Download Basic Services Provided by Full-Service Crime Laboratories 1

R. Hamblin
Chapter 1:
continued discussion
Organization of a Crime Laboratory
Crime Laboratory
Crime laboratories have been organized
by agencies that foresaw their potential
application to criminal investigation
Since the 1960’s the number of crime labs
increased due to the courts demanding
secure scientifically evaluated evidence
TRADITION
MSP Crime Labs are
stationed throughout the
state…
Example: Sterling Heights Post
Address and Contact Information
42800 Merrill Road
Sterling Heights, MI 48314
Phone: 586-726-6709
Fax: 586-726-6661
Lab Director: F/Lt. Charles Morden
Year Established:1988
Size: 16,000 sq.ft.
Approximate Staffing: 27
Services Provided:
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•
•
•
•
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Body Fluid Identification
Controlled Substances
Crime Scene Response
Firearms & Tool marks
Latent Prints
Trace Evidence
NOTE: Services not provided at
at this location may be provided
at another laboratory facility.

Laboratories

Bridgeport

Grand Rapids

Grayling

Lansing

Marquette

Metro Detroit

Northville

Sterling Heights
www.michigan.gov/msp
Web Page includes:

careers

services

law enforcement

divisions

Posts

Media center

and more!!
Each lab throughout the
state specializes in different
services than other labs
SERVICES OF THE CRIME
LABORATORY
Like the MSP, many state crime laboratories have
been created solely for the purpose of processing
evidence, currently most of their energy and funds
are used to analyze drugs and DNA.
In 1932, J. Edgar Hoover first established a
national forensics laboratory to support all law
enforcement in the U. S. The oldest American
forensics laboratory is in Los Angeles,
California, created in 1923 by August Volmer.
Basic Services Provided by FullService Crime Laboratories
1. Physical Science Unit - applies the principle
and techniques of chemistry, physics and
geology to the identification and comparison of
crime-scene evidence
2. Biology Unit - identifies dried bloodstains and
body fluids, compares hairs and fibers, identifies
and compares botanical materials such as wood
and plants, and performs DNA analysis.
3. Firearms Unit - examines firearms,
discharged bullets, cartridge cases,
shotgun shells, and ammunition of all types
4. Document Examination Unit analyzes handwriting, paper and
printers of documents
5. Photography Unit – examines and
records physical evidence at the crime
scene and at suspect’s locations
OPTIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED
BY FULL-SERVICE CRIME LABS
1. Toxicology Unit – examines body fluids and
organs in order to determine the presence and
identification of drugs and poisons
2. Latent Fingerprint Unit – processes and
examines evidence for latent fingerprints,
i.e., those found on surfaces
3. Polygraph Unit – uses lie detectors, an
essential tool of the crime investigator
rather than the forensic scientist
4. Voiceprint Analysis Unit – are involved in
cases of telephone threats or tape-recorded
messages. Investigators may be able to
connect a voice to a particular suspect
5. Evidence-Collection Unit –
incorporates evidence collection into a
total forensic service
The Functions of
the Forensic
Scientist
1. Analysis of Physical Evidence – the forensic
scientist must be skilled in applying the principles
and techniques of the physical and natural sciences
in order to identify the many types of evidence that
may be recovered during crime investigations.
The Frye vs United States court case established that a scientific
technique must be “generally accepted” by the scientific
community (p.12, Criminalistics)
2. Expert Witness – possesses a particular skill
or has knowledge in a trade or profession that
will aid the court in determining the truth
3. Specially Trained Evidence Collection
Technique – training in proper recognition,
collection, and preservation of evidence is
required so that the forensic pathologist, such as
the medical examiner or coroner, can determine
the cause of death via an autopsy
OTHER FORENSICS
SCIENCE SERVICES
1. Forensic Pathology
2. Forensic Anthropology
3. Forensic Entomology
4. Forensic Psychiatry
5. Forensic Odontology
6. Forensic Engineering
Forensic Analysis can also
include organic and inorganic
analytical techniques
Organic analysis of unknown
substances includes analytical
techniques, such as:
1. Chromatography -
Organic analysis, cont.
2. UV-visible spectrophotometer -
Organic analysis…
3. Infrared Spectrophotometry
Organic analysis, cont.
4. Mass Spectrometry –
Inorganic Analytical
Techniques
Inorganic analysis includes
techniques such as: Emission
spectrum of elements,
Atomic Absorption
Spectrophotometry, Neutron
Activation Analysis, and
X-Ray Diffraction Analysis
Inorganic analytic techniques
1. Emission spectrum of elements -
Inorganic Analytic techniques, cont.
2. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry
Inorganic Analytic techniques, cont.
3. Neutron Activation Analysis -
Inorganic Analytic techniques, cont.
4. X-Ray Diffraction Analysis -