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Article: Crime scene integrity.(MANAGING IN THE MILLENNIUM)
- Article from:
- Law Enforcement Technology
- Article date:
- February 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Cygnus Business Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Strong crime scene processing can bolster a borderline court case and make a good one appeal-proof, while weak or flawed practices can have a chilling effect on cases. Despite their importance, departmental evidence divisions are many times treated as red-headed stepchildren inside their own agencies. They're rarely noticed unless problems crop up, and--face it--courtroom testimony on chain of custody matters, although essential, can be mind-numbing, even to other officers. Unless it's a very high profile case, most people tune out when the evidence crew takes the stand.
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But collecting, preserving and processing evidence is one of ...