Evidence Found: An Approach to Crime Scene Investigation - Softcover

Miranda, David

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0128020660 ISBN 13: 9780128020661

Publisher: Academic Press, 2015

Synopsis

Evidence Found: An Approach to Crime Scene Investigation is not another analysis of forensic errors using an "After the Fact" or "Lessons Learned" approach but a "Before the Fact" guide that examines the thought processes that can lead to those mistakes. Plus a few extras tips and tricks from the author’s experience of over 25 years.

Many high-profile crime scene investigations (and routine ones, for that matter) have suffered errors that have had negative impact on the investigation result and in the courtroom. Typically, we examine what happened and develop a useful list of what to do and what not to do, fixing the symptoms but potentially leaving ourselves open to the same error type on the next scene. The reason? Many crime scene mistakes are the result of systemic issues that are repeated due to a failure to include an evaluation of the decision-making process, including our own foundations of knowledge. Through case study and logical argument, this book attempts to provide a framework to recognize, evaluate, and alter negative decision-making patterns, including evaluating our own experience, before they negatively impact an investigation or the overall operation of a forensic unit.

• Enhances the base concepts of evidence search and sequential processing for error avoidance
• Examines the systemic areas/practices of a crime scene investigation where errors can occur
• Includes a Evidence Matrix - a crime scene evaluation tool that aids in sequential processing decisions
• Contains tips on overcoming common crime scene issues, inlcuding night time searches
• Provides courtroom Testimony - communicating comparison findings to a jury

About this title

About the Author

Dave worked for the Pasadena (CA) Police Department for 24 years and was a founding member of the Forensic Services Section. He has a high level of expertise in several areas including crime scene investigation, evidence processing, fingerprint comparisons, crime scene reconstruction, and courtroom testimony. Prior to retirement, he was the primary trainer of all new hires for crime scene processing, lab processing of evidence, and training to competency in print comparisons. He also worked several years as a part-time in instructor at a local forensic school, with several students going on to employment and current service in the field in various agencies throughout Southern California, Michigan, and the Army Crime Lab. His career included work in several high profile cases such as the 1993 Halloween Homicide and assisting in the Glendale Train Wreck of 2005. He currently possesses a Level 3 Certification from the Instructor Development Course of the California Peace Officer Standard and Training (California POST). After retirement from Pasadena, he worked in the JEFF Program (Joint Expeditionary Forensics Facilities) and deployed to Afghanistan as a contractor for a total of 21 months. This was in support of the Coalition mission. He worked in several labs as an evidence processor as well as a fingerprint expert. He also had opportunity to be an instructor of Afghan nationals from the Ministry of Interior of the government of Afghanistan as part of a pilot training program. The field of instruction included developing their expertise in fingerprint comparisons as well as giving them tools to be trainers of future examiners. This relationship also led to the sponsorship of the first members from Afghanistan to the International Association for Identification (IAI), 2011-2012. He is a Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE), a professional designation through the IAI.

From the Back Cover

Evidence Found: An Approach to Crime Scene Investigation is not another analysis of forensic errors using an "After the Fact" or "Lessons Learned" approach but a "Before the Fact" guide that examines the thought processes that can lead to those mistakes. Plus a few extras tips and tricks from the author’s experience of over 25 years.

Many high-profile crime scene investigations (and routine ones, for that matter) have suffered errors that have had negative impact on the investigation result and in the courtroom. Typically, we examine what happened and develop a useful list of what to do and what not to do, fixing the symptoms but potentially leaving ourselves open to the same error type on the next scene. The reason? Many crime scene mistakes are the result of systemic issues that are repeated due to a failure to include an evaluation of the decision-making process, including our own foundations of knowledge. Through case study and logical argument, this book attempts to provide a framework to recognize, evaluate, and alter negative decision-making patterns, including evaluating our own experience, before they negatively impact an investigation or the overall operation of a forensic unit.

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0128020660
• ISBN 13: 9780128020661
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 198