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BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE

SITUATIONS IN WHICH FORENSIC BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE MAY BE IMPORTANT


Crimes against a person Homicide Assault Rape / or other sexual assaults Criminal paternity Terrorism Crimes against property Burglary
Paternity / Kinship Motor Vehicle Incidents Mass Fatality Incidents

BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE TRANSFER

TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE


BLOOD SEMEN SALIVA VAGINAL SECRETIONS

FECAL MATERIALS HAIR URINE BONE

Types of Evidence Impressions -include fingerprints, tool marks, footwear, fabric impressions, tire marks and bite marks. Forensic Biology - includes blood, semen, body fluids, hair, nail scrapings, blood stain patterns, Trace Evidence - includes gun shot residues, arson accelerant, paint, glass and fibers. Firearms - includes weapons, gun powder patterns, casings, projectiles, fragments, pellets, wadding and cartridges. Questioned Documents

The different types of biological evidence can be used to link a person to another individual, to an object or to a location.

These types of evidence could also be used to associate or dissociate an individual with a crime.

Biological evidence is generally transferred by one of two means: 1.Direct or 2. secondary (sometimes referred to as indirect.

Biological evidence includes blood, saliva, semen and other body fluid stains. Any of this evidence may be important and should be collected. These stains should be accompanied by control samples from unstained areas near the collected stains. A forensic light source (e.g. uv lamp) may be of assistance in locating these stains.

All biological evidence is subject to DETERIORATION.

The careful collection and storage of this evidence will help ensure that this evidence is preserved so that useful information can be obtained from its analysis.

Biological evidence can contain infectious organisms (e.g. hepatitis virus) that can be transmitted to any person who contacts it. For these reasons, it is important to take proper safeguards to ensure the safety of all personnel.

Blood and other body fluid stains may be encountered as physical evidence in a variety of crimes such as homicide, vehicular hit-and-run, and burglary. The identification and typing of blood and other body fluid stains can assist in establishing elements of the crime, identifying or eliminating a suspect, can be used to corroborate or dispute the statements of principals.

What is Blood

A vital, complex biological fluid, containing red blood cells, which is present in vertebrates and may be shed during accidental, intentional, and/or criminal acts

What is bloodstain pattern?


A bloodstain pattern is a physical, geometric image created by blood contacting a surface, or by a surface contacting blood.

The geometric images of interest are primarily those created once blood leaves the body.

The pattern of bloodstain evidence may sometimes contain important information.

If the bloodstain pattern is determined to be important, it should be documented with appropriate sketches and photographs

What can the investigator expect from a BPA


The positions of the victim, assailant, and objects at the scene during the attack. The type of weapon that was used to cause the spatter. The number of blows, shots, stabs, etc. that occurred. .

The movement and direction of victim and assailant, after bloodshed began. It may support or contradict statements given by witnesses

The investigator may use blood spatter interpretation to determine: What events occurred When and in what sequence they occurred. Who was, or was not, there. What did not occur

CATEGORIES OF BLOOD STAIN PATTERNS


PASSIVE PROJECTED

TRANSFER

SMOOTH SURFACE

Linoleum Flooring

Passive Patterns

Passive Flow Pattern when blood flows freely.

Passive Saturation Pattern when blood flows to saturate an area.

Bomb detonated in hand.

FLY

FLY

Victim blood expirated on suspect shirt.

SEMEN and SEMINAL STAINS

Liquid Semen Evidence Found at a Scene

Document the semen evidence by notes, photography, videotape and sketching. Use a clean syringe or disposable pipette to transfer liquid semen to a clean test tube. DO NOT MOUTH PIPETTE ANY BODY FLUID

REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE

Label the tube with the case and item number, date, time, location and name of the collector. Keep the specimen refrigerated and submit to the laboratory as soon as possible. Alternatively, liquid semen can be transferred onto clean cotton or gauze by absorption. The cloth is then air dried, packaged, sealed and labeled properly.

Seminal Stains on Movable Objects

Seminal stains on panties, clothing, bed sheets, pillows and other movable objects should be collected as is.
If an article has a wet stain on it, the stain must be allowed to air dry thoroughly prior to collection of the article.

Each item should be packaged separately in a clean paper container. Each items packaging must properly sealed and labeled. be

Packaged items should be refrigerated if possible, and submitted to the laboratory as son as possible.

Seminal Stains on Large Objects that can be Cut

Examples of large objects that can be cut, and that could have seminal stains on them are carpeting, bedding, and upholstery.

Document the evidence as previously described.

Use a clean scalpel or scissors to cut the stained area from the rest of its surface. Place each cutting in a separate piece of clean paper.

Make a druggist fold into an appropriate paper container, seal the container, and label properly.

Seminal Stains on Immovable, Nonabsorbent Surfaces

Examples of these surfaces are floors, counters and metal surfaces. Document the seminal stain as previously described. Use a clean scalpel to scrape the semen stain onto clean paper, and fold the paper into a druggist fold container.

Clean the scalpel in between each use to avoid any contamination. Each druggist fold should be placed into its own appropriate paper container. Each container should be sealed and labeled properly.

Seminal Stains from Sexual Assaults

Sexually assault victims are always medically examined in hospitals or a physicians office. Physical evidence should be collected such as vaginal, oral, and anal evidence .

Each item should be packaged, sealed and labeled properly.


Evidence should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Fresh Tissue, Organ or Bone

Each item or evidence should be described in notes, and documented by photography, sketches and videotape. This type of evidence item can be picked up with a clean pair of forceps.

Old Tissue, Organ or Bone

Each item of evidence should be photographed and sketched before collection. The size, shape and pattern, and spatial relationships to the rest of the scene should be properly documented. Each item can be picked up with a clean gloved hand. Evidence still connected should be collected together.

Each item should be placed in a clean container without any added fixatives. Each container should be properly sealed and labeled, and stored in a freezer. Evidence should be submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Be careful not to contaminate any item with material from another item. Change gloves for every different item.
Each item should be placed in a clean container, the container then sealed and properly labeled as previously described.

Evidence can be stored at room temperature, and submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible.

Urine, Saliva and Other Body Fluids


Liquid Samples: Samples should be transferred to a clean, sterilized container Each container should be sealed and labeled properly Evidence should be stored in a refrigerator

Stains:

Urine stains, saliva stains and other body fluids can be collected as is, or removed from their substrata by scraping or cutting. Place each stain sample in a clean paper container. Scrapings or cuttings should be collected in a druggist fold made from clean paper and also placed in a secondary paper container. Containers should be sealed and labeled properly.

HAIR EVIDENCE

Hair is a common type of evidence found in a variety of different types of criminal cases. The identification and examination of hair evidence can be performed by either a serologist or a trace analyst.

Hair Evidence

Hair Evidence can be picked up using a pair of forceps. Each group of hair should be packaged separately. Hair mixed with blood, tissue or other body fluid should be treated with care placing item in a clean container. If mixed with body fluids, it should be dried thoroughly prior to submission.

Information determined.
1. Determine whether the sample is of human or animal origin. 2. If the hair is of animal origin, microscopic examinations of the internal features and of casts made of the hair scales often allow the analyst to identify the species from which it came.

Safeguards while handling biological evidence include:


1. Wear gloves 2. Keep any contaminated surface (e.g. gloved hand) away from face to prevent contact with mucosal membranes (e.g. eyes, nose). 3. After dealing with evidence, properly dispose of gloves and wash hands with germicidal soap

Goals of Biological Evidence Collection


1. Collect as much sample as possible from a single source. 2.Keep biological evidence stain concentrated. 3.Ensure that the sample is not inadvertently mixed with other biological samples. 4.Wear gloves. Change gloves if they become stained with any biological sample. 5.Handle the sample in a manner that minimizes deterioration of the sample. 6.Air-dry the sample as fast as possible.

Recommendations for collecting blood and other body fluid stains:


Handle

the evidence stains as little as possible.

When possible, submit the item with the stain. This is the easiest and best method to collect biological evidence.

If the stain is on a smooth, non-porous surface and can be easily dislodged, protect if from contact with other objects (e.g. immobilize in box).

If the stain is on a large object with a porous

surface (wood or carpet), the area with the stain can be cut out and packaged in paper. Be sure to include a portion of the unstained material as a control.

Recommendations for collecting blood and other body fluid stains


If it is not possible to collect the object or cut out the stain, the stain may be collected by using a slightly moistened (with distilled water) cotton swab. While collecting the stain, an effort should be made to concentrate it onto a small area on the swab. A control sample of an unstained area close to the bloodstain should also be collected using the same distilled water and type of swab that was used to collect the evidence. Allow the swabs to air dry, then package individually in appropriately marked paper envelopes or folded paper bindles.

The size of the stain should influence the size of a substrate used to collect the stain. Thus, use a small part of a swab or a small piece of gauze to collect a small stain. Do not smear a small stain over a large . surface

Small biological evidence stains (e.g. 2 mm size bloodstain) may need special handling: Put on a fresh pair of gloves before collecting these small stains. A swab is probably the best sample collection device. If these stains have to be manipulated by a tool, consideration should be given to using new, disposable implements (e.g. new razor blade/ disposable pair of tweezers).

Try to minimize the amount of time a stain is kept wet. Air-dry all wet stains as soon as possible. Do not expose to heat or sunlight in an attempt to dry the stain.

Care should be taken to ensure that biological evidence is not contaminated during its collection: 1.Do not allow one evidence stain to come into contact with other biological samples. 2. Do not talk or cough over biological evidence stains. Do not handle samples without using clean gloves. 3. Each individual stain should be collected separately. Do not collect or package two separate stains together.

4. Do not allow evidence samples to come into contact with any surface that contains residue from another biological sample (e.g. dirty tweezers, bloodstained glove, contaminated work surface). 5 .Use tweezers that have smooth, easy-to-clean working surfaces. 6. Tools (e.g. tweezers, scissors) can be cleaned by thoroughly rinsing with a stream of distilled water and thoroughly drying with paper tissue. Repeat this process twice before using tool to manipulate another sample.

Package all biological evidence in paper bags or envelopes.

Do not use plastic.

1.Allow stains to air dry as much as possible before placing in paper bag or envelope. 2. Package the unstained control separately from the evidence stain. 3. Package different evidence items in separate paper containers.

4. Ensure that the paper container is large enough to allow air circulation around evidence item. 5. Clean paper can be placed on (or in) a bloodstained garment and the garment folded so that the paper prevents contact between different stains. Ensure that while items are drying that the stain pattern(s) are not altered or the stain(s) crosscontaminated with other wet stain(s

6. Metal or glass evidence item (e.g. knife or broken, glass bottle), should be secured with wire to the bottom of a cardboard box so that it does not pierce the sides of a paper container. If not secured, blood on a knife blade can become easily dislodged and lost. Do not freeze metal or glass evidence items with blood or other body fluid stains. Submit these items to the laboratory as soon as possible. 7. Tape seal, initial and date all paper bags or envelopes

Reference Samples from Victim & Suspect (for DNA and Conventional Typing)

Collect a separate blood sample, approximately 5-7cc, in a lavender-stoppered tube [containing EDTA]. If it is not possible to obtain a blood sample, oral (mouth) swabs (e.g. swabs of the inside of cheek) can often be used as a reference sample for DNA typing only.

Check with the laboratory to determine the suitability of oral (cheek) swabs as reference sample. If oral samples are obtained, take 2 swabs (one from the inside of each cheek). 1.Take a sterile swab and vigorously rotate the swab on the inside surface of the subjects cheek. 2. Take another sterile swab and repeat this process on the other cheek. (Do not use gauze).

It is imperative that these samples be dried as soon as possible in a stream of cool air.

When the samples are dry, they may be placed into a labelled paper envelope or bag.

The evidence envelope/bag should be labelled and taped sealed.

Physical

evidence that is not properly recognized, documented, collected and preserved is of no value in a criminal investigation.

A. Submit all items to the crime laboratory in your area as soon as possible. B. If the evidence cannot be immediately submitted to the laboratory: 1. Refrigerate liquid blood samples.

Do not freeze.

2. Air-dry all wet blood and other body fluid stains on evidence items. Do not subject to heat. 3. Until submission to the crime laboratory, freeze all stained items except for any metal or glass items (e.g. knives, bottles). .

Metal or glass items should be stored at room temperature and submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible. Evidence from the suspect and victim must be handled and packaged separately.

BIOLOGICAL DOS AND DONTS

DO air dry items but keep from fans or


extreme heat. Fans may dislodge trace evidence. DO submit entire items with suspected bloodstains to the laboratory if possible. DO obtain oral swab standards from all involved persons

DO refrigerate specimen(s) containing liquid blood. All other items may be kept in storage at room temperature and low humidity. DO mark package with biohazard warning symbol and label.

DONT submit partially dried objects since


decomposition will occur.

DONT put stained items into plastic bags,


vials, or other airtight containers.

DONT attempt to remove stains from cloth


or from small solid objects.

DONT mix separate dried stains.

Package each individual item in a paper bag or box, seal and label.

DONT place evidence in the trunk of a car


since extreme heat may make blood unsuitable for testing.

DONT freeze liquid blood standards. DONT allow specimens to be exposed to


direct sunlight

SUBMIT A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT TO THE CRIME LABORATORY WITH ANY EVIDENCE SUBMITTED. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THAT ENDS OUR LECTURE


GOOD EVENING !

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