Chapter 3: Crime Scene Investigation

Basic Crime Scene Procedures

Physical evidence recognition, documentation, proper evidence collection, packaging, and preservation

Crime Scene Management

Teamwork approach of investigators and crime scene personnel that successfully resolves a case

Crime Scene map

Using techniques associated with surveying to obtain data that can be used to generate a three-dimensional rendering and record of the science

Crime scene reconstruction

Analysis and reconstruction of a crime scene that logically links a detailed series of scientific explanations to provide an understanding of the sequence of events

Crime scene security

Practices used to secure a crime scene and to keep unauthorized persons away from the scene integrity

crime scene sketch

A rough drawing used to document a crime scene

crime scene survey

A rapid initial study of the crime scene or areas suspected to be a crime scene

First responding officers

First person arriving at a crime scene; usually a law enforcement officer or other emergency personnel

Macroscopic crime scene

The overall or "big picture" crime scene

Microscopic crime scene

Crime scene description based on the type of physical evidence present

Primary crime scene

Description of a crime scene based on the location of the original criminal activity; the original scene

Secondary crime scene

Crime scene location after the original or primary crime scene

Videography

Recording the scene using continuous video (usually digital)

Walk-through

Preliminary crime scene survey performed to orient the crime scene investigator to the scene and the physical evidence at the scene

"W's"

Acronym for who, what, when, where, and why; the questions associated with a crime

Definitions or classifications of crime scenes

1. Location of the crime scene (primary and secondary crime scenes)

2. Size of the crime scene (macroscopic and microscopic)

Four components of crime scene management

1. Information management

2. Manpower management

3. Technology Management

4. Logistics Management

Five Crime scene investigation models

1. Traditional

2. Crime Scene Technicians

3. Major Crime Squad

4. Lab crime scene scientist

5. Collaborative Team

Duties of the first responder at the crime scene

1. assist the victim

2. search for and arrest the suspect if still on scene

3. Detain any witnesses. keep them separated to preserve their objectivity

4. protect and secure the crime scene. use barrier tape, log people who enter and exit the crime scene.

5. Document all movements, alterations, or changes made to the crime scene

Components or tasks of crime scene documentation

1. note taking

2. videography

3. photography

4. sketching

Basic process used for photographing crime scenes

-overall photos, mid range photos, close up photos

- record photos in log, use camera settings with good focus, no extraneous objects in photos

Two basic types of crime scene sketches? Two types of perspectives used in sketches?

the rough sketch and the finished sketch

overhead sketch and side view sketch

Six types of search patterns used in crime scene investigations?

1. link method

2. line or strip method

3. grid method

4. zone method

5. wheel or ray method

6. spiral method

General guidelines for collection, packaging, and preservation of physical evidence?

-Packaged into a primary container that is placed in a secondary container

- Sealed with tamper resistant tape

- Marked with information about item, identity of collector, date and time

Stages of a crime scene reconstruction

1. Data collection

2. Conjecture

3. Hypothesis formulation

4. Testing

5. Theory formulation

Purpose of a walk-through

a mental beginning for a reconstruction theory that may be changed as the investigation goes on. note evidence that might need processimg