Curiosities

In forensic jargon, the collection initially receives the name of "traces". When the professionals prove that a trace is closely related to the fact investigated and incorporate it in the criminal proceedings, it amounts to the category of evidence.

To carry out its searches, the police investigator is always accompanied by a suitcase with diverse tools such as pliers, tweezers, scissors, spatula, keys, files, shovel, stylus, mask, gloves, latex, magnifying glass, syringes for liquid samples, bags, bottles and molds for footprints. The games of powder, brushes and reagents are vital for traces. To examine tissues and pieces of clothing in search of saliva, blood or semen they need a blue light, a pair of oranges lenses and ultraviolet radiation. Some basic elements are scotch tape, paper, pencils and compass to locate the precise location.

If you want to learn more about the suitcase that accompanies the investigator visit the website: http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/treinamento/novoemfolha41/te21062006067.shtml

In the next post you can watch the continuation of the video of the crime, and how the criminal law field acts in its resolution.

Resume of the Month:

Over the months November and December, the group BI 126, developed several activities such us: the establishment of the crime, searching for sponsorship and preparation of experience.
We could not fail to mention our immense gratitude to those who worked with us and also the institutions that provided monetary aids and material. These institutions are:

- Caixa Geral de Depósitos;

- IPJ;

- DentalAnha;

- Farmácia Barbosa.

In the pictures below you can see Luisa and Teresa (except Ana that is taking the picture), and in the last image we have Inês and Vera (I'm not there (Andreia), because I am also taking the picture), working for the crime that is in this blog.

Bibliography: "A nova ciência conta o crime", Super Interessante, number 105-January 2007; pages 53 to 57.

Written by: Andreia Faria
Translated by Vera Gonçalves

Results of the pool

The question was: The basic elements that the person that analyses the crime scene must use are... The options were: - Pliers, scissors - 14 votes - Adhesive Tape, paper, pencils - 14 votes - Keys, file, shovel - 11 votes - Magnifying glass, syringes, reagents - 22 votes Well, the correct answer was not the most voted. The correct answer was adhesive tape, paper and pencils. These are the most basic elements that the person that analyses the crime must use. In the next post you will find most of the elements that are part of the suitcase, so pay attention and wait for news.

Criminal law field and techniques

In this area all pieces of evidence are important and so that they do not change, or get lost or become contaminated, the crime scene must be kept intact until the forensic team finishes its work. Once the area is isolated, investigators begin a detailed examination of the place, doing a techical inspection. In the first fase:
· A documentation of the scene using photographs,videos, sketches, plans and written notes of the aspect of the scene as it was found.
· So that no detail is left unnoted the investigators search the isolated area in a spiral, box or linear fashion.
· Lastly the evidnece is numbered with a flag, jointly with a metric measurement and photographed.
Upon completing the screening, each piece of evidence is carefully collected, packaged, labeled and sent to the laboratory for an examination in depth. Hair, fiber, and body fluids that contain genetic material and volatile liquids ,being more fragile, therefore has priority. It is very important that the containers in which these are transported be completely identified with data such as date, time, the name of the victim, the location of the evidence, the type, number, the name of the person who collectd it and court case to which they belong. It is also essential that all the professionals involved or collaborated in the collection of evidence are recorded, in case any problems arise from cross contamination.

When it comes to finding fingerprints, the task is a bit more complicated. To make them visible, the police applies on the surface of objects a chemist reagent, powder or spray. There are different formulas, but most of them contain resin of trementina, ferric oxide and a black pigment obtained from soot . As it is impossible to cover all of the crime scene with the product, the search for fingerprints begins in the most possible probable points of entry of the culprit and extends to the area nearest to the place where the crime was committed, on objects that the criminal may have touched (switches, arms, doors,steering wheel, safes, drawers) and that may have been left on the tips of cigarettes, chewing gum and empty packets of tobacco.

Bibliography: "A nova ciência conta o crime", Super Interessante, number 105-January 2007; pages 53 to 57.

Written by: Andreia Faria
Translated by Teresa Felgueiras

Results of the pool

The second question was: What is the first step that the person responsible by criminal law in field must take when he/she arrives at the crime scene? The answers were: collect clues - 11 votes take phtots - 12 votes collect the body - 11 votes isolate the area - 26 votes The correct answer is isolate the area, that was the most voted by our visitors. This is one of the techniques used by specialists to make a very important exam - eye inspection. Do not miss the news about the procedures of criminal law in field.

Criminal law field

In the nineteenth century century legal medicine was the science applied to the search, investigation and proof of items related to crime materiality. With thw development of new knowledge in techinical areas, such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, toxicology..., arises the need for the creation of a new discipline of research, analysis and interpretation of traces found at crime scene.

Thus was born the Criminal law field, an independent science that comes to give support to the police and justice, with the aim of tge clarification of criminal cases.

The Criminal law field concerns itself primarly to determine in what way the offense is committed and who comitted it. It also includes questions: "how?", "why?","who?", "which instruments were used?", "fromwhere?", "when?", ie the Criminal law field uses a number of techiniques, procedures and sciences establishing the truth about the criminal act.

There are two types of Criminal law field:

• Biological - from biological traces which are found on the victim of a crime or on the crime scene, is compared with the genetic profile of the person.



• Non biological - is the analysis of digital printing, palms and feet. These tests can be carried out in the laboratory of scientific expertise of the Judicial Police.

Individuals who work in this area are called criminalists. These experts are the first to reach the scene, of the crime, they see what others don't see, catch the culprits, dominate the use of laser and ultiviolet rays, wear appeling uniforms and have at their disposal the most advenced technology.

Their work begins, as it can only be expected, at the crime scene.

Results of the Poll!

(the poll isn't available in the english version. But, the translation of the question and of the options is here) The first question was: What is the first area that must act on the resolution of the crime. The answers were: Psychology and Psychiatry - 2 votes (7%) Forensic Toxicology - 1 vote (3%) Criminal law field - 24 votes (85%) Forensic Anthropology - 1 vote (3%) The correct answer was the most voted: criminal law field. This will be the first area treated ... Visit us soon and you will find explanations on criminal law field...

The fatal cure...

As we promised, here we have the story of a crime that will be solved month to month, by using the science, of course !!!!!

prepare yourself...

A cry wounds the silence of that afternoon! Almost simultaneously, the phone starts a hubbub symphony in the pocket of one of the members of the "brigada de investigação 126" (the name of the scientific police that we created). The instinct isn't wrong: another mistery to solve.

Next station: crime scene. The set shudders: drops of blood stains the green grass, the phone is thrown on the floor where a strange code can be seen, a box of tablets apparently empty and some yellow chrysanthemums that don't match to the scene. All this climate is completed by a man's body, dropped back to the sky, covered in petals, which scared the unprepared couple.

Here you can see some photos of the crime (the movie isn't available in English):

In a few days, we are going to publish explanations on one of the areas of forensic science and then we are going to show how this area contributes to the resolution of this crime. Pay attention ...

Let´s Begin!!!!

During this first month of work, we proceeded to the choice of the theme of our project. This was decided according to our interests to the future that are related to our area: science and technology.

After defining some ideas, we worked on the pre-project where are our objectives, products that we expect, the material needed ...

Basically this whole project, based on forensic areas is related to the resolution of actual crimes. These areas are: law and criminal law field, biology-genetics and anatomy-pathology, legal medicine and tanatology, entomology and toxicology, anthropology and dentistry, psychiatry and psychology.

This blog will be updated twice a month, with the information about an area, the account of the activities developed by us on that mounth and a step in the resolution of a crime that will be launched soon ...

We will be back soon!!!!!