NCJ Number
10310
Date Published
1972
Length
84 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CRIMINALISTICS ORGANIZATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, IMPROVED TRAINING PROVISIONS, AND RESEARCH TO ATTACK FUNDAMENTAL INVESTIGATIVE PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORY IS FREQUENTLY CITED AS A PRIME AREA FOR INCREASING THE OVERALL LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR INTRODUCING MORE OBJECTIVE FACT-FINDING TECHNIQUES INTO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. IN ITS DISCUSSION OF THE ROLE AND FUNCTIONING OF CRIMINALISTICS OPERATIONS, THIS REPORT PRESENTS DATA DESCRIBING THE LOW FREQUENCY OF LABORATORY INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL CASES AND DETAILS POLICE INVESTIGATIVE AND EVIDENCE RETRIEVAL PRACTICES THAT CAN RESTRICT THE FLOW OF AVAILABLE PHYSICAL MATERIAL TO THE CRIMINALISTICS LAB FOR ANALYSIS. THE AUTHOR ALSO POINTS OUT THAT ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE INEFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF CRIMINALISTICS RESOURCES IS THE VERY LIMITED PARTICIPATION OF LABORATORY SCIENTISTS AND EVIDENCE TECHNICIANS IN SEARCHING CRIME SCENES AND IN TRAINING OTHER POLICE INVESTIGATORS IN RETRIEVAL TECHNIQUES. A DECISION-MAKING MODEL IS PRESENTED WHICH REPRESENTS THE PROGRESSION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM INITIAL POLICE AWARENESS OF A CRIMINAL OFFENSE TO MODEL THOROUGHLY EXPLORES THE ACTIVITIES OF THE EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN AND INDICATES THE CURRENT AND POTENTIAL SUCCESSFUL UTILIZATION OF SUCH POLICE SPECIALISTS. FINALLY, THE REPORT PRESENTS RECOMMENDATIONS ON ORGANIZATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NECESSARY FOR ADEQUATE EVIDENCE RECOVERY PROGRAMS, IMPROVED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROVISIONS, AND THE INITIATION OF RESEARCH EFFORTS TO ATTACK FUNDAMENTAL INVESTIGATIVE PROBLEMS. (SNI ABSTRACT)