Tag: Evidence Handling: Page 10

Patrol

Official Misinformation

What the exclusionary rule has actually meant in practice is that thousands (maybe millions) of criminals have been able to stop the prosecution from using critical evidence of their guilt to hold them accountable for their crimes.

February 28, 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

Patrol

Instant Film Camera and Film

Fujifilm U.S.A.

Fujifilm U.S.A. is introducing its popular Instax 200 Instant Film Camera and Instant Color Film to the United States. With its automatically adjusting flash, high-resolution retracting lens, and a big, clear viewfinder, the Fujifilm Instax 200 captures and delivers vivid, high-quality prints in an instant.

December 31, 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

Technology

Digital Inspection Camera

Ridgid

The new RIDGID microEXPLORER Digital Inspection Camera is a powerful, handheld, video inspection system that’s portable enough to be carried anywhere. With its waterproof snaking camera head and cable, this completely digital platform allows you to perform and record detailed visual inspections of hard-to-reach areas.

November 30, 2008

Technology

SIM Analyzer

BKForensics

BKForensics has developed another software product to retrieve content and information from SIM cards. SIM Analyzer is designed to help law enforcement professionals acquire last number dialed, abbreviated dialing numbers, active and deleted text messages, and other evidence from cell phones. SIM Analyzer is available in two different versions: standard and pro.

August 31, 2008

Patrol

How to Tell When You Need a Search Warrant

The general rule-of-thumb is to try to get a warrant whenever possible. On the other hand, if you can seize evidence without engaging in a search, you don't need either a warrant or any exception.

February 29, 2008

Patrol

Residential Entry After Outdoors Arrest

There are four ways to make a lawful entry into a private home. Notice that "entry incident to outdoors arrest" is not on the list of lawful ways to get inside a residence. In three separate cases, the U.S. Supreme Court has held such entries to be unconstitutional.

January 31, 2008

Patrol

Seizing and Searching Passengers

In the 2007 decision in Brendlin v. California, the U.S. Supreme Court added yet another to a series of Fourth Amendment opinions on the subject of vehicle searches and seizures involving passengers, rather than drivers.

August 31, 2007

Patrol

How to Photograph Injuries

I've taught forensic photography to police officers for more than 10 years, and I always start my presentations with the notion that good photographs start even before the camera is out of the bag. You have to have the proper mindset because images documenting injuries are some of the most important photos we take.

August 31, 2007