《CRIME SCENE SEARCH AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE HANDBOOK》

CHAPTER ⅠIntroduction1

The Purpose of a Crime Laboratory1

Involvement of the Crime Laboratory in Crime Scene Search2

Criminalistics Defined2

CHAPTER ⅡBasic Concepts Concerning Physical Evidence3

Introduction3

Major Considerations in the Establishment of Identity3

Mathematical Probability4

Class Characteristics and Similarity6

Individuality6

Comparisons8

Rarity8

Exchange9

CHAPTER ⅢProtection of the Crime Scene11

Introduction11

Dimensions of a Crime Scene11

Initial Actions on Arrival at the Scene of a Crime12

CHAPTER ⅣAn Overview of Techniques for Processing the Crime Scene14

Introduction14

Legal and Scientific Requirements14

The Preliminary Examination of the Scene16

Recording the Crime Scene16

The Detailed Search of the Scene18

A Recommended General Method of Crime Scene Search18

Trace Material Collection19

Tool Marks20

Samples of Body Fluids20

Standards of Items To be Secured20

Fires and Explosions--Special Considerations of Search21

Special Considerations in Searching Outdoor Crime Scenes22

CHAPTER Ⅳ (Concluded)24

Vehicle Searches24

Exterior Search24

Interior Search25

Search of a Victim27

Actions by the Investigating Officer at the Hospital or Morgue28

Search of the Uninjured Suspect31

CHAPTER ⅤDetailed Procedures for Recording the Crime Scene32

Introduction32

Note Taking32

Use of the Investigator's Notes34

Sketching the Crime Scene35

Information to be Included in the Sketch35

Some General Considerations Involved in Crime Scene Sketching36

Sketching Methods36

Coordinate Methocd36

Triangulation Method38

Cross-Projection Method38

"Rough" and "Smooth" Sketches38

External Wound Chart41

Photographing the Crime Scene41

Investigative Photographs41

Admissibility of Photographs as Evidence41

Identification of Photographs42

Custody of Photographs42

General Considerations in Field Photography42

Critical Photographic Requirements43

Photographing the Arson Scene43

Photographing the Burglary Scene44

Photographing the Vehicle Accident44

Photographing Deceased Persons45

Photographing Live Victims and Suspects45

Photographing Fingerprints45

CHAPTER ⅥFingerprints47

Importance of Fingerprints as Physical Evidence47

Definition of Fingerprints47

Basis of Identification of Fingerprints48

Limitations of Latent Prints48

Conditions Which Affect Latent Prints50

Responsibility of the Crime Scene Investigator in Collecting Fingerprints51

Prints Which Require No Further Developing52

Method of Developing Fingerprints52

Developing Prints on Nonabsorbent, Hard, Smooth Surfaces53

Developing Prints on Absorbent, Porous, Smooth Surfaces57

Marking and Identifying Fingerprint Lifts58

Collection of Elimination Fingerprints58

CHAPTER ⅦBody Fluids60

Introduction60

The Scientific Basis of Body Fluid Examination60

Secretors and Nonsecretors60

Relationship to Investigations61

Blood and Bloodstains61

Forms of Blood Evidence61

Requests for Laboratory Testing:Laboratory Capabilties62

Procedures to be Used in Searching for and Collecting Blood Samples62

Relating Bloodstains to Physical Activity63

Shapes of Bloodstains63

Specific Methods of Collecting Blood and Bloodstains65

Moist Blood Samples66

Seminal Stains67

CHAPTER ⅧTrace Evidence69

Introduction69

Trace Evidence Associated with Clothing69

Recovery of the Clothing of a Victim71

CHAPTER Ⅷ(Concluded)71

Cloth Fragments and Impressions71

Threads, Fibers, and Hair74

General74

The Properties of Hair75

Information the Criminalistics Laboratory Can Derive From Hair Sample Analysis75

Possible Conclusions Concerning Hair Sample Analyses75

Crime Scene Procedures With Respect to Collecting Hair Samples77

Fibers78

The Examination of the Crime Scene For Fibers78

String, Rope, and Containers79

String79

Ropes79

Containers79

Soils, Rocks, Minerals and Debris80

General80

The Value of Soils and Rocks as Evidence80

The Evidence Value of Debris81

General Collection Procedures81

Special Notations Concerning Samples83

CHAPTER ⅨFirearms84

Introduction84

Terms Used84

Handling Firearms and Ammunition Discovered in the Search84

Processing Damaged or Rusty Weapons85

Lifting Latent Prints From Firearms86

Marking Firearms86

Examination of Firearms by the Laboratory91

Marking Bullets and Cartridge Cases91

Bullet Files Maintained by the Criminalistics Laboratory94

Live Ammunition as Standards96

Serial Number Restorations96

Powder Residue Tests97

CHAPTER ⅩTool Marks and Broken Metals99

Introduction99

Tool Marks99

Definition99

The Evidence Value of Tool Marks101

Class and Individual Characteristics of Tools101

Information and Leads That Can be Derived From Tool Marks103

Special Considerations in Collecting Tool Mark Evidence103

Marks103

Too Is104

A Warning Concerning Collection of Tools and Tool Marks104

Marking, Packaging and Preservation of Tool Mark Evidence104

Recording Tools and Tool Marks105

Crime Laboratory Procedures for Processing Tool Mark Evidence106

Broken Metals106

CHAPTER ⅩⅠIllegal Drugs and Drugs That are Subject to Abuse110

Introduction110

Drug Addiction and Abuse - Implications to the Crime Scene Investigation110

The Commonly Abused Drugs111

Heroin112

Cocaine112

Marihuana114

Hashish117

Hallucinogenic Drugs117

Barbiturates117

Amphetamines118

Methamphetamines119

Toxic Vapors119

Some Important Cautionary Rules in Collecting Drug Substances120

The Use of Field Test Kits for Identification of Suspected Drug Substances121

CHAPTER ⅩⅡChemical Materials124

Poisons124

Alcohol127

Alcoholic Poisoning127

Chemical Materials Resulting From Explosions128

Diffuse Explosion129

Concentrated Explosion129

The Investigation of Fire132

CHAPTER ⅩⅢPreparation of Casts and Collection of Residual Prints134

Introduction134

Choice of Casting Materials134

The General Rules for Processing Impressions134

Protecting the Impression135

Preparation of the Impression Before Casting135

Casting Materials141

Preparing the Plaster141

Pouring the Plaster141

Special Procedures for Making Casts of Impressions in Snow142

Marking Casts142

Making Casts From Tire Tracks143

Preserving Soil Adhering to the Finished Cast143

Residue Prints144

General144

Photographs of Impressions and Residue Prints144

Listing a Residue Print144

Importance of Cuts and Other Unusual Marks in Residue Prints146

Preparing Standards of Residue Prints146

Casting Tool Marks147

CHAPTER ⅩⅣPaint and Glass150

Introduction150

Paint150

Examination of Paint150

Collection of Paint for Examination151

CHAPTER ⅩⅣ (Concluded)152

Glass152

Glass Fragmentation152

Fragment Examination154

Glass Identity From Physical Properties154

Collecting Fragments When Direction of Force is in Question154

When Direction of Force is Not a Question154

Search of a Suspect154

CHAPTER ⅩⅤ155

Questioned Documents155

Introduction155

Preliminary Examination155

Alterations155

Mechanical Writing Devices156

Document Standards159

Collection of Document Standards160

Handwriting Identification and Handwriting Samples161

CHAPTER ⅩⅥIdentification of the Unknown Dead165

Introduction165

Examination of Clothing165

Personal Effects Examination165

Visual, External Examination of Body166

Other Suggested Procedures167

Internal Examination of the Body167

APPENDIX AHow to Collect, Mark, Preserve, and Pack Physical Evidence168

APPENDIX BNational Directory of Criminalistics Laboratories174

INDEX187