试论美国纽约市法庭科学工作

Brief Introduction to the Forensic Laboratories of New York City

纽约市是美国第一大城市,人口众多,经济发达,其法庭科学在国际上也享有声望。纽约市法庭科学部门主要分布在警察局(NYPD)和法医局(OCME)两大机构,警察系统的法庭科学机构主要负责毒品、微量物证、指纹、痕迹、枪弹及文件检验,法医局则进行DNA、毒化、法医病理、法医人类学方面的检验。本文首先介绍美国的警察制度及纽约市警察局概况,然后分别从警察局和法医局两个部门对纽约市法庭科学的部门隶属、部门设置与工作职能情况进行介绍。

New York City,the largest one of the United States of America,is famous for its population size and developed economy,therefore having brought its forensic science into long history and considerable reputation.The forensic organization of New York City is mainly run and performed by both the New York Police Department(NYPD)and the city’s Offi ce of Chief Medical Examiner(OCME).The one of NYPD is mainly responsible for investigation of the controlled substances(drugs and narcotics),trace evidence,fi ngerprints,footprints,gunshot residues and questioned document examination,whereas the one of OCME is for verifi cation from forensic biology(DNA),toxicology,forensic pathology and forensic anthropology.In this paper,a brief introduction to the police institution of both the United States and New York City is presented at fi rst,and then the forensic organizations of NYPD and OCME are respectively illustrated about their laboratory affi liation,divisions and services,and work functions.