coping strategies, post-traumatic symptomatology and somatic health, based on a sample of 64 male crime scene technicians (85% of all Slovene technicians). Crime scene technicians mainly use avoidance coping strategies. Approach strategies that are more effective in the long-term-i.e. lead to a larger buffering of the effects of traumatic stress-are more frequently used if technicians are familiar with the nature of the task, when they have time to prepare for it, and if they feel that past situations have been positively resolved. Behavioural avoidance strategies were found to be least effective when dealing with traumatic experiences and are also related to more frequent problems of physical health. Results indicate that appropriate trainings for future technicians would facilitate the use of more effective coping strategies and consequently lead to a more effective and satisfied worker. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Freshwater invertebrates and Wagner's parsimony method (WPM): Tools for the submersion time estimation of a cadaver found in a natural aquatic environment. Description of a sampling protocol

The forensic investigations are generally very difficult when a body is discovered immersed for an ignored period in freshwater. Due to long periods of immersion and a high level of putrefaction, the estimation of the time since death is problematic. Classical forensic entomology is based on existing links between necrophagous insects and the state of decomposition, in order of appearance of necrophagous insects on the cadaver. This science does not allow a pertinent evaluation of the time since the death for a crime scene technician. It is indeed impossible to reach any conclusions based on the underwater colonisation process once the cadaver has resurfaced. The purpose of this work was to analyze from February 2001 to October 2002, the different cases of cadavers’ discoveries in order to isolate pertinent bioindicators. We created a simple but effective sampling protocol to get a real solution to the problem of estimating the post mortem submersion interval (PMSI) of a cadaver found in lotic or lentic water. Les enquêtes médicolégales sont généralement très difficiles quand on découvre un cadavre immergé en eau douce pendant une durée indéterminée. En raison des longues périodes d’immersion et du haut niveau de putréfaction, l’évaluation de l’heure du décès est problématique. L’entomologie médicolégale classique est basée sur des liaisons existantes entre des insectes nécrophages et l’état de décomposition, par ordre d’apparition sur le cadavre . Mais cette science ne permet pas d’évaluation pertinente du laps de temps écoulé depuis la mort pour un technicien de scène de crime. Il est, en effet, impossible d’arriver à des conclusions fiables sur le processus de colonisation sous-marin une fois que le cadavre a refait surface. Le but de ce travail était d’analyser de février 2001 à octobre 2002 différents cadavres pour isoler des indicateurs pertinents. Nous avons créé un protocole d’échantillonnage pour évaluer l’intervalle d’immersion post-mortem d’un cadavre trouvé dans une eau agitée ou stagnante.

CLS investigation: exploiting the forensics craze II.

There are similarities between clinical laboratory science (CLS) and forensic laboratory science that educators can exploit for recruitment and public relations activities. Many CLS techniques are also used in forensics and some relatively simple forensics techniques can be brought into the CLS laboratory for a cohesive laboratory experience that simultaneously exposes interested students to both fields.

Review of: Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 7th edition, and Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation Interactive Training CD-ROM

Abstract The seventh edition of Barry Fisher's classic work on crime scene investigation, based on an earlier text by Arne Svensson and Otto Wendel, carries on the tradition of its predecessors. This widely used textbook is designed as a basic reference for students of crime scene investigation, including police investigators, crime scene technicians, and forensic scientists. new with this edition is an companion interactive training CD ROM developed by Jane Homeyer and Sarah Mikolajczyk.

So your student wants to be a crime scene technician?

More criminal justice students are interested in a career in physical evidence collection. Oftentimes faculty have limited knowledge of the subject, which undermines their efforts to advise students on how to secure such a position. Additionally, because crime scene technicians have traditionally learned the position through “on-the-job” training, few academic programs exist designed to provide this education and training. This paper provides an overview of the development of a college-level degree program that will prepare individuals for careers as crime scene technicians and gives faculty a basis for advising students about this career option.

Detection of Firearm Imprints on the Hands of Suspects: Effectiveness of PDT Reaction

Pyridyldiphenyl triazine (PDT) and three of its analogues were compared as practical reagents for visualizing unseen impressions left on the hands of a person who has held a firearm. The parent compound, PDT, gave the best results using intensity and clarity as measuring criteria. The effectiveness of the PDT reaction was then studied on 147 volunteers who had held firearms in their hands. Identifiable impressions of the metallic parts of the weapons were developed on the hands of 103 volunteers (70%). Results with females were slightly higher than with males, however, the difference was possibly statistically insignificant, and needs further study. Ferroprint and Ferrotrace, 5 commercial preparations that are based on the PDT reaction, have become a part of the professional equipment of every crime scene technician in Israel.

The forensic entomologist in the context of the forensic pathologist’s role

An adequate death investigation requires the combined efforts and cooperation of experts in different disciplines: crime scene technicians, death investigators, forensic pathologists, anthropologists, entomologists, other medical and non-medical professionals. These front-line experts play a crucial role in every death investigation process. The forensic pathologist normally has the legal authority to take charge of the dead body at a death scene and his primary functions are the exterior and interior examination of the cadaver by analyzing the extent of antemortem injuries and the postmortem changes and the recovery of physical evidence. He is responsible for determining how, when and why of any death which is the result of violence, suspicious or unexplained circumstances or a death which is sudden or unattended, defending and explaining the reasons for making these diagnoses in a courtroom. The forensic entomologist can provide invaluable aid in death cases where human remains are colonized by insects and in the overall investigation. His principal role is to identify the arthropods associated with such cases and to analyze entomological data for interpreting insect evidence. He is responsible for determining the period of insect activity according to all the variables affecting insect invasion of remains and their development. The major goal of medico-criminal entomology is to contribute to the determination of the time, cause, manner and place of the investigated death (especially on badly decomposed corpses or skeletonized human remains) with the support of all the elements which can be inferred from the study of insects found on the cadaver or nearby. The application of techniques devised recently in forensic entomology can allow experts in the field to collect strong entomological evidence and provide useful information not only in a death investigation including movement or storage of the remains following death, time of dismemberment, postmortem artifacts on the body but also at the scene, and even more in child neglect, sexual molestation and identification of suspects. As the role of the forensic entomologist at the death scene, at the autopsy and in the laboratory is defined and well known, this paper focuses on the difficulties that could arise if forensic pathologists and entomologists are uncertain about the procedures that they have to follow, do not realize the value of objective findings or fail to evaluate them. Although every forensic case presents a slightly different set of circumstances and has to be tackled individually, the forensic pathologist should work with the forensic entomologist from the visual observations of the cadaver on the scene, through the collection of arthropods and temperature data at the death scene and at the autopsy, up to the final report with the interpretation of entomological and other biological evidence.

Evidence

The collection of evidence by the investigator or crime scene technician and its submission to the laboratory is a critical part of law enforcement. Insuring the integrity of that evidence is the responsibility of the same people. Rules governing standards and procedures for insuring the evidence integrity and chain of custody of requirements are the courts, investigative agency, and now non-governmentalorganizationslike ASCLD.This paper shows how laboratory accreditation is affecting the interaction of these groups.

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Forensic science must operate in a legal context. The ultimate result of many scientific analyzes is in a courtroom and the admissibility of this evidence is controlled by rules of evidence. Forensic science is part of the criminal investigation process which starts with the discovery of a crime. It is crucial that crime scene technicians properly recognize, collect, and preserve evidence as it has to be effectively analyzed by forensic scientists. There are Constitutional and other legal constraints on how a criminal investigation can be carried out. These include discovery, search and seizure, protections against self-incrimination, and due process. The production of evidence at a trial is compelled by a subpoena, and order to appear in court. The admissibility of evidence is controlled by a set of rules that govern security of the evidence, authenticity, relevance, and other issues. Scientific evidence is subject to all of these constraints as well as some that apply only to this type of evidence. These constraints arose in part from the decisions in US v. Frye and Daubert v. Merrell-Dow. These cases set out validity and reliability rules for the admission of scientific evidence.When forensic scientists examine evidence, they issue a scientific report. This report must be written to particular standards of accuracy and completeness. In some states, the report is admissible by itself as proof of the facts it contains. Although the same courts handle both civil and criminal cases in the United States, they are different in their scope, rules, and penalties. Discovery is much more liberal in civil cases. The only penalty for violation of civil laws is payment of money to the aggrieved party, whereas in criminal cases, life and liberty are at stake. In both cases, scientists act as expert witnesses, a status that enables them to offer expert opinions in matters within their expertise. Each time a scientist appears in court he or she must be qualified as an expert by the judge.