CRIME SCENE FORENSICS, LLC
P.O. Box 515 • Red Hook, NY 12571 • Phone: 888-359-9563 • Fax: 866-849-1870
[email protected]
Course:
Speakers:
www.crimescene-forensics.com
Crime Scene Investigation:
Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Investigations
Thomas Martin, Crime Scene Forensics, LLC
Course Outline:
Defining the Objective:

Coping with the CSI Effect

Dispelling Myths about Forensic Science

Building Good Cases - One Block at a Time
○The CSI Effect has produced an expectation to find one large piece of
incriminating evidence at every crime scene. The fact is that the mysterious
“smoking gun” does not appear in every case. The crime scene investigator
must be extremely careful to notice and document the small pieces of
evidence at a scene. This section will discuss the value of minute evidence in
forensic investigations.
Crime Scene Processing:

Basic Observations

Documenting the Scene

Understanding the Story:
○Every crime scene tells a story, and it is the duty of the investigator to listen
carefully to that story. Through careful documentation of the scene, the
investigator becomes the voice of the victim, and should be able to tell the
victim’s story in detail. This section will discuss how to record that story.
○When investigating crimes involving domestic violence or child abuse,
the probative value of “traditional” forensic evidence diminishes. Finding
transfers of DNA, or trace evidence between the victim and the domestic
partner or caretaker can be expected when such persons share the same
home; therefore, “traditional” scientific evidence becomes less relevant.
The crime scene investigator can still make certain observations and
document relevant evidence that will assist in telling the story. This section will
discuss the types of valuable physical evidence that can be useful when
investigating scenes of domestic violence and child abuse.

Understanding the “Culpable Mental State”
o Documenting aspects of a crime that would suggest, or in any way
indicate both the level of care and concern being administered to the
victim, as well as the level of culpability of the caretaker/assailant.
Photography:

Photographing victim’s injuries

Photographing suspects and defendants
Documenting Bite Marks:

The proper documentation of bite mark evidence can be critical to a child abuse
investigation. Point and shoot type cameras will not always capture the bite mark
image properly, and more sophisticated equipment is usually necessary.

In order for a proper bite mark comparison to be completed by a qualified
forensic odontologist, the bite mark needs to be reproduced both to its actual
size, and in a color correct format.

This section will discuss the proper way to document and photograph bite mark
evidence.
Identifying the Significance of Blood Stain Patterns:

Blood stain patterns at a crime scene can assist in telling the story. This section
will briefly discuss different types of bloodstain patterns and their relevance to
domestic violence investigations.
The Ever Expanding Crime Scene:

Crime Scenes are no longer limited to the four walls in which they are
surrounded. The technology age has expanded the search for evidence to such
things as: cell phones, financial records, toll pass transponders, e-mails, and
website accounts, to name a few. This section will familiarize the investigator with
the information that can be gathered from these sources.
Using Modern Digital Technology to Present Cases in Court

Case presentations detailing the use of Digital Imaging technology to “tell the
story” in a courtroom.
Before It’s Too Late:

Identifying problems in the home, from living conditions, to behavior patterns, to
physical injuries.

The importance of recognizing early warning signs.
Case Presentation:
Mass Murder: Managing the large scale investigation
CRIME SCENE FORENSICS, LLC
P.O. Box 515 • Red Hook, NY 12571 • Phone: 888-359-9563 Fax 866-849-1870
www.crimescene-forensics.com
Tom Martin began his law enforcement career in 1988 as a sworn police
officer with one of the largest police agencies in the country, and began his forensic
career in 1990 as a crime scene field technician. After four years of patrol, Tom was
assigned to the Forensic Identification Unit in 1992, and remains in that assignment
today. Tom served for nearly four years as an investigator in the Forensic Unit,
before being promoted to his current title of Senior Investigator in 1996 and
assigned as member in charge of the unit. As the supervisor of the forensic crime
scene unit, Tom holds several forensic science certifications, and regularly provides
expert forensic testimony in various state and federal courts.
Tom’s training and experience encompass several fields of expertise,
including: forensic crime scene processing, latent print processing and identification,
blood stain pattern analysis and documentation, forensic composite art, excavation
of human remains, forensic entomology collection, digital imaging technology and
photo enhancement.
Tom has investigated thousands of forensic cases; including, murder, serial
and mass murders, police involved shootings, bombings and sexual assaults. He
worked at ground zero at the World Trade Center disaster and assisted with the
anthrax testing and removal from the New York State office buildings in 2001.
Tom is an adjunct college instructor and serves as a guest lecturer at
colleges and universities nation wide. In addition to his lectures, he has worked as a
consultant for such entities as the national Institute of Justice. Tom has appeared
on Court TV as an expert guest analyst. He has also appeared on the Law
Enforcement Television Network (LETN) – “Child Abuse/Child Murders”, the HBO
series “Autopsy”, and the Court TV series “Trace Evidence”. He is the author of the
Crime Scene Forensics: A Field Guide for the First Responder pocket guide series
published by Looseleaf Law.
Tom is a nationally recognized speaker who has instructed at numerous
forensic training seminars across the United States, including the American
Academy of Forensic Sciences, the National College of District Attorneys, The
National Institute of Justice Annual Conferences and Technology Fairs, and the
Smithsonian Institute. Tom has lectured, on several occasions in Washington, D.C.,
providing presentations to executive officials of the National Institute of Justice and
members of the United States Congress.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.crimescene-forensics.com