DIVISION SERVICES & SUPPORT

The laboratories play a vital role in the criminal justice process. Scientific testimony is often the deciding factor in the judicial resolution of civil and criminal cases. The results of scientific analysis of evidence -- blood, semen, shreds of clothing, hair, fibers, glass, paint, soil, bullets or bullet casings, impressions, and other physical indications -- left at the scene of a crime can seem more compelling to a jury than the testimony of eyewitnesses.

The timely scientific analysis of any physical evidence relating to crimes against the citizens of the state is an integral part of ourservices. To support demands, forensic laboratory services are grouped into specialties, which include the analysis of different types of evidence.

Biochemistry:
Body fluids -- blood, saliva, semen, vaginal samples, and stains -- are examined and analyzed. Their identification and characterization can implicate or eliminate a suspect. The information derived from the examinations assists investigators as they reconstruct the events that occur during crimes, especially crimes against persons. DNA testing of whole blood and dried serological stains has been added to the traditional serological analytical protocols (rules) in this functional area.

CODIS Laboratory:

The WSP CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) laboratory generates profiles from convicted offenders for the state database.  In accordance with legislative mandate (RCW 43.43.752-43.43.759), the CODIS Laboratory receives and types DNA samples from individuals convicted of a felony or any one of the three gross misdemeanors: harassment, stalking, and communicating with a minor for immoral purpose. These samples are collected by law enforcement agencies across the state using DNA collection kits provided by the WSP CODIS Laboratory.  Training resources for our collecting agencies are listed below:

Collection Video Link

PowerPoint link

Newsletter link

Previous newsletters may be requested at confel@wsp.wa.gov

In addition to the offender portion of the database there are four other indexes:

Forensic: contains DNA profiles generated from crime scene evidence

Missing Persons

Relatives of Missing Persons

Unidentified Humans

DNA casework analysts type samples for these indexes. Profiles generated from evidence samples are entered into the state database and searched against samples in other indexes as appropriate. 

Eligible offender and casework profiles are subsequently uploaded to the National CODIS databank which links information from all fifty states. Investigative leads may be generated at the state or national level as follows:

Matching profiles in the Forensic Index  (a case-to-case match)

Matching profiles in the Forensic Index and the Offender Index

  (an offender hit)

Matching profiles in a missing persons type case.

Firearms/Toolmarks:
Experts examine firearms for operating features and defects. Bullets and shell casings may reveal unique characteristics, leaving telltale marks that help identify the firearms from which they were fired. Gunshot residue and patterns are examined to determine the proximity of a firearm muzzle to a victim. Tools often leave unique, identifiable marks on surfaces that may link suspects to crimes. Experts can restore serial numbers that have been altered on articles such as firearms, machinery, and office equipment.

Microanalysis:

Trace Evidence -- Using microscopic techniques and microanalytical instrumentation, forensic scientists can identify and compare small particles and fibrous materials; for example, fibers, hair, soils, paint, glass, wood chips, building materials, and vehicle head- and taillights.

General Criminalistics -- Physical evidence is examined to determine such things as patterns, damage, sequence of deposits, and sequence of events. The physical evidence may include shoe prints, tire tracks, blood spatters, clothing, weapons, and wounds.

Chemistry:

Chemical Analysis -- Evidence associated with homicide, rape, robbery, and burglary, and other crimes, along with fire accelerants and explosives related to arson and bombing, are scrutinized by analyzing their chemical composition. The results of each analysis affords information that may connect the evidence to a suspect, victim, crime scene, and/or the crime itself.

Controlled Substances -- Suspected evidence undergoes chemical analysis to determine its drug contents. Any evidence used in a crime involving possession, use, or sale of a controlled substance must be identified as a prohibited drug to establish that a crime was committed.

Questioned Documents:
Documents are examined to identify the writer and to detect a forgery or alteration in cases that involve checks, credit card receipts, robbery notes, fraudulent papers, prescriptions, extortion and ransom notes, obscene letters, illicit business records, lottery, and pull-tab tickets.

Latent Fingerprint Identification:
Examiners process evidence and crime scenes for fingerprints and obtain post-mortem fingerprints. They locate, photograph, process, and compare latent prints to known candidates and prints in the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

Crime Scene Assistance:
Selected forensic scientists and latent fingerprint examiners from the crime laboratory are included in the Patrol's Crime Scene Response Team. The team, made up of crime laboratory personnel and detectives from the Traffic Investigation Division, is available 24 hours a day to assist local law enforcement agencies as they process the scene of a crime. Also, the team can help other agencies recognize, handle, preserve, and package physical evidence. Laboratory personnel also help reconstruct the events that occurred at the scene.

Clandestine Laboratory Assistance:
The Crime Laboratory Division affords 24-hour assistance to local law enforcement agencies in processing illegal and extremely hazardous clandestine laboratories. This includes help in dismantling the laboratory, recognizing hazardous fumes and chemicals, and handling, preserving, and packaging evidence.

Training Services:
Upon request, the Crime Laboratory Division provides training for criminal justice agencies within the state of Washington in the following areas: