DNA Evidence and Property Crime John F. Kennedy School of ... · DNA Evidence and Property Crime John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Detective Philip Stanford

DNA Evidence and Property DNA Evidence and Property CrimeCrime

John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard UniversityJohn F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Detective Philip StanfordDetective Philip Stanford Denver Police DepartmentDenver Police Department

Denver, CODenver, CO

February 27, 2009February 27, 2009

DenverDenver’’s DNA Project Trainings DNA Project Training

The Denver Police The Denver Police Department, the Department, the Denver D.A.Denver D.A.’’s office, s office, and the Federal and the Federal Government teamed up Government teamed up to study the impact of to study the impact of DNA on solving DNA on solving Burglary cases.Burglary cases.The success of this The success of this program started with program started with the training of the the training of the agencies involved.agencies involved.

Areas of TrainingAreas of Training

Detective Bureaus/ Supervisors Detective Bureaus/ Supervisors Patrol DistrictsPatrol DistrictsProperty BureauProperty Bureau

What to say and What not to sayWhat to say and What not to say

Do not try to explain the science of DNA (Alleles, Do not try to explain the science of DNA (Alleles, STR, extraction techniques)STR, extraction techniques)Do tell them they do not have testify about this Do tell them they do not have testify about this (that is for the attorney(that is for the attorney’’s and scientists)s and scientists)Do tell them this is a proven toolDo tell them this is a proven toolDo not tell them it will catch everybody and can Do not tell them it will catch everybody and can be found at every scenebe found at every sceneDo tell them leadership is behind itDo tell them leadership is behind it

EVIDENCE POSSIBLE LOCATION OF DNA ON EVIDENCE SOURCE OF DNA

baseball bat or similar weapon handle, end sweat, skin, blood, tissue

hat, bandanna, or mask Inside sweat, hair, dandruffeyeglasses nose or ear pieces, lens sweat, skin

facial tissue, cotton swab surface area mucus, blood, sweat, semen, ear wax

dirty laundry surface area blood, sweat, sementoothpick Tips salivaused cigarette cigarette butt salivastamp or envelope licked area salivatape or ligature inside/outside surface skin, sweatbottle, can, or glass sides, mouthpiece saliva, sweatused condom inside/outside surface semen, vaginal or rectal cells

blanket, pillow, sheet surface area sweat, hair, semen, urine, saliva

"through and through" bullet outside surface blood, tissue

bite mark person's skin or clothing salivafingernail, partial fingernail scrapings blood, sweat, tissue

1. A responding officer should ask a burglary victim whether anything in the residence appears to have been moved, handled, or touched by the burglar.

2. Additionally, an officer should inquire whether the victim has noticed anything unusual or out of the ordinary (i.e., a cigarette butt in a non-smoker’s home, a glove or mask she does not recognize, etc.).

Tips For Finding Biological Substances

As You Investigate Cases, Keep in Mind As You Investigate Cases, Keep in Mind That DNA Evidence Does More Than Just That DNA Evidence Does More Than Just

Identify the Source of the Sample RecoveredIdentify the Source of the Sample Recovered

It can place a known individual at a crime It can place a known individual at a crime scene, in a home, or in a room where the scene, in a home, or in a room where the suspect claimed not to have been.suspect claimed not to have been.It can refute a claim of selfIt can refute a claim of self--defense and put a defense and put a weapon in the suspect's hand.weapon in the suspect's hand.It can change a story from an alibi to one of It can change a story from an alibi to one of consent.consent.The more detectives know about how to use The more detectives know about how to use DNA, the more powerful a tool it becomes.DNA, the more powerful a tool it becomes.

DNA Changes the InterrogationDNA Changes the InterrogationThe successful The successful prosecution of a case prosecution of a case often relies on the often relies on the defendantdefendant’’s statement.s statement.Best: a confession in Best: a confession in which the defendant which the defendant admits the crime.admits the crime.Good: a statement in Good: a statement in which the suspect lies which the suspect lies and you can prove it.and you can prove it.DNA is the proof that DNA is the proof that the perpetrator is lying.the perpetrator is lying.

Keys to SuccessKeys to SuccessLeadershipLeadership

Buy in from the topBuy in from the topResources to achieve goalResources to achieve goalAccountabilityAccountability

TrainingTrainingNew and RemedialNew and Remedial

CommunicationCommunicationWith all parties involvedWith all parties involved(Police, Lab Personnel, and District Attorney)(Police, Lab Personnel, and District Attorney)

DNA Evidence Can Have a Strong DNA Evidence Can Have a Strong Impact on DenverImpact on Denver’’s Burglary Rates Burglary Rate

Many burglars are repeat, Many burglars are repeat, habitual offenders.habitual offenders.This husband and wife This husband and wife burglary team was caught burglary team was caught by DNA on the same by DNA on the same cigarette.cigarette.After their arrest, burglaries After their arrest, burglaries in the West Washington in the West Washington Park neighborhood dropped Park neighborhood dropped significantly: by 40%.significantly: by 40%.Success in this project will Success in this project will make Denver much safer make Denver much safer and will significantly reduce and will significantly reduce your caseload.your caseload.

David Weller

Dina Weller

DNA analysis is similar to fingerprint analysis in how matches are determined. When using either DNA or a fingerprint to identify a suspect, the evidence collected from the crime scene is compared with the “known” print or sample. If enough of the identifying features are the same, the DNA or fingerprint is determined to be a match.

DNA Analysis: Similar to

Fingerprint Analysis

Refers to the alleged assailant as “John Doe, an unknown male with a matching DNA profile.”

John Doe, aka GATTACA

Even if There is No CODIS Hit, We May Be Able to File a “John Doe” Case

Blood: Potential DNA Evidence Blood: Potential DNA Evidence at Burglary Crime Scenesat Burglary Crime Scenes

BloodBloodPoint of entry glassPoint of entry glassBandagesBandagesTissuesTissuesBloodstains on doors, Bloodstains on doors, walls, other itemswalls, other items

Audit the Work- Crime Lab checked property submitted for analysis versus placed into Property Bureau

- Comparison of Districts submitting requests

- CODIS hits submitted to back to officers that were not filed in court