NCJ Number
62624
Editor(s)
K MARRIOTT
Date Published
1978
Length
141 pages
Annotation
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HOME OFFICE CENTRAL RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT (HOCRE) FOR FORENSIC SERVICES IN ENGLAND DESCRIBES SERVICES PROVIDED, GIVES REPORTS OF THE VARIOUS DIVISIONS, AND SUMMARIZES CURRENT PROJECTS.
Abstract
HOCRE IS A LABORATORY WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES AND GUIDANCE TO OPERATIONAL FORENSIC SCIENTISTS. STAFF ARE PERSONS WHO HAVE ALREADY SERVED OR ARE LIKELY TO SERVE IN ONE OF THE FORENSIC LABORATORIES. SERVICES PROVIDED ARE (1) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES IN BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY AND TOXICOLOGY; (2) INFORMATION SERVICES DEALING WITH INQUIRIES FROM OPERATIONAL LABORATORIES, THE DESIGN AND SETTING UP OF DATA COLLECTIONS, AND COMPUTER SERVICES; (3) EVALUATION SERVICES CONCERNING NEW TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF FORENSIC LABORATORY NEEDS; (4) ANALYTICAL SERVICES CONCERNING TESTING THAT IS USUALLY DONE IN OPERATIONAL LABORATORIES, BUT IN A GIVEN INSTANCE IS BETTER CARRIED OUT AT HOCRE; AND (5) EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, CONSISTING OF TEACH-INS, ATTACHMENTS, VISITS AND COLLOQUIA. THE APPROACH OF HOCRE IS MULTIDISCIPLINARY AND PROBLEM-CENTERED, DEALING WITH DAILY PROBLEMS IN CRIME DETECTION. SOME OF THE PARTICULAR PROJECTS DESCRIBED INCLUDE DETERMINATION OF LEVELS OF A, B, AND H BLOOD GROUP SUBSTANCES, AN EVALUATION OF THE FIORI PHENOMENON, AND THE RANGE OF SENSITIVITIES WITH WHICH DRUGS CAN BE DETECTED IN HUMAN FLUIDS. REPORTS, INCLUDING METHODS OF STUDY, APPROPRIATE CHARTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION, AND FINDINGS ARE MADE BY EACH OF THE MAJOR HOCRE DIVISIONS: BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, DRUGS AND TOXICOLOGY, INFORMATION, AND A GROUP CONCERNED WITH ALCOHOL LEVELS IN DRIVERS. REPORTS PUBLISHED DURING 1978 ARE LISTED WITH ANNOTATIONS. CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES LECTURES, AND CONFERENCES WITH NAMES OF ATTENDING STAFF MEMBERS ARE LISTED. STAFF CHANGES, VISITS AND VISITORS, AND A LIST OF MEMBERS AND A STAFF TELEPHONE DIRECTORY COMPLETE THE REPORT. (RFC)