DNA Evidence and Property DNA Evidence and Property Crime Crime - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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 Denver’ ’s DNA Project Training s DNA Project Training

• The Denver Police

The Denver Police Department, the Department, the Denver D.A. Denver D.A.’ ’s office, s office, 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 (that is for the attorney’ ’s and scientists) s and scientists)

• 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

EVIDENCE POSSIBLE LOCATION OF DNA ON EVIDENCE SOURCE OF DNA baseball bat or similar weapon handle, end sweat, skin, blood, tissue hat, bandanna, or mask Inside sweat, hair, dandruff eyeglasses nose or ear pieces, lens sweat, skin facial tissue, cotton swab surface area mucus, blood, sweat, semen, 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 blanket, pillow, sheet surface area sweat, hair, semen, urine, saliva "through and through" bullet

• utside surface

blood, tissue bite mark person's skin or clothing saliva fingernail, partial fingernail scrapings blood, sweat, tissue

• 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.).

Tips For Finding Biological Substances

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

• ften relies on the
• ften relies on the

defendant defendant’ ’s statement. s statement.

• 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 Impact on Denver’ ’s Burglary Rate s Burglary Rate

• 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 significantly: by 40%. significantly: by 40%.

• Success in this project will

Success in this project will make Denver much safer make Denver much safer and will significantly reduce and will significantly reduce your caseload. your caseload.

David Weller

Dina Weller

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.

DNA Analysis: Similar to Fingerprint Analysis

Refers to the alleged assailant as “John Doe, an unknown male with a matching DNA profile.”

John Doe, aka GATTACA

Even if There is No CODIS Hit, We May Be Able to File a “John Doe” Case

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