NCJ Number
233765
Journal
Identification Canada Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 1-40
Date Published
March 2005
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This issue's three featured articles contain the French-language version of an article on the use of forensic video analysis evidence in criminal prosecutions; provide information on potential DNA sources on common evidence items and explore the ways that limited DNA collections might be incorporated into a latent print section; and present a case that illustrates the recovery of biological evidence in snow.
Abstract
The first article is a French-language version of an article that appeared in English in a previous issue. After defining "forensic video analysis," the article discusses the role of the forensic video analyst as an expert witness and his/her manner of presentation of evidence in court. Canadian court cases that bear upon the admission of forensic video analysis as scientific evidence. The second article describes how the State of Alaska Crime Lab incorporated limited DNA collection into a latent print section. This action stemmed from the impact of U.S. law that requires offenders convicted of less serious crime to provide DNA samples. This expands the number of individuals whose DNA is recorded in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Latent fingerprint examiners are capable of both evaluating latent prints and collecting DNA evidence, eliminating the need for another section to collect such evidence and issue a report. Although there was an initial concern that the latent print section would be overwhelmed with the swabbing of items for DNA, this has not occurred. The third article advises that the use of a forensic light source in winter snow conditions is a viable option that should be considered when looking for biological evidence. The cold temperature did not affect the use of the light sources; and a light coating of snow was not an impediment to the fluorescence of semen in the case described.