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Scientific Services 
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  Scientific Services Bureau consists of the following support Units/Sections:
 

Administration/Operations
    -Beverly Facility
    -Downey Facility
    -Information Systems

Quality Assurance Group
    -Quality Assurance and Training
    -Evidence Control Section

Major Crimes Group
    -Biology Section
    -Physical Evidence Section
    -Firearms Section
    -Questioned Documents Section

Investigations Group
    -Identification Section
    -Crime Scene Investigation Section
    -Polygraph Section
    -Photo/Digital Imaging Section

Chemical Abuse Group
   -Narcotics Section
   -Clandestine Laboratory Section
   -Toxicology Section
   -Blood Alcohol Testing Section

 
     
 
 

 

Administration/Operations:
Administration:
This unit provides the Bureau with leadership and is accountable for all phases of the Bureau's operation. Administration is responsible for personnel issues, advancement in technology, quality assurance of our work product, fiscal controls and furnishing a safe work environment for Bureau staff.

Operations:
The Operations Section is responsible for the daily functions of the Bureau, including maintaining general supplies, entering all orders for specialized supplies through FMS, word processing, filing, vehicle maintenance, timekeeping, housekeeping, answering telephones, central reception duties, and processing of photographic requests.

Information Systems:
This unit is primarily responsible for the day-to-day network administration of the Bureau's computers, servers and related files in addition to the assessment, development and projection of future computer related technology needs for the efficient operation of the Bureau.


 
 

 

Quality Assurance Group:
Quality Assurance and Training:
This unit:
• manages Bureau's quality assurance program to ensure compliance with accreditation standards,
• maintains the Bureau's Health & Safety Program to ensure compliance with CAL-OSHA regulations,
• coordinates externally provided technical and specialized training for Bureau personnel to allow them to stay current with the technical advances in the field of forensic science, and
• coordinates Bureau tours, public speaking events, civilian volunteers and special projects.

Evidence Control:
Provides evidence pick-up and return service, either directly to agencies or via three regional laboratories. All evidence must be submitted sealed and with a completed laboratory receipt attached. Information on the receipt includes name of submitting agency, file number, charge, and a description of the evidence. All evidence submissions are tracked within the laboratory by the laboratory receipt number. This unit is also responsible for conducting routine evidence audits to ensure accountability for each evidence submission.
 
 

 

Major Crimes Group:
Biology Section:
This unit is staffed with personnel who are trained in the recognition, documentation, collection, characterization, and identification of biological material (such as blood, saliva, semen and fecal material). The section's primary responsibility is the determination of possible donors of evidentiary body fluid stains by comparison of genetic types including DNA testing methods, such as PCR-STR technology. Crime scene investigation and reconstruction, including blood spatter interpretation, are additional responsibilities of this section.

Physical Evidence Section:
The work of this unit is based on the Locard Exchange principle: Whenever two objects come in contact with one another, there is a transfer of material across the contact boundaries. The section's primary tasks are to identify items of physical (trace) evidence, examine them for mutual transfer, and, if appropriate, compare recovered questioned items to collected exemplars/standards from a known source. Types of services provided include the identification and comparison of hairs, fibers, paint and glass; tire and footwear impression evidence; physical matches; analysis of lachrymators, gunshot residue (GSR), and arson/explosive residues.

Firearms Section:
The primary functions of this unit include:
• the identification of expended bullets and cartridge cases to specific firearms;
• the identification of type of firearm based upon the properties of expended bullets and cartridge cases;
• providing expert advice related to firearms;
• examination of firearms for proper function;
• restoration of obliterated serial numbers;
• tool mark comparisons;
• entry of evidence and test fires into the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN); and
• crime scene investigation.
Information Systems:
This unit is primarily responsible for the day-to-day network administration of the Bureau's computers, servers and related files in addition to the assessment, development and projection of future computer related technology needs for the efficient operation of the Bureau.

Questioned Documents:
This unit is responsible for evaluating a wide variety of document related evidence, including:
• Identification of the author of handwriting and hand printing
• Typewriter comparisons
• Ink analysis
• Mechanical impressions
• Paper analysis
• Computer printer comparisons
 
 

Investigations Group:
Identification Section:
This unit is staffed with deputy sheriff's, forensic identification specialists and L.E.T.'s (Law Enforcement Technician) who are trained in crime scene investigation, forensic photography, latent print development and latent print identification. The identification and elimination of latent prints associated with a crime scene are accomplished through comparisons of latent fingerprints to the rolled fingerprints exemplars of known persons. An automated fingerprint identification system is able to search latent fingerprints against a database of persons previously arrested or printed for other reasons. By utilizing chemical processing techniques, latent prints can be developed from various types of evidence, including firearms, paper and duct tape.

Crime Scene Investigation Section:
Unit personnel respond to crime scenes for the purpose of documenting the scene through the use of still and aerial photography, video, and crime scene sketches. In addition, they will conduct an examination for latent prints using both traditional and silver powders, special chemicals and lasers. Footwear impressions and tire tracks are also photographed and cast impressions made.

Photographic Laboratory:
The unit provides a variety of photographic and image related services including:
• processing of crime scene related and public relations photographs,
• photographing of forensic evidence,
• portrait photography,
• imaging services including photo editing, enhancement and printing, and
• professional expertise on photographic and digital imaging matters.

Photo/Digital Imaging Section:
Provides a variety of photographic and digital imaging related services including:
• Processing and printing of crime scene, public relations and other photographs;
• Photography of forensic evidence, locations and other objects;
• Portrait and public relations photography;
• Photographic and digital imaging services including document, photograph and film scanning, image editing and enhancement, creation and printing of displays and posters; and
• Professional expertise on matters related to photography and digital imaging.

Polygraph Section:
For many investigators the polygraph examination is a valuable tool in the investigative process. Coupled with the field investigation, a polygraph examination can focus investigative leads, exonerate the innocent, confirm witness statements, obtain confessions from the guilty, monitor sex offenders and screen law enforcement applicants.

The Polygraph Section is staffed by six deputy sheriff examiners and seven contract examiners. Examinations are conducted at the Bureau's Beverly Facility, Lancaster Regional Lab, West Covina Regional Office and Lost Hills Station. The recent addition of portable instrumentation allows the polygraph section to accompany field investigations to practically any venue, jail, prison and out of state examinations are not uncommon.

The Polygraph Section provides training to investigative units on the utility of the polygraph examination as well as interview and interrogation techniques. The Section is also available for quality review of polygraph examinations conducted by outside agencies and private examiners.

 

 
 
 

 

Chemical Abuse Group:
Narcotics Section:
Primarily responsible for the examination and identification of solid dose controlled substances and illicit drug manufacturing, unit personnel also provide expert advice related to synthesis methods involved in clandestine drug laboratory processes. Wells Kit presumptive drug testing training is provided to client agencies who utilize this test in the process of filing cases with the District Attorney. Members of the section's Clandestine Laboratory Response Team respond to illicit drug manufacturing sites as well as provide training to narcotics deputies and police officers in the current methods of illicit drug manufacture. Testing of controlled substance submission also occurs at the Bureau's Century, Lancaster and West Covina Regional Laboratories.

Toxicology:
This section is responsible for screening blood and urine samples from misdemeanor cases for drugs such as cocaine, opiates, barbiturates, amphetamines, phencyclidine, marijuana, and benzodiazepines. Confirmation analysis of positive screens for court purposes requires the re-submission of the sample after a trial date has been set. Poison cases are also analyzed.

Blood Alcohol Testing Section:
The Bureau is a licensed forensic alcohol laboratory in accordance with Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations. Blood and urine analysis for alcohol concentration is conducted on samples submitted from driving under the influence (DUI) cases. The unit is also responsible for maintaining breath alcohol testing instruments located in approximately 75 sheriff's stations and law enforcement offices throughout Los Angeles County. In addition, the unit provides training to law enforcement officers on how to conduct a proper breath test as well as expert witness testimony in DUI cases.