CRIMINAL IDENTIFICATION

Leah M. Donato
A little bit of
history…
ALPHONSE
BERTILLION

• Father of Personal Identification

• A French Criminologist who devised a
system of bodily measurements for the
identification of the criminals, which was
widely used until superseded by
fingerprinting at the beginning of 20th
Century.
• Anthropometry and Portrait Parle
 • A very old science which
ANTHROPOMETRY
relates to the measurement of
body dimensions.
INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
RECORDED:

• Descriptive Data
• Bodily Marks
• Bodily Measurements
• Photograph of the full face and right profile
PORTRAIT PARLE

• Literally means “word

picture”.
• This refers to the method of
describing people verbally.
What happened to Bertillon System?

• 1903
• It was this incident that caused the
Bertillon system to “fall flat on his
head”. (Don Whitehead)
• Leavenworth Penitentiary
The Three (3) General Groups of
Criminal Identification Techniques
+ Criminalistics methods- scientific methods
+ Methods using Eyewitnesses and Victims
+ Methods using known criminals
CRIMINALISTICS OR
SCIENTIFIC METHODS
FINGERPRINTING

+ It is a positive means of identification

because fingerprints are positive
proofs of personal identity.
+ NO TWO PERSONS HAVE
IDENTICAL FINGERPRINTS IN
THEIR INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTERESTICS.
+ Most reliable and conclusive means of
establishing personal identity
Blood Typing (Blood
Analysis)
+ Karl Landsteiner
+ This involves the classification of red
blood cells by the presence of specific
substances on their surface as a pre
requisite for blood transfusion.
+ Type A, B, AB, and O.
DNA TYPING

+ Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is

a nucleic acid of complex
molecular structure forming a
principal constituent of the
genes and known to play a very
important role in the genetic
action of the chromosomes.
DNA TYPING

+ Chromosomes
are the carrier of human genes
a normal person has 46 chromosomes or 23pairs
+ DNA typing can be used for the elimination of
association of suspects with a crime victim or a CS
(with exception of identical twins).
VOICEPRINT ANALYSIS

+ It is also known as voice printing, speaker identification

and voice identification.
+ It involves the graphical identification by using a sound
spectrograph.
+ Sound spectrograph is used to convert the sound of the
voice recorded on the magnetic tape to a visual form.
CRYPTOGRAPHY

+ It is the art and process

of writing and sending
messages in the forms of
ciphers or codes.
Simple Substitution
cipher
+ It is the most common cipher
use by criminals
+ A symbol, letter or digit
stands for another symbol,
letter or digit.
+ The simplistic thinking of
many criminals confines the
substitution to a simple order
such as 1 represent A, 2 for B
etc…..
Transposition
Cipher
• These are characterized
by a changed in the order
of the enciphered
material.
• Investigators find it
fairly common in
recording telephone
numbers.
Reversal Transposition

+ Telephone number 442-2564 becomes 465-2244

Split combination

• For example: 442-3316 becomes 413-3246 etc…

PORTRAIT PARLE

• Literally means “word

picture”.
• This refers to the method of
describing people verbally.
ROGUES GALLERY
• This method is successful if there is an existing photograph of the perpetrator in the files/gallery of
the police or law enforcement agencies.
• The witness is invited to the police station and then requested to examine the photographic files of
known criminals
Cartography
• The witness and the investigator develop a picture of a criminal with the help of skilled cartographer.
• Based on the description provided by the witness, the artist draws a composite face that approximates
the criminal’s face appearance.
POLICE LINE UP
• This involves the process of allowing a witness to select the primary suspect from a group of
chosen persons (suspects and innocent persons).
 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

It is the process of recognizing, searching,

collecting, preserving, and documenting physical
evidence at the crime scene (CS).

It covers the process of identifying and

interviewing witnesses and/or victims at the CS,
including on-the-spot arrest of suspects.
 CRIME SCENE

The place to search for evidence.

It refers to the physical location where a suspect
either commits an illegal act or leaves physical
evidence of such act.
It is a portion of a territory where an offense has
been committed.
 CRIME SCENE SEARCH

- is the process of searching and locating physical

evidence in the crime scene.
 SCENE OF CRIME OPERATION

- It is a forensic procedure performed by trained

personnel of the PNP Crime Laboratory through
scientific methods of investigation for the purpose of:
(a)preserving the crime scene
(b)gathering information
(c)Documentation
(d)collection and
(e)examination of all physical evidence.
 SCENE OF CRIME OPERATION

Is the conduct of processes, more particularly the

recognition, search, collection, handling,
preservation and documentation of physical
evidence
 SPECIAL CRIME INVESTIGATION

It is a special study of modern techniques in the

investigation of serious and specific crimes including
murder, homicide, rape, abortion, robbery, arson
kidnapping, blackmail, carnapping and criminal
negligence.

The emphasis is on physical evidence rather than an

extra judicial confession. Special crime investigation
focuses on specific crimes which by their nature are
difficult and complex to investigate.
THE CRIME SCENE
 CRIME SCENE

Example:
A young girl was abducted from her bedroom one
evening. She was then transported by car to a
small hut in an isolated place and sexually
assaulted.
Following the assault, the abductor shot her to
death and carried the body into the woods where he
buried it in a shallow grave.
 CRIME SCENE

QUESTION:

What are the locations in the given example that

constitute the Crime Scene?
 CRIME SCENE

ANSWER:
1) Bedroom
2) Car
3) Small hut
4) Area around the grave
 CRIME SCENE

Physical evidence found at the scene can be the key

to the solution of the crime.
The first officer’s most important task at the scene
is to prevent the destruction or diminish the value
of potential evidence that may lead to the
apprehension of the criminal and the ultimate
resolution of the crime.
 CRIME SCENE

WHAT CONSTITUTES A CRIME

SCENE?

1. The crime scene can be understood to

include all areas in which the criminal, any
possible victim, and any eyewitness moved
during the time the crime was committed.
 CRIME SCENE

WHAT CONSTITUTES A CRIME SCENE?

2. The boundaries must be established so that the

entire crime scene can be effectively preserved.

In some crimes, however, the crime scene may

actually comprise several different sites.
 CRIME SCENE

Primary Crime Scene

- location of original or first criminal act
Secondary Crime Scene
- location of subsequent criminal acts
Example: The site of a Murder and the subsequent
location where the body was moved.
Conveyance Crime Scene
- any transportation that may have been used in the
crime
 CRIME SCENE

Crime scene are diverse and unique.

“No two scenes are exactly the same.”
 CRIME SCENE

Forensic science begins at the crime scene.

Every forensic investigator has to recognize
physical evidence and properly preserve it for
laboratory examination.
Any amount of sophisticated laboratory
instrumentation or technical expertise can
salvage the situation if physical evidence is not
collected properly.
 CRIME SCENE

“The techniques of crime-scene

investigation are not difficult to master
and certainly lie within the bounds of
comprehension of the average police
officer.”
 LOCARD’S PRINCIPLE
“Every contact leaves a Hair on clothes;
trace!”
Fingerprints on glass;
Whenever two objects
come together they always Soil tracked into a house;
have physical transfer. Drop of blood on a t-shirt;
These materials that is Paint chips and broken
transferred is called
TRACE EVIDENCE; and glasses;
may include the following: Fibers from clothings,
rugs, beddings, etc.
 CRIME SCENE

Classification of crime scenes can be

based on:
1. Location
Primary: site of original or first criminal
activity
Secondary: any subsequent sites of criminal
activity
 CRIME SCENE

Classification of crime scenes can be based on:

2. Size
a. Macroscopic crime scene: composed of many
crime scenes (overall area)
b. Microscopic crime scene: focused on specific
types of physical evidence found at the
macroscopic crime scene
 CRIME SCENE

Classification of crime scenes can be

based on:
3. Condition of the Crime Scene
a. Organized
b. Disorganized
 CRIME SCENE

Classification of crime scenes can be based

on:
4. Physical Location of the Scene
a. indoors
b. outdoors
c. vehicle
d. etc.
CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE
 EVIDENCE

- is the means, sanctioned by the Rules of

Court, of ascertaining in a judicial proceeding
the truth respecting a matter of fact.
 EVIDENCE:TYPES

1. TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE
- The most common form of evidence, and it
is obtained through interview and interrogation
– events which witness see, smell, taste, and
touch are described to the investigator through
oral and written testimony.
 EVIDENCE:TYPES

2. DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE
This includes writings, including official
records.

- One which is supplied by written

instruments, or derived from symbols which
ideas are represented on material substances,
like letters, wills, deed or contract.
 EVIDENCE:TYPES

3. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Evidence addressed to the senses of the
court, as when objects are exhibited for the
personal observation of the judge.
It is also called real evidence – any kind of
object associated with the investigation, but it
must be a tangible item.
 EVIDENCE:PRINCIPLES

1. The evidence should reach the laboratory

as much as possible in the same condition as
when it is found.

2. The quantity of specimen should be

adequate.
 EVIDENCE:PRINCIPLES

3. Submit a known or standard specimen for

comparison purposes.

4. Keep each specimen separate from others

so there will be no intermingling or mixing of
known and unknown material.
 EVIDENCE:PRINCIPLES

5. Mark and label each piece of evidence for

positive identification as the evidence taken
from a particular location in connection with
the crime under investigation.

6. The chain of custody of evidence must be

maintained.
 DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS

SPECIALISTS
Consider what specialists might be necessary
to assist with the processing of the crime
scene.
Specialists include pathologists,
anthropologists, entomologists, botanists,
geologists, fingerprint specialists, bomb
technicians, engineers etc.
 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
(In the Absence of SOCO Assistance)

Report of Incident  Save and Preserve life.

 Provide emergency first aid for those injured at the
to Police Unit scene.
 Prepare to take the “Dying Declaration” of severely
injured person if any.
 Arrest, detain, and remove any suspect present if more
than one (1) isolate.
 Cordon the area to secure and preserve the crime scene.
First Responders proceed  Prevent entry of persons into the cordoned area.
to the Crime Scene  Conduct preliminary interview of witnesses to determine
what and how crime was committed.
 Prepare to brief the investigators of the situation upon
their arrival.

 Conduct assessment of the crime scene

 Investigate the Incident
Investigator-on-Case
 Conduct Crime Scene Processing
arrive at the crime scene 1. Search and evaluate Evidences at
the Crime Scene
2. Documentation
(Photographs and
Sketches)
3. Collection, custody and transport
of Evidences
 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
(Requiring SOCO Assistance)
Report of Incident
to Police Unit
First Responders proceed
to the Crime Scene
Investigator-on-Case
arrive at the crime scene
Investigator-on-Case
request for SOCO Assistance
Investigator-on-Case Turn-over
Crime Scene to SOCO
Conduct of SOCO
by Crime
Laboratory
Release of Crime Scene
To Investigator-on-Case
 Save and Preserve life.
 Provide emergency first aid for
those injured at the scene.
 Prepare to take the “Dying
Declaration” of severely injured
person if any.
 Arrest, detain, and remove any
suspect present if more than one
(1) isolate. assessment of the
Conduct
 Cordon the area to secure and
crime scene
preserve the crime scene.
 Investigate the Incident
 Prevent entry of persons into the
cordoned area.
 Conduct preliminary interview of
witnesses to determine what and
how crime was committed.
 Prepare to brief the investigators
of the situation upon their
 arrival.
Evaluate Evidences at the
Crime Scene
 Documentation
(Photographs and Sketches)
 Collection / handling of
Evidences
 Custody and Transport of
 (PNP Operational Procedures
Evidences
Sec, 4 para. i)
STAGES OF CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATION
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

Preliminary Statement:

The CRIMINALISTICS (SOCO) team

shall enter the crime scene ONLY after
a proper coordination with the
investigator-on-case (signed
coordinating document)
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

1. Team Leader (TL) enters crime scene

CAUSTIOUSLY (role of reason) followed by the
Photographer who must initially photograph
the crime scene and obvious pieces of evidence;
Why?
a. Determine Hazards
b. Determine the nature of crime and possible pieces of evidence; and
c. What method of search shall be employed.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

2. When the team leader discovers

presence of life (in case of violent
incidents), TL calls for the Medico-legal
Officer to affirm TL’s findings;
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

3. Medico-legal Officer in coordination with TL

directs the retrieval of victim to a safe place;
meanwhile other members of the team should
have established a CRIME SCENE
COMMAND POST (CSCP), which MUST BE
FREE secured and from disturbance during the
crime scene processing.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

4. What is the significance of a CSCP?

a. Venue of a coordinating instruction by the Team
Leader
b. Temporary secured area where equipment and
evidence are stored
c. For media and other person’s inquiry (NOTE: The
ONLY authorized MEDIA RELATION OFFICER, is the
Team Leader);
d. Communications
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

5. After the retrieval of injured

person(s) (victim(s)), TL together with
the Photographer approaches the
CSCP; a briefing will be done.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

6. Searchers (2 or more) (Technicians from Ballistics,

Fingerprint, Chemist, Physical Identification
(trajectory), and Biological) and Photographer enters
crime scene; searcher searches for pieces of evidence
and places the number or identifying number of the
pieces of evidence; at the same time the photographer
takes photographs of these searched and numbered
pieces of evidence.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

7. After the searchers have placed the

number of the pieces of evidence; they
vacate the premises and back to the
CSCP; while the Photographer remains
at the crime scene;
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

8. The Evidence Custodian enters the scene and

collects the pieces of evidence according to the
numbers earlier placed; custodian at this point
MUST record the identities of these pieces of
evidence.
NOTE: as Custodian collects and place evidence
in each container as appropriate; the
Photographer records the act.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

9. After the collection of the evidence;

both evidence collector and assistant
together with the photographer shall go
back to CSCP.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

10. A brief conference by the Team Leader,

(usually to re-check whether there might have
been “a misappropriate look of crime scene
evidence”
- at this point and time it is encourage that a
check list should have been prepared, so it
would be easy for the members to check
whether the pieces of evidence are complete.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

11. The TL instructs the conduct of

FINAL SURVEY, all members should
have to scour the area, appropriate
search method shall be applied
dependent of the terrain.
 STAGES IN CS PROCESSING

12. Turn –over of the scene to the

Investigator-on-case.
(Receipts and acknowledgement of the
turn-over signed and witnessed)