Have you ever seen a bag phone? That was the early cell phone. And that’s just one example of how technology has changed in the last thirty years. When I first started in crime scene investigation in the late 70s, we did not have digital cameras, camcorders, portable alternative light sources, superglue for processing fingerprints, personal computers, AFIS, or DNA capabilities. In other words, a lot of the technology and products that we now consider essential did not even exist then.

So, how did we get stuff done without the technology? In many ways, it was much more difficult and time consuming, but we used whatever technology was available. For example, we used Polaroid pictures to get instant shots. At one of my first crime scenes, we used a reel-to-reel black and white video unit that weighed about 40 lbs. You needed an extra person just to carry it around. The camera was attached to a six foot cable. A few years later, we switched to camcorders, which were much lighter and recorded in color, but quite large. Now we use digital cameras and digital camcorders that are lightweight, easy to use, and provide high quality images. Using cell phones and PCs, these images can then be transferred immediately back to the office so that other officers can begin their investigation.

Also in the 70s, we did not have truly portable alternative light sources to detect bodily fluids and some fibers that are not visible to the naked eye. While we did have lasers, they were very expensive. Each laser was so large that you needed a vehicle to transport it to the scene, making it impractical to use. Most lasers were kept in the crime labs. The first portable units for field work became available in the 80s, but they were still large and required 110V. They were also very expensive, ranging in price from about $20,000 to $25,000. Although the price eventually dropped, the units still had so many limitations that most crime scene officers did not use them. Instead, they relied on a visual inspection of the scene and took samples from any surfaces that might contain evidence. Finally, in 1995, the first portable, battery operated unit came out. A variety of models are now available; you can even get a unit for less than $200. These portable units are cost-effective, and they allow you to examine the scene much more thoroughly and efficiently. Alternative light sources are now to the point that they fit in an eyeglass case. You can have one with you on all cases you work to scan the scene for that evidence that will help make the case.

Processing a scene also involved some ingenuity on the part of the crime scene officer. For example, superglue became available in the 80s. We learned that we could use the fumes from superglue to develop latent prints on many surfaces, including the interior and exterior of vehicles. When the product first came out, we took the superglue, put it in a quart jar inside the vehicle, closed the vehicle’s windows and doors, and then left the vehicle and the superglue to heat up in the sun. From that point, we continued to devise ways to improve and speed up the process. One way was to use a bottle cap with superglue and place it on a piece of 1/8" steel, heated up to create the fumes. Another variation included using aluminum foil and a light bulb; a cup of warm water served as a source of humidity to help develop the latent prints and a chamber to contain the fumes. You can now purchase a complete system that is chemically activated to heat the superglue. These systems are especially useful for processing latent prints right at the scene.

One of the most important changes had to do with the computer. Personal computers are so commonplace these days that it’s easy to forget that they are a relatively new tool. In the 70s, the only computers were mainframes. There were no programs out there. If you wanted a program, you had to find someone to write it for you. As a result, these computers were not practical for everyday use. Instead, officers did all of their reports and forms by hand or on a typewriter. Presentations of evidence for court were also done manually, usually with 5X7 and 8X10 pictures. Once we had the PC and its set of existing programs, officers’ jobs instantly became much easier. Today, the evidence room is computerized, making it easy to track things for court. Officers save time by completing their crime scene reports and forms on their PCs. They can also quickly and easily transfer crime scene digital images and videos to their PCs and then create sophisticated PowerPoint presentations. We also have things like 3D imaging programs that make it easy to create crime scene diagrams.