Post on 26-Dec-2015
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FORENSIC SCIENCE
PSUPT JAIME RODRIGO L LEAL, MD
A View on Evidence
Evidence
Direct Circumstantial
Physical Biological
Common Types of Physical EvidenceDrug and toxic substance
Resins, plastics Fingerprints
Paints Explosive residues
Hair
Gun shot residues (GSR)
Serial numbers Tissues
Firearms and ammunition
Documents Pollen
Impressions Fibers Wood material
Petroleum products Soil Feathers
Alcohols (esp. ethanol)
Glass Bones
Rubber material Blood and other body fluids
Tool marks
Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves even
unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his
fingerprints or footprints, but his hair, fibers from his clothes, the glass he
breaks, the tool marks he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects – all of these and
more bear mute witness against him.- Dr. Edmond Locard
TRACE EVIDENCE:LOCARD’S
TRANSFERENCE PRINCIPLE
“When any two objects come in contact there is always a transfer of material from each object on to the other.”
TRACE EVIDENCE:LOCARD’S
TRANSFERENCE PRINCIPLE
“Any person committing a crime leaves something at the crime scene that was not there before and carries away traces that were associated with him when he or she arrived.”
Transference Theory
“EVERY CONTACT LEAVES A TRACE.”
- Dr. Edmond Locard
What is Forensic Science?
Definition
Forensic science
- often shortened to forensics - the application of a broad
spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system.
- the word forensic comes from the Latin adjective forensis, meaning "of or before the forum.”
Forensic Science Defined
Forensic Science is any science used for the purposes of the law, and therefore provides impartial scientific evidence for use in the courts of law.
Forensic Science is a multidisciplinary subject, drawing principally from chemistry and biology, but also physics, geology, psychology, social science, etc.
What is Forensic Investigation?
Forensic Investigation Defined
Forensic Investigation is a combination of forensic
science, law and criminal investigation and can be
described as a problem-solving activity.
Interest of Forensic Investigation
Observe physical evidence
Determine identity
Determine origin
Philosophy of Forensics
The key to criminalistics is the ability to think clearly when faced with the daunting confusion of the average crime scene.
One must rely on experience, intuition and abductive reasoning (testing a likely scenario against the facts)
History
The dawn of forensic science took place in the civilization of ancient China (T’ang Dynasty).
Ti Jen-Chieh used both logic and forensic evidence to solve crimes in 7th century AD. He utilized a team of investigators, studied the crime scene, examined evidence, and interviewed witnesses and suspects.
Forensic science owes much to the age of scientific discovery in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Jansen – Microscope in 1950 Schultze – Photographic film in 1724 Niepce and Daguerre – First photograph in 1826
People Behind Forensics
St. Thomas, the Doubter The Patron Saint of Forensic Science
Sir Conan Doyle Sci-fi author in late 1800s and has popularized scientific crime-detection methods through his fictional character “Sherlock Holmes”
Matheiu Orfila (1787-1853) The father of Toxicology and wrote about the detection of poisons and their effects on animals
People Behind Forensics
Alphonse Bertillon (1853-1914) The father of Anthropometry and developed the system to distinguish one individual person from another based on certain body measurements
Francis Galton (1822-1911) The father of Fingerprinting and has developed fingerprinting as a way to uniquely identify individuals
Leone Lattes (1887-1954) The father of Bloodstain Identification and developed a procedure for determining the blood type (A, B, AB or O) of a dried blood stain
People Behind Forensics
Albert Osborne (1858-1946) The father of Document Examination where his work led to the acceptance of documents as scientific evidence by the courts
J. Edgar Hoover The father of the FBI during the 1930s where he organized a national laboratory to offer forensic services to all law enforcement agencies in the United States
Edmond Locard (1877-1966) The father of Crime Lab where he started the 1st crime lab
in an attic of a police station. He founded the Institute of Criminalistics in France and developed the Locard’s Exchange Principle
Scientific Methods in Forensics Observe problem or questioned evidence and collected data
Make hypothesis or possible solution to the problem based on the observations, given a directed work plan
Examine, test and analyze to support or refute hypothesis
Use deductive reasoning to make a determination as to the significance of the evidence
Evaluate and verify all evidence and determine a conclusion
Forensic Science Field in Investigation
Physics Chemistry Biology DNA Analysis Firearms Identification / Ballistics Toxicology Document Examination and Analysis Photography Dactyloscopy Medicine / Pathology Dentistry Crime Scene Investigation Anthropology Entomology Computer Forensics
Forensic Specialties
Crime Scene Investigation deals with the techniques and procedures used for approaching and protecting the crime scene.
Polygraphy deals with the specific detection of deception in relation to criminal investigation.
Forensic toxicology is the study of the effect of drugs and poisons on/in the human body.
Forensic pathology is a field in which the principles of medicine and pathology are applied to determine a cause of death or injury in the context of a legal inquiry.
Forensic dactyloscopy deals with the study of fingerprint principles in criminal investigation.
Forensic Specialties
Forensic accounting is the study and interpretation of accounting evidence.
Forensic anthropology is the application of physical anthropology in a legal setting, usually for the recovery and identification of skeletonized human remains.
Forensic archaeology is the application of a combination of archaeological techniques and forensic science, typically in law enforcement.
Forensic astronomy uses methods from astronomy to determine past celestial constellations for forensic purposes.
Forensic botany is the study of plant life in order to gain information regarding possible crimes.
Forensic Specialties
Forensic chemistry is the study of detection and identification of illicit drugs, accelerants used in arson cases, explosive and gunshot residue.
Computational forensics concerns the development of algorithms and software to assist forensic examination.
Criminalistics is the application of various sciences to answer questions relating to examination and comparison of biological evidence, trace evidence, impression evidence (such as fingerprints, footwear impressions, and tire tracks), controlled substances, ballistics, firearm and toolmark examination, and other evidence in criminal investigations. In typical circumstances, evidence is processed in a crime lab.
Digital forensics is the application of proven scientific methods and techniques in order to recover data from electronic / digital media. Digital Forensic specialists work in the field as well as in the lab.
Forensic Specialties Forensic document examination or questioned
document examination answers questions about a disputed document using a variety of scientific processes and methods. Many examinations involve a comparison of the questioned document, or components of the document, to a set of known standards. The most common type of examination involves handwriting wherein the examiner tries to address concerns about potential authorship.
Forensic DNA analysis takes advantage of the uniqueness of an individual's DNA to answer forensic questions such as paternity/maternity testing or placing a suspect at a crime scene, e.g., in a rape investigation.
Forensic Specialties
Forensic engineering is the scientific examination and analysis of structures and products relating to their failure or cause of damage.
Forensic entomology deals with the examination of insects in, on, and around human remains to assist in determination of time or location of death. It is also possible to determine if the body was moved after death.
Forensic Specialties
Forensic geology deals with trace evidence in the form of soils, minerals and petroleum.
Forensic limnology is the analysis of evidence collected from crime scenes in or around fresh water sources. Examination of biological organisms, in particular, diatoms, can be useful in connecting suspects with victims.
Forensic Specialties
Forensic linguistics deals with issues in the legal system that requires linguistic expertise.
Forensic meteorology is a site specific analysis of past weather conditions for a point of loss.
Forensic odontology is the study of the uniqueness of dentition better known as the study of teeth.
Forensic optometry is the study of glasses and other eye wear relating to crime scenes and criminal investigations
Forensic psychology is the study of the mind of an individual, using forensic methods. Usually it determines the circumstances behind a criminal's behavior.
Forensic seismology is the study of techniques to distinguish the seismic signals generated by underground nuclear explosions from those generated by earthquakes.
Forensic serology is the study of the body fluids.
Main Sources of Physical Evidence
A. The Crime Scene
B. The Victim
C. The Suspect and His Environment
What will Evidence Collected at a Scene Do
for Investigation?
Importance of Evidence Collection in Investigation
May prove that a crime has been committed
Establish key elements of a crime Link a suspect with a crime scene or a
victim Establish the identity of a victim or
suspect Corroborate the verbal witness testimony Exonerate the innocent Give investigators and detectives leads to
work with in the case
The relationship of Forensic Science and Criminal
Investigation begins at the scene of the crime when
investigators start processing the crime
scene.
Physical evidence can establish that a crime has been committed or it can provide a link between a crime and its victim or
between a crime and its perpetrator
Did you Know?
According to The Innocence Project (2008) "Eyewitness misidentification is the single
greatest cause of wrongful convictions nationwide, playing a role in more than 75%
of convictions overturned through DNA testing."
Still, the criminal justice system profoundly relies on eyewitness identification and
testimony for investigating and prosecuting crimes (Wells & Olson, 2003).
Medico-Legal
CONDUCT EXAMINATION ON PERSONS INVOLVED IN PHYSICAL INJURY CASES AND SEXUAL OFFENSES.
CONDUCT AUTOPSY, EXHUMATION, SKELETAL AND ODONTOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH AND IDENTITY OF PERSONS.
CONDUCT HISTOPATHOLOGICAL AND SEROLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS TO DETERMINE EXACT CAUSE OF DEATH AS WELL AS THE PRESENCE AND TYPE OF HUMAN BLOOD.
CONDUCT DNA ANALYSIS FOR PERSON IDENTIFICATION. CONDUCT LECTURES TO DIFFERENT POLICE/ MILITARY
INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND PRIVATE / PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ORIENT AND TRAIN NEW PERSONNEL AND OJT ON THE FUNCTIONS AND CAPABILITIES ON THE DIVISION.
CHEMISTRY DIVISION
Conduct Qualitative and Quantitative Examination of Dangerous Drugs under RA 9165 as well as volatile substances under PD 1619.
Conduct examination of explosives and/or explosive ingredients. (PD 1866)
Conduct examination of Firearms and Paraffin casts for the presence of Gunpowder Nitrates.
Conduct Chemico-Toxicological examination of human internal organs, gastric contents, blood water and food sample and other substances.
Conduct examination of fake products in case of unfair trade competition.
CHEMISTRY DIVISION
Conduct blood alcohol determination. Examine urine and other body fluids for the presence
of dangerous drugs. Conduct researches and training related to the cases
being examined. Give lectures on Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology to
various schools, universities, police training centers and other investigative units.
Testify and give expert opinion in court. Respond to queries of all investigative units and render
expert opinion regarding matters related to the application of chemical principles for the purpose of assisting investigators in developing investigative leads.
Conduct Field laboratory work and clandestine laboratory investigation.
Conduct examination of evidence firearms, fired bullets/cartridge cases, shotgun shells, wads, pellets and related specimens recovered from the crime.
Conduct test firing of evidence firearms of different caliber;
Conduct scene of crime operations and field laboratory works;
Determines the classification of firearms as to power, pursuant to RA 8294;
Conduct lectures, briefings and seminars on firearm identification;
Appear in Court as Expert Witness; and Perform such other functions as may be directed
by the Director, Crime Laboratory.
FIREARMS IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
Responsible to the Dir, CL for the examination of all fingerprint evidence of criminal nature.
Supervise the technical training of the division personnel with regards to dactylosycopy so as to improve their knowledge and techniques of examination and analysis.
Provide lectures on the science of Dactyloscopy to PNP School and other units of the AFP.
Provide fingerprint expert witnesses in civil and military courts for the purpose of interpretation of dactyloscopic reports on the scientific examination performed.
Develop, lift and preserve latent print gathered at the crime scenes subsequently takes fingerprint of suspects and criminal.
FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
Examine, compare and determine the identity or non-identity of all questioned finger, palm and footprints.
Assist in establishing identities of deceased persons whose cadavers and beyond recognition.
Classify, verify, and file all Fingerprint cards based on Henry System with FBI Modification and Extension.
Maintain index (3x5) card of cross-reference of persons by name whose fingerprint cards are on the Master File.
Examination of Questioned Signatures Handwriting Examination Examination of Document suspected to have been
Altered/Erased. Decipherment of Secret Writings Examination of Sequence of Entry Paper and Ink Comparison Typewriting Identification Examination of Counterfeit Bills Conduct lectures to PNP, AFP and other government
agencies. Conduct Field Laboratory Works Attend court Duties.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT EXAMINATION DIVISION
Criminal Investigation Domestic Issues Employees Theft/Fraud Unfair Dismissal Pilferage Insurance investigation False and Malicious Allegations Sexual Harassment Pre-employment/periodic screening
POLYGRAPH DIVISION
Conduct analysis and comparison of specimen to determine its nature, composition, quality or source such as hair, fibers, debris, metals, paints, woods, restoration of serial numbers of motor vehicles and firearms, ultraviolet examination in entrapment and buy-bust operations, bullet trajectory in shooting incidents and casting and molding of different types of impressions and tool marks examination.
Assist investigators in the proper collection, handling and preservation of physical evidence.
Conduct researches before their adaptation, give lectures, technical opinion and testimony in both civil and criminal courts.
PHYSICAL IDENTIFICATION DIVISION
PHOTOGRAPHY DIVISION
Photograph suspects and crime victims for personal identification;
Photograph evidence submitted to this laboratory before examination;
Conduct crime scene photography; Conduct comparative examination and analysis of
questioned photograph; Conduct lectures to different police/military training
institutions, gov’t agencies and public/private schools upon request;
Process black & white film and print to reduce and enlarge photographs;
Reproduce photographs and other printed matters; Sketch facial features of suspects based on actual
description by the witnesses or victims for identification; Attend court duties; and Maintain Crime Laboratory “Rogue’s Gallery”