Answer & Explanation:I’m currently in my Law Enforcement SKILLS portion in school and my instructor asked me to write a reflection paper on Bloodborne
Pathogens. This class is my CRIME SCENE course meaning how can Bloodborne
Pathogens affect law enforcement or police officer and MOST of all what did I learn from class on this topic. It’s a reflection paper that has to be 1,000 words or more below I’ve attached my notes I’ve taken from my crime scene class.PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS
bloodborne_pathogens.docx
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Bloodborne Pathogens
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
4:20 PM
8/12/16
Bloodborne Pathogens (WILL LIVE OUTSIDE OF SCENE, WILL LIVE IN DRY BLOOD)
Hep B, Hep C, HIV
-How do we protect ourselves?
Intact Skin!
Universal precautions/PPE
Means of Transmission:
-Needle Sticks
-Cuts or punctures from objects (knives or broken glass)
-Contact with your mucous members your eyes, nose or mouth)
-Contact between cut or injured skin and contaminated blood or other infectious material.
What is potentially infectious?
-Significant Exposures
-2% infection rate with HEP C and open wounds
-No reported infections through intact skin
Cleaning yourself and equipment
-Hand washing- Even if PPE is used!
-10% bleach for equipment
-Biohazard Disposal
WHAT IS DNA
-Deoxyribonucleic Acid
-Biological/Genetic Material in all living things
-Combination of you mother and fathers DNA
-Unique to YOU, unless you have a twin
WHERE IS DNA FOUND?
DNA is the same in every cell
-The most common sources for evidence are:
BLOOD
SEMEN, VAGINAL FLUID
SKIN CELLS, PERSPIRATION
BONE, TEETH, HAIR
SALIVA, MUCUS, FINGERNAILS
URINE, FECES, ETC..
(CAN’T PUT EVIDENCE IN PLASTIC SINCE EVIDENCE CAN BECOME MOLDED AND MOLD EATS DNA) so
brown paper bag it
Common Objects Containing DNA Evidence
Weapons
Hat/masks
Facial tissues
Tooth picks
Eye glasses
Cig. Butts
Bottles (COLLECT EVIDENCE BY PUNCHING OUT THE BOTTOM OF can/bottle NOT FROM PURING IT OUT)
Stamps
Bed linens
Fingernails
The Value of DNA evidence?
Identify potential suspects
Associate victims/suspects to scenes
Associate victimes/suspects to one another
Identify victims through relatives even if no body is located
Can link suspects to local, state or national crimes
If properly collected and stored can assist with cold cases
LIMITATIONS
Environmental factors; heat, sunlight, bacteria and mold an destroy DNA.
DNA from close relatives is more similar than unrelated individuals.
DNA cannot determine WHEN a person was at a crime scene.
CONTAMINATION CONCERNS
DNA testing is very sensitive
Dealing with small samples
Special care must be taken to avoid
CODIS
-CO-mbined DNA Index System
THREE INDEXES OF CODIS
-Forensic Index (cases with DNA evidence obtained from crime scene evidence)
Convicted Offender Index (DNA profiles of individuals convicted sex offenders)
Third Index (MISSING PERSON)
MINNESTOA DATEBASE
120,000 offender profiles
9411 forensic samples
investigations aided- 3200
Minnesota statute 609.117 says samples are to be taken from:
Convicted felons (or convicted of lesser charges)
Adults and Juveniles are tested
MARYLAND V. KING (2013)
U.S Supreme court cases (
JUST A TOUCH- only about 5-20 cells from the outermost layer of our skin
Doesn’t require you to see anything.
COLLECTING DNA SAMPLES
Collect the entire item
Take a sample from the item
Cutting
Swab (MOST COMMON)
BUCCAL SWABS
Uses sterile cotton tipped swab
Scrub the inside of the cheek
No food or drink for 20 minutes
Simple and painless procedures for obtaining a DNA sample
CLEAN COLLECTIONS
-Using new, clean, or sterile equipment for collecting evidence
Equipment must be new or cleaned between scenes
Tens are handled and packaged separately
Evidence containers are use
GLOVES AND PPE
When do you change gloves? (if evidence is on gloves change right away if like blood is on glove)
change glove when moving to another location in the crime scene.
Work with one item at a time
LABELING EVIDENCE
Case Number
Officer Name
Date/Time of Collection
Description of Item
Seals initialed
Biohazard Stickers
“DEATH INVESTIGATION evidence are kept FOREVER in evidence room.”
…
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