Underwater Forensic Investigation, Second Edition

359 Pages·2013·37.08 MB·English

by  Michael Jenkin Affiliation: York University

FORENSICS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Becker
Second Edition
Underwater
U
n
Forensic Investigation
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e
r
w
The evidence discovered at underwater crime scenes must be handled with the same attention to
proper chain of custody procedures as with any other type of investigation. Improper handling a
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of these scenes can lead to evidence being lost, unrecognizable, destroyed, contaminated, or
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rendered inadmissible at the time of trial. Updated and expanded, Underwater Forensic r
Investigation, Second Edition presents a comprehensive approach to the processing of an
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underwater crime scene and the steps necessary to conduct the operation.
o
r
The book summarizes the history, physics, and laws applicable to underwater investigations
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and includes topics such as team formation, roles, deployment, and accountability. Explaining
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procedures that can make a true difference in the final outcome of water-related incidents, the
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author also debunks myths associated with submerged evidence.
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c
This second edition contains several new chapters on photography, contaminated sites,
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preservation of evidence, and release of the crime scene, and includes expanded information n
on death investigation and organizing the dive team. Nearly 100 color illustrations supplement v
the text. e
s
The science of water-related investigations is still in its infancy, and hence, the field needs t
i
accurate and useful sources of education. This text will assist law enforcement professionals and g
those in other areas of public safety in gaining the knowledge that has historically been lacking. a
The incorporation of the procedures presented will enable those tasked with working these t
i
scenes to develop a greater degree of professionalism, objectivity, thoroughness, and accuracy o
relating to the investigation of water-related incidents—increasing the chance for successful n
resolution of these difficult cases.
Second
Edition
K14674 Ronald F. Becker
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K14674_cover.indd 1 3/5/13 4:58 PM

Second Edition
Underwater
Forensic
Investigation

Second Edition
Underwater
Forensic
Investigation
Ronald F. Becker
Boca Raton London New York
CRC Press is an imprint of the
Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2013 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
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Version Date: 20130409
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Contents
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xvii
About the Author xix
1 Introduction 1
New Words and Concepts 1
Student Learning Outcomes 1
Man and the Sea 1
Law Enforcement and Underwater Evidence 3
Myth 1 6
Myth 2 7
Myth 3 7
Myth 4 8
Myth 5 8
Myth 6 9
Myth 7 9
Myth 8 10
Myth 9 11
Myth 10 11
Review Questions 12
References 12
2 A Brief History of Underwater Investigation 15
New Words and Concepts 15
Learning Outcomes 15
Diving History 15
Diving Dress 17
Caisson Disease 19
The Cause of Decompression Sickness 19
Nitrogen Narcosis 20
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus 20
Underwater Investigation 22
Some Important Dates in the History of SCUBA Diving 24
Review Questions 27
References 27
v
vi Contents
3 An Explanation of Pressure and the Laws
of Boyle, Charles, Dalton, and Henry 29
New Words or Concepts 29
Student Learning Outcomes 29
Air Pressure and Gas Laws 29
Boyle’s Law 30
Charles’s Law 31
Dalton’s Law 31
Henry’s Law 32
Nitrogen Narcosis 33
Decompression Sickness 34
Oxygen Toxicity 35
Review Questions 36
References 36
4 The Underwater Forensic Investigator 37
New Words and Concepts 37
Learning Outcomes 37
Introduction 37
Beginning Perspectives 39
Standardized Selection and Operations 40
Swimming Skills 41
Diving Skills 43
Incident Command Structure 46
Incident Commander 47
Dive Team Coordinator 53
Public Information Officer (PIO) 54
Incident Safety Officer 54
Team Structure 56
Dive Team Coordinating Board 56
Team Members 57
Team Leader 58
Tenders 60
Divers 61
Intelligence Officer 62
Photographer 63
Lift Specialists 63
Equipment Specialist 64
Archivist 65
Medical Officer 65
Training Coordinator 65
Contents vii
Review Questions 66
References 67
5 The Law of Search and Seizure 69
New Words and Concepts 69
Learning Outcomes 69
The U.S. Constitution and Due Process 69
The Fourth Amendment 70
The Fifth Amendment 71
The Sixth Amendment 72
The Exclusionary Rule 72
History 72
Exceptions 73
Relevant Exceptions 74
The “Good Faith” Exception 74
Emergency Searches 77
Exigent Circumstances Exception 77
Warrantless Searches Based on Reasonableness 78
Consent Searches 78
Plain-View Searches 79
Open-Field Exception 80
Review Questions 82
Key U.S. Supreme Court Cases 83
6 The Underwater Crime Scene 85
New Words and Concepts 85
Student Learning Outcomes 85
Introduction 85
Search Briefing 88
Bottom Structure 89
Current 89
Surf, Waves, and Tide 90
Perimeter Marking 90
Boat Searches 91
Search Patterns 93
Random Search 93
Sweep Searches 94
Parallel Searches 94
Circular Search 94
Snag Search 96
River Search 96
Relocating the Search Site 97
viii Contents
Profiling 98
Temporal and Geographical Location of Evidence 99
Establishing a Reference Point 100
Crime Scene Measurements 100
Orienting Evidence 102
Grid Searches 103
The Underwater Crime Scene Sketch 103
Handling Evidence 105
The Press 106
Review Questions 107
References 108
7 Underwater Photography 109
New Words and Concepts 109
Student Learning Outcomes 109
Introduction 109
Equipment 110
Taking Pictures Underwater 112
Photographic Log 114
Video-Recording Log 115
Photographing the Underwater Crime Scene 115
Video Recording 116
Logging Photos 117
Review Questions 118
References 118
8 Medicolegal Aspects of Underwater Death 119
New Words and Concepts 119
Student Learning Outcomes 119
Introduction 119
Unattended Water Deaths 120
Body Recovery 120
Identification of Submerged Bodies 123
Identification through Personal Effects 123
Identification through Dental Comparisons 124
Identification through Shoe Wear 124
Postmortem Changes 124
Putrefaction 124
Algor Mortis 127
Rigor Mortis 128
Ocular Changes 128
Livor Mortis (Postmortem Lividity) 130