|
|
 |
|
The Forensic Science Division laboratory is divided into functional sections, each of which concentrates on a specific scientific field or service. More information is available in the organizational chart (20K PDF).
The scientific staff includes Chief Criminalist Vernon Kyle, four Supervising Criminalists, three Lead Criminalists, ten Criminalists, three Forensic Technicians, and two Laboratory Assistants. A criminalist is a scientist who performs scientific and technical analysis of physical evidence from crime scenes. Every Criminalist employed in the lab has, at a minimum, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited university in a physical or biological science. Certain degrees in forensic science or criminalistics are also acceptable. A strong background in chemistry or molecular biology is highly desirable. A specially trained support staff that performs some of the technical work assists the Criminalists.
The education and experience requirements and job specifications of a Criminalist (PDF), Forensic Technician (PDF), Lab Assistant (PDF) and Lab Helper (PDF), are available online. Individuals interested in employment with the lab may send a resume to Chief Criminalist Vernon Kyle at forensic@co.kern.ca.us, however all applicants must apply through the Personnel Department.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
 |
|
| Forensic DNA Testing |
The Forensic Biology unit performs scientific analysis of biological samples for use in legal proceedings. The science of DNA (opens new window) analysis dominates the workload in this unit. The lab employs the short tandem repeats (STR) (opens new window) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (opens new window) techniques in DNA analysis. Using only a small amount of sample , a scientist using PCR can replicate enough material to permit testing. The lab is accredited by the National Forensic Science Technology Center (opens new window) to perform forensic DNA analysis.
Forensic DNA cases are one of two general types: current cases and Cold Hit cases. A current case is a crime a law enforcement agency is actively investigating. Although most cases are sexual assaults, the value of this science potentially extends to any crime. A Cold Hit case is a sexual assault case in which no suspect has been identified.
Regardless of the crime involved an examination for DNA is an exacting and time consuming process. The notion of DNA results within hours, as depicted in popular television series, is pure fiction. The evidence seized may include a sexual assault kit, clothing, bedding, and a wide variety of other items. Each of these items must be examined in minute detail in order to determine whether or not there is any biological evidence to be tested. Some stains, such as blood, are readily apparent. Most are not. This part of the process is called the preliminary examination. A preliminary examination may take days or even weeks, depending on the amount of evidence seized.
|
|
| Cold Hit Cases |
A Cold Hit case is a sexual assault committed by an unidentified assailant. In October 2000 the District Attorney's crime lab was awarded a grant by the State of California, through the Governor's Office of Criminal Justice Planning, which made $560,244 available to hire and train scientists to work in DNA and to examine the evidence seized during the investigations. 150 cases have been identified as qualified for the program. As of October 1, 2003, all preliminary examinations have been performed in these cases, and approximately 60 have possible DNA evidence. The process of extracting and identifying the DNA profile of the assailants will be completed by July 1, 2004.
If a DNA profile of the assailant is obtained in a Cold Hit case, that profile is entered into the Federal Bureau of Investigations' Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) . Information, news and statistics about the Cold Hit program in California are available from the Department of Justice (opens new window).
|
|
| Serology |
|
The Forensic Science Division laboratory still has the capability of performing traditional serology, however DNA (opens new window) testing has replaced most of the traditional serology testing.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
 |
|
 |
| The Arson and Explosives unit provides analysis of fire debris for the presence of ignitable liquids or identifies explosives or their residues.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
 |
"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important."
Sherlock Holmes
|
Crime scene investigations are performed by a team of scientists that responds to crime scenes located within Kern County upon request by the investigating agency. This response is available twenty-four hours a day. These teams have the capability of providing:
- Expertise and specialized equipment, including alternate light sources and electrostatic dust print lifter.
- Expertise in identification and collection of evidence and crime scene analysis, including crime reconstruction. Important examples are biological evidence, especially DNA, and bloodstain pattern interpretation.
- Ballistic alignment lasers which, in addition to probes, are used to reconstruct bullet flight paths in shooting crime scenes.
- CAD Software that, with the use of laptop PCs, allows the criminalist to produce virtual 3D diagrams of crime scenes.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
 |
| The Drug unit performs qualitative analysis on solid dose drugs. They have the capabilities to perform quantitative analysis on these cases, when necessary. This section also responds to the scene of clandestine laboratories. The section is available for response 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
 |
| Firearms and Toolmarks analysis involves the association of markings produced by the interaction of tools and contacting surfaces. This type of evidence includes the identification of bullets and cartridge casings fired from a firearm; the association of pry marks to a suspect tool; the identification of a bolt cutter as having produced the markings on the cut end of a padlock or a piece of wire; and the association of shoe tracks, footprints, or tire tracks to a suspect or vehicle. The process of identification involves a visual comparison of test marks made by the suspect tool or gun versus the evidence mark. These marks may be microscopic as in the case of a bullet or macroscopic as in the case of a tire or shoe track.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
 |
| The Trace Evidence unit involves the examination of small items of evidence that may be used to show elements of a crime or to associate victims and suspects to each other or to crime scenes. This type of evidence may include hairs, fibers, paint particles, glass etc.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
|
|
It is imperative that all work conducted by the Laboratory be of the highest quality possible while congruent to the needs of the criminal justice community it serves. This applies not only to the actual technical laboratory work performed, but also to written reports that are generated as well as to courtroom testimony provided by the analysts. To accomplish this, a quality system has been established to provide the criminal justice community with the continuing confidence that laboratory results are and remain accurate, impartial and relevant.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
|
The traditional definition of toxicology is "the science of poisons." A more descriptive definition is "the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms". For a more detailed introduction to the science of on toxicology visit:
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/ (opens new window).
In the Forensic Science Division laboratory, toxicological testing is performed on blood and urine samples to determine the presence and amount of alcohol or other volatiles, and controlled substances such as methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. The presence of drugs is confirmed using gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (both open new window). The Toxicology section also handles all the Forensic Alcohol Analysis testing for the county, which encompasses alcohol testing for traffic related offenses from blood, urine, and breath specimens including coroner specimens. Presently 16 breath alcohol instruments maintained by the Toxicology section are located throughout Kern County.
In 2002, the Toxicology section tested over 50,000 specimens. The tests were performed for all law enforcement agencies operating in Kern County, including the Bakersfield Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Kern County Sheriff's Department including Coroner, and the County Probation Department.
Testing is also performed for the Department of Human Services and Kern County Mental Health. Mental Health operates the Prop 36 drug rehabilitation program. Coroner's cases add additional dynamics to toxicological testing in that the category of specimens potentially tested increases, e.g. vitreous fluid, bile, gastric contents, and tissues. In addition, the range of testing enlarges to include prescription medications, carbon monoxide, glucose, electrolytes, and many other substances.
|
|
| Top of Page |
|
|
