CSI CHAPTER 1

CRIME SCENE

is the place from which most physical evidence associated with the crime will be obtained.

INVESTIGATION

• An inquiry, judicial or otherwise, for the discovery and collection of facts concerning the matter or matters involved.

• It is the process of inquiring, eliciting, soliciting, and getting vital information/facts/circumstances to establish the truth.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

is the collection of facts to accomplish the three-fold aims: to identify the guilty party; to locate the guilty party; and to provide evidence of his (suspect) guilt.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

It is the conduct of processes, more particularly the recognition, search, collection, handling, preservation, and documentation of physical evidence to include the identification of witnesses and the arrest of suspect/s at the crime scene.

CRIME SCENE PROCESSING

• The actual act of processing the crime scene in the field.

• The processing refers to the entire task of examining, photographing, sketching, and using field techniques to identify, evaluate, document, process, and collect physical, testimonial, and fingerprint evidence.

 CRIME LABORATORY

• This is one of the 12 operational support units of the PNP.

• It provides scientific and technical investigative aid and support to the PNP and other investigative agencies.

• It also provides crime laboratory examination, evaluation, and identification of physical evidence gathered at the crime scene, with primary emphasis on the medical, biological, and physical nature of evidence.

SCENE OF CRIME OPERATION (SOCO)

is a forensic procedure performed by trained personnel of the PNP Crime Laboratory through scientific methods of investigation for the purpose of preserving the crime scene, gathering information, documentation, collection, and examination of all physical evidence.

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

Encompasses any and all objects that can establish that a crime has been committed or can provide a link between a crime and its victim or a crime and its perpetrator.

FIRST RESPONDER (FR)

are members of the Police, Military, Fire, Medical Teams, and other volunteer organizations who are expected to be the first to respond to calls for assistance in cases of incidents.

 INVESTIGATOR-ON-CASE (IOC) / DUTY INVESTIGATOR

• Shall refer to any PNP personnel who is duly designated or assigned to conduct the inquiry of the crime by following a systematic set of procedures and methodologies for the purpose of identifying witnesses, recovering evidence, and arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators.

• The ___ shall assume full responsibility over the crime scene during the conduct of CSI.

AFTER SOCO REPORT

It is a report rendered and prepared by the Team Leader of the PNP Crime Laboratory SOCO Team who conducted the scene of the crime operations.

EVIDENCE

• The means sanctioned by the Rules of Court, for ascertaining in a judicial proceeding the truth respecting a matter of fact.

• These include, but are not limited to, documentary, testimonial, electronic, and object evidence, gathered in the course of the investigation.

FORENSIC EVIDENCE

A form of legal evidence that can be used in a court of law to convict a person of a crime and as a category of public presentation.

Indoor Crime Scene 

locations within enclosed structures

Outdoor Crime Scene

open locations including crime scenes inside the vehicle, airship, and vessel

Continuing/Running Crime Scene

mixed location from indoor to outdoor or vice-versa, or continuing outdoor alone, or from one place to another of the same jurisdiction, or from one place crossing to another area of jurisdiction.

Day Time Crime Scene

From sunrise to sunset. 

Night Crime Scene

From sunset to sunrise. Processing in this type of crime scene can be extended until day time to ensure proper collection of physical evidence.

As to the site of Original / First Criminal Activity

A. Primary Crime Scene 

B. Secondary Crime Scene

As to Crime Scene Condition

A. Organized Crime Scene 

B. Disorganized Crime Scene

INTERPOL Forensic Science Framework

emphasizes that CSI must follow standardized, scientific, and legally defensible procedures to maintain the integrity of evidence across jurisdictions.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

defines Crime Scene Investigation as the systematic process of recognizing, documenting, collecting, preserving, and analyzing physical evidence to reconstruct criminal events.

International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

underscores that effective CSI enhances investigative accuracy and public trust in the justice system.