Crime Scene Response Team

what does the crime scene response team do

process the crime scene

Six Team Positions

team leader, photographer, sketch preparer, evidence custodian, evidence recovery personnel, specialists

Team Leader

in charge of scene, ensures safety, prepares administrative log/narrative description, team assignments, conducts final survey, release scene

Preliminary survey

with team leader and photographer, makes sure of sufficient personnel and specialists, define scene, collect transient evidence

why do you have to be so careful when releasing the scene

you only get one shot, once the scene has been released, you cannot go back to it

is the team leader in charge of the investigation?

no, they are in charge of the crime scene, which is not the same

Photographer

entire scene as general, overall, medium, and close-up (with and without scale), evidence, latent fingerprints, impressions, photography log

Sketch Preparer

create scene sketch, gives context, multiple sketches may be required

Sketch should include

north, key/legend, case number, date, name, "not to scale," appropriate measurements

Evidence Custodian

prepares evidence log, receives and records all evidence, coordinates evidence packaging and preservation

where are evidence custodians located

outside of the secure area

Cyanoacrylate fuming

cause latent print to be visible and not able to come off, can be done on site to not ruin prints

Evidence Recovery Personnel

locates and collects evidence, initial and dat evidence, turn over to evidence custodian

why are there often 2 original signatures on evidence

so if one of them leaves, hopefully the other person is still there when the trial happens and they can testify

why do we initial and date all evidence

so it can be recognized in trial as viable evidence

Specialists

need identified based on scene

Specialist examples

anthropologist, blood spatter expert, bomb technician, botanist, cadaver/drug/explosive canine, dive team, entomologist, fingerprint specialist, geologist, HAZMAT personnel

how do they get specialists to the scene

the team leader has a list so that they can call and get them to the scene as soon as possible

Alternative light source

reveal evidence invisible to naked eye

Electrostatic dust print lifter

for barely visible prints, non-porous hard surfaces