forensic laboratory
The forensic laboratory is where the essence of forensic science takes place, with one goal - to deduce all of what is possible from evidence. Thus, there is the need for multiple departments, personnel and methods of analysis.
Forensic laboratories contain almost all aspects of forensic science in one place, where skilled scientists and specialists focus on specific areas of forensic science working together to unravel and solve even the most difficult of crimes. Forensic laboratories are commonly attached to universities such as Latrobe University, Bundoora right here in Melboure so the scientists who work there can give students studying forensics first hand experience. Large police departments may have their own forensic laboratory such as the one at Moorrabbin, but otherwise, forensic laboratories are independently run.
Forensic laboratories contain almost all aspects of forensic science in one place, where skilled scientists and specialists focus on specific areas of forensic science working together to unravel and solve even the most difficult of crimes. Forensic laboratories are commonly attached to universities such as Latrobe University, Bundoora right here in Melboure so the scientists who work there can give students studying forensics first hand experience. Large police departments may have their own forensic laboratory such as the one at Moorrabbin, but otherwise, forensic laboratories are independently run.
chemistry
A chemistry unit is present in any laboratory and is used to test samples of blood and urine for alcohol, drugs and poisoning. Chemistry sets are also used in the analysis of synthetic materials such medicines, dyes and stains. Specialists in the area of chemistry also rely on gas chromatographs, mass spectrometers and microscopes to identify chemicals.
serology
The Serology Unit specialises in the identification and analysis of blood stains and other bodily fluids, as well as DNA sequencing. The most common of the DNA tests is now able to be performed in small laboratories, thanks to advancements in this area, however, the analysis of mitochondrial DNA is still only performed in large forensic laboratories.
The size and shape of blood stains can prove vital when attempting to solve some crimes. The may reveal, for example, how many times a killer struck a victim and the order in which the wounds were received.
Blood is believed to be the most important evidence recovered from a crime scene. There are several blood analysis techniques that help investigators evaluate crime scenes, including blood type identification, blood spatter patterns, and blood stain characterisation.
The size and shape of blood stains can prove vital when attempting to solve some crimes. The may reveal, for example, how many times a killer struck a victim and the order in which the wounds were received.
Blood is believed to be the most important evidence recovered from a crime scene. There are several blood analysis techniques that help investigators evaluate crime scenes, including blood type identification, blood spatter patterns, and blood stain characterisation.
firearms
Firearms units test weapons to see which weapon made the mark on an object or wounded or killed a person. To be able to carry out these tests, firearms specialists study the used bullet cartridges and use shooting baths to fire weapons, identify the bullet marks and establish the firing distance.
photographic evidence
Photography plays a vital role in the forensic laboratory, as photography is used to document crime scene evidence. Processing resources and dark room services allow specialists in the area of photography to analyse photographs and bring the evidence to light.
other labs
Large labs also have arson and explosives experts as well as specialists in software, computer data, files, documents, audios and video recordings. The units available in different labs will vary from one to the other, however, the need for certain analyses and the budget of each lab determines the availability of the departments.
Forensics laboratories are extremely complex and involve up to hundreds of people to ensure everything runs quickly and efficiently. Staff ensures that evidence is correctly booked in, prepared and stored, cleans and maintains the lab, as well as servicing the various technical equipment and keeping it looked after. Testing results from the evidence is useful in solving one crime, but when added to a worldwide database, the evidence can be linked to other crimes that the suspect may have committed.
Forensics laboratories are extremely complex and involve up to hundreds of people to ensure everything runs quickly and efficiently. Staff ensures that evidence is correctly booked in, prepared and stored, cleans and maintains the lab, as well as servicing the various technical equipment and keeping it looked after. Testing results from the evidence is useful in solving one crime, but when added to a worldwide database, the evidence can be linked to other crimes that the suspect may have committed.
FOOT PRINT EVIDENCE
Criminals put on gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints and wear masks to prevent cameras or witnesses recording their faces, but they can't avoid making marks on the ground. Their getaway cars usually leave behind some kind of mark also.
When a mark or print is found the investigator acts as follows:
Deep impressions made in dirt or mud or even sand can be very valuable to an investigation. Technicians usually make casts of these deep prints.
When a mark or print is found the investigator acts as follows:
- A forensic photographer takes photos of the prints, placing a ruler in the shots so that the size is recorded.
- If the prints form a sequence, the distance between prints is measured to give clues about the persons height and how fast that person was travelling.
Deep impressions made in dirt or mud or even sand can be very valuable to an investigation. Technicians usually make casts of these deep prints.
HAIR AND FIBRE analysis
Trace evidence in the form of hair and fibres can also be found at the scene of a crime. They can be compared with other samples from the suspects, their homes or even their pets! Hair can be as distinctive and individual as a fingerprint when it comes to identifying potential suspects. Fibres from clothes, carpets and even car seats can be compared to huge databases of known fibres. These tiny strands can tell a forensic specialist a story about the places that suspects or victims may have been and who they have had contact with, it often provides the key to solving a crime!
Apart from its DNA, your hair is distinctive, not just because of its colour and texture, but also because of the trace elements it contains. These elements vary depending on such things as what you eat, the environment that you live in and even what shampoo you use.
For years, detectives have been able to link suspects to crimes using hair identification. Hairs are able to transfer during contact which means that they can be linked to a victim in a crime scene. Hair found at crime scenes can be analysed to find sex, race, and where on the body the hair came from. These are all keys in narrowing down the possible suspects for criminal investigations. Hair identification in a criminal case was first used in a Wisconsin murder case. A hair expert visually compared samples and concluded that the hairs originated from the same person.
Apart from its DNA, your hair is distinctive, not just because of its colour and texture, but also because of the trace elements it contains. These elements vary depending on such things as what you eat, the environment that you live in and even what shampoo you use.
For years, detectives have been able to link suspects to crimes using hair identification. Hairs are able to transfer during contact which means that they can be linked to a victim in a crime scene. Hair found at crime scenes can be analysed to find sex, race, and where on the body the hair came from. These are all keys in narrowing down the possible suspects for criminal investigations. Hair identification in a criminal case was first used in a Wisconsin murder case. A hair expert visually compared samples and concluded that the hairs originated from the same person.
handwriting analysis
Perfectly copying a signature isn't as easy as you may think. Crime lab handwriting analysis examines all of the details of how each and every letter was formed, they can even analyse how hard the writer pressed down on the paper to form the words.
forgery activity
It is often extremely difficult to determine a forgery from a real signature.
Which one of these two signatures do you think is fake? CLICK on the signatures to enlarge it for closer examination.
Spend a few minute trying to copy this signature. Next write your own signature on a piece of A4 paper and give it to someone else in the room to try to forge. They may use both sides of the page before deciding which one they think is a perfect match.
Q is the fake signature.
Anagram Decoder CLICK HERE
Which one of these two signatures do you think is fake? CLICK on the signatures to enlarge it for closer examination.
Spend a few minute trying to copy this signature. Next write your own signature on a piece of A4 paper and give it to someone else in the room to try to forge. They may use both sides of the page before deciding which one they think is a perfect match.
Q is the fake signature.
Anagram Decoder CLICK HERE
RANSOM NOTES
Ransom Notes can be made of letters cut from magazines and other printed material is glued on to a piece of paper. Glueing letters to a piece of paper is done to disguise the writer’s identity from handwriting analysis and many other forensic techniques.