NCJ Number
32336
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE UTILIZATION IN THE ALABAMA CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY PROVIDING TRAINING AND DEVELOPING EXPERTISE AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME AND WITHIN THE CRIME LABORATORY.
Abstract
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES INCLUDED PROVIDING ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN ALABAMA WITH TRAINING IN PROPER METHODS AND PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE; IMPROVING CRIME LABORATORY CAPABILITY OF PROVIDING TIMELY AND PERTINENT INFORMATION ON PHYSICAL EVIDENCE SUBMITTED TO THEM, AND DEVELOPING SEROLOGICAL COMPETENCY IN EACH DIVISIONAL CRIME LABORATORIES. TABLES OF DATA WHICH SUMMARIZE CRIME SCENE TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE PROJECT PERIOD, COMPARE UTILIZATION OF PHYSICAL AND TRACE EVIDENCE BEFORE AND AFTER CRIME SCENE TRAINING, AND COMPARE CASE TURNAROUND TIME BEFORE AND AFTER TRAINING ARE INCLUDED. ANOTHER TABLE COMPARING CASELOAD INCREASES FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TOXICOLOGY AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BEFORE AND AFTER TRAINING. A PROJECT EVALUATION REVEALED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN CRIME LABORATORY SERVICE EXPEDIENCY, AN INCREASE IN THE GENERATION AND RECEIPT OF WORTHWHILE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF CRME LABORATORY SERVICES ON CASES INVOLVING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE OVERALL UTILIZATION OF THE CRIME LAB AND PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.