DNA Evidence and Property DNA Evidence and Property Crime Crime John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Detective Philip Stanford Detective Philip Stanford Denver Police Department Denver Police Department Denver, CO Denver, CO February 27, 2009 February 27, 2009
Denver’ ’s DNA Project Training s DNA Project Training Denver � The Denver Police The Denver Police � Department, the Department, the Denver D.A.’ ’s office, s office, Denver D.A. and the Federal and the Federal Government teamed up Government teamed up to study the impact of to study the impact of DNA on solving DNA on solving Burglary cases. Burglary cases. � The success of this The success of this � program started with program started with the training of the the training of the agencies involved. agencies involved.
Areas of Training Areas of Training � Detective Bureaus/ Supervisors Detective Bureaus/ Supervisors � � Patrol Districts Patrol Districts � � Property Bureau Property Bureau �
What to say and What not to say What to say and What not to say � Do not try to explain the science of DNA (Alleles, Do not try to explain the science of DNA (Alleles, � STR, extraction techniques) STR, extraction techniques) � Do tell them they do not have testify about this Do tell them they do not have testify about this � (that is for the attorney’ ’s and scientists) s and scientists) (that is for the attorney � Do tell them this is a proven tool Do tell them this is a proven tool � � Do not tell them it will catch everybody and can Do not tell them it will catch everybody and can � be found at every scene be found at every scene � Do tell them leadership is behind it Do tell them leadership is behind it �
POSSIBLE LOCATION OF EVIDENCE SOURCE OF DNA DNA ON EVIDENCE baseball bat or similar handle, end sweat, skin, blood, tissue weapon hat, bandanna, or mask Inside sweat, hair, dandruff eyeglasses nose or ear pieces, lens sweat, skin mucus, blood, sweat, semen, facial tissue, cotton swab surface area ear wax dirty laundry surface area blood, sweat, semen toothpick Tips saliva used cigarette cigarette butt saliva stamp or envelope licked area saliva tape or ligature inside/outside surface skin, sweat bottle, can, or glass sides, mouthpiece saliva, sweat used condom inside/outside surface semen, vaginal or rectal cells sweat, hair, semen, urine, blanket, pillow, sheet surface area saliva "through and through" outside surface blood, tissue bullet bite mark person's skin or clothing saliva fingernail, partial fingernail scrapings blood, sweat, tissue
Tips For Finding Biological Substances 1. A responding officer should ask a burglary victim whether anything in the residence appears to have been moved, handled, or touched by the burglar. 2. Additionally, an officer should inquire whether the victim has noticed anything unusual or out of the ordinary (i.e., a cigarette butt in a non-smoker’s home, a glove or mask she does not recognize, etc.).
As You Investigate Cases, Keep in Mind As You Investigate Cases, Keep in Mind That DNA Evidence Does More Than Just That DNA Evidence Does More Than Just Identify the Source of the Sample Recovered Identify the Source of the Sample Recovered � It can place a known individual at a crime It can place a known individual at a crime � scene, in a home, or in a room where the scene, in a home, or in a room where the suspect claimed not to have been. suspect claimed not to have been. � It can refute a claim of self It can refute a claim of self- -defense and put a defense and put a � weapon in the suspect's hand. weapon in the suspect's hand. � It can change a story from an alibi to one of It can change a story from an alibi to one of � consent. consent. � The more detectives know about how to use The more detectives know about how to use � DNA, the more powerful a tool it becomes. DNA, the more powerful a tool it becomes.
DNA Changes the Interrogation DNA Changes the Interrogation � The successful The successful � prosecution of a case prosecution of a case often relies on the often relies on the defendant’ ’s statement. s statement. defendant � Best: a confession in Best: a confession in � which the defendant which the defendant admits the crime. admits the crime. � Good: a statement in Good: a statement in � which the suspect lies which the suspect lies and you can prove it. and you can prove it. � DNA is the proof that DNA is the proof that � the perpetrator is lying. the perpetrator is lying.
Keys to Success Keys to Success � Leadership Leadership � � Buy in from the top Buy in from the top � � Resources to achieve goal Resources to achieve goal � � Accountability Accountability � � Training Training � � New and Remedial New and Remedial � � Communication Communication � � With all parties involved With all parties involved � (Police, Lab Personnel, and District Attorney) (Police, Lab Personnel, and District Attorney)
DNA Evidence Can Have a Strong DNA Evidence Can Have a Strong Impact on Denver’ ’s Burglary Rate s Burglary Rate Impact on Denver � Many burglars are repeat, Many burglars are repeat, � habitual offenders. habitual offenders. � This husband and wife This husband and wife � burglary team was caught burglary team was caught by DNA on the same by DNA on the same cigarette. cigarette. � After their arrest, burglaries After their arrest, burglaries � in the West Washington in the West Washington Park neighborhood dropped Park neighborhood dropped David significantly: by 40%. significantly: by 40%. � Success in this project will Success in this project will � Weller make Denver much safer make Denver much safer and will significantly reduce and will significantly reduce your caseload. your caseload. Dina Weller
DNA Analysis: Similar to Fingerprint Analysis DNA analysis is similar to fingerprint analysis in how matches are determined. When using either DNA or a fingerprint to identify a suspect, the evidence collected from the crime scene is compared with the “known” print or sample. If enough of the identifying features are the same, the DNA or fingerprint is determined to be a match.
Even if There is No CODIS Hit, We May Be Able to File a “John Doe” Case Refers to the alleged assailant as “John Doe, an unknown male with a matching DNA profile.” John Doe, aka GATTACA
Blood: Potential DNA Evidence Blood: Potential DNA Evidence at Burglary Crime Scenes at Burglary Crime Scenes � Blood Blood � � Point of entry glass Point of entry glass � � Bandages Bandages � � Tissues Tissues � � Bloodstains on doors, Bloodstains on doors, � walls, other items walls, other items
Audit the Work - Crime Lab checked property submitted for analysis versus placed into Property Bureau - Comparison of Districts submitting requests - CODI S hits submitted to back to officers that were not filed in court
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