A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation
Message From the President of the University of Central Florida The University of Central Florida (UCF) is proud to take a leading role in the investigation of fire and explosion scenes through the establishment of the National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS). The work of the Center’s faculty, staff, and students, in cooperation with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), has helped produce the NIJ Research Report A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation. More than 150 graduates of UCF’s 25-year-old program in forensic science are now working in crime laboratories across the country. Our program enjoys an ongoing partnership with NIJ to increase knowledge and awareness of fire and explosion scene investigation. We anticipate that this type of mutually beneficial partnership between the university, the criminal justice system, and private industry will become even more prevalent in the future. As the authors of this Guide indicate, the field of explosion and bombing investigation lacks nationally coordinated investigative protocols. NCFS recognizes the need for this coordination. The Center maintains and updates its training criteria and tools so that it may serve as a national resource for public safety personnel who may encounter an explosion or bombing scene in the line of duty. I encourage interested and concerned public safety personnel to use A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation. The procedures recommended in the Guide can help to ensure that more investigations are successfully concluded through the proper identification, collection, and examination of all relevant forensic evidence. Dr. John C. Hitt v
Technical Working Group for Bombing Scene Investigation The Technical Working Group for Bombing Scene Investigation (TWGBSI) is a multidisciplinary group of content area experts from the United States, Canada, and Israel, each representing his or her respective agency or practice. Each of these individuals is experienced in the investigation of explosions, the analysis of evidence gathered, or the use in the criminal justice system of information produced by the investigation. They represent such entities as fire departments, law enforcement agencies, forensic laboratories, private companies, and government agencies. At the outset of the TWGBSI effort, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the National Center for Forensic Science (NCFS) created the National Bombing Scene Planning Panel (NBSPP)—composed of distinguished law enforcement officers, representatives of private industry, and researchers—to define needs, develop initial strategies, and steer the larger group. Additional members of TWGBSI were then selected from recommendations solicited from NBSPP; NIJ’s regional National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers; and national organizations and agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, and the National District Attorneys Association. Collectively, over a 2-year period, the 32 members of TWGBSI listed below worked together to develop this handbook, A Guide for Explosion and Bombing Scene Investigation. National Bombing Scene Planning Panel of TWGBSI Joan K. Alexander Office of the Chief State’s Attorney Rocky Hill, Connecticut Roger E. Broadbent Virginia State Police Fairfax, Virginia John A. Conkling, Ph.D. American Pyrotechnics Association Chestertown, Maryland vii
- Page 1 and 2: U.S. Department of Justice Office o
- Page 3 and 4: About the National Institute of Jus
- Page 5 and 6: Julie E. Samuels Acting Director Da
- Page 7: iv In developing its investigative
- Page 11 and 12: Acknowledgments The National Instit
- Page 13 and 14: Contents Message From the Attorney
- Page 15 and 16: Introduction “I had imagined that
- Page 17 and 18: eached a high of 2,438 in 1994 and
- Page 19 and 20: Technical Working Group for Bombing
- Page 21 and 22: ◆ Documenting the scene. ◆ Proc
- Page 23 and 24: A Guide for Explosion and Bombing S
- Page 25 and 26: Section A. Procuring Equipment and
- Page 27 and 28: ◆ Measuring equipment (e.g., fore
- Page 29 and 30: Section B. Prioritizing Initial Res
- Page 31 and 32: Summary: To ensure safety, first re
- Page 33 and 34: Section C. Evaluating the Scene Not
- Page 35 and 36: 3. Conduct the Scene Walkthrough Pr
- Page 37 and 38: Section D. Documenting the Scene 1.
- Page 39 and 40: C. Establish each witness’ relati
- Page 41 and 42: 28 2. Organize Evidence Processing
- Page 43 and 44: 30 ◆ Packaging method. ◆ Miscel
- Page 45 and 46: Section F. Completing and Recording
- Page 47 and 48: 3. Release the Scene Principle: The
- Page 49 and 50: Appendix A. Sample Forms Following
- Page 51 and 52: Date: Starting Time: Platoon: OCA o
- Page 53: ACTIVITY LOG (Continued) 41
Technical Working Group <strong>for</strong> <strong>Bombing</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> <strong>Investigation</strong><br />
The Technical Working Group <strong>for</strong> <strong>Bombing</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> <strong>Investigation</strong><br />
(TWGBSI) is a multidisciplinary group of content area experts<br />
from the United States, Canada, <strong>and</strong> Israel, each representing his or her<br />
respective agency or practice. Each of these individuals is experienced in<br />
the investigation of explosions, the analysis of evidence gathered, or the<br />
use in the criminal justice system of in<strong>for</strong>mation produced by the investigation.<br />
They represent such entities as fire departments, law en<strong>for</strong>cement<br />
agencies, <strong>for</strong>ensic laboratories, private companies, <strong>and</strong> government<br />
agencies.<br />
At the outset of the TWGBSI ef<strong>for</strong>t, the National Institute of Justice<br />
(NIJ) <strong>and</strong> the National Center <strong>for</strong> Forensic Science (NCFS) created the<br />
National <strong>Bombing</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> Planning Panel (NBSPP)—composed of distinguished<br />
law en<strong>for</strong>cement officers, representatives of private industry, <strong>and</strong><br />
researchers—to define needs, develop initial strategies, <strong>and</strong> steer the larger<br />
group. Additional members of TWGBSI were then selected from recommendations<br />
solicited from NBSPP; NIJ’s regional National Law En<strong>for</strong>cement<br />
<strong>and</strong> Corrections Technology Centers; <strong>and</strong> national organizations <strong>and</strong><br />
agencies such as the Federal Bureau of <strong>Investigation</strong>, the Bureau of Alcohol,<br />
Tobacco <strong>and</strong> Firearms, the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors,<br />
<strong>and</strong> the National District Attorneys Association.<br />
Collectively, over a 2-year period, the 32 members of TWGBSI listed<br />
below worked together to develop this h<strong>and</strong>book, A <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Explosion</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Bombing</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> <strong>Investigation</strong>.<br />
National <strong>Bombing</strong> <strong>Scene</strong> Planning Panel of TWGBSI<br />
Joan K. Alex<strong>and</strong>er<br />
Office of the Chief State’s<br />
Attorney<br />
Rocky Hill, Connecticut<br />
Roger E. Broadbent<br />
Virginia State Police<br />
Fairfax, Virginia<br />
John A. Conkling, Ph.D.<br />
American Pyrotechnics<br />
Association<br />
Chestertown, Maryl<strong>and</strong><br />
vii
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