[GeorgeReis]

I was just re-reading this thread and thought I'd comment on this:

Originally Posted by maureeno

Dimmi, not beating a lame horse, but does your department have a CSI unit or access to image enhancement through your state's lab?

It is against my department's protocol to take any evidence out of the house. I'm not aware of any department in the US where this policy differs. But of course, I have not had contact with every department, either.

Maureen

In my experience that most agencies will send their work out when extra help is needed. First, most municipal agencies send considerable work to their county agency for help. They send dead bodies to the coroner or medical examiner for help. They send DNA work to the county, state or a private agency for work. They send out GSR to their county or state lab. They send original evidence out for VMD work. Rape kits are usually sent to a county agency or lab. So, work does leave most agencies frequently.

But, this is mostly to other government agencies, you may think. Well, I frequently get hired by police agencies and prosecutors (as well as defense attorneys and civil attorneys) when they can't find any government resource who can help them. I get sent original evidence on robbery, rape, assault and homicide cases from police departments, sheriff offices, district attorneys, etc. from throughout the US (I'm even working a case from Japan right now). It isn't uncommon - I've had evidence delivered by special courier, by officers who remain in it's presence, by FedEx, and even by standard US Mail (I would not recommend this last one).

All this has nothing to do with imaging - but I did want to clarify that it is much more common than you may think for police agencies to send evidence to experts and labs when needed. If it's too off-topic, perhaps Doug will pull it - but I thought it worth addressing.

George

[maureeno]

Originally Posted by GeorgeReis

I was just re-reading this thread and thought I'd comment on this:



In my experience that most agencies will send their work out when extra help is needed.
George

Hi George!

Forgive me for not making my point clear about taking issues outside the house. I meant that we don't recruit help from open Internet forums. My agency always uses our county or state resources, or contractors who have been cleared for such work.

The Coroner/Sheriff handle autopsies and state/Federal certified labs handle other evidence, including trace evidence, photo forensics, etc. for my department when the need exceeds the scope of our CSI unit.

We use specialists such as yourself, also, when the need arises, but we do not use non-certified resources. Only using certified, approved experts was the point I was attempting to make. Apparently I was not specific on that point. Thank you for your services and your willingness to testify in court for your results. Many cases would go unsolved if not for people like you.

I'm sorry I did not make myself clear enough in my initial post.

Maureen