crime scenes basic concepts. what happens at the crime scene? –first responder priorities:...
TRANSCRIPT
What happens at the crime scene?
– First Responder Priorities:• Determine need for medical assistance• Confirm or pronounce death• Take steps to preserve and protect area• Secure and isolate the crime scene using ropes
or barricades• Exclude all unauthorized personnel from scene• Conduct a scene walk through• Determine the lead investigator
Evaluation of the Area
• Determine the boundaries of the scene• Establish the perpetrator’s entrance and exit• Initial walk though of the scene to determine
the strategy for documentation of the entire crime scene.
SKETCHING THE SCENE
• Rough Sketches– Shows all items of physical evidence w/ number
assigned to each.– Objects are located by distance measurements
from two fixed points.– Distances marked must be accurate. All distances
are made with a tape measure.– Each item is assigned a letter or number.– The sketch shows a compass heading designating
north.
Back at the lab (after initial search)
• Finished Sketches– Usually prepared with the aide of templates– Usually drawn to scale– Must contain all information contained in
the rough sketch– Well constructed sketches are admissible
as evidence in a trial
Photographing the scene
• Overall Photos– unaltered condition – entire scene and surrounding areas,
including walls and points of entry and exit– purpose is to include as much as possible
in one photograph– goal - each important item is in at least one
photo
Photographing the scene
• Mid Range Photographs– purpose - focus attention on - specific
object– Use scales so photos can be admitted in
court– Wounds and bruises should be
photographed with and without scales.
Photographing the scene
• Close up Photographs• Purpose is show a specific aspect of an
object up close• Show pattern of injuries• Show weapons lying near the body • After the body is removed, close up photos
of the area underneath
Notes from the scene
• Date/Time of arrival on scene
• Name of investigators
• Address/Description
• Weather conditions (if outside)
• Log of ALL activities including search, sketch, photography, evidence collection, etc.
Search Patterns
• Zone Search: A small area or room is searched. It's used in homicides, rape, drug and bomb searches.
1 2
3 4
Search Patterns
• Ever Widening Circle: Used when only 1 person is available to search
• Also known as spiral
Search Patterns
• Straight Line Search: Used outdoors. Many people stand shoulder to shoulder and walk across the area in a straight line.
Search Patterns
• Strip Search: Used when only a few people are available to cover a large outdoor area.
Search Patterns
• Grid Search: Covers a large area. Divide area into a grid and search each grid. Repeat perpendicular to first grid.
Types of crime scenes
• Primary - where crime was committed
• Secondary - where additional physical evidence has been found
Also they can be classified by
• Type of crime (ie. Robbery, assault…)
• Condition (ie. Organized, disorganized)
• Location (ie. Indoors)