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Gizmos and Gadgets for the Crime Scene

NCJ Number
182256
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 27 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2000 Pages: 82-85
Author(s)
Monte Clark
Editor(s)
Ronnie Paynter
Date Published
2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes various "gizmos and gadgets" that can be used by police officers at crime scenes to conduct their investigations.
Abstract
HotShot offers a simple way of processing items with super glue in the field and in the laboratory. Gel lifters can be used to process items with super glue to develop latent fingerprints. Regular evidence tape is useful in collecting trace evidence because it has an aggressive adhesive. The trace evidence lifter is ideal for reclaiming hair, fibers, and tiny pieces of debris. The PathFinder, a wireless electrostatic dust-lifting device, can be used to make lifts from surfaces that have insulating properties, such as wooden window ledges, carpet, tiles, and upholstery, and from surfaces that have conductive properties. Relatively simple techniques are also described for retrieving shoe prints, packaging evidence in the field, and conducting death scene investigations. 4 photographs