NCJ Number
224271
Journal
International Journal of Police Science & Management Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: Autumn 2008 Pages: 326-338
Date Published
2008
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper considers a novel approach to crime scene examiner (CSE) deployment based on the focus of specific crime types, and hypothesizes that by focusing CSE resources on specific crime types that, historically, have yielded sufficient forensic evidence in order to secure the detection of the crime, will increase the overall contribution that forensic science makes to volume crime detection.
Abstract
Over a 2-year period, focusing on CSE deployment on those crime types that, historically, have yielded forensic evidence of sufficient weight to secure the detection of the crime has produced an overall increase in the percentage of volume crime detected by DNA or fingerprints. Thus, the hypothesis under consideration is accepted as the overall contribution that forensic science made to volume crime detection increased. Decisions concerning which volume crime scenes, such as burglary and auto crime to examine for forensic material continue to have a significant impact on the detection of these crime types by forensic evidence such as DNA or fingerprints. The purpose of this paper was to assess the forensic detections obtained from volume crime types over a 3-year period in a study of the police force in England. It shows how a realignment of CSE deployment to crime types that offer the highest potential to detect the crime forensically produced statistically significant increases in the percentage of recorded crime detected. This realignment against the national picture for CSE attendance and forensic crime detection in England and Wales is examined and shows how other police forces might benefit. Figures, table, notes, and references