Pointers-criminalistics/Gemini Criminology Review and Training

Center

SUBJECTS: FORENSIC BALLISTICS, PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION,

PHOTOGRAPHY, QUESTIONED DOCUMENT AND POLYGRAPHY

FORENSIC BALLISTICS:

Father of modern ballistics_Col . Calvin Goddard

Forensic Ballistics-science of firearm identification by means of ammunition fired

through them.

1. Internal ballistics, the study of the processes originally accelerating the

projectile, for example the passage of a bullet through the barrel of a rifle;
2. Transition ballistics, the study of the projectile's behavior when it leaves
the barrel and the pressure behind the projectile is equalized.
3. External ballistics, the study of the passage of the projectile through space
or the air; and
4. Terminal ballistics, the study of the interaction of a projectile with its
target, whether that be flesh (for a hunting bullet), steel (for an anti-tank
round), or even furnace slag (for an industrial slag disruptor).
5. Medical Ballistics- impact upon the person.

PARTS OF THE CARTRIDGE CASE

1. RIM – the projecting rims of rimmed and semi-rimmed cases serve the
purpose of limiting the forward travel of cartridges into their chambers and
thus also limit the clearance, if any between the head and the supporting.
2. PRIMER POCKET – performs three functions:
a.) holding primers securely in certain position;
b.) providing a means to prevent the escape of gas to the rear of the
cartridge;
c.) providing a primer support for primer anvils, without which the latter
could not be fired.
3. VENTS ORFLASH HOLES –the “vent” or “flash holes” is the hole in the web
or bottom of the primer pocket through which the primer “flash” provides
ignition to the powder charge. It is the “opening” or “canal” that connects
the priming mixture with the gunpowder.
4. THE HEAD AND BODY – the “head” and “body” constitute the “cork” that
plugs the breech of the barrel against the escape of the gas.
5. CANNELURES – shell cannelures are the serrated grooves that are
sometimes found rolled into the neck and body of cases at the location of
the cases of the bullet to prevent the bullet from being pushed back or
loosened.
6. BASE - the bottom portion of the case which holds: a)the primer which
contains the priming mixture; b) the shell head which contains the head
stamp, caliber, and year of manufacture.
7. EXTRACTING GROOVE – the circular groove near the base of the case or
shell designed for the automatic withdrawal of the case after each firing.
CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO CASESHAPE

1. Straight – all rimmed shell and most centerfire revolver cartridges. Ex. Cal.
38 special
2. Tapered – very rare but being used in so-called “magnum jet” Cal. .22.
3. Bottleneck – ex. 5.56mm cartridge cases
4. Belted – ex. .30 magnum

CLASSIFICATION ACCORDING TO HEAD FORMS

1. Rimmed – diameter of base is very much bigger than of the body
2. Semi-rimmed – diameter of base is slightly bigger than of the body
3. Rimless – diameter of base is the same as of the body

CARTRIDGE CASES ACCORDING SHAPES

1. Straight cased – where the case diameter is approximately the same along
its length.
2. Bottled-necked – where a wide bodied case is, just before the case mouth,
reduced in diameter to that of the bullet.
3. Tapered case – where a wide based cartridge case is gradually reduced in
diameter along its length.

Hammer- one which strikes the primer to initiate burning of gunpowder.

Trigger - firearm mechanism which releases the hammer to strike the firing pin.

Smooth bore firearms- these are firearms without riflings. Ex. Shotgun or
muskets.

Rifled bore firearms- firearms which the barrel has riflings or lands and grooves.
Land is the elevated portion while the grooves or canal is the depressed portion.

Pistol is a firearm fed by a magazine while .38 revolver, its cylinder serves as its
magazine.

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION

Dactyloscopy- it is a science of identification by means of fingerprints.

Dactylos = finger Skopelin = to examine

Types of fingerprint patterns: radial, ulnar, central pocket loop, plain whorl,
double loop, plain arch, tented arch, accidental.

Three general types of fingerprint patterns: WHORL, LOOP (65%), ARCHES

Latent prints- are hidden prints needs to be searched and developed from the
crime scene to make it visible.
Ten(10) print or rolled impression - are those printed in a fingerprint card by
rolling the inked fingers from side to side. The thumbs of both hands rolled
towards the body of the subject while the rest of the fingers rolled away from the
body of the subject. This is to attain the position of the fingers from awkward easy
position, thus preventing slippage of the fingers during the process of rolling.

The Dogmatic principles of fingerprints: Principle of Individuality, infallibility

and constancy.

Bifurcation-

Delta- It a point on the first ridge formation at or directly in front or near the center
of the divergence of the type lines.

Core- It is a point on a ridge formation usually located at the center or heart of a

pattern.

Ridges- literally, the top of long hill

Pattern Area- The part of the fingerprint which lies within the area surrounded by
the type lines.

Personal Identification
1. Dactyloscopy – It refers to the scientific study of fingerprints as a means of
identification.
2. Dactylography – It refers to the practical application of fingerprint-the making
of identification, comparison and classification.
3. Sir Henry Faulds – In 1897, he proposed a modified classification system which
was adopted by Scotland Yard, and which is still basis for taking fingerprints.
4. Arch – is found in about 5% of fingerprint patterns
5. Whorl – is seen as 23%-35% of fingerprint patterns
6. Loop – is seen as 65%-70% of fingerprint patterns
7. Numerical Values – are assigned to each of the ten-finger spaces, for the
purpose of obtaining the primary classification.
8. AFIS – Automated Fingerprint Identification System
9. Individuality, Permanency, Infallibility – 3 fundamental principles of
fingerprints.
10. 3rd to 4th month – Fingerprint ridges are formed during these stages of fetal
development.
PHOTOGRAPHY-

Police Photography- is an art or science that deals with the study of the principles
of photography, the preparation of photographic evidence and its application to
police work. (Aquino 1972).

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY- is defined as the study of the fundamentals of

photography, its application to police work and the preparation of photographic
evidence. It consists of the legal aspects of photography that covers the following
phases:

a) Fundamental concepts of photography

b) Application to police work
c) Preparation of photographic evidence

Basic parts of a Camera:

1. Lens,

2. light tight boX

3. Shutter

4. Aperture

4. Viewing system

5. Film holder.

THE PINHOLE CAMERA - The simplest camera is a pinhole camera, which

consists of a box with a small hole in one of its sides.

CAMERA OBSCURA - Is a box used for sketching large objects? The term means
dark chamber. The box contains a mirror set at 45-degree angle.

SINGLE LENS REFLEX(SLR) CAMERAS - Appealed to skilled amateur

photographers and to professional photographers. The camera’s name refers to
its viewing system. The photographer views the subject through the camera lens
rather than through a separate viewing lens.

1. ASA – American Standard Association

2. Depth of field – It is the range of distance from the nearest object to the
farthest object when the lens is set or focused at a particular distance.
3. 15-20 minutes – is the average developing time for normally exposed film using
D – 76 developers
4. The speed of light- measured in a vacuum is 299, 792.5 km/sec (approximately
186,281 miles/sec / 186,000).
5. INTERFERENCE - Any phenomenon having a periodic disturbance of
some sort and travels outward from a source is called a wave.
6. DIFFRACTION – light in space and not within the gravitational field of
any object travels in a straight line.
7. THE LAW OF REFLECTION – refers to the rebounding or deflection of
light. The angle of reflection depends upon the angle of the light striking the
material, which is referred to as the angle of incidence.
8. THE LAW OF REFRACTION – when the material in the path of the light
is transparent a change in the direction of the light occurs.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS
Albert Osborn-father of document examination

Graphology- study of handwriting to determine personality

Bibliotics-study of writing

Calligraphy- the Chinese art of writing or Chinese characters

Notarial Will- notarized wills and testament

Crypthography—study of hidden writings

Papyrus-oldest writing document

Scrolls-are made of animal skins where orders and edicts are written

Log wood ink- oldest type of ink

Pica type 10 characters in one inch

Elite type-12 characters in one inch

Water marks or dandy roll- is security feature embedded in the document

Document- is any material that contains marks, symbols, or signs, visible or

partially visible & convey meaning or message.

Questioned Documents- is a document which is in questioned because of its

origin, its contents, or circumstances regarding its production arouse suspicion as
to its genuineness or it may adversely scrutinized simply because it displeases
someone.

Four categories of Documents: Public, commercial, official, private documents.

Kinds of forgery: Simple Forgery, Simulated Forgery, Traced Forgery

Principles underlying handwriting comparison:

“NO TWO PRODUCTS OF MAN OR NATURE ARE IDENTICAL, AND

DIFFERENCES ARE PERCEPTIBLE IF A SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE STUDY IS
MADE.”
TERMS:

A. QUESTIONED. Any material which some issue has been raised or which is
under scrutiny.
B. QUESTIONED DOCUMENT. One in which the facts appearing therein may
not be true, and are contested either in whole or part with respect to its
authenticity, identity, or origin.
C. DISPUTED DOCUMENT. A term suggesting that there is an argument or
controversy over the document, and strictly speaking this is true meaning.
D. STANDARD a.k.a. STANDARD DOCUMENT - Are condensed
and compact set of authentic specimens which, if adequate and proper,
should contain a cross section of the material from a known source.
E. EXEMPLAR. A term used by some document examiners and attorneys to
characterize known material. Standard is the older term.
F. HOLOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT. Any document completely written and signed
by one person; also known as a holograph. In a number of jurisdictions a
holographic will can be probated without anyone having witnessed its
execution.
G. REFERENCE COLLECTION. Material compiled and organized by the
document examiner to assist him in answering special questions.
Reference collections of typewriting, check writing specimens, inks, pens,
pencils, and papers are frequently maintained.

KINDS OF DOCUMENT:

1. PUBLIC DOCUMENT - notarized by a notary public or competent public

official with solemnities required by law.(Cacnio vs. Baens, 5 Phil. 742)
2. OFFICIAL DOCUMENT - issued by the government or its agents or its officers
having the authority to do so and the offices, which in accordance with
their creation, they are authorized to issue and be issued in the
performance of their duties.
3. PRIVATE DOCUMENT -executed by a private person without the
intervention of a notary public or of any person legally authorized, by
which documents, some disposition or agreement is proved,
evidenced or set forth (US vs Orera, 11 Phil. 596).
4. COMMERCIAL DOCUMENT - executed in accordance with the Code of
Commerce or any Mercantile Law, containing disposition of commercial
rights or obligations.
DOCUMENT EXAMINER. One who studies scientifically the details and elements
of documents in order to identify their source or to discover other facts
concerning them.

ERASURE - The removal of writings, typewriting or printing, from a document is

an erasure. It may be accomplished by either of two means.

EXAMINATION - It is the act of making a close and critical study of any material
and with questioned documents, it is the process necessary to discover the facts
about them. Various types are undertaken, including microscopic,
visual photographic, chemical, ultra violet and infra-red examination.

INSERTION OR INTERLINEATION - The term "insertion" and

"interlineations" include the addition of writing and other
material between lines or paragraphs or the addition of whole page to a
document.

NON-IDENTITIFICATION (Non-identity) – as used in this text it means that the

source or authorship of the compared questioned and standard specimens is
different.

OBLITERATION - the blotting out or shearing over the writing to make the original
invisible to as an addition.

OPINION. In legal language, it refers to the document Examiner's conclusion.

Actually in Court, he not only expresses an opinion but demonstrates the
reasons for arriving at his opinion. Throughout this text, opinion and conclusion
are used synonymously.

In Questioned document, the examiner must observe: Slant, Alignment,

Proportion, Stroke or structure (SAPS). Also observe- Initial or approach or
beginning stroke, connecting strokes and ending or terminal strokes.
POLYGRAPHY

Leonarde Keeler- Pneumograph

John Larson

Pneumograph- consists of two convulated tube pneumo 1, which is installed in the

breast and pneumo 2 installed in the abdomen and records the respiratory
(inhale/exhalation) process of the subject.

Cardiosphygmograph- upper arm either left or right. one which records the blood
pressure and pulse rate of the subject.

Galvanograph- attached to the index and ring finger. one which records the
galvanic skin resistance of the subject in the form of minute electricity.

Kymograph- a motor that pull a chart or paper under the recording pen at the rate
of six (6) to twelve (12) inches per minute.

What is Polygraphy? It is the scientific method of detecting deception with the use
of a polygraph instrument. This is the new name of LIE DETECTION.

What are the Kinds of Lie?

1. White Lie or Benign Lie - the kind of lies used to protect or maintain the
harmony of friendship or any relationship.
2. Pathological Lie - this is a lie made by persons who cannot distinguish
right from wrong.
3. Red Lie - this involves political interests and motives because this is a
part of communist propaganda strategy. This is prevalent in
communist countries or communist infested nation. Lies of means of
propaganda-brain-washing and blackmail via espionage and treason.
4. Black Lie - a lie accompanies pretensions and hypocrisies, intriguing to
cause dishonor or discredit ones good image.

Malicious or Judicial Lie - this is very pure and unjustifiable kind of lie that is
intended purely to mislead or obstruct justice

Criminalistics is defined as that profession and scientific discipline directed to the

recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence
by application of the physical and natural sciences to law-science matters.

Forensic science is the application of natural sciences to matters of the law. In

practice, forensic science draws upon physics, chemistry, biology, and other
scientific principles and methods. Forensic science is concerned with the
recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence.
Forensic scientists present their findings as expert witnesses in the court of law.