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Detective Bureau
Information Regarding Forensic Requests
[tsslogo=150][/tsslogo]
Detective Bureau
Information Regarding Forensic Requests
1.1 Overview
This notice is going to be going over some guidelines relating to forensic requests. It'll highlight what you, as an investigator and a holder of a CSI qualification certificate, are capable of doing as a standalone qualified officer without the requirement of trained laboratory staff having to handle it.
First and foremost - The Technical Services team are still limited in numbers overall. We are made up of specialized forensic analysts who are trained in performing laboratory work following a crime scene, as the job entails. However, we are not always available to conduct every request that comes across us simply due to constraints in our team's size, and backlog. This is being addressed with a new batch of analysts coming in, but still will remain a small section. Please keep this in mind.
Qualified CSI certificate-holding officers, as per the current revision of the CSI Manual, still entitle you to utilize and conduct light laboratory work. The qualficiation awards you with the neccessary knowledge & training to do so. I ask of you to please remember that fact when it comes to forensic work requests.
Regarding request work itself - Please ensure the priority you assign is appropriate to the work required, as a high or urgent priority should only be utilized if it's appropriately needed, and sparingly due to staff size. Below will list what would be considered each level of priority. A house robbery is not as high priority as a double homicide. Fingerprint lifting are not as high a priority as a GFR swab analysis. Ensure you take this into consideration, and understand the cogs involved in making the Section turn.
Below is a list of different topics surrounding common requests. Below those, exists the TLDR version. But I urge you read the entire topic. Thank you.
2.1 Procedures
2.2 Fingerprints
- Fingerprints are one of the most common forms of identification we all have our disposal. Most cases will involve fingerprints in some form.
A qualified CSI-certified officer, may operate laboratory equipment regarding developed fingerprints following a crime scene. Most requests involving fingerprints have had the certified employee develop the fingerprints already, to be utilized in laboratory work. Seeing as it's already developed on your behalf for the purpose of a request - As you are certified, you have access to utilize the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System for comparisons to existing samples. ((In our case, the MDC. If your suspect(s) or victims have existing MDC fingerprint entries, you have your match result there and then. If not, they simply don't and you cannot definitively state so.)) Please use this before sending already developed fingerprints over for analysis, it will only result in the same process.
Non-Certified officers would not have the creditials to utilize this system. However the majority of Detective Bureau personnel are CSI-certified. In the event you are not certified, roleplay that fact accordingly and reach out to a certified officer, or Technical Services member to be able to utilize IAFIS. ((Again, in our case it would be just MDC automatic fingerprint matches. No sample, no match - unless suspect consents to their prints being matched on a database. Then you may use that information.))
Should no sample exist for the person, then you must send in a request, e-mail or contact Technical Services in order to do a deeper analysis, or discuss the possibilty of such. I ask that you, prior to this, have neccessary OOC information (Confirmation from suspect, some enlightment details regarding the scene etc.) regarding who, where and how aspects of that crime tie to the suspect. Most of you do this already, but it helps speed up the process for all parties involved. Before you go forward with requests, ensure you have sufficient information to warrant the utilization of requesting work be done.
TLDR; If below critera met - you may use relevant laboratory equipment (IAFIS/MDC) for automatic match.
- Certified CSI Officer/Detective/Technican
- Developed Fingerprints with an existing MDC record on suspect
- Already have OOC Information regarding suspect/consent
- OR Have OOC Consent from the suspect their fingerprints exist on a database already
2.3 Ballistics
- Ballistics analysis are another common form of requests we recieve.
A qualified CSI-certified officer may operate laboratory equipment regarding certain ballistics following a crime scene. Most requests involve asking us to check a firearm to be utilized in laboratory work. While this is fine, you can actually check some preliminary information yourself, providing the firearm contains a serial. As you are certified, you have access to utilize the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network/NIBIN for comparisons to existing samples. ((In our case, the MDC and the /casing command. Existing casings on our system are linked to the serial that ejected them. As these would have IC'ly been logged when you 'Turn in Casings', they are on the database. You can use /casing testserial X, IC'ly at the ballistics terminal in the lab. If it provides a match, then you can use that information without needing to send the gun to us to check.))
Like above in 2.2, this system only allows the valid creditials of a certifed CSI officer/detective/technician to use. Reach out to one if you are not certifed and require the use of this system.
In the event that the weapon does not contain a serial, then you must send in a request, e-mail or contact Technical Services for a deeper analysis or discuss the possibilty to do so. Once again, I ask you have some preliminary information at the ready before pursuing this, as it will help speed up the process. If it resulted in the death of a victim, please try your best to get the Coroner report with the information box visible that contains the fragment serials, so that we can pursue those serials for a weapon. This will help us get a match without needing to fire the weapon. If you cannot provide that, then we will run water-tank exemplar tests to get sufficient casings to see if other casings exist on the system. If no match, then the weapon has not been utilized in previous cases/or is unknown to law enforcement.
((If the suspect gives consent that their firearm, and/or casings found on scene match to a database, then you may use that information and factor it in for a automatic match status on the system. Their full consent supersedes what the script will spew out, as it can often lead to false no-matches scriptwise but the suspect is fine and content with their gun/casings matching.))
TLDR; If below critera met - you may use relevant laboratory equipment (NIBIN IC'ly, /casing testserial OOC'ly) for automatic ballistic fragment matches.
- Certified CSI Officer/Detective/Technican
- Sufficent casings exist on the database for a match
- Firearm of interest has a serial according to the script/inventory system
- Have OOC Information regarding suspect/the firearm in question
- OR Have OOC Consent from the suspect their firearm and/or casings exist on a database
2.4 DNA Analysis
- DNA analysis is another form of common request we recieve here.
A qualified CSI-certified officer may operate laboratory equipment regarding a threshold of a DNA sample has been met following a crime scene. Most requests involve asking us to check DNA samples that have been turned in. While this is fine, you can actually check some preliminary information yourself, providing the sample came from the suspect with prior arrests. As you are certified, you have access to utilize the State DNA Index Systems varient of the Combined DNA Index System/CODIS for comparisons to existing samples. ((In our case, the MDC again. Please ensure that when you roleplay utilizing this system, you are accessing the State of San Andreas index of this system. You, in your capacity at the department would not have access to the entire CODIS database, unlike the other systems I mentioned. This is by design as its a powerful database, with laws surrounding it and with access not usually obtained unless it falls under a federal investigation.))
Like above in 2.2 and 2.3, this system only allows the valid creditials of a certifed CSI officer/detective/technician to use the state-level index. Reach out to one if you are not certifed and require the use of this system.
The State-level CODIS index lists everyone who has ever been arrested and undergone a DNA sample check (As is standard when you arrest someone.) in the State of San Andreas. There is a forensic index along with this system, that keeps profiles collected from crime scenes, however that is not as prevailant as an arrestee's DNA sample. This means, you should realistically only ever get the DNA match of the suspect on the system, if they had prior arrests. Should a victim's (if involved) DNA be found - it should only provide a match if they too have a record with DNA on file. We most likely will never utilize the non-criminal portion of this database, such as the Missing Persons Index or the Unidentified Human Remains Index.
((If the suspect gives consent that their DNA, in any shape or form is found to match a database, then you may use that information and factor it in for a automatic match status on the system. Their information is required to conduct these investigations anyway, but in the event they are not on the MDC, but give consent, then the match could be IC'ly linked to the entire State-level CODIS index. If they want their DNA known, then so be it.))
TLDR; If below critera met - you may use relevant laboratory equipment (State DNA Index System/SDIS) for automatic DNA sample matches.
- Certified CSI Officer/Detective/Technican
- Suspect has prior arrests or a MDC record with a DNA sample on file
- Sufficent enough of a DNA sample that could provide a realistic match
- Have OOC Information regarding suspect(s) in question
- OR Have OOC Consent from the suspect their DNA exist on a database already
2.5 Gunfire Residue Analysis
- GFR analysis is another form of common request we recieve here.
A qualified CSI-certified officer must perserve the GFR sample, and request, e-mail or speak with a Technical Services member in order to perform a laboratory analysis on GFR samples. A qualified CSI-certified officer may utilize a field-test kit on a swab containing GFR, with the use of the provided investigation kit in their patrol vehicle's trunk. This test, however, will only provide a preliminary result as it will test positive for the presense of said residue, but will not provide accurate lasting results, and not hold up in court. This is why ideally you should request a follow up confirmation on the GFR to cover yourself, after you made the arrest and whatnot following the positive test result.
((You must ensure you ask follow up OOC questions in regards to GFR. As you will be doing that anyway at any rate, ensure the information is saved and when you request or speak via email to TSS, you can provide the consent the suspect gives that they had GFR present on their clothing/hands/whereever.))
TLDR; If below critera met - you may use a field test kit (Found inside your standard CSI kit) for a GFR positive, followed by requesting the laboratory to follow up.
- Certified CSI Officer/Detective/Technican
- Sample has not surpassed 6 hours and been preserved
- Will ensure to send the sample to the laboratory and make neccessary follow-up request
- Have OOC Information regarding suspect(s) in question
