BOOKS
Crime Scene Evidence
Crime Scene and Evidence Photographer's Guide
Introduction to Fingerprint Comparison
Courtroom Testimony for the Fingerprint Expert
Under the Headset: Surviving Dispatcher Stress
SUPPLIES
ORDERING
LINKS
OTHER BOOKS YOU CAN ORDER ONLINE
©1999 -- ©2005
Staggs Publishing
Copyright
Information
Evidence Collection Supplies
Fingerprint Kit $34.95
Magazine Discounts
Crime Scene Evidence
A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence
ISBN 0-9661970-5-4
Published 2001
by Mike Byrd
Crime Scene Evidence: A Guide to the Recovery and Collection of Physical Evidence was written by a veteran crime scene investigator. The book is designed to be carried in the field and used as a reference in the recovery, collection, and packaging of crime scene evidence. Categories of evidence covered in this book include impression evidence, forensic biology evidence, trace evidence, firearms evidence and questioned documents. The book contains numerous photographs, diagrams and tables. Topics cover most evidence located at crime scenes from fingerprints, including fingerprints on human skin, to recovering bullets from inside walls. This 102 page 5 ½" by 8 ½" book includes an appendix listing likely evidence found at scenes by type of investigation.
Contents Include
- Chapter 1--Impression Evidence
- Fingerprints
- Categories of prints
Discovery
Recovery
Mechanical development
Technique for mechanical processing
Magnetic application
Documenting the lift
Packaging for submission
Fingerprints from human skin
Working with irregular surfaces
Working with wet surfaces
Chemical processing
Elimination prints
Tool Marks
Footwear
Bite Marks
- Chapter 2--Forensic Biology Evidence
- What We Need to Know
Hazards at a Scene
Safety Practices
Scene Documentation
Collection Techniques
The Corpse
- Chapter 3--Trace Evidence
- Equipment
Hair and Fiber Evidence
- Persons and clothing
Vehicle
Glass
Tape
Fire Debris
Gunshot Residues
- Collection methods
- Chapter 4--Firearms Evidence
- Weapons
Firearm Collection
- Submission of safe weapons
Submission of unsafe weapons
Ricochet Marks
Evidence Interpretation
- Chapter 5--Question Documents
- Appendix
- Likely Evidence by Type of Investigation
Probable Items of Evidence by Scene
- Suspect
Victim
Vehicles and Vessels
Residence or Structure
Outdoor Scenes
- In Closing
About the Author
Mike Byrd has been in law enforcement for eighteen years with the Metro Dade Police Department, including five years in uniformed patrol and thirteen years in the department’s Major Cases Unit of the Crime Scene Investigation Bureau. He has handled many high profile crime scenes including the Valujet crash, Jimmy Ryce abduction and murder, and the Tamiami Strangler serial killer case.
Mike is a certified police standards instructor for the states of Florida and Arkansas and has developed and instructed many classes in crime scene identification. This includes the Crime Scene Evaluation and Latent Fingerprint Recovery class he developed and instructs that has been referred to as the "Field Training Officer’s crime scene class." Mike received national recognition for this class when it was awarded the NACO outstanding achievement award.
Mike is a member of the South Florida Forensics Association, Florida Division of the International Association for Identification (having served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Crime Scene Committee), and the Miami-Dade County Public School Board Criminal Justice Advisory Committee.
Mike has received many awards including the Metro Dade Police Department’s Silver Medal of Valor for devotion to duty during the investigation of the Valujet 592 crash.
A Comment from the Author
The purpose of this book is to give the investigator a quick and easy reference guide to the collection, handling, and packaging of crime scene evidence. It is meant to assist everyone working in the field of evidence collection--from the first responding officer, to the newly assigned investigator, to the savvy veteran with many crime scene responses under his/her belt. The first responding officer may find himself/herself involved in a situation where he/she will need to collect a particular piece of evidence for whatever reason. In the beginning the crime scene trainee, regardless of their previous experience, can often times find that the job appears to be overwhelming. This is usually due to the abundant task and knowledge required to fulfill the duties of a crime scene investigator or evidence recovery technician. On the same pretext, the crafty veteran may find himself/herself assigned to do a task that he/she hasn't performed in a long time. As in any occupation if something is not done on a continuous basis, the basic knowledge need for completing that task may be temporarily forgotten. Hopefully this text will assist everyone in carrying out the task of crime scene evidence recovery and collection with ease.