Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is the interpretation of bloodstains at a crime scene in order to recreate the actions that caused the bloodshed. Analysts examine the size, shape, distribution, and location of the bloodstains to draw about what happened. BPA uses principles of biology (behavior of blood), physics (cohesion, capillary action and velocity) and mathematics (geometry, distance, and angle) to assist investigators in answering questions like:
• From where did the blood originate from?
• What was the cause of the bloodshed? (weapons used)
• From what direction was the victim wounded?
• What were the positions of the victim/ attacker during the bloodshed?
• Did anyone/anything move around after the bloodshed?
• How many possible
…show more content…
For instance, if I held out my arm and it was bleeding, the angle of impact of the blood would be 90 degrees, since my arm is directly perpendicular to the floor. To calculate the angle of impact, take the width measurement and the length measurement of the blood stain, keeping in mind not to measure the tail. The tail is caused by the pull of gravity on blood, which is why is disregarded. The larger the tail, the smaller the angle of impact Figure out which figure to use.(the pun is atrocious).One must imagine that as the blood droplet is hitting the surface it is making a right triangle. To calculate, do the …show more content…
Blood drops are falling freely and only moving because of the pull of gravity on it. At low velocities, larger bloodstains are produced. Usually, low velocity bloodstains are a result of blood dripping from a victim. Dripping blood often falls at a 90 angle. This causes a circular bloodstain to form on the surface that hits it lands upon. The droplets range from 4mm-10mm. However, this usually happens if the victim is not moving and completely still. If droplets are falling from a moving object or person, (walking or running) they fall to the ground at an angle (see angle of impact) and the direction of the movement can be established. Spines often appear on bloodstains left behind and can be caused by drops repeatedly landing in the same place, by the distance the drop falls (larger spines indicate larger distance), or by the surface upon which the blood lands (rough surfaces cause more spines to form). Low velocity blood may also be found in the trail of a person who is bleeding and larger pools of blood may indicate where the person
Physical evidence left behind at a crime scene plays a crucial role in reconstructing the events that took place involving the crime. Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) is a discipline which utilizes the sciences of biology, physics, and mathematics. Bloodstain interpretation may be accomplished by direct scene evaluation and/or careful study of scene photographs in conjunction with detailed examination of clothing, weapons, and other objects regarded as physical evidence. The location, spreading, and appearance of bloodstains and spatters can be useful for interpreting and reconstructing the events that produced the bleeding. An investigator or bloodstain pattern analyst can decipher from individual bloodstains the direction and angle
Identity that which we all struggle to find. Miklo is the very same case in Taylor Hackford’s Blood In Blood Out who struggles to prove himself as a Chicano due to his white skin however culturally Miklo is as Chicano as anyone in Onda. The most important part of this dynamic, is that when Miklo gets arrested for killing spider, a rival gang leader, the prison gang system is divided by race and skin color all which he is stuck in the middle of. In prison, is where he would meet Magic a member of spider’s gang which openly fought with Miklo’s gang Vatos Locos. They quickly become friends despite their previous conflicts and confrontations between the two gangs because as Popeye mentioned everything is determined by race. This is relevant as in
The world of Forensic Scientist is an amazing and fascinating place. There are so many aspects that go into forensic science but in this paper we are only covering bloodstain spatter patterns. Bloodstain spatter patterns are not solely used to solve crimes but I do feel it is one of the most important. Bloodstains never lie.
The understanding of blood spatter patterns is not a widely recognized forensic practice. Bloodstain pattern interpretation (BPI) is commonly used in murder investigations, but could be utilized in everything from simple assault to mass murders if the number of trained professionals increased. BPI can reveal critical information into reinventing a given crime scene. Everything from the number of blows, stabs or shots a victim was given, the movement that was undergone by the victim and assailant after bloodshed began, position of objects at the crime scene and the type of weapon, if any, that was used can be uncovered.
There are four blood types found in humans. These are A blood type which has the genotype either AA or AO, B blood type which has the genotype either BB or BO, AB blood type which has the genotype AB, and O blood type which has the genotype OO. These genotypes show a combination of complete dominance and codominance. A and B traits are dominant to the recessive O trait, however, the A trait is codominant to the B trait. Each blood type codes for certain antigens. A blood codes for the A surface antigen, B blood codes for the B surface antigen, AB blood codes for both the A and B surface antigen, and O blood does not code for a surface antigen. Therefore to determine one’s blood type a test can be performed
a) Tap and drag over the area of the graph where the resting heart rate is displayed to select the data.
Hematomas occur as blood begins to pool in the tissues on the outside of blood vessels as a result of a major injury to the head or brain. Depending on the extent of the injury, however, this can cause increasing and substantial to major vessels of the head and/or brain, thereby causing severe and extensive bleeding within the brain itself. Additionally, there are also a number of different types of hematomas, depending on where the hematoma develops. According to the 2016 report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “different types of hematomas form depending on where the blood collects relative to the meninges. The meninges are the protective membranes surrounding
Blood spatter analysts are a crucial part of a homicide investigation. They examine the blood stains left behind at a crime scene with the help of criminal investigators. They try to find a pattern or trail with the blood to figure out what happened at the crime scene. These blood patterns can show where the victim was hit, how they were hit, if they struggled, and what kind of weapon the killer used. They use many techniques to collect evidence that can be analyzed at the lab. Common techniques are measuring the diameter of the blood drop, measuring the spatter zone, and taking pictures. Many analysts try to act out the homicide scene to piece together the crime scene and figure out what happened. They also sketch out the scene to go along
he Blood Spatter Analyst (also known as "Bloodstain Pattern Analyst") uses many techniques to collect and analze blood that has been left behind at a crime scene. They uses swabs and ultraviolet light, as well as photgraphy to collect and analyze trace evidence and recreate spatters. After analyzation of the spatter, they can determine what weapon was used, which direction the suspect or victim went, the number of wounds the victim suffered, the trajectry of a projectile, and what occured during a violent crime.
The most common form for bloods is tattoos and the color red . A very common one is “MOB’ this stands for many things in different places but for bloods it means member of the bloods. Another common form is three dots in a triangle burned or tattooed onto the skin is called a dog paw. The common places you find these is in between the finger and the thumb but they can be found on the stomach and shoulder also. Bloods rep the number 5, the number five is what they use to identify on other tattoos. A five point crown is another identifier for the bloods. They will add blood to the bottom of the crown as another identifier.
How to Become a Blood Spatter Analyst: Career and Salary Information. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2017, https://www.criminaljusticedegreeschools.com/criminal-justice-careers/blood-spatter-analyst/
I attended the student breakfast last Thursday, September 14th, 2017 from 10-11 am given by Heather Ann Thompson. Thompson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian for her book Blood In The Water which is even being made into a motion picture. The main point that she reiterates throughout is that when viewing the prison system in America, you have to view as part of your family. For example, if someone you loved killed someone you love dearly, would you sentence them to life in prison? Or, if it’s just a random person who messed up and made a mistake, should they serve 30 years in prison? Although, as she mentions that the prison system is complicated and uncomplicated at the same time, there is no clear and distinct solution, the current
Bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA), known in the criminal justice field as blood splatter analysis, has been studied since the 1890s. Blood splatter, or bloodstain pattern constructional readings, is a technique that seeks to piece together the incident that caused an individual’s bleeding. Understanding blood splatter on a wall or various surfaces can be instrumental in formulating if a crime was committed and if the blood discovered at the crime scene can be used as evidence. The first documentation of blood splatter research occurred at the Institute for Forensic Medicine in Poland, by Dr. Eduard Piotrowski . During Dr. Piotrowski’s research and documentation period, where he used live bunnies to research blood splatter from head
There are different types of patterns that blood splatter makes. It can be a drop, a messy splatter, to just a little pool of blood it all just depends on what caused it to happen. Forensics and law enforcement officers can determine what kind of object was used in a murder case based on the blood splatter pattern.
Blood samples from a volunteer within the group were used to conduct the experiment. The volunteer’s hands were thoroughly washed and an alcohol swab was applied to further sanitize the hands. To gather the blood samples needed, a lancet was properly placed on the forefinger and a firm pressure was applied, which activated the needle inside to