Finger Printing Analysis - Research Paper Example

Finger Printing Analysis Part A Explain what you would process for finger prints and why. What process would you use at the scene? Back at the Laboratory? The items which will be processed for fingerprints will include the lottery ticket on the counter with the bloody, smeared print on it; the black 9mm semi-automatic gun; the ice cream cooler, the pack of cigarettes removed from a carton as well as the ripped open carbon on the floor in front of the counter; casing by the glass store entry door; the door; spilled cigarette box and the cash on the floor next to the deceased; and the fresh half smoked butt of cigarette outside the store in the parking lot. Finger prints will also be taken of the counter area, the door handle and the other areas under the counter. All of the finger print evidence that can be found will be useful as it will help to indicate the persons who were involved in the crime scene. They will help to provide the necessary evidence required to solve the case. At the Scene The area will be cordoned off so that there is no further contamination or interference with the evidence that is available. Before processing the scene photographs should be taken of the evidence and their location. Each piece of evidence must be a separate sample and should therefore be packaged separately. All fingerprint gathering techniques that can be used on the scene such as photographing, superglue and fuming as well as fingerprint powder will be used. The surface of the evidence will be examined visually for patent prints that should be photographed before processing. If the surface is moist it should be allowed to dry as the powder will adhere to it. Fingerprint powder and a brush will be used for this process. The brush will be dipped into the powder and any excess will be shaken off. The powder will be applied gently to the surface. The brush will either be moved from side to side or it can be spun over the surface. When further brushing ceases to improve the visibility of the ridge detail then no more powder should be added. Before the print is lifted a good photograph will be taken of the location of the print. Porous evidence such as paper, currency, cardboard and similar materials will be sent to the laboratory. Clean gloves will be used at all times when handling this type of evidence. These types of evidence will be placed in paper envelopes, bags and boxes or wrapped in paper and sealed (Cidaa n.d.). All non-porous evidence such as such as gun, painted or sealed wood, metal or glass (if this applies to the counter); and the cigarette box (if considered porous) will be processed on the scene where possible. If ridge details are available on these items then photographs will be taken of them before any further processing takes place (McManigal 2007). Any evidence that will require examination by other divisions of the lab will not be fingerprint powdered because contamination can hinder the process. These will therefore be fumed with superglue as quickly as possible. However, superglue will not be used on any evidence which is to be submitted fro trace evidence examination. Photography, superglue fuming and fingerprint powdering techniques should be used where applicable to preserve latent prints. All prints developed with brush and powder will be photographed. Latent prints found in blood dust and other contaminants will be processed using fingerprint powder. All developed prints will be photographed and lifted and all of these lifts and photographs will be taken to the laboratory (Cidaa n.d.). The lift cards will be properly labeled with the date and time, location of the event and the name of the person packaging the sample. Finger prints will be taken of the dead using latex gloves which will be discarded when the process is completed. Full record finger and palm prints will be taken. This record will include the victims name, location, time and the date. Fingerprints will also be taken of all who were on the scene when the event occurred, the suspect (s) and the person who reported the incident. The victims clothing will also be sent to the test as part of the porous evidence to be tested. The hand of the victim and all others on the crime scene should be swabbed for gun powder residue. Firearm should be placed in a gun box. The firearm will be personally delivered to the laboratory if it is loaded; otherwise it will be unloaded. The laboratory will be informed of its status when submitted. However, before submission the serial number manufacturer, model, and caliber of the weapon will be recorded. It will be inconspicuously marked before it is taken or sent to the laboratory. Marking the firearm is of extreme importance duplicate serial numbers are sometimes found on different guns of the same make and general type (Crime scene Investigator Network n.d.). Ensure the serial number is clearly differentiated from a patent number. If blood or other material pertaining to the investigation is on the gun then a clean piece of paper will be placed around the gun and sealed with tape to prevent movement of the gun and loss of sample during shipping. The bullet that was lodged in the wall will also be removed and sent to the laboratory. The Laboratory At the laboratory the finger prints taken of the suspects and the persons on the scene will be analyzed and compared with finger prints taken of the objects. The latent prints of porous items will be processed to determine if the have a match from the record prints of individuals. Additionally, all bullets, shot shell cases and cartridge cases will be compared with the firearm for a possible match or elimination (Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office n.d.). Examination will also be performed on the bullets fired and cartridge cases to determine the weapon that was used. The distance that the bullet was fired from will also be determined (Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office n.d.). Part B What Steps should be taken to determine if any of the people present at the scene may have been involved in the homicide or are merely witnesses? In order to determine whether the people present at the scene were involved their hands will be swabbed for gun powder residue and records will be taken of the palm and finger prints in the same manner as the victim as pointed out in Part A. The fingerprint information will be packaged and labeled separately with their names, age, location, date and time taken. These will be compared with the fingerprints processed on the scene and from those processed at the laboratory. Statements will also be taken from them to determine if they corroborate with other persons statements and with the information obtained from the fingerprints. This will help to determine if they need to be questioned further or if they were really involved in the event leading to the murder of the victim. They will be asked questions such as: Who committed the crime? When the crime was committed and the reason for the crime? Part C How would you package the evidence that pertains to the finger print analysis? The evidence pertaining to the finger print analysis (samples) will be packaged in paper bag, envelopes or boxes. These will be further labeled in order to ensure their proper identification. The containers that are used should not have been previously used for any reason. This will help to preserve the original integrity of these samples. Items containing blood and other body fluids will be labeled as ‘Biohazards’ (Texas Department of Public Safety 2010). The containers used should prevent them from moving around freely. References Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office (n.d.) Special Services. Retrieved from: http://www.cpso.com/services/crime_lab.cfm Cidaa (n.d.). Fingerprints. Retrieved from: http://www.cidaa.net/fp_chapter_fm3_19_13.pdf Crime Scene Investigator Network. (n.d.). Evidence Collection Guidelines. Retrieved from: http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/collect.html#12 McManigal, P. (2007). Crime scene investigations: Latent fingerprint processing from crime scenes. http://www.helium.com/items/212484-crime-scene-investigations-latent-fingerprint-processing-from-crime-scenes Texas Department of Pubic Safety. (2010). Physical Evidence Handbook. Retrieved from: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/CrimeLaboratory/documents/PEHmanual.pdf Read More