• Criminalist II
• Latent Prints
• Phone: 401-874-2922
• Fax: 401-874-4868
• Email: mzabinski@uri.edu

Biography

Mark obtained his B.S. in Criminal Justice from Bryant College in 1980. He attended the RI Municipal Police Academy in 1980 as a member of the Cranston Police Department and continued to work for the Cranston Police Department until 2002, when he retired as a Detective in the Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI). He has worked at the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory as a Latent Print Examiner since 2004.

As a police officer, Mark had the opportunity to attend many specialized training programs providing him with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to work in the Cranston Police Department BCI and to eventually be selected by the Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory. Mark is certified by the International Association for Identification as a Latent Print Examiner and as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst.

His duties at the RISCL include receiving physical evidence, examining physical evidence utilizing the use of powders, chemicals, high intensity light sources (visible, laser, ultraviolet and infrared), cameras, lenses, film, and other laboratory equipment. With these techniques, Mark may enhance, compare, and identify fingerprints and palm prints, perform digital photography of evidence, and use computer software to analyze and compare print impressions.

He interprets and evaluates examination results to determine their validity, scientific significance, and evidentiary value to provide the most information possible, prepares written reports that state the results of examinations, testifies in court when required, and participates in crime scene processing when requested. Mark also maintains instrumentation and equipment used for analysis of evidence.

Mark is well informed in his field of expertise and is an excellent instructor. Mark has the ability to present material in a relaxed, fun, and informative manner. Since 1996, Mark has been an active instructor in the RISCL’s Criminal Investigation: Scientific Evidence course. He is currently the lead instructor of the Photography section of this course. Mark has also presented seminars and workshops on digital photography and the use of computer software in crime scene and latent print photography.