The art of firearms evidence collection has been around since the creation of firearms; however, there have been many scientific breakthroughs that have streamlined investigative techniques. Firearms evidence collection is a very important step in solving a crime, and proving guilt to a jury. The key steps in the process of firearms evidence collection are safety procedures, crime scene procedures, collection of evidence, packaging of evidence, and the analyzing of collected evidence. Successfully following all the proper steps will allow investigators to determine the facts of a crime scene, and lead to the solving of even the most unique investigations. Properly maintaining a crime scene is crucial in evidence collection. Before handling a firearm or other firearm related evidence, the location and condition of the weapon must be properly documented and photographed. It is important to take as many photographs as possible,and every photograph should be logged accordingly. You will want to start with medium-range photographs to identify the location of the firearm at the crime scene. You will do this with, and …show more content…
Anyone who is not familiar with the firearm involved should not be handling the weapon. Some basic weapons safety rules that should be followed at all times are treat every weapon as if it were loaded, never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot, keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you are ready to fire, keep the weapon on safe until you are ready to fire, and know your target and what lies behind it. When handling a firearm, it is important to unload the weapon without damaging trace evidence, which we will dig deeper into later. It is never a good idea to to transport firearms while they are loaded. Following these basic safety rules will ensure that no one else is further injured at a crime
If there was no weapon found at the scene and there are other evidence clues that lead to a suspect, and if the suspect had a firearm the forensics team would get a warrant to retrieve the weapon so it could be tested. When the weapon is being tested, it will allow the the bullet have individual marks that will be compared to the ones found at the scene. All of these comparisons are done under a microscope since technology has improved and it is easier to make matches. According to Young & Ortmeier (2011) “class characteristics include weight of the projectile, direction of twist of the riffling, degree of twist of riffling, number of lands and groves, and width of lands and groves.” Even though guns from the same manufacture will never have the same riffling, lands or grove. When evaluating two cartridge casings the examiner will be looking for manufacture, the size of the firing pin as well as the location. The FBI has made a integrated ballistic identification system (IBIS) it's a database that helps crime labs with comparisons where it proves one gun being used in many crimes. In addition, gunshot residue is helpful solving crimes because gunshot residue can be chemically tested. If an individual has gunshot residue it doesn't prove he or she shot the victims, it just means that they were along the premises while the gun was fired. Another
Crime scenes are known to have many clues left behind. The obvious would be a the body or bodies, clothing, and sometimes even the murder weapon. While these are great way to solve a case there's another kind of evidence; trace evidence. Trace evidence are small pieces of evidence that are laying around a crime scene. There are many types of trace evidence some of them include metal filings, plastic fragments, gunshot residue, glass fragments, feathers, food stains, building materials, lubricants, fingernail scrapings, pollens and spores, cosmetics, chemicals, paper fibers and sawdust, human and animal hairs, plant and vegetable fibers, blood and other body fluids, asphalt or tar, vegetable fats and oils, dusts and other airborne particles, insulation, textile fibers, soot, soils and mineral grains, and explosive residues. Although these are the most common found elements, they are not the only ones. The Trace Evidence Unit is known to examine the largest variety of evidence types and used the biggest range of analytical methods of any unit. materials are compared with standards or knowns samples to determine whether or not they share any common characteristics. In this paper I will discuss the different kinds of trace evidence and how crime scene investigaros use it to solve cases and convict criminal.
to be taken and analyzed at a crime lab. Before evidence can be touched a primary survey is conducted where the lead investigator will take notes, take their own pictures, and identify what they consider to be valuable evidence. Another thing the lead investigator does is to make sure the conditions are recorded such as if the lights were on or off, position of furniture, smell, etc. Pictures and/or videos are taken of the scene by a crime scene team. Sometimes a quick sketch is drawn of the crime scene to ensure that everything is accounted for. Once everything is accounted for evidence begins to be packaged into clean bags that are numbered to make sure everything's in order.
Objects for analysis can be found in a good number of places. When looking for firearm evidence, a bullet can be lodged in a body, an object, a wall, or in some cases, could have come to stop on the ground. CSIs must also check around the area the gun was believed to be fired and the suspect’s hands for gunshot residue. Searching for gunshot residue is normally done only at the crime scene as to confirm/disaffirm a suspect as soon as possible because the residue can be washed from hands and clothing cleaned. Furthermore, there can be tool marks almost anywhere. It is less likely to have tool marks appear on a body, but it is not...
In today’s time, modern Crime Scene Investigation has increased rapidly. From throughout the late 1900’s and in the early 2000’s (Taylor 1). For all of the evidence that they find, a solid foundation has formed over the thousands of years of Crime Scene
Many Americans are now applying for a license to carry licensed concealed arms with them. The rate at which licenses are being approved is worrying. This development is concerning law enforcement authorities. Putting so many firearms at the disposal of the public is counterproductive to the gains that are being made on improving security and especially in the cities where incidences of gun crime and violence are on the rise.
Frates, Chris. “The Gun Debate Isn’t Over Yet.” National Journal (2013): Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.
It is very important that everything is documented for all persons that have had any contact with the scene. By having everything documented, it helps prove that there was no planting and contamination, theft, and tampering with the evidence (National Institute of Justice, 2011). After doing an initial walk-through and establishing a chain of custody, it is very important for the detective to take photos of the entire scene (Centrex, 2006). The importance of taking a photograph is to have a visual form of documentation of what happened. The photo needs to be taken from various angles to give different perspectives and to help with additional evidence. Some of the photos would need to include scales so that it can be as specific as possible. If evidence has been moved prior to taking any photographs, it is essential that it is documented. According to the National Institute of Justice (2011), “The body of other evidence should not be reintroduced into the scene in order to take photographs.” Not only should there be photographs of the scene, but a written documentation is important as well. Especially with each photograph taken, there would need to be an adequate description of each picture (Lothridge, 2013). The written portion is also to describe some of the evidence and its relationship to the victim. Anything that looks weird or out of the ordinary would need to be documented including; lights,
The amount of evidence can either help win or lose a case. Every crime scene has evidence available for officers to collect. It is important for them to know what the standard protocol is for collecting evidence and how to properly collect it without contamination.
Information about any item, related to the criminal, found at the crime scene (weapons, proofs, if any)
There are several steps that need to be taken in order to process a crime scene. Some of the steps include: securing the scene, a detailed search, documenting the crime scene, collecting and preserving evidence, and finally releasing the scene. All of the following steps are crucial to avoid any possible contamination or otherwise compromise the scene before it can be released. Few, if any additional opportunities exist when processing a crime scene, so the first time is most pertinent.
Forensic Science, recognized as Forensics, is the solicitation of science to law to understand evidences for crime investigation. Forensic scientists are investigators that collect evidences at the crime scene and analyse it uses technology to reveal scientific evidence in a range of fields. Physical evidence are included things that can be seen, whether with the naked eye or through the use of magnification or other analytical tools. Some of this evidence is categorized as impression evidence2.In this report I’ll determine the areas of forensic science that are relevant to particular investigation and setting out in what method the forensic science procedures I have recognized that would be useful for the particular crime scene.
Forensic science has now been recognized as an important part of the law enforcement team to help solve crimes and cold cases. The advances in technology are being used each day and we must continue to strive to develop better advances in this field. The recent discovery of using DNA in criminal cases has helped not only positively identify the suspect, but it has helped exonerate hundreds of innocent individuals. “With new advances in police technology and computer science, crime scene investigation and forensic science will only become more precise as we head into the future.” (Roufa, 2017) Forensic science and evidence helps law enforcement officials solve crimes through the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence. By having a mobile crime laboratory, the scene gets processed quicker and more efficiently. Forensic science will only grow in the future to be a benefit for the criminal justice
Much like in Toms case, most investigations start with a crime having been committed. Forensic ballistics and firearm investigation start when there are bullets, cartridges, a weapon, or any combination of the above found at a crime scene. With the evidence, a crime lab can search for clues on these items that could lead to a suspect or possibly prove that the items were used in the crime. By comparing the markings on bullets or cartridges found at the scene with those fired from a suspect’s weapon, a ballistics expert can often determine if the rounds came from the same weapon. Just the act of cycling a cartridge through a weapon without firing it can leave permanent scratches in the case that are unique to the weapon.
Crime scene investigation is the use of physical evidence at the scene of the crime committed, also reasonable and unreasonable reasoning to gain knowledge of the events surrounding the crime. Criminal investigators pursues to establish the methods. Motives, and identities of criminal. This paper will go into great depths of how to conduct an investigation and the proper way to obtain the information. After reading this paper you should be able to know step by step how to keep notes, take accurate photos and a variety of other things that will allow you to conduct a successful investigation.