Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
and Management
Instructional Goal
To provide the participant with an
understanding of the fundamentals of crime
scene management as it pertains to the
collection and preservation of physical
evidence.
Instructional Objectives
The participant will be able to...
Explain the steps for crime scene preparation
Identify the purpose and operational structure
of a Crime Scene Unit
Describe the basic six team positions of a
crime scene unit
Instructional Objectives
Identify the stages involved in evaluating a
crime scene
List basic equipment required to process a
crime scene
Describe basic safety considerations
Describe methods of controlling crime
scene contamination
Importance of Physical
Evidence
Admissibility in court
It doesnt matter if you know who did it, if you
cant convince a jury
Legality of a Search
There is no crime scene exception to the 4th
Amendment
Once a scene is secure, exigent circumstances
no longer exist
Get a warrant
Get consent
Advanced Preparation
Advanced Preparation
Accumulate packaging and collection of
materials necessary for typical crime scene.
Prepare format for the paperwork needed to
document the crime scene search
Advanced Preparation
Ensure specialists are aware of the proper
collection and documentation of evidence
likely to be encountered.
Before arrival, discuss the crime scene search
with involved personnel.
Before arrival, designate a person-in-charge
and make preliminary personnel assignments.
Advanced Preparation
Clothing
Communication
Lighting assistance
Shelter
Personnel Responsibilities
Team Leader
Administrative log
Narrative description
Preliminary survey
Scene security
Final decision making
Photographer
Takes the appropriate
photographs
Responsible for preparing
photographic log
Dictate to designated scribe
Sketch Preparer
Draw the sketch
Depict spatial relationships
Documentation of items
collected on sketch
Match item #s
Evidence Recorder
Prepare the evidence log
documents
Function as the Evidence
Custodian
Evidence Collectors
Balance of team members
Conduct search
Collect and package evidence
Make sure all items collected are photographed,
located on sketch, and logged
Specialists
Consider what specialists might be
necessary to assist with the processing of
the crime scene
Specialists include pathologists,
anthropologists, entomologists, botanists,
geologists, fingerprint specialists, bomb
technicians, engineers etc...
Important Considerations
Prolonged searches
Establish personnel requirements - shifts
Multiple shifts that overlap
Communications
Ancillary services (e.g. medical examiner, DA,
etc.)
Organize a command post for major cases
Important Considerations
Multi-jurisdictional events
Establish liaison with other jurisdictions
Develop memoranda of understanding
Pool available resources
Designate media / press coordination
11 Step Process
Approach the scene
Secure and protect
Initiate a preliminary
survey
Evaluate the physical
evidence
Prepare a narrative
description
Approach Scene
Be alert for all forms of physical evidence
Make pertinent notes concerning
observations
Be in the frame of mind to take control
Consider personal safety
Consider all resources needed for
processing the scene
Preliminary Survey
Identify and protect all transient physical
evidence
Develop a general theory of the crime
Make extensive notes to document physical
and environmental conditions, assignments,
and movements of personnel
Narrative Description
Narrative is a running general description
of the condition of the crime scene
Present an overall general to specific
description of crime scene
Note items that catch your attention
Methods of narrative can be:
Audio
Written
Video
Scene Photography
Photograph the scene as soon as possible
Use Photo Log for documentation
Utilize various views of the scene
Overall
Medium
Close-up (with and without scale)
Scene Photography
Photograph the scene completely to include:
Points of entry/exit
Surrounding area/neighborhood
Homicide Photography
Scene Photography
DOs and DONTs
Diagram/Sketch
Permanent record of items, establishes
distance/size and their spatial relationships
Rough sketch may be drawn at scene never to scale.
Retain in file
Diagram/Sketch
Administrative Information to include:
Location
Date
Case number/name
Preparers name
Scale
North arrow
Key
Diagram/Sketch
Should Depict
Features
Buildings
Furniture
Plants
Items of evidence
Numbers or letters
Measurements
In adjacent table
Spiral
Start at center and spiral
out
May have advantages if
working alone
Difficult to manage
Grid
A
1
2
3
Locate /Collect
Physical Evidence
Consider specialized forensic techniques
Latent fingerprits
Hairs and fibers
Trace evidence
Blood and bodily fluids
Toolmarks
Impressions
Latent Fingerprints
Latent fingerprints are a marvelous tool
for solving crimes, but they have
limitations:
Liftability
Identifiability
Matchabiliy
Latent Fingerprints
Liftability
The fact that one can locate and develop a
latent fingerprint at the scene does not mean
that print can be lifted
Surface characteristics
Latent Fingerprints
Identifiability
The fact that one can locate and see a latent
fingerprint does not mean that it contains
identifiable finger ridge detail
Latent Fingerprints
Matchability
The fact that one can locate, develop and
lift a good latent fingerprint does not mean
that it can be matched to a subject or victim
Cant lways submit a partial print to AFIS and
get a match
Must first develop a suspect through other
investigative means
Then attempt to match latent to his/her prints
Indirect Transfer
Suspect to suspects car to victim
Blood Evidence
Bloodstain pattern analysis
Establishes what happened
Evidence Packaging
General Rules
For latent fingerprints:
Porous material goes in paper packaging
Non-porous material goes in plastic
Secure so it doesnt move
Safety Considerations
Ensure personnel have personal protective
equipment
Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious
View crime scene as source of
contamination
Never place hands where you cant see
Do not eat, drink, or smoke at crime scene
Safety Considerations
Ensure crime scene personnel have
protection from environmental elements
Beware of blood borne pathogens
Place sharps in appropriate containers