Tag: Forensics: Page 5

Weapons

Firearms Forensics

I realized that even without the murder weapon, the prosecution still had an immense amount of significant ballistic physical evidence linking Abeyta to the murder. And thanks to good forensic work and the invaluable NIBIN database that tracks images of ballistics evidence, it was enough to convict him.

February 10, 2010

Technology

Boise PD Crime Lab

The Boise Police Crime Lab applies scientific laboratory testing procedures to the analysis of physical crime fingerprint evidence for the purpose of comparison or identification. Evidence seized at crime scenes is routed to the crime lab for the development of fingerprints by the use of various powders, chemicals and other treatment methods. Video via Boise PD.

December 3, 2009

Patrol

N.M. Police ID 11 of 12 Bodies Found In Mass Grave

Albuquerque police have identified the 11th of 12 victims found in a makeshift grave in February, a 15-year-old runaway last seen in the Denver area in 2004, 9news.com reports.

November 18, 2009

Technology

Forensic Scientists Link Suspect's DNA to Dallas Rape in 'Shotgun Bandit' Trial

The prosecution introduced two forensic scientists who testified about DNA they said linked Ledbetter to the 2006 rape in Far North Dallas. Defense attorneys attempted to undermine the scientific evidence, asking if another lab might have come up with a different conclusion.

October 14, 2009

Patrol

Phoenix Crime Scene Unit Now Accredited

Phoenix became the only municipal police department in the country - and one of nine agencies in the world - to have its mobile crime-scene specialists accredited by the same agency that lends credibility to crime labs. The hope is that the designation will help the department maintain consistent investigative standards in an era of rising public interest.

September 23, 2009

Patrol

Prosecutor Calls for Investigation into Detroit PD's Handling of Rape Kits

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy wants an independent investigation into what she says may be thousands of kits holding evidence of possible sexual assaults that were found in a Detroit Police Department evidence storage facility.

September 21, 2009

Technology

Call For Forensics Overhaul Linked To "CSI" Effect

Millions of people watch CBS's CSI: Crime Scene Investigation every week. But forensic evidence isn't nearly as ironclad as it appears on television. In fact, according to a study released Wednesday by the National Academy of Sciences, the nation's crime labs need a total overhaul.

February 18, 2009

Technology

Turn Their Gadgets Against Them

"I love Facebook!" came the shout from the cubicle next to mine. One of my fellow detectives here at the Boulder (Colo.) Police Department—through a simple Internet search—had just discovered the identity of a sex assault suspect.

January 31, 2009

Patrol

TriggerPro ID Swab

Forensic ID

Relative newcomer Forensic ID has developed the easy-to-use TriggerPro ID swab. It allows street officers to effectively gather “touch” DNA from firearms used in crimes at the scene. The swab is engineered with a tip designed to conveniently and effectively collect DNA specimens from handguns, regardless of environmental conditions.

January 31, 2009

Technology

Blood from Mosquito Traps Finnish Suspect

Police in Finland believe they have caught a car-thief thanks to a DNA sample taken from a sample of his blood found inside a mosquito.

December 21, 2008

Technology

Just a Touch: Using Touch DNA Evidence

Amazing. This unknown suspect left behind enough DNA from just briefly touching the sides of the victim's underwear to provide a statistically significant partial DNA profile.

November 30, 2008

Weapons

L.A. County Sheriff's Officials Acknowledge that Genetic Evidence in 5,635 Rape Cases May be Untested

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, under pressure from county supervisors and watchdog groups to account for its handling of DNA evidence from sexual assault cases, acknowledged Wednesday it did not know whether genetic evidence from more than 5,600 rape cases had been examined.

November 12, 2008