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Bloodstain and Bullet Pattern Evidence
Analysis for Crime Scene Reconstruction
Length of Seminar: 3 Days
Instructor: Sandra Mays
Course Overview:
To give investigators and crime scene personnel a
basic foundation in identifying and documenting bullet trajectory,
bloodstain and pattern evidence. It is not expected nor
should you expect to be an expert or considered an expert
in the fields of bullet trajectory & bloodstain and
pattern analysis and reconstruction upon completion of this
course. You should however, be able to recognize and properly
document significant trajectory evidence at crime scenes.
Bullet Trajectory as Evidence
This training will give you the basic tools needed to establish
parameters in bullet trajectory and bloodstain and pattern
identification and crime scene reconstruction. In addition,
you will learn how to work with blood and should be able
to carry on additional experiments upon return to your department
which can lead to qualification as an expert in the future.
It is imperative that those of you, who wish to qualify
experts, continue to identify significant bullet trajectory
and blood patterns at crime scenes, document that evidence,
and participate in additional experiments as appropriate
in attempting to recreate what you observe at specific scenes.
Blood as Evidence
Blood at crime scenes, on the victim, suspect, or witnesses
(clothing or persons) can be considered significant and
treated as such when documenting, collecting, and preserving.
There may be some differences in the degree of documentation
of blood which is collected for laboratory identification
(DNA) and the blood in bloodstain patterns which will be
used for bloodstain pattern analysis and crime scene reconstruction.
Traditionally blood at crime scenes has been
documented and collected for identification, now through
DNA, at a crime laboratory. Although the documentation and
collection occurs at the scene, the primary identification
occurs in the laboratory. If these samples are properly
documented and collected at a scene, these samples can give
you information as who and how many people were bleeding
at the scene.
Bloodstain pattern analysis from a crime
scene may provide investigative leads as well as supportive
or non-supportive evidence for victim’s, suspect's,
and witness's statements. If you are using the bloodstain
pattern analysis to assist in a crime scene reconstruction,
it is critical that complete documentation of the blood
take place. A person, who was not present at the scene,
should be able to reconstruct from your documentation what
occurred. Without adequate documentation, later reconstruction
may not be able to be done and your analysis may not be
verified.
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