Forensic Services Branch

The definition of ‘forensics’ is ‘relating to or dealing with the

application of scientific knowledge to legal problems’.  The Forensic

Services Branch of the Hamilton Police Service primary

responsibilities include: 

Forensic photography and crime scene techniques as they

apply to police photography.

 

Recognition, gathering, examination, preservation and

presentation of evidence.

 

Latent fingerprint development, examination and comparison

to known impressions.

 

Trace evidence, including DNA.

Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) Program

The Scenes of Crime Officer (SOCO) program provides a cadre of

patrol officers trained in forensic photography and crime scene

investigation techniques. These officers complement the Forensic

Services Branch by photographically documenting crime scenes

and collecting and preserving physical evidence. Fingerprints,

photographs and other evidence are forwarded to the SOCO

coordinator who conducts further analysis as required.

Forensic Detectives
Detectives drive a marked van, and work between the

hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. They attend all major crime

scenes and other calls for service as workload permits.

DNA
The DNA Identification Section was created in response to the

proclamation of the DNA identification Act on June 30, 2000. The

section is primarily responsible for the implementation of the DNA

legislation and annually collects approximately 500 hundred bodily

substance samples from designated offenders. The section also

provides training and technical support to the various operational

divisions throughout the Hamilton Police Service.

DNA typing is an effective comparative identification tool. Its

most prominent application has been in identifying violent

criminals by comparison of biological samples from suspects

against biological specimens that perpetrators have directly

or indirectly left at or taken from crime scenes (e.g. semen,

saliva, skin, or blood). Since its forensic introduction in

Canada in 1988-89, DNA typing has been instrumental in

securing convictions in hundreds of violent crimes, from

homicide to assault. It has also sometimes helped to

eliminate suspects, sometimes, in the face of damning

allegations, and has led to the exoneration and release of

previously convicted individuals. Forensic DNA typing is

conducted throughout the world including the United States,

Great Britain, France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

 

Very little genetic material is needed for DNA analysis and

trained personnel can obtain samples of bodily substances

relatively un-intrusively.

 

Hair plucked from any part of the body.

 

Epithelial cells, or skin cells obtained by swabbing the lips,

tongue and inside cheeks of the mouth.

 

A few drops of blood obtained by simple finger lancet.

Video

Within our Forensic Services Section, the Forensic Video Technician

handles most matters relating to crime-scene videos such as those

from bank robberies, break and enters and thefts as well as all in

house closed-circuit television projects. The videos must be brought

in by an officer on the investigation not a member of the general

public.

Using a high-end scanner, computer, enhancements can often, (but

not always) be made of criminal incidents to identify suspects for

investigators and the court, even when the video is of poor quality.

The Hamilton Police Service has also been recognized as a leader in

video interview room usage, boasting some of the best video interview

room facilities in North America, thanks to sophisticated design

parameters and specialized sound and imaging equipment.

For information on the Hamilton Police Service Forensic Services

Branch:

Tel.:  905-546-4761

Fax:  905-546-4146