The idea of The Fingerprint Sourcebook originated during a meeting in April 2002. Individuals representing the fingerprint, academic, and scientific communities met in Chicago, Illinois, for a day and a half to discuss the state of fingerprint identification with a view toward the challenges raised by Daubert issues. The meeting was a joint project between the International Association for Identification (IAI) and West Virginia University (WVU). One recommendation that came out of that meeting was a suggestion to create a sourcebook for friction ridge examiners, that is, a single source of researched information regarding the subject. This sourcebook would provide educational, training, and research information for the international scientific community. The Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology (SWGFAST) prepared an outline of the subjects that should be included in the sourcebook. Charles Illsley, a SWGFAST member, prepared a grant proposal for submission to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) for funding of the project, with Frank Fitzpatrick as the project director and Alan and Debbie McRoberts as the sourcebook editors. Although many participants in the project were, and some remain, active members of SWGFAST, participation in the project was not restricted to SWGFAST members. NIJ provided grant funding to the WVU Forensic Science Initiative to support the project and a call for authors and reviewers was extended throughout the forensic community. The prospective authors were asked to prepare a detailed outline and an introduction for each chapter that they hoped to write. They were also asked to provide curriculum vitae. Two or more individuals volunteered for most chapters and some chapters had as many as seven volunteers. Multiple reviewers for each chapter participated and are listed at the end of each chapter. The curricula vitae for all of the authors and most reviewers are included in the appendix. After the selection of authors was made and the chapters were assigned to the various authors and coauthors, the chapters were written and multiple rounds of author revisions and review were completed. The chapters were then edited and reviewed again. The chapters were then submitted to NIJ, where additional review and editing occurred. During the NIJ edit and review process, Chapter 15 (Special Abilities and Vulnerabilities in Forensic Expertise) was added to the project because of contemporary importance placed on that research. Those NIJ employees who participated in reviewing, editing, and finalizing this book should be congratulated for their efforts in bringing this project to completion. For those who have worked in the field of fingerprint identification during the last 50 years, the influence of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) leadership in providing fingerprint training is well known. However, with the creation of SWGFAST in 1995, the FBI showed great leadership in providing a mechanism to promote consensus standards within our diverse forensic community. A brief sketch about the origin of SWGFAST and a list of the past and current members of SWGFAST are included in the appendix. In the history of fingerprints, no previous effort of this magnitude has been made to assemble as much reviewed information into a single source. Using fingerprints to identify individuals has become commonplace, and that identification role is an invaluable tool worldwide.~

The Fingerprint Sourcebook

Justice, U.S. Department of

Justice, National Institute of

Criminal Law

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

The National Institute of Justice is pleased to release DNA for the Defense Bar. This is the fourth publication in a series designed to increase the field’s understanding of the science of DNA and its application in the courtroom. The other three publications include “Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court,” “DNA: A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook,” and “DNA for Law Enforcement Decision Makers.” This book is specifically designed for criminal defense attorneys. You are defense counsel in a case with DNA evidence or where the absence of DNA evidence may raise factual or legal issues. DNA evidence, when properly collected and analyzed, and when relevant to an alleged crime, can have extraordinary value in the adjudication of a criminal case. This book is designed to help defense attorneys understand: The biology of DNA, Proper collection procedures for DNA evidence, Interpretation of DNA analysis and findings, When and why an expert is needed, Development of case theory in a DNA-based prosecution or in a case where there should be DNA evidence, Legal issues for pretrial and trial in cases with DNA evidence.

DNA for the Defense Bar

Programs, Office of Justice

The results of forensic investigations often can be the difference between acquittal and conviction in a court of law. The validity of those results depends on the knowledge, skills, and experience of the forensic scientists working to obtain them. The National Institute of Justice, with support from the West Virginia University, created the Technical Working Group for Education and Training in Forensic Science (TWGED) to establish best practices for educating and training forensic scientists. The working group developed the consensus criteria and recommendations presented in this report. This information serves students as they prepare for a career in forensic science, educational institutions as they develop and revamp curriculums, and forensic scientists as they advance their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the constantly evolving forensic science disciplines.

Education and Training in Forensic Science: A Guide for Forensic Science Laboratories, Educational Institutions, and Students

DNA has proven to be a powerful tool in the fight against crime. DNA evidence can identify suspects, convict the guilty, and exonerate the innocent. Throughout the Nation, criminal justice professionals are discovering that advancements in DNA technology are breathing new life into old, cold, or unsolved criminal cases. Evidence that was previously unsuitable for DNA testing because a biological sample was too small or degraded may now yield a DNA profile. Development of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) at the State and national levels enables law enforcement to aid investigations by effectively and efficiently identifying suspects and linking serial crimes to each other. The National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence made clear, however, that we must dedicate more resources to empower law enforcement to use this technology quickly and effectively. Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases is intended for use by law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals who have the responsibility for reviewing and investigating unsolved cases. This report will provide basic information to assist agencies in the complex process of case review with a specific emphasis on using DNA evidence to solve previously unsolvable crimes. Although DNA is not the only forensic tool that can be valuable to unsolved case investigations, advancements in DNA technology and the success of DNA database systems have inspired law enforcement agencies throughout the country to reevaluate cold cases for DNA evidence. As law enforcement professionals progress through investigations, however, they should keep in mind the array of other technology advancements, such as improved ballistics and fingerprint databases, which may substantially advance a case beyond its original level.

Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases

DNA Evidence, National Commission on the Future of

The principal assignment given to the Research and Development Working Group was to identify the technical advances in the forthcoming decade and to assess the expected impact of these on forensic DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis. Progress in forensic analysis was slow until recently, but since 1985 more powerful techniques have increased explosively. The first useful marker system, the ABO blood groups, was discovered in 1900. The second, the MN groups, came a quarter century later. By the 1960s, there were 17 blood group systems known, but not all were useful for forensics, and in the 1970s a few serum proteins and enzymes were added. By the 1980s, some 100 protein polymorphisms were known but most were not generally useful for forensics. The year 1985 brought a major breakthrough. VNTRs (variable number of tandem repeats) showed much greater variability among people than previous systems and immediately began to be used for forensic studies. They are still used, but are rapidly being replaced by STRs (short tandem repeats). We can also expect improvements in collection and purification techniques. Automation will make the process more efficient and rapid, and we expect interpretative software for analysis of complex problems, such as mixtures. There also is progress toward miniaturization, using a combination of chip technology and molecular genetics. Portable, handheld systems are now working in laboratory experiments; how soon these will be available for routine use is not clear. We also expect an increasing amount of re-examination of cases in which the conviction was based on evidence other than DNA. Greater automation and higher throughput approaches will help reduce the backlog. Formats that can analyze multiple STR loci in miniaturized, mobile instruments are promised and should be available by this time. We also expect improved sampling and storage techniques. Research in the human genome and clinical research will produce many more markers, some of which will be used to supplement the existing procedures. We also expect integration of computers and internet with analytical techniques to permit direct transmission of test data between laboratories. There may be some transition to new technologies, mainly to supplement the standard STRs. SNPs will be widely used in medical and agricultural research, so there will be many opportunities to carry these over for forensic purposes. Within 10 years we expect portable, miniaturized instrumentation that will provide analysis at the crime scene with computer-linked remote analysis. Although this report looks to the future, we emphasize that current state-of-the-art DNA typing is such that the technology and statistical methods are accurate and reproducible. STRs have proved to be very satisfactory for forensic use and are being rapidly adopted by forensic laboratories. The difficulty and expense of changing well-established and reliable procedures will inhibit changes to other systems. For this reason, we believe that STRs will be the predominant procedure during the next decade. Methods of automation, increasing the speed and output and reliability of STR methods, will continue. In particular we expect that portable, miniature chips will make possible the analysis of DNA directly at the crime scene. Techniques for handling minute amounts of DNA or DNA that is badly degraded will become much better. In particular, mitochondrial DNA will probably play an increasing role in such difficult cases. Databases of DNA profiles of convicted felons will be extensive and coordinated throughout the States. International comparisons will be feasible and increasingly common. In the future, it is likely that an increasing number of suspects will be identified by database searches. The statistical interpretation is difficult, particularly if future databases include representatives of the population at large rather than convicted felons.

The Future of Forensic DNA Testing: Predictions of the Research and Development Working Group

In recent years, technological progress in DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing has made DNA evidence a predominant forensic technique for identifying criminals when biological tissues are left at a crime scene. DNA testing on samples such as saliva, skin, blood, hair, or semen not only helps to convict, but also serves to exonerate. The sophisticated technology makes it possible to obtain conclusive results in cases in which previous testing had been inconclusive. Postconviction testing will be requested not only in cases in which DNA testing was never done, but also in cases in which the more refined technology may result in an indisputable answer. It is hoped this report, Postconviction DNA Testing: Recommendations for Handling Requests, will help participants through the postconviction process. The report is the work of the Working Group on Postconviction Issues, one of five working groups that report to the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence. The suggestions are based on the group’s consensus on how defense counsel, prosecutors, judicial officers, victims’ advocates, and DNA laboratories can respond effectively at the various stages of a postconviction request for DNA testing. Cooperation on the part of law enforcement officials may be crucial; materials needed for testing or retesting may be in their possession. To properly implement the recommendations contained in this report, participants in postconviction DNA proceedings need to consider the category of the case in which the DNA testing is sought and whether participants need to adjust the roles they customarily play in adversarial proceedings.

Postconviction DNA Testing: Recommendations for Handling Requests

This guide is intended to assist State and local law enforcement and other first responders who may be responsible for preserving an electronic crime scene and for recognizing, collecting, and safeguarding digital evidence. It is not all inclusive but addresses situations encountered with electronic crime scenes and digital evidence. All crime scenes are unique and the judgment of the first responder, agency protocols, and prevailing technology should all be considered when implementing the information in this guide. First responders to electronic crime scenes should adjust their practices as circumstances—including level of experience, conditions, and available equipment—warrant. The circumstances of individual crime scenes and Federal, State, and local laws may dictate actions or a particular order of actions other than those described in this guide. First responders should be familiar with all the information in this guide and perform their duties and responsibilities as circumstances dictate. When dealing with digital evidence, general forensic and procedural principles should be applied: The process of collecting, securing, and transporting digital evidence should not change the evidence; Digital evidence should be examined only by those trained specifically for that purpose; Everything done during the seizure, transportation, and storage of digital evidence should be fully documented, preserved, and available for review. First responders must use caution when they seize electronic devices. Improperly accessing data stored on electronic devices may violate Federal laws, including the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986 and the Privacy Protection Act of 1980. First responders may need to obtain additional legal authority before they proceed. They should consult the prosecuting attorney for the appropriate jurisdiction to ensure that they have proper legal authority to seize the digital evidence at the scene. In addition to the legal ramifications of improperly accessing data that is stored on a computer, first responders must understand that computer data and other digital evidence are fragile. Only properly trained personnel should attempt to examine and analyze digital evidence.

Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders, Second Edition

As the use of the Internet and other computer networks has grown rapidly in recent years, so has the opportunity for electronic crime. Unlawful activity can be committed or facilitated online. Criminals can trade and share information, mask their identity, identify and gather information on victims, and communicate with co-conspirators. Web sites, electronic mail, chat rooms, and file sharing networks can all yield evidence in an investigation of computer-related crime. This report was developed by the Technical Working Group for the Investigation of High Technology Crimes and is intended to be a resource for individuals responsible for investigations involving the Internet and other computer networks. It is one of a series of electronic crime investigation documents already published or in development by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The guides are developed by technical working groups that consist of practitioners and subject matter experts brought together by NIJ to help law enforcement agencies and prosecutors deal with the growing volume and complexity of electronic crime. The series of guides will discuss the investigation process from the first responder, to the laboratory, to the courtroom. Specifically, the guides will address: Electronic crime scene investigation by first responders; Forensic examination of digital evidence; Internet and network investigations; Investigative uses of technology; Courtroom presentation of digital evidence; Development of a digital evidence forensic unit; The recommendations presented in this guide are not mandates or policy directives and may not represent the only correct course of action. The guide is intended to be a resource for those who investigate crimes related to the Internet and other computer networks. It does not discuss all of the issues that may arise in these investigations and does not attempt to cover traditional investigative procedures.

Investigations Involving the Internet and Computer Networks

The sudden or unexplained death of an individual has a profound impact on families and friends of the deceased and places significant responsibility on the agencies tasked with determining the cause of death. Increasingly, science and technology play a key role in death investigations. One of the hallmarks of science is adherence to clear and well-grounded protocols. In many jurisdictions, responsibility for conducting death investigations may rest with pathologists, medical examiners, or coroners, in addition to their other duties. There is little training available in the best procedures for handling these crucial and sensitive tasks. To help fill the gap, the National Institute of Justice, joined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, supported the development of the guidelines presented in this report. These guidelines were produced with the vigorous participation of highly experienced officials and professionals who served on the National Medicolegal Review Panel. A technical working group of 144 professionals from across the country provided the grassroots input to the panel’s work. Jurisdictions will want to carefully consider these guidelines and their applicability to local agencies and circumstances. By adhering to agreed-upon national standards, death investigators can arrive at the truth about a suspicious death. Families and friends can be consoled by knowing what happened to their loved one, and justice can be administered on the foundation of truth that must always guide our work. The principal purpose of the study was to identify, delineate, and assemble a set of investigative tasks that should and could be performed at every death scene. These tasks would serve as the foundation of the guide for death scene investigators.

Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator

Perspectives on Crime and Justice: 2000-2001 Lecture Series

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