Forensics is use of scientific tests to solve a crime and produce or process evidence. Nothing magical but it is a technical procedure that gathers and tests evidence. Forensics deals with almost entirely circumstantial, though it is physical evidence that constitutes most of the evidence presented in court. For instance; in a situation of possible spousal homicide, the fact that DNA collected may match the suspected spouse’s DNA in a home shared by the couple is not very compelling as the DNA is expected and irrelevant. Found on the DNA of the victim and spousal suspect in a body in the woods, the DNA might be more relevant, as will the lack of the suspects DNA in shared vehicles.
Forensic Evidence Collection Procedures
There are various steps to the forensic process:
• Collection and identification of evidence. Crime Scene Technicians, a more accurate description than crime scene investigator, are charged with the gathering, cataloging and identification of potential evidence. The gathering process is documented via lists, diagrams, photos and video. Other than accomplishing this, the on-scene techs are finished unless they are part of the next process, commonly encountered in small departments. Evidence collection can be as pertinent in a civil case as a criminal case. Generally, in civil cases it is collected, documented and collated by a private or legal investigator.
• Examination of the collected evidence. Specialists are lab techs, finger print techs, tool mark and firearms examiners plus numerous other specialists. Tool marks specialists are those that match up bullets and cartridges to a specific firearm. They also test tools and other items for matches. Of course, the fingerprint specialist compares finger prints, preps and classifies prints for NCIC and IAFIS, the Integrated Automatic Fingerprint Identifications System. Lab techs are the ones the ones who do DNA, hair, blood and other tests and comparisons. They test for accelerants used in arsons and conduct hand swabs for gun powder residue.
• Analysis and interpretation of evidence. All this evidence data needs interpretation. Data and information are the basis for interpretations. Until analyzed and interpreted it is merely data and information and may be objects of interest. Analysis establishes and considers the circumstances to test the relevancy to the case. Physical evidence is circumstantial. How’s it fit? What’s it mean?
• Evidence reports. Reports are then prepared to present and document the evidence and how it is pertinent to the case.
• Testifying of evidence. Testimony is the verbal presentation of the forensics process and is of course subject to cross examination.
Types of Forensics
Numerous areas of expertise cover the gamut of forensics. Forensic Pathologists, i.e. medical examiners conduct autopsies to determine cause of death. Lab techs conduct chemical, biological and or tests and examinations. Electronic Forensics include the gathering of evidence from computers and electronic entertainment and communications devices. Document examiners attempts to prove the authenticity of documents, and some compare handwriting to authentic authorship. Dental forensics involves the identification of a victim through dental work and dental records comparisons. Entomologists and botanists use insects and biological artifacts to determine time of and location of death and are supported by the toxicologists who determines the presence of foreign chemicals, like drugs or toxins. There are specialists who study weather and the impact it has on crime scenes as well as the presence of flora and fauna and its contribution to the state of the crime scene and differentiates the locations of the crime from the point of discovery of the remains. There are other specialties like forensic accountants, fraud investigators and a plethora of other specialties the are used to collect, test, interpret and present physical evidence. Some are full time criminal justice experts and technicians, other leaders in the field who are called is as expert witnesses to contribute to the criminal and civil justice systems. Surveillance photography is collected and submitted as evidence. The photographer and scene drawings and illustrations aid the forensic engineer in creating construction and traffic accidents. The forensic photography is a key element in the creation of evidence for court, both criminal and civil.
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A private investigator will seldom collect evidence from a homicide seen. But a private fraud and financial investigator could prove to pivotal in a civil case. All court proceedings require evidence to prove or disprove an allegation. Advanced Private Investigator & Security of Miami FL can handle all your private investigator and security needs. Contact us today!
