Crime and Science Investigation - QUIZ #1

Bow Street Runners

Founded by Henry Fielding, By 1800 --> leading law enforcement org.

London Metropolitan Police

Established by Sir Robert Peel, the first full time paid police force, known as bobbies

Scotland Yard

Detective bureau in 1942, officers also known as bobbies

Some Forensic Sciences in Criminal Investigations

Serology, Forensic Dentistry, Ballistics, Pathology/Biology, Toxicology

What is Serology?

Study of blood

What are ballistics?

Ammunition

Pathology/Biology

Studies the cause and manner of death

Toxicology

Toxicity in body

What’s the CSI effect?

Jurors may expect forensic evidence to prove a crime because of inaccurate TV crime shows

What is Inductive Reasoning?

Moves from particular to general, conclusions based on evidence collected.

What is Deductive Reasoning?

Concludes based on critical thinking, a conclusion from multiple true premises, must match the beginning premise.

What are the objectives of crime?

Detect crime
Locate + ID suspects
Locate, document + collect evidence
Arrest suspects
Recover stolen property
Prepare case for prosecution

Evidence can be found through:

Witnesses, informants, and technological advancements, informed by the investigator’s training and experience.

Preliminary Investigation

What (what happened)

Who (Locate witnesses)

Physical Evidence

What next (determine next steps)

Evaluate (witness/victim statement)

Act (decide if act on statements and evidence)

Record (crime scene, what is done, what to do)

Apprehend (if necessary)

Responsibilities of First Responder

1. Aid the injured

2. Evaluate the situation

3. Obtain basic info

4. Interview witnesses

Crime scene investigators require ____

training

Not every law enforcement has a dedicated ______

CSI unit

Focus for CSI Investigators to:

control, contain, identify, and collect crime scene evidence

Locard exchange principle

With contact between two items, there will be an exchange

What is evidence under the locard exchange principle called?

Material transferred in this fashion is usually referred to as trace evidence

Steps in Report Writing

1. Collect info about the crime scene, informants, and witnesses

2. Take complete notes

3. Organize the info

4. Prepare the report

5. Proofread and evaluate the report

Elements of a Police Report

• Who the officer was met by at the crime scene

• What was found at the scene

• What the officer did at the scene (first aid, notified immediate supervisor)

• Description of injuries to victim or suspect

• Type of weapon used

• Description of all evidence

• Names and identifiers of all suspects arrested

• Names of witnesses

• Copies of written statements given by witnesses

What to write down for police report:

• Notes written in order

• "What happened?"

• Things to include:

1. Dates

2. Times

3. Locations

4. Description of victim

5. Wounds

6. Description of crime scene

7. Notes on photographs

8. Type and location of each evidence

9. Any items absent

When Documenting Interviews, include:

Preliminary Information, Witnesses, Physical evidence

What does the preliminary information include:

• Location, time, and nature of crime

• identification of victim

• manner and time

• complaint was made

Witnesses:

Victims, witnesses, others at scene

Physical evidence:

Modus operani/method of operation

Investigators should be skilled at forming ___________ and guide the _________ logically

questions, information

Investigators must distinguish between ________ items and those based on __________

verified, judgement

Photography methods:

General views, Medium-Range Views, Close-Up Views

Photos must be logged and labeled with the ______, ________, and ____________

date, time, and sequence number

Some markings can be shown with ________ to show specific locations of objects such as bodies, footprints, and weapons

chalk

______________ on surface of photographs after they have been printed.

Ink markings

Field Note Essentials:

1. Dates, times, locations

2. Description of victim

3. Wounds on victim

4. Overall description of the crime scene

5. Notes on photographs taken

6. Type and location of evidence

7. Absence of items

Crime Scene Sketching:

1. Coordinate Method

2. Cross-projection method

3. Triangulation method

What is Physical Evidence?

• Can prove elements of a crime or reveal that a crime has been committed

• Can be used to place a suspect at the scene

• Can be used to eliminate an innocent person

• May lead to a confession

• Can be supported by witnesses

• Can be powerful impact on juries

What is Direct Evidence?

• Established by law and proves a fact in a dispute based on its face value

• Evidence said by a HUMAN

What is Indirecet Evidence?

• Tends to incriminate a person without offering conclusive proof

• Facts that we know that tell us something we didn’t see directly

What is testimonial evidence?

Verbal statement from a witness while under oath

What is trace evidence?

Any evidence that is minute and left at or taken from a crime scene or the result of contact between two surfaces

What is demonstrative evidence?

used to demonstrate or clarify an issue

Corpus delicti refers to

evidence that established that a crime has been committed

Associative evidence

links a suspect to a crime

All evidence collected must have a _________

chain of custody

Collecting evidence for Special Cases:

Firearms, Bullets, Cartirdges, Cases, and Stains

Legal Considerations:

• Search Warrants

• Chain of custody warrants

• Evidence records

• Preserving evidence

Witnesses must remain on ______

scene

Obtain witnesses’ full ________, _________, and _____________

identities, adresses, phone numbers

Even persons who are present but __________________ must identified

deny witnessing the crime

BOLO means

Be On The Look Out

Bolo put out by officers if able to determine certain facts about possible __________, _________, and ___________

suspects, weapons, vehicles

Special situations at scene:

• Dead body —> determine cause, do not disturb, and notify supervisor

• Hanging victim —> body not moved, knot preserved

Discovery of Human Remians:

• Human remains exposed by weather and discovered by citizens : secure immediately and preserve

Aquatic Body Recovery:

Must be done with care to preserve, record, and collect evidence

Collecting Electronic Evidence:

Can be latent, transcend borders, easily altered, damaged, or compromised

Indoor searches:

• Generally recommended two officers conduct the search

Outdoor Searches:

• Often border the indoor scenes

• Larger scenes require more systematic searches

What is Chain of Custody?

Evidence kept safe until case goes to court, law enforcement in charge, affix name and badge number to evidence package