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BASIC SERVICES
FULL SERVICE CRIME LABORATORY
Trace Evidence
• Applies chemistry, physics, and geology to
comparison and identification of evidence
• Analyze diverse samples
– Glass, paint, explosives, soil
BIOLOGY UNIT
• Identification and DNA
profiling of blood
stains
• Examination of other
body fluids for DNA
• Mitochondrial DNA
FIREARMS UNIT
• Examination of firearms & tools
• Examination of projectiles and cartridges
– Fired or unfired
• Examination of clothing (GSR)
• Serial number restoration
• Distance determination
DOCUMENT EXAMINATION
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Handwriting
Typewriting
Analysis of paper and ink
Altered documents
Digital Evidence Unit
• Examine and record evidence
– Film, photographs, audio
• Use highly specialized equipment
– Digital, IR, UV, X-Ray, Video
• Prepare photographic exhibits for court
Toxicology
• Body fluids or organs examined for drugs and
poisons
• May be under office of medical examiner
• May include implied consent unit
Intoxilyzer (Breath alcohol)
Drug Analysis
• Drugs and unknown
substances outside of the
body
• Microscopic and chemical
test
• May make field test kits
• May make samples for
use in police operations
LATENT FINGERPRINT UNIT
• Process and examine evidence for latent
fingerprints
• Also may include impressions
– Tires, shoes
EVIDENCE COLLECTION UNIT
• Incorporating evidence collection into lab is
gaining recognition
• Trained personnel collect evidence
• May be civilian or sworn
• Evidence is later processed at lab
• Crime scene investigators
OTHER FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES
FORENSIC PATHOLOGY
• Investigation of sudden, unnatural,
unexplained, or violent deaths
• May be charged with answering:
– Who is victim
– What injuries are present
– When did injuries occur
– Why and how did injuries
occur
– What is cause of death
PATHOLOGY
• Autopsy usually used to determine cause of death
• AUTOPSY
– The medical dissection and examination of a body in order
to determine the cause of death
• Cause of death is the mechanism that actually
caused death.
– Gunshot wound, blunt force trauma,
– Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
PATHOLOGY
• Manner of death is based on circumstances
surrounding the incident
– Natural
– Homicide
– Suicide
– Accident
– Undetermined
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
• Primarily concerned with identification and
examination of skeletal remains
• Bones are durable
• Can reveal:
– Sex, origin, age, race, injury, etc
• Facial reconstruction
• Identification at mass disasters
FORENSIC ENTOMOLOGY
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The study of insects
Used to estimate time of death
Affected by environmental conditions
Not always straightforward
FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY
• Relationship between human behavior and
legal proceedings
• Civil – are people competent to make
decisions ( wills, contracts, medical, etc)
• Criminal – behavioral disorders and
competency to stand trial
• Behavioral profiling
FORENSIC ODONTOLOGY
• Provide information about identification through
dental examination
• Criminal investigation of bite mark evidence
FORENSIC ENGINEERING
• Failure analysis
• Accident reconstruction
• Causes or origins of
fires or explosions