The Role Of Forensic Evidence In Victorian Criminal Cases

The Role Of Forensic Evidence In Victorian Criminal CasesForensic experts assist the courts and the justice system by writing reports or testifying in person. The goal of a forensic expert's testimony is to provide the court with objective evidence to help determine what happened. The jury, who are the fact-finders, decides if the information is clear and solid and how much weight it should have.

Forensic science, which mostly involves examining physical data, "is the use of science to aid the judicial process." It encompasses medicine, toxicology, pathology, biology, chemistry, physics, and other fields. Applying these disciplines to forensic research is a highly specialised field that requires extensive training.

It is crucial to secure expert legal support and guidance through every step of your case. Experienced lawyers at Josh Smith Legal can protect your rights, provide strategic advice, and ensure that every aspect of your case is handled with the utmost care.

What Is Forensic Evidence?

The Executive Director oversees the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD), which has more than 500 employees. This is a mix of sworn police officers and forensic officers, who are mostly scientists. Public service staff assist with business, logistics, and maintenance and are also part of the department.

How Long Forensic Evidence Take To Process?

Every year, the VPFSD conducts more than 100,000 examinations. These findings include more than 2,300 DNA matches and 10,000 fingerprint matches.

The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) has accredited the VPFSD, which supports the criminal justice system and primarily examines crime scenes and artefacts.

How Reliable Is Forensic Evidence In Criminal Cases?

The forensic staff attends and examines numerous major crime scenes, such as:

  • Homicides
  • Suspicious fires and explosions
  • Clandestine drug laboratories
  • Cannabis crops
  • Major car accidents
  • Natural disasters or events with mass casualties

If a bench warrant is issued as a result of findings from forensic investigations, it is important to know how to handle it promptly to avoid further legal complications.

Examinations of Exhibits

Items recovered from crime scenes are called exhibits. They can also be collected from suspects, complainants, deceased persons, and convicts. The forensic proof is very solid and includes a lot of different types of knowledge.

Crime Scene Investigation Areas

Audio and Video

This section covers extracting, recovering, fixing, enhancing, and analysing audio and video records, including CCTV footage. The evidence gathered from these sources can influence a defendant’s decision to plead guilty or not guilty, as it may strongly support the prosecution’s case.

Firearms

Examination of crime scenes involving firearms is part of ballistics science. This includes:

  • Study and comparison of firearms, bullets, and their components
  • Striated toolmark comparison to identify a firearm, ensure its safety, and understand its operation

Biological Science

Some examples of biological examinations are:

  • Bloodstain pattern analysis at crime scenes and on exhibits
  • Identification of biological material like blood, semen, and hair
  • DNA analysis of samples
  • Matching profiles of crime scenes, suspects, convicted criminals, and victims to the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database (NCIDD)

Botany

The scientific study of identifying plants includes:

  • Identifying cannabis and opium poppies at crime scenes
  • Estimating cannabis crops for useful materials
  • Studying botanical material from crimes
  • Identifying poisonous or psychoactive plants

Identification of Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Accident Victims

This includes:

  • Processing crime scenes involving chemical, biological, or radiological events
  • Finding, photographing, recording, and collecting human remains at scenes where the identities of some deceased persons are unknown

Chemical Trace Analysis

This involves:

  • Identifying and comparing materials like glass, paint, plastics, fibres, and chemical irritants (such as pepper spray)
  • Sampling individuals, locations, and objects for gunshot residues and subsequent analysis

Clandestine Laboratories and Factories

This includes:

  • Visiting suspected drug labs
  • Examining suspicious powders and hazardous chemicals
  • Interpreting the significance of chemicals and equipment found on site

Accident reconstruction and mechanical analysis

This may involve providing police investigators with specialised assistance when accidents result in fatalities or serious injuries, usually in cases of severe offences such as impaired driving.

Criminal identification

Some examples of criminal identification are:

  • Creating composite faces based on witness descriptions
  • Cranio-facial reconstructions
  • Assisting with the preparation of interactive graphic presentations of data

DNA management

DNA management can include:

  • Organising the collection of DNA samples from relatives of long-term missing persons
  • Sharing DNA information across Victoria and globally
  • Informing police about DNA links to unsolved crimes
  • Managing the collection of DNA samples from individuals across Victoria

Document examination

Examples of document examinations are:

  • Comparing handwriting and signatures
  • Examining machine-produced documents
  • Reviewing documents for alterations, deletions, and creases

Drug analysis

Drug analysis can include:

  • Identification and testing of drug quality for intelligence and legal purposes
  • Reporting on drug trends and information

Fingerprint analysis

Fingerprint analysis may involve:

  • Developing latent fingerprints
  • Comparing them with fingerprints of persons of interest in the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS) database

Fire and explosion investigation

This includes:

  • Investigating fires and explosions
  • Conducting scene examinations and laboratory testing of evidence to determine the cause

Major crime scene investigation

At major crime scenes, forensic science can include:

  • Scene search: collecting evidence, photographing and video recording the scene, and enhancing and comparing images of footwear, tyre tracks, and toolmarks

Photographic processing

Victoria Police create photographic copies for use in court as part of the photographic processing.

Vehicle examination

This includes examining suspect vehicles and other relevant items to identify the true perpetrator.

Office of the Chief Forensic Scientist

This includes overseeing:

  • Research, development, and innovation plans
  • Education and training programs

Conclusion

Through thorough forensic investigations and expert evidence, the Victoria Police Forensic Services Department (VPFSD) is an important part of the criminal justice system. The VPFSD looks into crime scenes, biological materials, chemical traces, and more, and has more than 500 specialised staff who work on more than 100,000 cases a year. They make sure that justice is based on rigorous scientific research. According to the National Association of Testing Authorities, the department's multidisciplinary approach uses advanced methods and thorough investigations. This shows how important forensic science is for solving crimes and providing judges with objective evidence.

Resources And Further Reading

  1. https://www.police.vic.gov.au/forensic-services
  2. https://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/publication/committals/10-forensic-reports-and-delay/
  3. https://www.lawreform.vic.gov.au/publication/improving-the-justice-system-response-to-sexual-offences-report/16-forensic-medical-examinations/

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