She does not operate a shop filled with images of hearts and arrows, skulls and cross bones, and mermaids and pirates. But Dr. Michelle Miranda has gone from a forensic scientist to what could be called a 21st century tattoo artist by analyzing body art to solve crimes.
Miranda teaches in Farmingdale State College's (FSC)'s Departments of Security Systems and Law Enforcement Technology, where she puts her interest in body art to work. Before joining FSC, she was in the trenches, working for the New York City Police Department in its Forensic Investigations Division's Trace Evidence Analysis Section, and later as a medical photographer for the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's office and a death investigator for the Rockland County Medical Examiner's office.
While she spent most of her time in a lab as a criminalist with the NYPD, other jobs broadened her experience. "The photographer position allowed me to get out of the lab and into the autopsy suite, and the death investigator position put me in the field and at scenes." It was at her Rockland County job that she had an epiphany about the value of tattoos in solving crimes.
Traditional databases, such as those for fingerprints, DNA profiles, and dental records, are limited, Miranda explained. If the victim or suspect does not have a profile on file, these methods may not provide any information. But an individual's tattoos often are on full display, and viewed by and known to family members, friends, coworkers, and of course, the tattoo artist. If the tattoo has enough distinguishing features and can be traced to one particular individual, then that can provide the information to guide an investigation, specifically in the search for a perpetrator.
"I hope my book 'Forensic Analysis of Tattoos and Tattoo Inks' creates awareness. I want all investigators and forensic scientists to be aware that tattoos and tattoo inks can be useful in forensic investigations," added Miranda.
Today she is a much-in-demand consultant to the law enforcement community. Her real love, however, is training students for careers in the field, preparing future police officers, lawyers, and forensic scientists. "It is rewarding when a former student reaches out to me after they have seen their first crime scene – or dead body," Miranda said. "It is so important to teach these concepts to those likely to be first responders, or to those who are responsible for securing a crime scene even before the forensic scientists and investigators begin their work."
