CRIME LABSCRIME LABS

Chapter 1 Unit #1 Notes Packet

Crime LabCrime Lab——Basic ServicesBasic Services Location where a group of

criminalists and law enforcement agencies freely exchange information with the purpose of solving crime

Laboratory tests are conducted on evidence that is collected from crime scenes

Can be composed of several units (biology, fingerprint, firearms)

Chapter 1

Units That Can Exist In A Crime Lab

DNA Serology (body

fluids) Ballistics (projectiles) Questioned

documents Toxicology Computer

Anthropology Pathology Geology Entomology Fingerprints Hair and Fiber Chemistry Biology Physics

Chapter 1

Who Runs the Crime Labs Crime labs can be either public or private

Public crime labs are usually run by national, state, or local law enforcement agenciesUsually contain labs for several different

disciplines/services

Private crime labs are usually run by a person or a corporationUsually focus on one type of crime

Unit #1 Notes Packet

Chapter 1

Variations In The Crime Lab Why aren’t all crime labs the same?

1. Variations in local laws2. Different capabilities and functions of

the organization to which the lab is attached

3. Budgetary and staffing limitations4. Crime patterns in lab’s area

Unit #1 Notes Packet

Chapter 1 Unit #1 Notes Packet

Major Crime Laboratories FBI http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/lab

Federal Bureau of Investigation Created in 1932 Largest crime lab in the world

DEA Drug Enforcement Agency

ATF Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

U.S. Postal Service U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service