Identifying criminal suspects: Field and Lab processes

Question 1

Criminalist

Answer 1

DNA specialist, trace evidence, handwriting analysis, ballistic etc.

Question 2

Trace material can include:

Answer 2

human hair, fibers, fabric, ropes and wood

Question 3

Odontology

Answer 3

forensic dentistry, physical anthropology: skeletal remains, aid in the identification of the human remains

Question 4

Questioned documents unit

Answer 4

examines and compares data appearing on paper and other evidence. Routinely evaluates shoe-prints and tire thread impressions

Question 5

DNA analysis

Answer 5

bodily fluids, blood, semen, saliva, using either restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Question 6

When did we began using Mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) analysis

Answer 6

1996

Question 7

MitoSearch

Answer 7

database of DNA

Question 8

Ballistic units can also discover

Answer 8

tool marks cases involving screwdrivers, tools, human bones and doorknobs

Question 9

Latent prints

Answer 9

impressions produced by the ridges of fingers, palms, and soles of feet. Latent prints are analyzed to make identifications or exclusions

Question 10

Amido black protein

Answer 10

used to analyze prints of limited quantity/quality

Question 11

Fingerprinting has proven to be:

Answer 11

one of the most effective methods of apprehending suspects. There are no two fingerprints alike and they can last for years depending on the surface. only exception is identical twins

Question 12

3 types of fingerprints

Answer 12

• latent
• plastic ( negative impressions)
• visible print ( dust print)

Question 13

3 large group of finger patterns

Answer 13

• loops
• whorls
• arch

Question 14

Tools for fingerprinting

Answer 14

Powders:
- gray for dark background, black for light background

Iodine:
- paper and wood

Ninhydrin:
- paper as far as 30-40 years old

Silver nitrate:

Superglue fuming:
- plastic bags, metal, foil, leather, wood

lasers:

Question 15

Integrated automated fingerprint identification system (IAFIS)

Answer 15

agencies receive responses within 2 hours from criminal cases, 24 hours for civil submissions

Question 16

Handwriting experts are both knowledgeable in:

Answer 16

photography and microscopy

average handwritings specimen has 500-100 characters including elements such as: form, movement, alignment, punctuation, slant, spacing and embellishments

Question 17

Criminal investigative analysis

Answer 17

psychological/ social characteristics surrounding the crime and the manner which it was committed

example: unabomber case

Question 18

Profiling was developed in:

Answer 18

WW2 to predict Hitlers next move

Question 19

In profiling an abnormal person was:

Answer 19

more ritualized and developed patterns of behavior

Question 20

Eyewitness identification is the single most:

Answer 20

cause of wrongful conviction at about 75%

Question 21

Identification procedure

Answer 21

• line up ( simultaneous (most common) or sequential (use absolute judgement)
• photo identification
• show ups

Question 22

T/F: people are able to recognize faces of their own race

Answer 22

TRUE

Question 23

Relative judgement

Answer 23

compare lineup members with each other instead of their own memory

Question 24

Absolute judgement

Answer 24

comparing photos/ persons with their own memory

Question 25

T/F: Officers should avoid suggestive statements or showing images of suspects prior to line up

Answer 25

TRUE

Question 26

In a line up, witnesses should be:

Answer 26

presented lineup separately and the officer not involved with he case should be used to avoid suggestive statements

Question 27

“Show ups” also referred to as FIELD OBSERVATIONS

Answer 27

should be avoided except in the field under exigent circumstances aka Field ID

Question 28

Supreme court ruling about lineups:

Answer 28

there is a right to counsel at a lineup ( NOT including photo lineup) to observe any suggestiveness