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About Jack Toomey
Expertise
Please do NOT ask questions about potential jail sentences that you or your friends may receive in court. There is no way for me to know that. I am NOT a probation officer or a parole officer so questions about those subjects will be rejected. I am a police officer with 26 years experience. Can answer questions about crime, police procedure, investigations, criminal law, search and seizure, traffic offenses. Prefer not to answer questions on the death penalty. Please do not ask homework questions. Remember this. The law in every state is different so questions about laws that are specific to your state could be difficult to answer.
I also cannot give you legal advice on what to do or not to do in court.
I have worked with authors in the past and will be happy to review scenarios or plots with authors to check for believability or accuracy.
Experience
Police officer with 26 years experience. Ten years in patrol and sixteen years in the detective bureau investigating every type of crime including murder, rape, robbery, theft, fraud, missing persons, etc, etc. Also taught at the police academy in areas such as constitutional law, search and seizure, and lineups.
Education/Credentials
B.S. in Criminology from the University of Maryland.
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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Social Science > Crime & Law Enforcement Issues & Death Penalty > DNA/Fingerprints, Etc.
Expert: Jack Toomey - 11/2/2009
Question
Hi,
I'm a writer and have some questions about police procedure that I'm hoping you can help with. Here are the burning questions:
1. If a victim is strangled, can you get DNA from the deceased (other than from under the victims fingernails, assuming there was a struggle)? What about fingerprints?
2. Under what circumstances will an officer/detective work with a civilian to obtain evidence (e.g., wearing a wire or some sort of recording device to get the suspect to make admissions on tape?)
3. In an analysis of fibers found at the scene, how specific is the report? Can the results identify color and type of fabric?
Thanks a million!!
Answer
Head and/or public hair could be recovered from the victim. Saliva and semen could also be found in/or the victim. I have heard of cases where fingerprints have been lifted from dead bodies but never have had any experience in any of my cases.
In MY state a recording device can be used without a court order in cases of murder and a few other assorted crimes. That does not apply to any other state but I am sure that some states have similar laws. In all my years I never had a case where a civilian wore any type of "wire" in a criminal case but I am sure that it has been done.
A good lab examination can not only identify the color of a fabric but also identify the type. This has been the case for many years.
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