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| Forensic Laboratory |
| The forensic laboratory
is where the essence of forensic science takes place, with one objective
- to deduce all of what is possible from evidence. Thus, there is
the need for multiple departments, personnel and methods of analysis.
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Select one of the following topics to read more:
--> General
locations
--> The
principles
--> The
departments
--> Trace
evidence
--> Chemistry
--> Serology
--> Materials
--> Firearms
--> Photography
--> Others
--> Efficiency
and staff
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| *The
reflected light microscope is used for the study of dense materials.
Photo courtesy of Microtrace
Laboratory. |
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| General
Locations |
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Forensic
laboratories contain almost all aspects of forensic science
in one place, where skilled scientists and specialists who focus
on specific areas of forensic science work together to unravel
and solve even the most intricate of crimes. Forensic laboratories
are commonly attached to universities so the scientists who
work there can give students studying forensics a first hand
experience. Large police departments may have their own forensic
laboratory but otherwise, forensic laboratories are independently
run. |
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Scanning electronmicroscopy is one of the many laboratory techniques
available as a result of technology improvements. Photo courtesy
of Californian
Association of Criminalists. |
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| The
Principles |
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| Forensic laboratories all run following
the same basic rules and regulations. Any item of evidence that enters
the lab must never come into contact with anything that could contaminate
it. Its progression through each of the lab's departments must therefore
be fully recorded so that it can be perused at any time. Once the
sample is in the lab, the most straightforward diagnosis is
always carried out first i.e to verify that the item is really what
it is, before moving onto more expensive, but precise procedures to
discover the evidence the item might hold. Any tests that may destroy
the piece of evidence are carried out last, after all the other tests
have been completed. |
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| The
Departments |
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| Forensic laboratories
contain the most up-to-date technology and techniques for enhancing
and analysing fingerprints, shoeprints and tyre marks. As specific
methods of analysing evidence at a crime scene are not practical,
the objects are recovered and brought into the lab. Below are some
common units found in many major labs. |
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The polarising light microscope pictured right is often used for particle
identification. Photo courtesy of Microtrace
Laboratory. |
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| Trace
Evidence |
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| In most labs, a unit commonly known
as a 'trace evidence unit' forms an area where scientists look for
clues in evidence such as hair, fabric, dust, fibre and skeletal remains.
Refer to the 'Every
Criminal Leaves A Trace' section. |
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| Chemistry |
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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. |
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Fume cupbaords are used for safety purposes in the lab, as pictured
in the analysis of narcotics to the left. Photo courtesy of
Californian
Association of Criminalists. |
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| Serology |
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| The
serology unit specialises in the identification and analysis
of bloodstains and other bodily fluids, as well as DNA sequencing.
The most common of the DNA tests, the polymerse chain reaction,
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. |
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Pictured to the right is the analysing of blood samples in the
laboratory. Photo courtesy of Californian
Association of Criminalists. |
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| Materials |
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| Material units are used to identify
and analyse metals, paints, ceramics, soil and wood in an attempt
to trace a crime back to a possible suspect. The biology unit is in
charge of analysing all biological evidence such a seeds and plants.
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| Firearms |
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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. |
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Artillery is tested daily in the firearms unit. Photo courtesy
of Californian
Assocation of Criminalists. |
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| Photography |
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| 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. |
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35mm medium format cameras form the general camera type used in forensic
photography. Photo courtesy of www.morguefile.com.
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| Others
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| 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. |
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| Efficiency
And Staff |
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| 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. |
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