Crime Scene Investigator Network Newsletter

SEPTEMBER 2007

Welcome to the September 2007 Crime Scene Investigator Network Newsletter

Recovery of Developed Latent Prints
from the Inside of a Compound Curved Surface

Eugene R. Czarnecki
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Criminalistics Laboratory

From the Journal of Forensic Identification
Vol. 53, No. 5, September/October 2003*

Latent prints are sometimes developed on surfaces that are not able to be easily photographed (e.g., the inside of handles of glass or china, or other fragile items with handles). Removing (or attempting to remove) the handle to photograph a developed latent print on the inside of the compound curved surface could result in damaging or destroying the developed latent print. However, the recovery and photography of the developed print can be accomplished without removing the handle through the use of flexible casting materials (e.g., Mikrosil, Durocast, or Coe Flex).

Technique

A white ceramic coffee cup was used for this study (Figure 1). The evidence was subjected to vapor phase cyanoacrylate fuming. A fluorescent dye was applied to the cup, and the developed latent print was visualized with a forensic light source. The developed latent print was on the inside of the cup’s handle, making evaluation and photography very difficult.

The area of the print was dusted with a fingerprint powder that was selected to contrast with the casting material to be used. Two-part casting material was mixed according to the directions. The mixed material was then thinly spread over the area of the developed latent print and allowed to set up or harden (Figure 2). The resultant cast, upon removal, retained the shape of the object to which it had been applied (Figure 3).

As in all lifts of this type, the developed latent print in the casting material was laterally reversed from its deposited position. Two methods can be used to properly record the developed latent print.

First, the lift can be photographed and then the negative can be printed in reverse. This reverse photograph will put the lifted impression in a natural or correct position. The second way of reversing the lifted impression is to scan the impression or photograph into a software program and then invert the image.

The cast was carefully mounted on a piece of glass to flatten the casting material containing the impression of the developed latent print. The cast was secured to the glass plate with cloth duct tape (Figure 4). The glass plate was supported from underneath so that the glass plate was parallel to the film plane (Figure 5). It was photographed using a Polaroid MP-4 camera with Polaroid #665 PN (positive and negative) black and white film. This film provides a negative that can be used to print the lifted developed latent print in its correct position, and the photographic negative usually has better detail and contrast than the Polaroid positive. The photograph positive will be in reversed position (Figure 6).

< read the complete article and view the illustrations >

*From the Journal of Forensic Identification Vol. 53, No. 5, Sept/Oct 2003.
The Official Publication of the International Association for Identification "Reproduction of the Journal of Forensic Identification, in whole or in part, for noncommercial, educational use is permitted provided proper citation of the source is noted."

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New CSI and Forensic Job Announcements

Crime Scene Technician | Grand Rapids (MI) Police Department
Final Filing Date: September 17, 2007
Salary: $40,493 to $52,467 per year
This is technical work gathering evidence at a crime scene. This work involves responsibility for photographing and making diagrams of crime scenes, taking latent fingerprints and collecting physical evidence at a crime scene.
<View complete job listing>

Criminalist | California Department of Justice
Final Filing Date: September 18, 2007
Salary: $3,155 - $6,451 per month
Criminalist is the entry, training and sub journey level in the series. Criminalists perform routine and less complex technical laboratory analyses and assist higher-level Criminalists in the examination of crime scenes and in the scientific investigation of crimes. Criminalists work in Department of Justice laboratories throughout California, including Richmond DNA, Ripon, Chico, Eureka, Freedom, Fresno, Redding, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Sacramento and Santa Rosa.
<View complete job listing>

Latent Print Examiner | Seattle, Washington Police Department
Final Filing Date: September 30, 2007
Salary: $26.62 to $31.01 per hour
Analyze and compare latent prints. Collect and preserve latent prints and other physical evidence in the laboratory, as well as under potentially adverse conditions at major crime scenes. Locate, develop, recover and preserve latent impressions on a wide variety of materials and surfaces using physical, chemical, electronic, and optical techniques. Administer infrared, ultraviolet, and other special forensic photographic procedures, including digital imaging devices. Evaluate and enter suitable latent prints into the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) by photographing, determining the minutiae, identifying position, tracing, and inputting the impression. Determine identifications and non-identifications by comparison and verification of each latent print to AFIS candidate lists. Write detailed reports concerning results of analysis. Recover fingerprints, palm prints, and footprints from deceased and decomposed bodies, victims of crime, and potentially violent suspects. Train Identification Technicians in the proper collection, preservation, and documentation of latent print evidence. Provide training to law enforcement personnel concerning the proper collection and preservation of physical evidence. Testify in criminal legal proceedings as needed concerning methods of analysis and results.
<View complete job listing>

Forensic Examiner | Wake County, North Carolina
Final Filing Date: October 5, 2007
Salary: $40,700.00 - $54,250.00 per year
Links crime scene evidence to suspects by individualizing friction ridge impressions and other impressions recovered from crime scenes; using scientific methodology, links the evidence, records the results and testifies to those results in court; operates the automated fingerprinting identification system; plots ridge characteristics within the latent to create data that can be matched or compared with known inked print data in the computer; maintains scientific and laboratory standards; must obtain IAI certification within 18 months.
<View complete job listing>

Crime Scene Investigator I/II | El Segundo (CA) Police Department
Final Filing Date: October 29, 2007
Salary: $4000 - $5380 per month
Crime Scene Investigator I: Under direct supervision, participates and assists in performing technical crime scene investigations and analyses; receiving, inventorying and securing property and physical evidence; and performing routine, non-emergency police support functions.
Crime Scene Investigator II: Under general supervision, performs technical crime scene investigations and analyses; receives, inventories and secures property and physical evidence; and performs routine, non-emergency police support functions.
<View complete job listing>

Criminalist | Long Beach, California Police Department
Final Filing Date: September 28, 2007
Salary: $3,889.00 to $6,316.00 per month
Under direction, performs increasingly difficult physical and chemical analyses in the scientific detection and investigation of crimes, and prepares reports of findings; performs chemical and physical analyses of evidentiary materials; performs microscopic examinations; prepares written findings and displays for court presentations; examines crime scenes, including homicides, and collects, interprets, and preserves physical evidence, including but not limited to blood and/or other bio-hazards; testifies in court as an expert witness; uses computers, special measuring, recording, and testing instruments and devices; consults with fingerprint and handwriting experts, photographers, police officers, attorneys, and private experts; operates, calibrates, and performs maintenance on breath alcohol testing instruments; instructs officers in the use of breath alcohol testing instruments; may act in a lead capacity; may teach class on collection and preservation of evidence at the Police Academy; may make recommendations concerning the laboratory budget and policy; performs other duties as required.
<View complete job listing>

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CSI In The News

<CSI unit growing in Anderson Police headquarters>
A $354,000 grant is putting officers with the Anderson City Police in position to take charge of evidence from their crime scenes. In their early stages of preparing a portion of the downtown police department for high-tech analyses of fingerprints, fibers, blood and other evidence, crime scene investigators George Cremer and Chris Wilson are making plans to stock the center with state-of-the-art electronics.
Anderson Independent Mail - Anderson, SC, by Pearce Adams

<Real CSI lacks TV glamour>
The popularity of the TV show CSI has made forensics glamorous, but the day-to-day reality is very different from the Hollywood version, says scene of crime officer Jason Smith. Mr Smith, 35, is one of three non-sworn members in a seven-person forensics team based at the North Shore policing centre.
Auckland stuff.co.nz - Auckland, New Zealand, by Jean White

<Alleged Drive-By Shooters Return To Scene, Fire Again>
Four people were in jail Thursday accused of a drive by shooting on Thor Street in Palm Bay and then returning to the scene of the crime to start shooting again. Fortunately no one was hurt during the attack. The amazing thing is that police said the suspects came back while crime scene investigators were taking measurements at the scene, firing one more round in their direction.
WFtv.com - Orlando, FL

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