Jennifer Chase's Blog, page 76
May 15, 2011
Photography Sunday — Trees in the Park
I walk through this local park regularly. There are tons of Oak trees, each are uniquely different from the next. On this particular afternoon in December, the lighting was extremely dramatic. I took several shots bracketing my shutter and Fstop with my Canon EOS Rebel SLR Digital camera. I settled on F4.4 and 1/28 sec.
Enjoy your Sunday!
May 14, 2011
Serial Killer's Paintings to Be Sold for Charity
Criminals who are waiting out their time on death row engage in a variety of activities to make the days pass. Some read countless law books in hopes of finding a way to appeal their sentence. Others take up writing or music in the limited ways that their circumstances will allow. Serial killer John Wayne Gacy painted . . . a lot . . . during the sixteen years between his capture and his execution. An art studio in Las Vegas is preparing to auction 74 of Gacy's pieces for charity, and some people are not happy about it.
One of the charities that is supposed to receive some of the proceeds from the sale, the National Center for Victims of Crime, wants nothing to do with the auction and asked for a cease and desist order that will remove their organization from having an association with the event. The coordinator of the show has countered that he is just trying to "help from something that was bad."
Gacy is infamous for raping and murdering 33 boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. One of the most disturbing details about this man is the fact that he dressed up as Pogo the Clown to entertain children at various events. In fact, one of the most controversial pieces up for sale at the auction is a self-portrait that Gacy drew of himself as Pogo.
What do you think of this effort to sell a serial killer's artwork as a way of raising money for charity? Is this, as the proprietor of the gallery indicated, an attempt to make some good out of a bad situation? Or, are we only offering more publicity to a man who committed heinous acts and who should be left dead and buried?
May 13, 2011
Writing as a Lone Wolf or Being a Part of the Pack
As a writer, you have many options to consider besides what and how you're going to write. You can join a writing group, take a class, network with other writers online, bounce ideas off of your best friend, but ultimately writing is an endeavor that's predominantly solitary.
If you look up the word "solitary", there are so many lonely words that are associated with it, such as, preferring solitude, lone wolf, lonely existence, a solitary walk, lacking companions, hermit, recluse, and basically someone without others.
That seems really depressing to me to look at it that way. Then that would mean a writer is a solitary creature that must live a lonely existence in order to take that solitary walk. I don't think so…
I choose to look at the long, arduous task of writing a full-length novel as stepping into a fantastic adventure where you are at the helm and can make all the decisions to help your characters get through their thrilling adventure. Some characters may survive while others fall by the wayside, some may succeed just as others will failure. It's all at your discretion. Technically, you're not really alone I suppose. Okay, maybe I seem like the term "lone wolf", but you get the picture.
Writing definitely isn't for everyone. I do enjoy my time writing and can't imagine myself being happy doing anything else, but I also try and balance my time with other activities, projects, and social engagements. One of the things that I love the most is my constant companions that are always at my side when I write. My two Labrador retrievers are always there for me to make me laugh, remind me that it's time to go for a much needed walk, and to remember that there are important things in life. They are truly my unwavering writing support team.
My advice to anyone thinking about writing a book or deciding to take up the solitary life of a writer is to remember that you're not really alone. Take the time to incorporate fun activities in your schedule. And most of all, don't forget to get back to writing!
May 12, 2011
How Important is Impression Evidence?
"There is no branch of detective science that is so important and so much neglected as the art of tracing footsteps", simply stated by the fictional detective character, Sherlock Holmes, from "A Study in Scarlet" written in 1881.
How important is impression evidence?
The shortest answer, it is extremely important to any crime scene investigation.
I find the various types of impression evidence to be a fascinating study in crime scene investigation. This is the one area, with exception to the study of the psychological aspect of a criminal, which really piques my forensic interest. Impression evidence comparison is based upon the details of the particular object of interest that can be examined for distinctive and unique details.
Various impression evidence left behind at a crime scene is similar to fingerprint evidence in that it is in two or three-dimensional form. The most common types of pattern evidence found at a crime scene are footwear and tire track imprints and impressions. Footprints or tire tracks can lead investigators through the actual path that the criminal took, to finding secondary crime scenes, and even indicating the criminal's height, or whether they were running or walking.
It is imperative that the crime scene detective be attentive and mindful of not disturbing any of these types of important impression evidence so that each clue can be documented, collected, and preserved.
What falls into the impression or pattern evidence category?
Footwear Imprints/Impressions in dirt, mud, or snow
Tire Track Imprints/Impressions in dirt, mud, or snow
Bite Marks found on a victim or food items
Lip and Ear Impressions
Fingerprints
Glove Prints
Tool Mark Impressions from prying, breaking, cutting, and scraping a surface
Shoe Impressions
Barefoot/Sock and Foot Impressions
Contusion and Abrasion Patterns
Fabric Impression/Transfers
Various Typed Documents
Imprints are two-dimensional markings that have only length and width; they are usually made in residue, such as blood, dust or mud and can either be positive or negative markings. Impressions are three-dimensional markings that have length, width and depth. They are most commonly found in soil, sand, or snow and are negative markings.
The most common methods of collecting, documenting and preserving impression evidence includes the various processes:
Seizure of a particular item (e.g. doors, window glass, sections of flooring, etc.) containing the imprint/impression.
Photographing the imprint/impression at the scene utilizing special photographic and lighting techniques.
Making a cast of the impression using various casting materials and methods (e.g., dental stone, plaster of paris, or paraffin wax).
Lifting imprints using appropriate materials and equipment (e.g. rubber or adhesive lifters, Electrostatic Dust Lifter, fingerprint dusting powders, etc.).
Enhancement of particular areas to develop latent or low quality imprints using various chemicals and alternate light sources.
In 1968, James W. Osterburg, author of many criminal investigation textbooks wrote this in his preface of his first edition of "The Crime Laboratory, Case Studies of Scientific Criminal Investigation", wrote "The adaptation of science to the needs of the law seems an obvious step that must be employed to assist in the administration of justice. However, with the exception of medicine, only in recent times has science been enlisted to enlighten the problems of investigation and proof in criminal law."
Jennifer Chase
Award Winning Author & Criminologist
Blog: www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Book & Crime Talk: www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/
May 11, 2011
Top Forensic Books on my Bookshelf
Recently, a few people have asked me about non-fiction books that I would recommend for reading more about crime scene investigation and serial killers. Here are some of the top books that I refer to often in my work and I also find them extremely interesting.
Case Homicides: Practical Investigative Techniques
By Richard H. Walton
This is a great book that outlines actual cases and how to conduct cold case investigations. You really view homicides in a different light. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to write about a fictional cold case detective.
Crime Reconstruction
By Jerry Chisum & Brent E. Turvey
This is by far one of the more interesting books I've read about crime scenes. The book talks about staged crime scenes and actually reconstructing a crime scene for an investigation.
Criminal Profiling
By Brent Turvey
I love this book. There is so much information about profiling to digest that it makes a wonderful reference book for writing in the crime fiction genre. This is definitely not a light read, but it is worth your time.
Serial Killers
By Joel Norris
This was one of the first books I read about serial killers. It talks about the how and why serial killers do what they do. It really piqued my interest to learn more about this phenomenon. Norris has some interesting theories and I've incorporated some of them into my novel "Compulsion".
Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation
By Barry A.J. Fisher
This is a perfect overall academic book for anyone interested in the various areas of crime scene investigation and forensics. This book is often used in college course work and it is a great beginning book on crime scene investigation. This book is informative and I highly recommend it.
Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us
By Robert D. Hare, PhD
I found this book to be one of those you casually pick up to read and then you can't put it down! It's frightening, but enlightening at the same time. If you're interested in the psychology of a psychopath, I would recommend this book. It's an easy to read paperback.
Do you have any favorite forensic or crime scene investigation books? Please feel free to leave your selection in the comments. I would love to hear from you.
Jennifer Chase
Award Winning Author & Criminologist
Blog: http://www.authorjenniferchase.com/
Website: http://www.jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase
Books: Compulsion = Dead Game = Silent Partner = Screenwriting
May 10, 2011
Religious Leaders Advocate for Georgia Man on Death Row
As our forensic scientists continue to develop new technology that will aid in accurately identifying the perpetrators of violent acts, we can hope that the guilty will face the day of justice that they deserve and the innocent will remain free. However, even with all of the amazing developments over the past decade, there is often a doubt concerning the guilt of an individual and that doubt becomes heightened when the consequence involves life in prison or even death.
A diverse group of religious leaders are coming together in Georgia to ask for clemency for Troy Davis, a man who has been convicted of shooting and killing an off-duty police officer in Savannah in 1989. All of Davis' avenues through the court system have been exhausted, most recently when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear his case on March 28 of this year, so the People of Faith Against the Death Penalty are looking to the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for some help.
The group argues that seven of the nine witnesses from the trial have since recanted or changed their testimony and that no physical evidence definitively links Davis to the crime. Those who support the sentence that Davis has received believe that the evidence clearly demonstrated Davis' involvement and that the gun belonged to him.
Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed in two weeks, so activists around the globe who are focused on this case do not have much time left to make their case.
In instances such as this one, in which the argument established by the prosecution seems to be on shaky ground, what should the proper course of action be? Do you support the idea of a new and likely lengthy trial? Or, would you favor continue to search for more grounds for appeal? Maybe you think the conviction has been handed down and the justice system should move forward with that decision. Let me know your thoughts.
May 9, 2011
Criminal Profiling – An Important Investigative Tool
In my first crime fiction novel Compulsion, Emily Stone's love interest Detective Rick Lopez uses a form of profiling called a "Threshold Assessment". He carefully weighs the evidence from the serial homicide crime scenes, criminal behavior patterns, and victimology to begin to put together a preliminary profile of the serial killer.
I'm an associate member in the Criminology Section of the Academy of Behavioral Profiling. I'm intrigued by behavioral evidence analysis and it was the driving force behind completing my criminology degree in 2008.
People frequently ask me, "What's profiling and how does it work?"
Some people think of profiling as some type of psychic or other intuitive paranormal ability and not something that should be used as a practical resource in all types of criminal investigations. There are two types of effective profiles that can be used in an investigation: threshold assessment and criminal profile.
Every investigator or detective should know how to incorporate profiling into his or her investigations as an investigative tool. It should never be done in place of solid investigative work; however, it should be one of the pieces available in the criminal investigation arsenal. No two crime scenes occur in the same way or are ever exactly alike. This is where it's important for the investigator to use his or her analytical and deductive reasoning skills in an objective manner.
According to criminal profiler and forensic scientist, Brent Turvey, a "Threshold Assessment" refers to a document that reviews the initial evidence of crime behavior, victimology, and crime scene characteristics of a particular case or a series of cases. This procedure is the evaluation of what is understood to be fact about a particular case or cases and does not render the conclusions or opinions of a full criminal profile report.
A "Threshold Assessment" should include the following:
1. Overview of established facts of the case.
2. Overview of established facts relevant to the victimology (thorough study of the victim).
3. Overview of established facts relevant to the crime scene.
4. Initial hypothesis of motivational behaviors.
5. Initial hypothesis of offender characteristics.
6. Suggestions of further facts needed to be determined or analyzed.
7. Suggestions of further facts needed through victimology.
8. Suggestions and potential strategies for suspect development.
All of this information is helpful in creating a complete criminal profile. A criminal profile refers to a "court-worthy" document that incorporates all of the physical and behavioral evidence relating to the known victimology and crime scene characteristics of the offender responsible for the crime or series of crimes. This document concludes with the opinions and conclusion of the profiler of the most logical suspect for the case or series of cases. Criminal profiling shouldn't be limited to just homicide investigations; it can used for burglary, rape, and arson investigations as well.
May 8, 2011
Photography Sunday — Happy Mother's Day
In honor of Mother's Day today, I thought roses were appropriate. I enjoy going to various nurseries around my area and I don't forget my camera. This particular garden has a wonderful area with a variety of roses growing on a large arbor with welcoming benches all around. I couldn't resist these beautiful pinkish flowers. I took several shots with different aperture settings to get the final result I wanted.
Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there today!
May 7, 2011
Out & About Magazine — May Issue
Out & About Magazine - In the Valley & on the Coast – The South Bay's Premiere Entertainment Guide. You will find what's going on around the Monterey Bay, South Bay, and inland areas. Check it out, there's something to do for everyone in the family!
Book Reviews and Crime Tips by Local Award Winning Author and Criminologist Jennifer Chase. Her book review of Jeffery Deaver's The Burning Wire can be found on Page 40 of this month's issue.
Out & About Magazine can be viewed online or downloaded to a PDF file.
The Magazine can be accessed here:
Spending a Day in the Garden
Today, I'm one of the featured artists in the garden for the Aromas Hills Artisans Country Garden Tour. It's a wonderful annual event that showcases all of the wonderful local artists (painters, photographers, sculptors, weavers, woodworkers, writers, etc.) in a beautiful garden setting. No two gardens are alike and they are definitely like a work of art – Mother Nature style. It's a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
I like to call the garden my second favorite place to sit and write – an organic office. I can't think of a better place to stay inspired and jot down my story ideas. The tranquility helps me to recharge my creative energy and take a much-needed breather from everyday stresses.
If you're in California and in the Monterey, Santa Cruz, or San Jose areas, take some time to appreciate the Aromas Country Garden Tour and support local art.
I will be in one of the gardens signing my books and answering questions. I hope to see you there.
Here's all the information:
Aromas Country Garden Tour 2011
Tickets $10 (for individual or group)
Begin your tour at the Aromas Grange
Located at the corners of Rose & Bardue Streets, Aromas
Date: Saturday, May 7th, 2011
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
