Criminalistics Unit

Criminalistics: "kri-m&-n&l-'is-tiks", n.
The application of physical science to law in the criminal justice system.
 
The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Criminalistics Unit provides services in the following forensic disciplines:

Controlled Substances
Provides analytical support to law enforcement agencies by identifying drug seizures for the presence of controlled substances.

Clandestine Labs
Provides technical support in the examination and analyses of illicit drug labs, including site assessment for chemical and physical hazards, methods of synthesis and the analysis of source chemicals and finished products.

Latent Prints
Processes crime scenes and evidence for latent prints; provides agencies with reports explaining its examinations, comparisons, and disposition of latent print evidence, offers expert testimony in court, and provides Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) support.

Crime Scene Response
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office criminalists provide local law-enforcement agencies with on-site investigative support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Services include evidence identification, documentation, collection and preservation, blood stain pattern analysis and crime scene reconstruction.  The crime lab staff responds to scenes using a specially-equipped vehicle.

DNA Analysis
The DNA analyst examines physical evidence for the presence of biological fluids; predominately blood, semen, and saliva.  Once the presence of a biological fluid has been identified, a sample is collected and analyzed.  An attempt to identify the source of the resulting DNA profile is made by either comparing the profile with known reference samples from the case, or entering the profile into the state and national DNA databases to locate a match.

Questioned Documents
Analyzes, compares, examines and identifies handwriting and offers expert testimony in court.

Photography
Documents crime scenes through the use of film photography, digital imaging, videography and aerial photography.  In-lab film and digital processing and custom printing services in addition to video production and enhancement are also provided to agencies in Jefferson County.

Training
The Criminalistics Unit staff provides training to JCSO and outside area law enforcement agencies in areas including latent print processing, crime scene investigation, controlled substance identification, physical evidence recognition, packaging and preservation and forensic photography.

Accreditation
In 2008, the crime lab achieved full accreditation through the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLAD).  Accreditation through this group demonstrates that the lab's management, personnel, operational and technical procedures, equipment and physical facilities meet established standards.  This ensures that our lab team is providing the best possible services to our investigators -- and to the people of Jefferson County.

 

Learn More About Forensics
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Young Forensic Scientists Forum
Metropolitan State College of Denver (Chemistry department)
International Association for Identification
Rocky Mountain Division of the International Association for Identification

Last Modified: Jun 12, 2009 02:19 PM