Criminalistics

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The Criminalistics Unit is comprised of three technical sections:

• Comparative Evidence
• Trace Evidence
• Arson Analysis

Comparative evidence is the forensic science discipline in which evidence marks, produced by objects such as tools, firearms, shoes, and tires a compared to the following:

• Other evidence marks
• Test marks produced by the suspect object
• The object itself

These comparisons are conducted for the purpose of determining whether the marks were produced by the same object. Physical matches are included in this discipline.

Photograph of a cartridge case comparison

Trace evidence analysis encompasses the identification, source determination, and comparison of:

• Hairs
• Fibers
• Paints and polymers
• Glass
• Gunshot residue
• Soil
• Other miscellaneous substances recovered in small quantity

A criminalist examines a flashlight for the presence of trace evidence using an alternative light source

Arson analysis is the analysis of fire-related debris for the presence of accelerant residues (i.e. gasoline, kerosene or other petroleum distillates).

Criminalist analyzing fire debris for the presence of an accelerant