Table 4.
High value forensic target examples.
| Item | Evidence Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Blood sample | Blood alcohol and toxicology | Potential identification and level of alcohol and drugs |
| Crime scene | Blood, especially trail leading away from scene | Potential DNA evidence linking suspect to scene |
| Broken vehicle parts | Potential vehicle make and model, physical comparisons to suspect damaged vehicle | |
| Discarded partially consumed food items, cigarette butts, bottles, etc. | Potential DNA and latent print evidence linking suspect to scene | |
| Expended cartridge cases | Potential caliber, make and model, comparisons to other expended cartridge cases and suspect guns, entry into NIBIN to develop investigative leads; potential touch DNA analysis and comparison of forensic profile to suspect known or DNA databank todevelop investigative lead | |
| Latent prints, especially in blood | Potential comparison to suspects and latent print database to develop investigative leads; combined with DNA analysis of blood compared to victim and suspect | |
| Projectiles | Potential caliber, make and model, comparisons to other projectiles and suspect guns | |
| Shoe print | Potential make and model, physical comparison to suspect shoes | |
| Tire track | Potential make and model of tire and vehicle, comparison to other tire tracks and suspect tires | |
| Weapon | Potential associative evidence linking suspect and victim to weapon and scene, including latent prints, DNA, textile fibers; textile damage assessment (see Weapon below) | |
| Crime Scene - Point of entry | Latent prints | Potential comparison to suspects and latent print database to develop investigative leads |
| Toolmarks | Potential comparison to other toolmarks and suspect tool | |
| Deceased | Fingernail scrapings | Potential identification of body fluid type, DNA analysis and comparison of forensic profile to suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative lead |
| Known samples (blood, hair, etc.) | Potential comparison to evidence at scene, on weapon and/or suspect; elimination sample including for DNA mixture deconvolution to increase probative value | |
| Semen, blood or saliva (foreign) | Potential identification of body fluid type, DNA analysis and comparison of forensic profile to suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative lead | |
| Expended cartridge case | Firearms examination including NIBIN | Potential caliber, make and model, comparisons to other expended cartridge cases and suspect guns, entry into NIBIN to develop investigative leads; touch DNA analysis and comparison of forensic profile to suspect known or DNA databank todevelop investigative lead |
| Firearm | Firearms examination including NIBIN | potential caliber, make and model, operability, test fires to generate projectiles and expended cartridge cases for comparisons to other expended cartridge cases, projectiles and suspect guns, entry into NIBIN to develop investigative leads; latent prints; touch DNA analysis and comparison of forensic profile to suspect known or DNA databank todevelop investigative lead |
| Known samples | Victim and suspect buccal swab | Comparison to evidence at scene and/or on suspect/victim and/or on weapon, elimination sample for DNA mixture deconvolution to increase probative value |
| Projectile | Firearms examination | Potential type, weight and caliber, comparisons to other projectiles and suspect guns |
| Saliva | Oral fluids toxicology | Potential evidence of drug use (e.g. THC) |
| Sexual assault kit | Swabs of personal areas and/or clothing for semen, blood and/or saliva | Examination for body fluids, identification, DNA analysis, comparison of forensic DNA profiles to suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative leads |
| Solid substance powders or pills | Seized drugs | Potential controlled dangerous substances identification and quantitation |
| Suspect clothing | Blood | Potential identification of body fluid, DNA analysis and comparison to victim and/or suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative leads |
| Urine sample | Toxicology | Potential controlled dangerous substances identification and quantitation |
| Vehicle | Blood | Potential identification of body fluid, DNA analysis and comparison to victim and/or suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative lead |
| Broken or missing parts | Potential identification of make and model, physical comparisons to broken parts from scene | |
| Fabric Impression | Potential identification as a fabric impression and comparison to a questioned fabric | |
| Hair | Potential identification as human hair with descriptors (length, color, treatment, damage, etc.), DNA analysis and comparison to victim and/or suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative leads | |
| Saliva | Potential identification of body fluid, DNA analysis and comparison to victim and/or suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative leads | |
| Touch DNA on steering wheel | Potential DNA analysis and comparison to suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative lead. Note that a known sample from the car's normal legal driver is required for elimination. | |
| Weapon – club, knife, etc. | Blood | Potential identification of body fluid, DNA analysis and comparison to victim and/or suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative leads |
| Latent prints | Potential development and comparison to known samples from suspects and latent print database to develop investigative leads | |
| Touch DNA | DNA analysis and potential comparison to victim and/or suspect known or DNA databank to develop investigative leads | |
| Weapon - firearm | As per weapon above, however, add Firearms examination | Potentially identify caliber, make and model, comparisons to expended cartridge cases and projectiles, operability and test fire, entry into NIBIN to develop investigative leads; latent prints; touch DNA analysis and comparison of forensic profile to suspect known or DNA databank todevelop investigative lead |