tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24739430509139864472024-03-05T00:41:47.969-08:00The CSI EffectCrime scene investigation. In this site we'll examine the difference between TV crime drama depictions of the criminal justice system, against what happens in real life. Whether you're an armchair detective or someone who aspires to be a criminalist, this information will be your wake-up call.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-8881995151459472162008-06-27T00:03:00.000-07:002008-06-27T00:26:57.310-07:00Death Study on Tasers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKswOzd6wOzzbOFtatT4dVVP9huhR0kYLiCh0kAFbREN5xjS6b7C8PaHg9mBi-QNPl1SvkI9gsy9MrlRWeNrVIvc2eYlGDtaSY7prgZ5v0XSnunGNpN9yvbiLqZyBEAynw9M-LXDq6fmIw/s1600-h/pnktaser.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKswOzd6wOzzbOFtatT4dVVP9huhR0kYLiCh0kAFbREN5xjS6b7C8PaHg9mBi-QNPl1SvkI9gsy9MrlRWeNrVIvc2eYlGDtaSY7prgZ5v0XSnunGNpN9yvbiLqZyBEAynw9M-LXDq6fmIw/s200/pnktaser.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216457997744632546" border="0" /></a>Since I've written about tasers, see the blog: <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Tase Me, Bro</span>, I have tried to keep up. I just received a notification from the National Institute of Justice and thought I should make it available to round out the current information. So I cut-and-paste it here verbatim for your perusal:<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NIJ In-Custody Death Study: The Impact of Use of Conducted Energy Devices</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><br />An expert panel of medical professionals found no conclusive evidence of a high risk of death or serious injury from the direct effects of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conducted Energy Devices</span> (CEDs), such as Tasers.<br /><br />The panel is studying deaths related to the use of CEDs. In an interim report, the panel said that law enforcement agencies need not stop using CEDs, but cautioned that they should be used reasonably and only after proper training.<br /><br />Law enforcement agencies that use CEDs report reduced injuries to officers and suspects alike. However, deaths and serious injuries of suspects also occur.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Learn more about how the study is being conducted</span><br /><<a href="http://nij/topics/technology/less-lethal/incustody-death-background.htm">/nij/topics/technology/less-lethal/incustody-death-background.htm</a>>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Read the full text of the panel's interim report Deaths Following Electro-Muscular Disruption</span> (pdf, 21 pages)<br /><<a href="http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/nij/222981.pdf">http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/222981.pdf</a>>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Repeated Use is Risky<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">Many of the deaths that followed a CED discharge took place when it was used repeatedly or continuously. The medical risks involved in repeated or continuous CED discharges are unknown. Thus, the expert medical panel urges caution in using multiple activations.<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Certain Populations are More Vulnerable</span><br /><br /><div dragover="true" style="text-align: justify;">The panel's interim report said the risk of a death or serious injury is low when police use CEDs against healthy adults. Certain groups may be at much higher risk of injury or death from CEDs. These groups include *children, the elderly, pregnant women, people who have heart disease* and those who show signs of "*excited delirium*." Police officers should avoid the use of CEDs against these populations unless the situation excludes other choices.<br /><br />The panel also noted a risk of sudden death when suspects are in an agitated and combative state that is sometimes called "excited delirium." Police officers should treat this as a medical emergency. People in this state often exhibit combativeness and have elevated body temperatures. In these cases, a danger of sudden death exists whether police officers use a CED or not. The panel recommended that emergency medical personnel should provide cooling, sedation and hydration as soon as possible.<br /><br />The Justice Department is aware of more than 300 cases of Americans dying after exposure to CEDs. Some were normal, healthy adults. Others had medical conditions such as heart disease, mental illness or chemical dependencies. Several manufacturers sell CEDs to American law<br />enforcement agencies. However, TASER International of Scottsdale, Ariz., is, by far, the leading supplier. About 12,000 (out of some 18,000) American law enforcement agencies use CEDs. More than 260,000 CEDs are in use by American law enforcement and corrections agencies.<br /><br />Police officers should arrange for suitable medical care for people who suffer injuries. This is especially important when darts penetrate vulnerable areas of the head, face, neck, genitals or female breast areas, or in case of injury from falls or burns.<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">The panel expects to release a final report in 2009.</span><br /><br />Information for law enforcement agencies about a variety of less-lethal alternatives to firearms is available at www.less-lethal.org<http: org=""><http: gov="" other=""><br /></http:></http:>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com124tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-59016359912326808812008-05-17T13:09:00.000-07:002008-05-17T13:24:14.868-07:00Fingerprints and Talking Bones<span style="font-style: italic;">by Andrea Campbell</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I got interested in forensic science in the late ‘80s, before there were crime dramas on television that emphasized science. I came into this field through the back door, that is to say, in an unlikely way. I started by <a href="http://faculty.ncwn.edu/toconnor/425/425lect05.htm">studying graphology</a> with a Catholic priest. Father Tony had a degree in psychology and used handwriting analysis in his work with prison inmates, at a private girl’s school, and for marriage counseling.<br /><br />Now to tell you the truth, many <a href="http://www.asqde.org/">questioned document examiners</a> (QDE) consider graphology to be like reading a horoscope, despite the fact that numerous ideas in the discipline overlap with what they do. No matter, for my studies introduced me to the <a href="http://www.acfei.com/">American College of Forensic Examiners</a> where I took another course. I soon joined—my member number is 471 and today I think they have over 16,000 members.<br /><br />The best part about joining a professional organization is access. At one of their conferences—Coronado Island in San Diego, I signed up for a workshop with <a href="http://www.jogndouglasmindhunter.com/home.php">John Douglas</a>, FBI Special Agent (ret.), and one of the authors of the behavioral science manual (and a pioneer in the Behavioral Science Unit as it was first called: BSU, ha!). I had thought it would be very cool to find perpetrators of heinous crimes by becoming a behavioral profiler. For his presentation John brought in photographs of crime scenes he had worked and there were graphics of eviscerations, impaling, and the mutilation of breasts and other organs. Wake-up call! I thought: Why would I want to have to walk through that? And to get into the perpetrator’s head besides—crazy work? So I brainstormed about a study that would enable me to remain “in the loop,” along with something that I could actually stomach.<br /><br />While I was thinking, I got a degree in criminal justice and, after a short while decided that forensic art would be my bailiwick. Since I have a tendency to make the effort, I found the best forensic sculptor in the world and the pioneer of the technique of three-dimensional facial reconstruction, <a href="http://www.karenttaylor.com/aboutBPGb.html">Betty Pat. Gatliff</a>. Ms. Gatliff completed her first reconstruction in 1967. I took classes with Betty Pat. at the Cleveland Institute of Art because those are my old stomping grounds.<br /><br />Soon after, I studied comprehensive composite art with <a href="http://www.karenttaylor.com/">Karen T. Taylor</a>. Karen had been with the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin for many years, and has been featured on “America’s Most Wanted.” She also taught at the FBI Academy and has successfully been involved in—and resolved—many cases. Karen is also the author of the definitive book about these disciplines, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2vg3dy">Forensic Art and Illustration</a>.<br /><br />I, too, have written many books about forensic science and criminal law but here, in this blog, we’re going to talk about my current obsession: the difference between TV crime drama and reality.<br /><br />Many people feel they have become educated by watching the CSI-type procedural television shows and are proud to be Armchair Detectives. There’s nothing wrong with feeling good about being interested in this area, but it’s effects are filtering down to the criminal justice system by way of the jury pool. As a consequence of this interest, many jurors today are expecting more science, more definitive results, and want techniques that they’ve seen on TV demonstrated in court. Trouble is, much of what is shown on TV is what I lovingly call: “crapology” or “infotainment.”<br /><br />Over the years I have continued to attend many forensic science training conferences and have knowledge of, or experience with, a lot of really cool things from ammunition testing and wound ballistics to major case prints and more. I’m hoping my knowledge and background may benefit your interests—providing you like all things regarding forensic science and criminal law.<br /></div>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-40867540130118625142008-03-09T12:58:00.000-07:002008-03-09T13:24:59.578-07:00Women in Crime Ink Now Available!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5HL_YNzwdPe-Ydrn0qRlZA2vaJ_MQHOQESHRnukmm7335hX6ibYWIs5xCEBKMwaysozPN7wm8YQ1eOxv68uLE-2zGKV_AflGYJwBa9fyfktEnPMPotSKhB5_AwQ7oArhIQBYcCCltvpe/s1600-h/WCI+-+Masthead.JPEG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5HL_YNzwdPe-Ydrn0qRlZA2vaJ_MQHOQESHRnukmm7335hX6ibYWIs5xCEBKMwaysozPN7wm8YQ1eOxv68uLE-2zGKV_AflGYJwBa9fyfktEnPMPotSKhB5_AwQ7oArhIQBYcCCltvpe/s200/WCI+-+Masthead.JPEG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175837743932090834" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">P R E S S R E L E A S E</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Announcing a unique crime blog debuting this March:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WOMEN IN CRIME INK</span><br /><br />COMING MARCH 10, 2008<br /><a href="http://www.womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/">www.womenincrimeink.blogspot.com</a><br />Contact: womeincrimeink@yahoo.com<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Profiling the nation's most intriguing criminals . . . interviewing killers, survivors, witnesses, and lawyers . . . arresting suspects . . . prosecuting and locking up serial and sexual killers . . . safeguarding civil liberties and urging government accountability . . . recreating faces on skulls to help identify victims and solve cases . . . witnessing executions on Texas Death Row . . . covering the nation's top crime stories . . . and uncovering truth in the face of jail time and death threats.<br /><br />These are the daily tasks of the women who make up Women in Crime Ink (WCI). Beginning March 10, they will share their day-to-day adventures and behind-the-scenes stories that are always stranger than fiction. WCI will also feature interviews as well as book and film reviews. Expect guest contributor blogs from those impacted by crime and a "Mystery Man" column, written by men in the crime biz. Additionally, WCI will host live chats with selected crime authors promoting their books.<br /><br />Women in Crime Ink has assembled an impressive lineup of award-winning true-crime authors, print and broadcast journalists, crime novelists, a producer for CBS News, television personalities, and criminal justice professionals—including a forensic artist, a criminal profiler, a murder prosecutor, a police officer, a criminal defense attorney, a sex-crimes prosecutor, and a private investigator. From the West Coast to the Eastern Seaboard, they have crime covered. Meet the women of Women in Crime Ink:<br /><br />PAT BROWN is a nationally renowned Criminal Profiler and author of Killing for Sport.<br /><br />ANDREA CAMPBELL is a forensic artist who writes books about forensic science and law.<br /><br />KATHRYN CASEY is a true-crime author whose first Texas Ranger novel debuts this summer.<br /><br />TINA DIRMANN is a crime and entertainment reporter, a commentator, and a true-crime author.<br /><br />STACY DITTRICH is a police officer and a crime novelist who's worked numerous murder cases.<br /><br />DIANE FANNING is the Edgar-nominated author of 7 true crime books and 1 mystery novel.<br /><br />JENNA JACKSON is a producer for 48 Hours whose first true-crime book was recently released.<br /><br />VANESSA LEGGETT is a writer jailed by the Justice Dept. for protecting sources for a book.<br /><br />MICHELE MCPHEE is a best-selling true-crime author and host of a talk-radio show.<br /><br />DONNA PENDERGAST is a prosecutor who put away the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history.<br /><br />ROBIN SAX is a deputy district attorney, a criminal law professor, a legal analyst and an author.<br /><br />KATHERINE SCARDINO is an attorney who won Texas' first capital murder acquittal. in 25 years.<br /><br />DONNA WEAVER is a P.I. whose career began with her husband's disappearance and murder.<br /><br />For the real story on crime and media issues, bookmark <a href="http://www.womenincrimeink.blogspot.com/">www.womenincrimeink.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /></div>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-36601222730223865402008-02-02T22:01:00.001-08:002008-03-09T13:20:53.184-07:00Don’t Tase Me, Bro!<div dragover="true" style="text-align: justify;">The latest take-down weapon in a sea of bad behavior: the TASER.<br /><br />I’m setting aside forensic science today because ever since I saw the University of Florida campus police struggle with Andrew Meyer, I’ve wanted to know about Tasers. Meyer was actually made famous by a YouTube video when his belligerent behavior directed at Senator John Kerry—who had come to speak at the school—got him Tased. And, of course, tased became a verb and money was made on t-shirts and baby bibs with the sad refrain, “Don’t Tase me, bro!”<br /><br />If you watch the video and listen to the screams, you will be affected. But, how? Do you think, like the ACLU and Amnesty International, that you should side with Meyer, or do you think that police are justified in Taser use?<br /><br />Now I don’t have 3 or 4-thousand words to debate the subject here, but I will tell you very briefly some of what I found out. Also, there will be a series of links at the end of this article so you can go check it out for yourself; I’ve just saved you some homework.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Factoids<br /><br /></span>• TASER stands for Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle, from the Tom Swift series of children's novels written (circa 20th c.); I guess Tom Swift had an electric rifle.<br />• Tasers, a brand name, are made by an Arizona-based company and they are referred to in the industry as a CED—conductive energy device.<br />• The latest figure I could find suggests that 11,000 law enforcement, correctional and military organizations, in 44 countries, use its devices<br /><br />The best reason for using this weapon, and police have been looking for one for centuries, is that criminals return fire. The second best reason is a more modern concept and is that, violent criminals are often hopped up on drugs or stimulants. The usual methodology was to beat, spray, or twist the perpetrator into submission using pepper spray, clubbing, or joint distortion. But since many illegal drugs are painkillers, those former engines of despair don’t always work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How does a Taser work?</span><br /><br />I’m going to quote an article written by Mark W. Kroll, a biomedical engineer because he’s the expert and why rephrase it? http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/dec07/5731<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_szKFR1aVgPNL9KHYOorcCb3keEMSck4uUWuA_l-IPzb8IxKGhXbFh-iZBL-NKbqy5KZ-c_iIMn1sURdFJyF_eQrm7o7TYeGBUNMaFJZsINYhlo-dBCLx3-LTz0HtB02dJKPoGzx17tz9/s1600-h/stungun2.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_szKFR1aVgPNL9KHYOorcCb3keEMSck4uUWuA_l-IPzb8IxKGhXbFh-iZBL-NKbqy5KZ-c_iIMn1sURdFJyF_eQrm7o7TYeGBUNMaFJZsINYhlo-dBCLx3-LTz0HtB02dJKPoGzx17tz9/s200/stungun2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162634249691330210" border="0" /></a><br />“When you pull the trigger of a Taser gun, a blast of compressed nitrogen launches its two barbed darts at 55 meters per second, less than a fifth the speed of a bullet from a typical pistol. Each projectile, which weighs 1.6 grams, has a 9-millimeter-long tip to penetrate clothing and the insulating outer layer of skin. Two whisper-thin wires trail behind for up to 9 meters, forming an electrical connection to the gun.”<br /><br />The result is an instant loss of the attackers neuromuscular control and any ability to perform coordinated action or remove the probes. In other words, mine, “It shocks the bejeezus out of him,” Now if you want the full spectrum of biomedical details, I highly recommend the aforementioned link.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Police restraint</span><br />I found a statistic that claims about 670 people die each year under incidents of arrest and restraint. Police are obviously convinced that Tasers will make the target feel dazed but will not affect death. (Remember this is to prevent shooting the suspect.) So, I asked my friend, John Brooks, a crime scene investigator with the Fayetteville Police Department, if he had experience with the Taser. John responded that he’d never used one on anybody but he had been tased before and it was indescribable pain but he also said, “when it’s over, it’s over.”<br /><br />That’s good enough for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">*Note: I just heard from Mark W. Kroll, PhD; see the specifics—</span><br /><br />Here is the link for the 700 arrest-related deaths per year.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ardus05.pdf">http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/ardus05.pdf<br /></a><br />Thanks<br />Mark<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/gl.link.gif" alt="Link" border="0" /></span></span><br />Mark W. Kroll, PhD, FACC, FHRS<br />Mark Kroll & Associates, LLC<br />Box 23, Crystal Bay, MN 55323<br />Adj. Full Prof. Biomedical Engineering<br />California Polytechnic University<br />Adj. Full Prof. Biomedical Engineering<br />University of Minnesota<br />* * *<br /><br />Thank you to Sandra Upson with IEEE Spectrum Magazine.<br /><a href="http://youtube.com/">YouTube.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.ci.fargo.nd.us/CityInfo/Departments/Police/OntheBeat/Tasers/">http://www.ci.fargo.nd.us/CityInfo/Departments/Police/OntheBeat/Tasers/</a><br /><a href="http://www.taser.com/">taser.com</a><br /><a href="http://selfdefenseweapons.com/">selfdefenseweapons.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.taserconnection.com/">www.taserconnection.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/">www.spectrum.ieee.org</a><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-08-little-taser_x.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-01-08-little-taser_x.htm</a> (selling smaller versions for wider use—metallic pink, electric blue, and titanium silver)<br /><a href="http://www.taserfoundation.org/">www.taserfoundation.org</a></div>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-72491329872757406172008-01-25T14:00:00.000-08:002008-01-25T14:13:49.688-08:00A Sneak Peak at Spring Training<div style="text-align: justify;">One of the benefits of belonging to a professional science organization is the ability to attend conferences. I can’t always make the national conventions but there is one I go to every year without fail. Our regional division of the <a href="http://www.theiai.org/">International Association for Identification</a> puts on a spring training presentation and workshop for its Arkansas forensic science and law enforcement members.<br /><br />I thought you might like an honorary pass for a sneak peak into what we do at a smaller division conference. First of all, why is it important to have these meetings and better still, to attend regularly? I think it’s insightful to establish relationships and camaraderie with other criminal justice co-workers, even if they are not in the same department. For example, law enforcement officers often bring evidence to the crime lab, but it’s also essential that they learn how to process and package the artifacts, as well as to understand what is done with the evidence and how best to prepare it.<br /><br />Another good reason to meet with colleagues in a professional setting is that so much forensic science crime scene information is presented on TV today, wrapped up in crime drama, that criminal are also watching these programs and are students soaking up tips on how to improve their trade. Police often tell me they see evidence of clean up at crime scenes and there are other instances of further education. It just makes sense that workers in the criminal justice system need to stay current with technology and techniques to continually improve skills and equipment. Classes on new tools and methods are a large part of our training programs and become our hedge against the free criminal information that is disbursed.<br /><br />I won’t be able to tell you about all the sessions that were available, but a few of the topics discussed at our training conference in Little Rock were: the basics of fingerprint analysis and learning how to do it hands-on—with a magnifying glass, ten print cards and samples for a quiz (I got an “A”)! behavioral profiling of serial rapists, on scene interpretation of physical evidence, about testifying in court, a double homicide case and many other topics.<br /><br />One session I’d like to tell you about was both informative and fun. We often have vendors, independent businesses that bring new tools or machines in for demonstration just as a sales representative would exhibit their new line at a conference. This particular product was brought in from Arrowhead Forensics and it’s called a <a href="http://www.crime-scene.com/ecpi/A-113610.shtml">Coherent TracER™</a>.<br /><br />You know how on television the CSIs are always use alternative light to look for <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7yzPHeRkbRd45IIH2CsDc-xfSjzfHgvX-7XJvNZV3DYRFTlPsjtBQU2iwdHvBTAvg-zGOrSr1fc5E82qr72a4A0Qd9WeCAwgLmWCoBvi7sXzUBYFMM23RHtHyPBxX8csRdGJsh7RCRDX/s1600-h/tracer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7yzPHeRkbRd45IIH2CsDc-xfSjzfHgvX-7XJvNZV3DYRFTlPsjtBQU2iwdHvBTAvg-zGOrSr1fc5E82qr72a4A0Qd9WeCAwgLmWCoBvi7sXzUBYFMM23RHtHyPBxX8csRdGJsh7RCRDX/s200/tracer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5159539528186066498" border="0" /></a>traces of blood, semen or body fluids? Well, this Tracer is a battery-powered, and portable forensic laser system specifically designed for the rigors of modern criminology and forensics. A system. It can be used to locate fingerprints, fibers, body fluids, bone fragments, tooth chips, narcotics’ residue, and a variety of other types of trace evidence, even in high ambient light.<br /><br />We got the opportunity to examine artifacts in a dimly lit hotel room and it works beautifully, the most effective of all the lights currently used. And just to show that we are not without a sense of humor. We examined the bedding, the walls and the bathroom under this light. I’m here to tell you that in the future when you travel, take your own pillow, sheets, and wipes to clean the bathroom.<br /><br />Thanks for the read.<br /></div>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-38849503380034548002007-08-31T22:48:00.000-07:002007-08-31T22:52:53.127-07:00Staying Ahead of the CriminalsIf you type “Experts Blame Cop Shows for Educating Criminals” into your favorite search engine, you’ll come up with the original article, and a lot of blog commentary. It’s a popular subject. Just to paraphrase, the article is about a killer who used bleach to clean up a crime scene. And the senior criminalist from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said that bleach use was becoming all too common in his opinion. Another statement was from a northeast Ohio prosecutor, who claimed that a man went to great lengths in a double homicide to clean up his crime by using bleach to wash up, lining the interior of his car with blankets, and burning DNA evidence. He tripped up though when it came time to dispose of a crowbar, tossing it onto to a frozen lake.<br /><br />I located another story about gang members in South Africa, who used their camera phones for finding victims. Apparently they would take pictures of bank customers who had withdrawn large sums of money. A gang member outside would stake the person and eventually rob them. Police officials there, want to ban cell phones in banks.<br /><br />Since I write about crime and forensic science, I have wondered about this question myself? Am I, too, providing information to help criminals?<br /><br />I don’t know that there is a definitive answer. I mean, if we’re talking about drug-related crimes committed by stoners, probably not. But I’ve often heard it said that most information about how to “best the government” goes on in our very own jails and prisons. I’m told that inmates share information and even teach techniques and ideas to anyone who will listen. So how does this play out in real life? I can’t say and I don’t know of any reliable studies that could even be performed because it is the very definition of underground information.<br /><br />Thankfully, a lot of the gizmos and crime scene techniques that are shown on television come from the fruitful imagination of the writers. Most of my friends and colleagues in law enforcement and forensic science claim they don’t watch the CSI-type shows because they cannot suspend their disbelief enough to enjoy them. And, to them, crime is not entertainment but tragedies they must deal with every day.<br /><br />I think the solution to staying on the cutting edge is on-going all the time in the form of research and technology. There are rewards and benefits for companies that launch crime-prevention and crime-busting aids. Just recently <span style="font-style: italic;">USA TODAY</span> ran a piece about a new device that the Homeland Security Department would like to issue to its federal agents.<br /><br /><br />It looks like a flashlight and emits a powerful beam of light that temporarily blinds anyone who looks in<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1nZH92Dx5XRZ5gTOwK_rr3P7uaHlZIEbVM6hFJ7Wy7DkzNq6O0jyZACRd-AM-XX917KNdiNe54XztUOdUdrf7dfzK7tl8gX5q99buQJxwaZasw2YLtHv_NdazPUAMR7Ns5DUnRtsUyHe/s1600-h/pukelightsm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1nZH92Dx5XRZ5gTOwK_rr3P7uaHlZIEbVM6hFJ7Wy7DkzNq6O0jyZACRd-AM-XX917KNdiNe54XztUOdUdrf7dfzK7tl8gX5q99buQJxwaZasw2YLtHv_NdazPUAMR7Ns5DUnRtsUyHe/s200/pukelightsm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105109068294643746" border="0" /></a>to it. A hefty $1 million dollars of testing money is going into the LED (light-emiting diode) Incapacitator. And they have volunteers lined up at Pennsylvania State University’s Institute of Non-Lethal Defense Technologies. (“So, what did you do today, honey?” “Well, I had my eyes burned up, my brains scrambled and got sickened by light pulses and colors!”)<br /><br /><br />The main thing that law enforcement looks for in a device, believe it or not, are tools that give authorities enough time to tackle subjects and restrain them, while sparing the lives of innocents nearby. They need tools to disorient and stop perpetrators, while preserving life. No small task.<br /><br />I, personally, love reading about the new devices and think this one is especially interesting. The problem will become however, how to keep them out of the hands of the black market. Once they are mass-produced and come down in costs, then you’re on the road again, looking for more tricks.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-23156716249720283862007-08-01T22:43:00.000-07:002007-08-01T23:10:20.788-07:00Name That Crime Scene Problem<div style="text-align: justify;">Sorry I haven't been around weekly. It goes like this: writers have a lot of conferences in the spring. I went to a mystery writers conference (with a crime scene walk-thru that was great); I was at a forensic science training conference; then the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Houston (that was wild!); and, finally, a novel writing boot camp experience outside of Indianapolis (a wicked ten-hour drive).<br /><br />Well, after all that, summer showed up. <span style="font-style: italic;">And summer is the time that authors create books</span>. I'm making an E-book and CD of <span style="font-style: italic;">Detective Notebook: Crime Scene Science</span> (for kids aged 10 and up, very cool, with activities); working on a monkey novella with terrific real-life graphics, and I need to get back to that mystery (it's been back-burnered too long).<br /><br />Anyway, as a way of apology, I am going to post a drawing I did.<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Happened?</span><br /></div> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>The coroner is having a hard time establishing the time of death. Look at the crime scene and figure out why. Leave your answer in the comments box.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlUbaH-cd5xt9FILnHvk8HxZR93NbFdMWLDkzWh9qsQRd0yKH3LDYNyf2SkbD7JT9Ux-RaeFAAJp1WDOSKEfCzF-LydfI4XpOX_AuqkHVJD5mJ6bgQiJwiivaV5aVHZUM3JepYA-jqRGf/s1600-h/crimedrawgopt1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlUbaH-cd5xt9FILnHvk8HxZR93NbFdMWLDkzWh9qsQRd0yKH3LDYNyf2SkbD7JT9Ux-RaeFAAJp1WDOSKEfCzF-LydfI4XpOX_AuqkHVJD5mJ6bgQiJwiivaV5aVHZUM3JepYA-jqRGf/s320/crimedrawgopt1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093979959050228626" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com168tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-21220110447524604022007-06-12T22:08:00.000-07:002007-06-12T22:14:16.433-07:00I Humbly Disagree with One of My Favorite AuthorsJust recently this commentary was posted in an online e-newsletter I receive every day, <span style="font-style: italic;">Levine Breaking News</span>. Here is the copy:<br /><br />*LBN-COMMENTARY By Scott Turow: This Friday a 33-year-old man named Juan Luna will go on trial for the murder of seven people in a Brown's Chicken restaurant in Palatine, Ill., on Jan. 8, 1993. The investigation of the murders, in which the victims' bloody corpses were discovered in the restaurant freezer, languished for more than a decade until Mr. Luna's DNA was identified in the saliva found on a chicken bone at the crime scene. Having spent some time over the years as a criminal defense lawyer, I find this use of DNA evidence somewhat ironic, even a bit perverse. When I was first exposed to the forensic use of DNA, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was seen largely as a tool of the defense, usually resisted by prosecutors who feared manipulation of the underlying science. Ultimately, hundreds of people around the country were able to demonstrate they had been wrongly convicted, and those successes led prosecutors to realize that the same DNA tests -- and experts -- could also provide evidence that guilty people had been walking around free for years. The Brown's Chicken case is but one of hundreds of "cold cases" now being resolved by advances in forensic technology, particularly DNA testing. Greater accuracy in the truth-finding process is a laudable development. But I worry that the growing capacity of today's forensics to reach farther and farther into the past seems likely to undermine the law's time-ingrained notions, embodied in statutes of limitations, about how long people should be liable to criminal prosecution.<br /><br />As much as I love Scott Turow and respect his work and his writings, I must humbly disagree with his premise. The statute of limitations never runs out on murder. And for good reason: a life has been taken and this egregious act means that a father will no longer be there for his family; that a daughter will never grow up to have her own family; and, that a victim’s family must live with the absence of a loved one every day of their lives.<br /><br />I understand going back into history and plucking criminals out of their new lives must be a shock, and upsetting to his new family. Oh, well. He should have thought about this before he decided to divorce himself from personal responsibility and moral conduct.<br /><br />Your view?<br /><br />p.s. Please visit my new blog along with some other great true-crime authors and commentators, it's sure to be a hit: <a href="http://www.incoldblogger.blogspot.com">http://www.incoldblogger.blogspot.com<br /></a>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-58406629501724292812007-05-02T22:22:00.000-07:002007-05-02T23:25:30.153-07:00The 7 Key Differences Between TV Crime Drama and Real LifeTV: 1. “Hot” Crime Scene Technicians: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgbNHWR6VV7dFA1oTbYW4-YCVsg4t8CzQCH7COual_Od5ztO8xxX8RRRIkky8Yh8Fw6xowp59-5Uda9CnD6ZSbluMNRHbYokzhD94kV6lLDsDuVm0ROF4ROtyp1EabLBEte5n7PzY5ljo/s1600-h/whitepants.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsgbNHWR6VV7dFA1oTbYW4-YCVsg4t8CzQCH7COual_Od5ztO8xxX8RRRIkky8Yh8Fw6xowp59-5Uda9CnD6ZSbluMNRHbYokzhD94kV6lLDsDuVm0ROF4ROtyp1EabLBEte5n7PzY5ljo/s200/whitepants.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060203446492760354" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Reality: 1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZMWzuLmCuRMO7SrthxMpQxSFDvFLWx6M4ZdVzRkV7aFiFslspJ7z-gIupMOj8hjiu6i-StwLpcgsreVV2fWFJd45qS05jnfrm7Nq_3Qt_IrZXHQGNn6EkxJVlxLnM9Cw2C3Y-sxYeY3C/s1600-h/survivalphoto2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZMWzuLmCuRMO7SrthxMpQxSFDvFLWx6M4ZdVzRkV7aFiFslspJ7z-gIupMOj8hjiu6i-StwLpcgsreVV2fWFJd45qS05jnfrm7Nq_3Qt_IrZXHQGNn6EkxJVlxLnM9Cw2C3Y-sxYeY3C/s200/survivalphoto2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060210395749845394" /></a><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /> TV: 2. False Promises <br /><br /><br />Reality: 2. Honest Assessment with no personal investment<br /><br /><br /><br /> TV: 3. Jumping Jobs <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVp5vUTSOCtMFcUp90_KcU7FDAXN2h3arqROhWKoNRi6IXKMNBoaOIZnRBJGj7bquW63N_shvIw1LVXC_oghL02-Lw40AvX_dRnZmWsV-c1zyUbFRJ_jfVVzUilH3HX9qmB02SOPki2ct/s1600-h/crime_scene.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVp5vUTSOCtMFcUp90_KcU7FDAXN2h3arqROhWKoNRi6IXKMNBoaOIZnRBJGj7bquW63N_shvIw1LVXC_oghL02-Lw40AvX_dRnZmWsV-c1zyUbFRJ_jfVVzUilH3HX9qmB02SOPki2ct/s200/crime_scene.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060204357025827138" /></a> <br /><br /><p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h-SQrBla6f0A5qQ1LyU6RtABQm5tkuI3d3Bs__RAo426Z5f-PWLkf6F0rmMTJFvLJwF5zobaGdUgQYzXJz1yWXrNjOLOncTmkNDDFW0F3FLmO-9SpwBe46-TR797Ly9_di9SMncy5Qv7/s1600-h/copcar13.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6h-SQrBla6f0A5qQ1LyU6RtABQm5tkuI3d3Bs__RAo426Z5f-PWLkf6F0rmMTJFvLJwF5zobaGdUgQYzXJz1yWXrNjOLOncTmkNDDFW0F3FLmO-9SpwBe46-TR797Ly9_di9SMncy5Qv7/s200/copcar13.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060210803771738530" /></a><p><br /> <br /><br /> Reality: 3. Lab Assembly Line<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu5U85UPtuI4ZTY-s8gBaZyD0z2j-eyxJJGSUoS4dKbCntetxVbTZ_fQfeKb5vw0ruHhJ77RFiUQRkt36COyMQ7QihlxU2V6aFxWOQrg-4v3BdpywDubdndD9ggs02ZCNwRZIoVy_ul2G/s1600-h/man-microscope.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiu5U85UPtuI4ZTY-s8gBaZyD0z2j-eyxJJGSUoS4dKbCntetxVbTZ_fQfeKb5vw0ruHhJ77RFiUQRkt36COyMQ7QihlxU2V6aFxWOQrg-4v3BdpywDubdndD9ggs02ZCNwRZIoVy_ul2G/s200/man-microscope.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060211100124481970" /></a></p> <br /><br /><br /><br />TV: 4. Results in One day <br /><br />Reality: 4. Crime Lab Backlogs<br /><br /><br /><br />TV: 5. Obscure Techniques (Grissom tastes a bone) <br /><br />Reality: 5. The Principles of Science<br /><br /><br /><br />TV: 6. Settings: Glossy, clean and no clutter<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUbvKTp4D2-HscHqNKFG-67ZJlAJxBqBIrYTkcb6Dp3KLmB_ZhSad9ByKgX9a6wwMMuue5hz8JWsj0PDpQPVadMoi4PVruTXtAjatDRtnp0Lo8wY54rGBBNsu8C5_2SddMq_hSKq1smuX/s1600-h/favrshowrooms3b.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUbvKTp4D2-HscHqNKFG-67ZJlAJxBqBIrYTkcb6Dp3KLmB_ZhSad9ByKgX9a6wwMMuue5hz8JWsj0PDpQPVadMoi4PVruTXtAjatDRtnp0Lo8wY54rGBBNsu8C5_2SddMq_hSKq1smuX/s200/favrshowrooms3b.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060205198839417202" /></a><br /> <br /><br />Reality: 6. Trailers, cluttered, worn and lived in<br /><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrieuN0POMvZlwf1yEkpK85Vi8HFh2qvEvKlx3c9AKm-MvTRlkV6YHaMrPfKt4SS21wROMopNLAy3fMqOmfaybAQz2Od-8i1yu8g1VbZWnDGMqWx4RsxCkcheK3GWNCii2H54ofkjuRnlD/s1600-h/biohazard.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrieuN0POMvZlwf1yEkpK85Vi8HFh2qvEvKlx3c9AKm-MvTRlkV6YHaMrPfKt4SS21wROMopNLAy3fMqOmfaybAQz2Od-8i1yu8g1VbZWnDGMqWx4RsxCkcheK3GWNCii2H54ofkjuRnlD/s200/biohazard.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060205645516016002" /></a><br /><br /><p><br /><br />TV: 7. Socioeconomics: Id by Dentistry? <br /><br />Reality: 7. Victims victimizing Victims: no resources, no safety net, no one cares<br />(May never have seen a dentist)Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-212930269911005562007-04-19T13:12:00.000-07:002007-04-19T13:13:37.365-07:00Crime Show Effects on Real TrialsThis came in just recently from a Maricopa County source, Attorney Andrew Thomas.<br /><br />Of 300 prosecutors in Phoenix's Maricopa County attorney's office: <ul> <li>61 percent say jurors seem to believe forensic crime shows on TV are true.</li><li>90 percent have to explain to juries why police don't collect the kind of evidence seen on television.</li> </ul><br />Of the 102 most experienced prosecutors:<br /><br /><ul> <li>38 percent had at least one trial that ended in an acquittal or a hung jury when forensic evidence was not available to corroborate testimony.</li><li>52 percent have seen a defendant receive a more favorable plea offer because there were expected problems with the 'CSI effct' had the case gone to trial.</li><li>80 percent reported juror disapproval with the lack of forensic evidence.</li> </ul><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Source: Maricopa County Attorney Andrea Thomas</span>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-46648253428344248542007-04-04T01:02:00.000-07:002007-04-04T01:03:43.428-07:00High School DazeI spoke to five science classes at Lakeside High School the other day. It was the day before spring break and held in a library with very little air circulating. I walk around when I speak and could feel the rivulets of sweat running down my midriff.<br /><br /> The classes combined equalled about 150 students. My talk that day was about the forensic science field, our state lab, what the jobs are, some of the specifics, and the odd little details. I made sure to get the skinny from J.R. Howard, the Director of the Arkansas State Crime Lab before I went, because I am not keen on passing out misinformation or disinformation. I had thought that with CSI being so popular that I would get a lot of questions and feedback. (I'm always hearing how universities are scrambling to set up more forensic science-based and criminal justice classes.) But, it was very quiet. I think I only got two questions all day. Granted, one class was studying environmental science but the two questions actually came from them. (My husband—who was playing my lovely assistant—said that the questions came from two males who thought I was "hot".) Now the validity of that, I cannot comment.<br /><br /> I was disappointed however in that when I asked them questions, there were no answers. Quiet again. Okay, they were dragged there by their teachers, but where is the passion? I came to forensic science very early, (in the late 80's) before it was on TV and before every other show was a crime drama, but I was led to believe that students were ga-ga over CSI and here I was representing the topic with no life, not nary a spark.<br /><br /> I'm glad I'm not in high school anymore.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-44915017878785085402007-03-15T23:12:00.000-07:002007-03-15T23:17:09.805-07:00Everything Is HardThe criminal justice system is a huge machine and there are always many things that serve to stop up the cogs. History has never been kind and criminal law is based on history and is a vainglorious attempt at achieving justice.<br /><br />Some of the things currently plaguing the criminal justice industry are: juror’s prejudices, (the question as to whether there is a “CSI Effect?), the glorification of forensic science in crime scene dramas, the real backlog of the system, fraud by forensic experts, and incompetence with individuals who jeopardize the process among other things.<br /><br />Where to begin? Whether one wants to believe there is a “CSI Effect” or not—and there are folks who have expressed their doubts—jurors need to realize that achieving justice requires a unique balance of elements, and that nothing is foolproof; and that technology is not the be all and end all for guilt.<br /><br />Prosecutors are held to a standard when they bring a charging document and defendant to court. And that standard is to find: guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That doesn’t mean that the jury must all be 100% convinced to a certainty. It means that there is sufficient evidence presented by the state that this person has committed this crime.<br /><br />Now the evidence can come in a variety of forms from eyewitness identification to hard evidence or artifacts and even circumstantial evidence—such as: this person stalked the victim and had a restraining order issued against them in the past. Circumstantial evidence is a fact that can be used to infer another fact. It is built upon reasoning and expecting reasonable people to figure it out. And cases in the past, Dear Reader, have been won on circumstantial evidence. Because, if there are enough things that point to guilt: bad character evidence, no alibi, previous behavior, mental illness, stressors, whatever—sometimes a pile of things put all in one place is a mountain that cannot be ignored.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-63205295026591053962007-03-05T22:36:00.000-08:002007-03-05T22:41:44.537-08:00A Few Pet PeevesThere are <span style="font-style: italic;">more than a few things</span> that drive me crazy about how forensic science and the CSI groups are depicted on TV crime dramas. But I also have some pet peeves that don’t necessarily warrant writing a column about such as: when Delko got shot in the head just recently, died and came back, was his recovery a miracle or what? Out for so long, no brain damage and he was back at work very soon, just a little slower on the uptake. Puleese, this makes victims of TV viewers to allow people to think that this is even possible. I was kind of hoping that he was dead after I saw how they treated his “coming back.”<br /><br />Okay, one time on an episode quite a long time ago (and since I don’t have the DVD set from years past,) I’ll just say that the CSI—Las Vegas team was out in the dessert and Gil Grissom was talking about “tasting a bone.” Listen, if you find remains, no way are you going to go putting it up to your lips. Can we say dangerous practice? I mean, why doesn’t that man have hepatitis C by now?<br /><br />And, too, in the same vein, you will never see law enforcement stick their finger into a bag of powder, taste it and say, “that’s cocaine all right.” Wow, how irresponsible it that! It could be PCP, a dangerous hallucinogenic, or any number of harmful substances (in fact some drugs are cut with harmful chemicals themselves, like arsenic). Cops often use crip kits. These are testing kits that will determine the characteristics of a drug or chemical substance using reagents and small squirt bottles and testing vials. For more information on what a kit looks like, what you can test for, and other specifics, check out this link: http://www.cripkit.com/products/carkit.html<br /><br />Okay, this is short tonight, but I feel better already for saying it.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-50178861240518648972007-02-25T23:20:00.000-08:002007-02-25T23:29:33.699-08:00Dividing it up: JurisdictionUsually on television an entire crime scene unit arrives and sweeps through the scene collecting all the evidence including photographs, fingerprints and trace. Then they are shown in the lab manipulating what they have just collected and within a short period of time, they are calling detectives with a match to the prints found at the scene or some other leading discovery.<br /><br />In reality, a patrol officer is dispatched to a crime scene and maybe, if the jurisdiction has manpower, a backup officer will follow. After securing the area if it’s a small scene, they will take photographs and maybe dust for prints. If it is something more than a patrol officer can handle, a detective is put on call. One will usually arrive and for larger scenes again, maybe two will be called. Generally about the only time an entire criminal investigation division will be sent is for a major case like murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping or something heinous.<br /><br />Jurisdiction is probably one of the biggest factors to determine who does what, when, and how. For example, a small town with the population of 900, is going to operate the best they know how with limited men and resources. It’s the police officer then who will do many different jobs such as collecting evidence, logging it in and sending it off to be processed at a lab in a larger city. In a slightly larger city with a more serious crime, the detective may be working alone, collecting evidence, logging it in, making initial contact with victims, typing reports, interviewing witnesses, showing photo lineups, locating potential suspects, and collecting enough probable cause for a judge to issue a complaint. Detectives try to help each other out if it is overly large.<br /><br />Let’s face it. Communities everywhere make do with what they have. If they need their officers to multi-task, they do it. If law enforcement need more help, the officers will call and ask but you can’t create what isn’t there. And I’d venture to say that all law enforcement everywhere could use more capable men and resources.<br /><br />One thing that always struck me as funny was when the folks on TV cross over into other jurisdictions, or if they fight with another department to get a case so they can see justice done. Who would have time for that? Who asks for more work when they're overworked already? Plus, officers probably have to wait weeks, if not months for evidence results and the cases just keep coming. Juggling, juggling, trying to make things move in sync—it’s got to be super stressful and tires me just thinking about it.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-27850776908912386642007-02-13T20:59:00.000-08:002007-02-13T21:14:38.224-08:00Television Depictions Worry OthersHa! In <span style="font-style: italic;">USA TODAY</span> today (February 13, 2007), there was a small article on the op-ed page about how the hit TV show<span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">24</span></span> has showed a lot of torture scenes and, oh my, the military is upset.<br /><br />Now you can hear me talking?! Yes, if you’ve been watching Jack Bauer this year you’ll note that the writers have ramped up the scenes in this new season with some good things and some very stupid things. Okay, the stupid thing first: bad government. Yeah, there is always some political figure who is either in cahoots with someone, has no ethics or brain, or is planning their own plot intrigue. I’d say, if you were from a visiting country and watched<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> 24</span>, you’d probably get the idea our government is badly run. (Need we say more about our political image around the world?)<br /><br />But the problem the military officials are moaning about is the frequency with which the pretend CTU unit uses torture to get key information; (so far this year, Jack Bauer’s not doing real well in the "getting good information" scenario). Anyway, the editorial committee at <span style="font-style: italic;">USA TODAY</span> wants us to know that in real life: [Quote] “. . .ticking bomb scenarios like this almost never occur, and torture rarely works. Suspects will make up anything to stop the pain or humiliation.” [That’s an end-quote, not my words]<br /><br />Of course, I don’t know anything about the military and their sneaky tactics. I also don’t know anything about torture of any kind (thank heaven), but I do know that the military doesn’t like pop culture making claims in the name of fiction that damage their policy or image, especially when it comes to the terrorism fight that is on-going. (I just wrote about the Patriot Act for the 2nd edition of my book <span style="font-style: italic;">Legal Ease: A Guide to Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedure</span>, and, if you have not read the Patriot Act, you will be mightily surprised at the liberties that are taken away from us—but I digress.)<br /><br />So the military is upset about television depictions! Hel-oo-o. That’s what I’ve been saying on behalf of forensic science! How do you think the criminal justice system feels about all the stupid things that are “created” on television that one can only call <span style="font-style: italic;">bad infotainment</span>? It’s hard enough to make real life work, when people believe that forensic science and law enforcement can do all these made-up things that are almost all but impossible in a lot of criminal cases. Reality folks, can be the pits. And here I am having a hard time selling a book that will teach people who love the TV crime drama shows what is <span style="font-weight: bold;">real</span> and what is totally absurd—and I can’t get a publisher to take it on. What? the American public doesn’t want their bubble burst? They want to believe that things operate like they do on <span style="font-style: italic;">Bones,</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI—Las Vegas</span>? They want to get on a real life jury and make decisions about someone's future or very life when they don't know what's real? Pu-leese. Think on that.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2007-02-12-edtwo_x.htm">http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2007-02-12-edtwo_x.htm</a>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-55079324089111448962007-02-02T00:00:00.000-08:002007-02-02T00:09:56.451-08:00Breaking the LawI just finished doing the Subject Index for the 2nd edition of a criminal law book of mine, <span style="font-style: italic;">Legal Ease: A Guide to Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedure.</span> Indexing is weird. Not only is my brain a little skewed from thinking about legal terms in a backwards fashion, but the format fuses your left brain and right together somehow so I feel fried—glad it’s finished and in the mails on its last route before publication.<br /><br />We are trying to covert <span style="font-style: italic;">Legal Ease</span> into a textbook because I often get mail from law teachers asking for that format. So I added a section for definitions, questions and the like (even an essay part, poor students). But it reminded me how narrow the law really is, how exact the wording, and what constraints that puts on the players: the defense team, the prosecution, and even the judge and jury.<br /><br />Away, this got me to thinking about the TV crime dramas and forensics and the principals who play them. Most of them should be in jail themselves. The characters have a tendency to break the law. And just last night, I watched the main anthropologist on <span style="font-style: italic;">Bones</span>, Temperance Brennan, pull a very big gun out of her purse. Okay, so she works in this government facility, right? Well, it’s very unlikely that security are not out in front screening everyone who comes through the building. And did she have a "concealed gun" permit for said weapon? They never said in the story and she didn’t either. But surely alarms would have gone off on her arrival.<br /><br />Of course, I went back to watch some old <span style="font-style: italic;">Perry Mason</span> mysteries on television too. They showed them late at night on a channel that shows oldies—and I was very surprised to find out that Perry broke the law every week! He either set up the perpetrator by doing something shady, led police in a wild goose chase, secreted someone away, or withheld information. Of course, the audiences were not as savvy then, and I’m sure the script writers weren’t the best fact checkers either, but old Perry would have lost his license to practice many times. The American Bar Association would have had his number for sure!Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-15585824589212043062007-01-17T23:00:00.000-08:002007-01-17T23:05:42.203-08:00Empty Promises: Personal InvolvementSometimes I think the TV crime drama writers are on crack. Harsh? Well, let’s consider one topic that comes up on every single popular network show <span style="font-style: italic;">without fail</span>. In fact, when it begins to show up, I know the show is too mainstream. What do you think my little pet peeve might be?<br /><br />Of course, you looked at the title, it's the "empty promises." For some reason, and <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Crossing Jordan</span> seems to be the worst offender, every week they have Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a medical examiner, (who never does any work in my estimation, she’s hardly ever in the autopsy area), making promises to victims. It could be a mother, a child, a girlfriend, hey, she makes promises to all the victims no matter; and says, <span style="font-style: italic;">“I promise, we’re going to find the person who did this!”</span><br /><br />Argh. Give me a break. To begin, let’s assume that law enforcement and forensic scientists are professionals. In order to do their job, they must remain detached. Why? Well, most forensic scientists never leave the lab and when they do get evidence to analyze, it usually has a case number on it. In order to do what a scientist is supposed to do, and that is, to test evidence, they perform a series of whatever it is their department does, without trying to taint the evidence, convict someone in particular, or, it wouldn’t be <span style="font-style: italic;">impartial</span>—the keywords for science. Looking for impartial results. And usually they are doing several tests to make sure that there are no assumptions—just chemical answers or adequate testing of unknowns against knowns. That’s it.<br /><br />They would be a fool to make promises of any kind to a victim. First of all, with the backlog they’re working under, they might not see that evidence for weeks!<br /><br />And if they got personally or emotionally balled up in a crime, they’d be in the loony bin before month’s end. Who has that much compassion? It’s just ridiculous. Every time I hear those empty words, “I promise you . . .” I just want to pull my hair out. It’s emotional drivel and good for a story, but honestly, not actual day time reality.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-8528784756974875522007-01-10T00:29:00.000-08:002007-01-10T00:36:41.649-08:00The Media and YatesI am sure if you read the news or had caught it on the radio, you will have heard about Andrea Yates. She will always be known as the mother who drowned her five children in a bathtub at home.<br /><br />No doubt that Yates’ mental illness and troubled psyche predated the killings. She had a history of mental problems and was put on anti-psychotic medication, and had attempted suicide, I believe, a couple times before this incident. The murder case got a lot of press and there was even an issue that began here, it was about <span style="font-style: italic;">postpartum depression.</span><br /><br />What you may not have known or remember hearing was that in 2002, a jury rejected Andrea Yates’ insanity defense. At that time, she had been sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of three of her five children.<br /><br />But that conviction got overturned. Yes, a state of appeals court reversed that sentencing because an expert witness for the state, a psychiatrist, messed up. He testified that there was a television series called “Law and Order” that had aired an episode about a woman suffering from postpartum depression who drowned her children.<br /><br />Then, when her next trial came up in Houston, Texas, (which has been called “the death penalty capital of the world”) the jury reached a <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> verdict. After 13 hours of deliberation over three days, the jury finally decided that Yates should be committed to a state mental facility in Texas until she is deemed to be no longer a threat.<br /><br />Yates’ attorney Wendell Odom expressed the view that the correct decision had been made, he said that he believed his client was mentally ill and needed help and attention. But the Harris County District Attorney, Joe Owmby, essentially told reporters he was disappointed by the verdict. To paraphrase Mr. Ownby, he said that he’d always believed that she knew it was a sin and legally wrong to kill her children.<br /><br />Now whatever you think, the television show and the media played a big part in this case. Once, in the overturned sentencing; and again with the final decision. My feelings are that she was definitely mentally ill, had many bouts with illness, and it’s a sad commentary that her husband did not do more to help his wife or intervene to save his children. But, the prosecuting attorney claimed he feels that the heavy media coverage and the editorials in the local paper must have had an effect on the jury. He wasn’t accusing them of not deliberating correctly, but said that after living with it for the past five years, that they were “human beings”. Did he mean that media changed the jurors' minds?Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-65539415559120291352007-01-04T00:29:00.000-08:002007-01-04T00:33:11.964-08:00Crime Scene LocationsI’m often taken aback by the way certain television crime dramas depict homicides. A few things bother me that don’t relate to actual life or the current statistics collected and published by major reporting services like the National Crime Justice Reference Service (NCJRS).<br /><br />To begin, in 2004, homicide victimization rates for blacks were six times higher than for whites. Yet on almost every homicide case on your basic CSI-type show, the victims are white. And the majority of victims are killed by their own race: 86% of white victims were killed by whites; 94% of black victims were killed by blacks. That, too, is cast in a skewed manner.<br /><br />The number of homicides in which the circumstances were unknown is greater than any known category of circumstances. Because sometimes the answer is never concrete. Arguments are often cited as a frequent circumstance when known circumstances are given for murder. And then the other reasons people get killed are: in the commission of other felonies such as robbery, drug-related problems, or rape; or gang violence, which has increased almost 8-fold since 1976.<br /><br />And yet, you’ll watch several episodes of CSI-Miami for example, and the victims are mostly white. They live in extremely upscale areas. The people who are killed are rather prominent, judges, models, businessmen. And a lot of the action takes place in exclusive, glass-windowed homes on the water, or in expensive nightclubs, yachts, etc. In fact, I always comment to my husband how beautiful the camera pan-in shots are before each segment begins. It looks as if Miami has been whitewashed. The buildings are all deco, beautiful in shiny glass and steel. The waterways are immaculate and the ships upscale and very pricey. There is very little garbage. Even when they show a warehouse scene where they’ve chased a criminal, there is no trash and no graffiti. The houses that these victims get killed in also have no clutter, no knickknacks, no clothes lying around, no artifacts or signs of real life.<br /><br />In reality, most places that victims are found are low rent dives, trailer camps, poor neighborhoods and trashy establishments. It is mainly victims victimizing victims. Why? Because most criminals are desperate. They probably do drugs. They have no resources or safety nets. And they are just getting by or scrapping to live. Crime is less passion-driven than one of lack of resources. Most of these people do not have family that care about them. And the areas that they live in are dirty, toxic and downright disgusting.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-12212113084608359432006-12-27T22:32:00.000-08:002006-12-27T22:44:19.767-08:00Dress Code<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF1DuxrYfSiL9snR9Xra_ZKG85LCwawUEJwwl5-yGzlG3kOv4KQBRvgyl-rdLR6bWxxQLY_d4rsGlTfc7rvuXMJMmeUa8T-CQ8vdp6VAFbK5nT_vrRyFPHuRg3XDTlpM6FXmsB9b-ycx1/s1600-h/biohazard.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmF1DuxrYfSiL9snR9Xra_ZKG85LCwawUEJwwl5-yGzlG3kOv4KQBRvgyl-rdLR6bWxxQLY_d4rsGlTfc7rvuXMJMmeUa8T-CQ8vdp6VAFbK5nT_vrRyFPHuRg3XDTlpM6FXmsB9b-ycx1/s200/biohazard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5013464235682778354" border="0" /></a><br />Although I'm sure most of the men in the television audience would like to believe that a beautiful woman such as Calleigh Duquesne—the blonde from rural Louisiana, now a CSI—would be running around crime scenes in high heel boots, low-cut knit tops and white pants, all the while dabbing blood swabs and pulling out bullet casings, you’ve got your fix.<br /><br />And it isn’t any different over in Vegas with Catherine, or in New York with Stella Bonasara and her long, curly hair and décolleté peeking out of some very revealing tops while she looks quite serious, over the new corpse-of-the-week. <span style="font-style: italic;">TV Guide</span> ran promos of all these shows this past year and the glamour shots were very sexy indeed. But if you’re a TV crime drama producer and you need to draw an audience and keep them coming back, gorgeous women in precarious spots and dangerous situations is the way to do it.<br /><br />But, you, Dear Reader, know that crime scenes often contain hazardous chemicals; that biological contaminants can pose a critical threat to the health of police officers or crime scene technicians. Evidence that contains bodily fluids or stains, tissue or skin, toxic chemicals or other elements must be properly marked as <span style="font-style: italic;">biohazards</span>. The term, “biohazard,” is given to all live or once living organic material that can cause morbidity or mortality in man.<br /><br />Words such as bacterial agents, fungal agents, and parasitic agents come to mind; and let’s not forget viruses. Not only that, but the substances that are used to process crime scenes, such as blood reagents or latent fingerprint development chemicals can require face, mouth or eye protection. Often the chemicals are so toxic it’s like fumigating your house for bugs and vermin—everyone must leave until it processes, or at least until it is ventilated out of the air.<br /><br />Lab people too, are especially careful. A little site from the CDC states: "Primary hazards to personnel working with these agents relate to accidental percutaneous or mucous membrane exposures, or ingestion of infectious materials. Extreme caution should be taken with contaminated needles or sharp instruments. Even though organisms routinely manipulated at Biosafety Level 2 are not known to be transmissible by the aerosol route, procedures with aerosol or high splash potential that may increase the risk of such personnel exposure must be conducted in primary containment equipment. . ."<br /><br />Items for safety equipment may include items for personal protection, such as gloves, coats, gowns, shoe covers, boots, respirators, splash shields, safety glasses or goggles.<br /><br />Kind of adds a new light to breaching a crime scene when you’re actually dressed for dinner out. I’m looking at a catalog from <span style="font-style: italic;">Armor Forensic</span> (I really like their motto: Discover the Truth), and it has pictures of guys dressed in Tyvek (you know, the stuff that’s used for home insulation), disposable shoe booties—and even high-top versions—and, hey, they even sell a “Spit Net.” I guess that’s for when law enforcement have to transport somebody that intends to spew on anyone who touches them.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">(They won’t show that on TV!)</span>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-35204568803165062672006-12-19T22:50:00.000-08:002006-12-19T23:04:56.910-08:00Criminal Victimization or Am I in Danger?We are constantly reminded by newspapers and television news programs about the prevalence of violent crime. And it seems that this fact has not been lost on the producers of television shows. With three <span style="font-style: italic;">CSI</span> shows, <span style="font-style: italic;">Bones</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">NCIS</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cold Case</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Criminal Minds</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Justice,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Shark</span>, several <span style="font-style: italic;">Law & Order</span>(s), <span style="font-style: italic;">48 Hours</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Forensic Files</span>—and other investigative primetime shows of this ilk commandeering the crime drama slots, it’s no wonder crime and criminals are on our minds.<br /><br />In fact, you probably imagine violent crime to be more widespread that it actually is. Is this constant exposure having an effect on your thinking? To the point of badgering? Are your fears exaggerating your actual danger?<br /><br />In 2004, the year in which the most recent comprehensive data are available, the FBI reported a total of 16,140 murders or nonnegligent manslaughters. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, this total actually represents a 2.4% decrease from the 16,530 murders recorded in 2003. Now granted, if your family had to bury someone because of violent crime, that number is most meaningful and I am truly sorry. But in reality, from 1993 to 2005, the violent crime rate was down 58%—from 50 to 21 victimizations per 1,000 persons aged 12 or older. And, hey, our population is reaching 300 million, with about 244,493,430 ages 12 or older.<br /><br />Now I’m well aware that <span style="font-style: italic;">USA TODAY</span> ran a piece from Washington that said violent crime rose in the first half of the year—that last year violent crime rose 2.2% nationally, and this year is it showing 3.7% when compared to the first six months of 2005. On the wing of this, the Bush administration is asking for $1.2 billion in crime-fighting grants, so there is a heavy political game on-going.<br /><br />And don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to see this trend. It’s just that, as a whole, homicides are not on every street corner. One very important statistic, (yes, I know they are a pain to read and easily manipulated according to its viewpoint,) but, based on the preliminary data, the homicide rate for 2005 is an estimated 5.7 per 100,000 individuals. That means folks, if you lined up 100,000 people, five of them are getting whacked. Odds are, it won’t be you.<br /><br />Who is getting killed? Well, most murder victims are male (78%). Half are white (49.8%), almost half were black (47.6%) and 2.6% is someone else (not much value here). 77% of the victims knew their offender and firearms were used in the majority (70%). Offenders were most often male (90%) and age 18 or older (92%). Homicide is generally intraracial and <span style="font-style: italic;">most often incited by an argument</span> (44%). We have some angry and sick people, don't argue with them.<br /><br />Females are victimized by someone they know (18% intimates), and males are more likely to be hurt by a stranger (54%). Now there are many more things to talk about, but suffice it to say, the fear numbers in your head and on bad box screen, are markedly worse than reality.Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2473943050913986447.post-11333599073841231052006-12-13T01:26:00.000-08:002006-12-13T01:45:09.348-08:00Honest Appraisal, No Delusions<span style="font-family: times new roman;">I know your favorite televsion shows are crime scene based. I like them too. But you gotta know, there are a lot of things wrong with what you're seeing on TV. Because I have this "insider" position—with my friends and colleagues who actually work in the criminal justice system—I can let you know exactly what is bunkum and what's the truth. And don't you want to know?<br /><br />One of the things I do for free is to act as a helper/mentor on the site Pitsco's "Ask an Expert." For about nine or ten years now I've gotten mail from this site and most of it is from teenagers doing reports, high school students looking for career information, and even elementary school dearlings looking for projects for science fair, and I gotta tell you, they are really surprised to find out that a lot of<span style="font-style: italic;"> CSI-Las Vegas, New York</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Miami</span> (not to mention <span style="font-style: italic;">Crossing Jordan</span>, one of the most blatant in la-la land) is made up by writers who are just telling a good yarn. Okay, so let that not be YOU. You want the real dope, the actual low-down on what this crime business is all about.<br /><br />Well, in order to get you the real stuff, I will interview some of my friends (oh, they'll love that), explain certain procedures, and draw your eyes to information sources that even <span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> use.<br /><br />Some of the topics we'll tackle have to do with job descriptions (how does what); crime scene techniques, lab equipment and capabilities, and then we'll also take a stab at the worse offenses, and the repercussions of putting nonsense on TV. <br /><br />Send me your thoughts, keep up to speed on the posts (I'll try for <span style="font-style: italic;">at least once a week</span>—hey, I gotta write books and do speaking engagements and all that other author-type schtick, don't I? Gimme a break.) In the meantime, tell your friends and act supportive. Looking to form relationships and readers out of you.<br /><br />Stay sane.<br /></span>Andrea Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645234553457326971noreply@blogger.com10