PERCEPTION, CONTROL, AND UTILIZATION OF CRIMINALISTICS SERVICE BY THE POLICE - AN ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTION PROCESS

• NCJ Number: 9689
• Author(s): J L PETERSON
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 323 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-71-054
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION

Annotation

EXPLORATION OF THE MANNER IN WHICH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE IS FREQUENTLY SCREENED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS THROUGH HUMAN DECISION-MAKING.

Abstract

THE PROGRESS OF THE CRIMINAL LAW AS INFLUENCED BY THE RENAISSANCE IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCE, IS FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF CONFLICTING GOALS OF SCIENCE AND LAW. IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS OF CURRENT CRIME LABORATORY OPERATIONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH MEASURE THE LEVELS OF INPUT FROM POLICE AGENCIES, AND THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLICE SERVICE AND THOSE RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO THE INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION ARE DISCUSSED. THE GREAT QUANTITY AND VARIETY OF PHYSICAL TRACE MATERIALS AT CRIME SITES CAPABLE OF CRIMINALISTICS TREATMENT IS POINTED OUT. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE HUMAN DECISION MAKERS IN THE SYSTEM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESENT LOW UTILIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. THE SPECIALIZED POLICE PERSONNEL CHARGED WITH DUTIES OF CRIME SCENE PROCESSING ARE EXAMINED. THE ROLE OF THE EVIDENCE TECHNICIANS BEING DESCRIBED ARE ANALYZED. SEVERAL SELECTED INCIDENTS ARE DISCUSSED WHICH ILLUSTRATE THE TECHNICIAN'S REACTIONS TO A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS. A MODEL IS PRESENTED DEPICTING THE VARIOUS DECISION LEVELS THROUGH WHICH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE MUST PASS IN ORDER TO REACH THE LABORATORY FOR ANALYSIS. CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL ISSUES ARE DISCUSSED AND CONTRASTED WITH ACTUAL OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FORENSIC SCIENCES. A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.