The Criminal Reconstruction Unit is a specialized division which investigates traffic collisions and assists in evidence documentation at Crime Scenes. Each Criminal Reconstruction Agent is proficient in:
- Forensic Mapping/ Collision
- Time-Distance analysis
- Momentum analysis
- Event Data Recorder downloads
- Vehicle Autopsy
- Safety inspections
- Physical Evidence Analysis
- Occupant Kinematics/human factors
- Pedestrian/bicycle/motorcycle Collisions
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Collisions
- Vehicular Homicide Investigations
- Energy Methods and Damage Analysis
- Railroad collisions
The primary duty of the Criminal Reconstruction Unit is to conduct comprehensive investigations and analyses of major traffic collisions throughout the state. The Unit is equipped with electronic optical equipment known as Total Stations for recording data at scenes, and Crash Data Recovery Kits . The Crash Data Recovery process may reveals pre-crash and post –crash data from the vehicle. Some of the data includes vehicle acceleration, significant speed changes/impact, braking, seat-belt information, and airbag deployment.
Each Criminal Reconstruction Agent is trained in the scientific process of accurately collecting tangible evidence for criminal prosecution at crime scenes involving murders, officer involved shootings, aircraft collisions, and violent offenses. The Criminal Reconstruction Unit assists County and City Law Enforcement Agencies when their expertise is needed. The Criminal Reconstruction Agents teach collision investigation and how to properly complete the Mississippi Uniform Crash Report.
Court room testimony in criminal cases has moved beyond diagrams. Visual computer simulations of collisions to assist in explaining how a collision occurred are a specialty of the Criminal Reconstruction Unit. Prosecutors and Jurors have the advantage to understand how a collision occurs when it can be clarified by seeing events in real time in the recreation.