Mock Crime Scene Notes

First Responder duty

- First person dispatched to the crime scene

- Secure the scene and begin securing & preserving the physical evidence (& make sure the scene is safe for other investigative personnel)

- Preservation of life is the PRIMARY duty assigned to an officer/first responder

- Before a first responder enters a scene, they must first ensure they have the legal right to do so

Actions of the First Responder Upon Arrival

1. Make sure the scene is safe!

2. Remain observant for any persons, vehicles, possible evidence, & overall conditions of the scene

3. Officer should approach the scene in a way that will reduce the risk of harm to him/herself, while maximizing the safety of potential victims, witnesses, etc. (knock twice @ door, identify yourself, swing door open & get out of the way of potential danger behind door)

4. Guide EMS to the injured (don't think this will be needed for mock scene) & preserve the scene

5. Use an indirect pathway to reduce scene alteration & contamination (this should be used by both arriving medical & investigative personnel)

6. Should point out to medical personnel potential evidence in the proximity of the victim to minimize contact w/ the evidence

- Witnesses, victims, & suspects should all be isolated & removed from the scene

KEEP LOG of who enters & leaves crime scene

The First Response Overview

1. Initial response/receipt of information

2. Safety procedures

3. Emergency care

4. Secure & control persons @ the scene

5. Boundaries: identify, establish, protect & secure

6. Turn over the scene & brief investigators in charge

7. Document actions & observations

Crime Scene Investigator/Forensic Scientist duty

- Collect and preserve evidence

- Determine whether a crime has been committed

- Discovery & documentation of all facts

- Identify & eliminate suspects by collecting physical evidence & testimonial evidence

- Maintain proper chain of custody

- Effectively testify as a witness

Sergant

- Treat as homicide until ruled out

- Have medical examiner determine COD

- Briefed by patrol officer, call for CSI team, once in line, call for medical examiner & describe case/body

Using radio/walkie talkies for communication

"Headquaters to Lynchburg 1 (first responder)"

"Lynchburg 1, go ahead"

"Respond to [location]. Reported [homicide]

"Lynchburg 1 to Lynchburg 2 (sergeant)"

"Lynchburg 2 go ahead"

"Lynchburg 2 in route"

"Lynchburg 2 arrived on scene"'

"Lynchburg 2 to Lynchburg 3 (crime scene technicians)"

"Lynchburg 3, go ahead"

"Possible homicide @ [location]"

- Avoid saying "murder"

Locard's Exchange Principle

Whenever 2 objects come in contact with one another, there is a cross transfer of evidence that occurs

- This process stated that every crime scene could be connected to a criminal, witness & victim (& vice versa)

Primary Scene

The first scene where evidence is located

Secondary Scene

Any subsequent scenes to the primary

Collection & preservation of physical evidence

- Collect evidence legally (if the evidence is found to be illegally collected then it will be inadmissible in court --> Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine)

- All evidence must be collected, handled, & stored in a way that will ensure its integrity (ex: blood doesn't go in an air tight container because it will grow mold)

- Items are to be packaged SEPARATELY

- PAPER is preferred packaging material

- "More is better than less" when collecting evidence

Chain of Custody

- Shows who had contact w/ the evidence, at what time, under what circumstances, and what changes. Need:

1. name/initials of the individual collecting the evidence

2. Dates the item was collected & transferred

3. Agency, case #, and type of crime

4. Brief description of the item

5. Evidence must be properly booked & stored as well

Preliminary Scene Survey

- Investigative personnel should perform a walk-thru (preliminary scene survey) --> I believe for the mock crime scene, this would be the Sergeant

- Investigators should be well briefed by the first responder regarding the case before the walk-thru

- Purpose is to asses the scene for logistical & safety considerations

- Scene should be unaltered @ this point, unless there was an injured person, foul weather, etc.

- After the initial walk-thru, there may be a call for more specialized personnel

GLOVES

- "Hands in pockets" approach = walk through the crime scene w/o contaminating anything by accidentally touching this out of habit

- MAKE SURE to put on gloves when collecting evidence!!

Crime Scene Investigation Processing Models

1. Local or Traditional Model

2. Crime Scene Investigator/Technician Model

3. Crime Lab Model

4. Team Model

1. Local or Traditional Model: police officers & sometimes investigators are used as the primary crime scene personnel. Used w/ smaller agencies w/ limited budget & minimal crime rates. Tend to be more of a generalist than a specialist, could take away from patrol duties

2. Crime Scene Investigator/Technician Model: civilian or sworn personnel who are dedicated to crime scene documentation, collection, & preservation of physical evidence. Allows the individual to become specialized

3. Crime Lab Model: crime scene response teams. These teams are comprised of forensic scientists & criminalists w/ specific job skills. Highly skilled, but lack experience

4. Team Model (I believe what we are using for the mock scene): most effective, but also most specialized model. Highly trained personnel at all levels of the investigation. Individual team members are assigned specific crime scene duties, dependent on their training & experience. Cooperation, collaboration & communication are KEY, so that evidence is passed correctly

Cross Contamination

The unintended movement of transfer of material between 2 objects

Personal Protective Equipment

- PPE

- typically consists of gloves, Tyvek suits, shoe covers, eye protection, & respiratory equipment

Clean Up

- When participating in a trauma or crime scene cleanup, special steps must be followed:

1. Clean up & dispose of dangerous materials

2. Remove any signs of incident occurrence quickly

3. Safely transport any biohazards that result from such incident

4. Restore the scene to its pre-incident state so families & businesses can get back to normal

5. Provide a paper trail for future buyers/sellers that substantial a professional, CAL-OSHA-certified company restored the property

I don't think we will need to do this for the mock scene

Crime Scene Scope & Perimeters

- Officer must first identify the scope of the scene

- Once boundaries have been identified, a perimeter should be established (perimeter = the outer confinements of the crime scene)

- Most common way to set up a perimeter is stringing crime scene barrier tape around the defined area

- Area of the defined crime scene is always subject to modification

- BETTER to over-define an area rather than underestimate

Transient Evidence

- Physical evidence present @ the crime scene that is either fragile or @ great risk for loss, alteration or destruction if not properly identified, documented, collected, & preserved ASAP

- Ex: Hair, finger nails, fibers, dirt, etc.

Levels of Containment:

- Only 2 levels of containment will be utilized for the mock scene: second level of containment & third level of containment

- Second Level: inside of the outer perimeter, adjacent to the actual crime scene. Area is only to be accessed by police & emergency personnel, area HOLDS the COMMAND post (which is established to coordinate on scene activities & efforts, sometimes called the "incident command". Supervisory decisions are made at this point. Processing personnel use this area for their equipment as well.

- Third Level: the perimeter that defines the specific crime scene target area. Strictest level of access & control, only entered by those actively involved in processing the crime scene (crime scene technicians, photographer, sergeant)

Initial Scene Documentation

- A log should be established by the first responder to log ALL personnel who enter & leave the scene

- Important to record an accurate arrival TIME & WHEN the scene was SECURED

- Initial documentation sets the foundation for later documentation efforts

- First responder must include additional departments & personnel involved, the agency case #s & contact info.

Scene Involving Death

- Mock Scene

- If the first responder can establish that a person is dead, through visible signs, rigor mortis, odor, lividity, etc., then the body SHOULD NOT be touched

- The medical examiner (ME) or coroner is contacted

- The ME or coroners office will typically have legal jurisdiction over the body @ the scene

- Situations involving strangulation or hanging, the officer should do NOTHING to the body, unless signs of life are present

Scenes Involving Firearms & Ammunition

- Firearms & ammunition @ a scene should remain in situ (as they are)

- Sometimes for safety & security, reasons it is necessary to recover & secure the weapon(s)

- If a weapon is collected, its collection should be made in such a way to minimize potential destruction of evidence

- Nothing should be inserted into the bore of a firearm

- Note position of weapon, photograph if there is time

Dealing With Media

- First responder should NOT provide the media with information concerning the case

- This duty falls to the police chief, sheriff, or public/press information officer

- It is important that the officer behave professionally when the media personnel is present

Crime Scene DON'TS

- Eating, drinking, smoking, using landlines (phones, computers, etc.), use radio/cell phone, use the bathroom present within the scene

General Crime Scene Structure Guidelines

1. Initial scene assessment

2. Search for & recognition of physical evidence

3. Documentation of physical evidence

4. Collection of physical evidence

5. Packaging & preservation of physical evidence

6. Crime scene restoration

- Investigative processes should START in the LEAST INTRUSIVE & DESTRUCTIVE manners & progress to the most intrusive & destructive

- The purpose of documentation is to record & preserve the location & relationship of discovered evidence, as well as the condition of the scene

Documenting the Crime Scene

1. Reports & note-taking (sometimes audio)

2. Photographs

3. Videography

4. Crime Scene sketching & mapping

Written Documentation/Reports

- "If it's NOT written down, it DIDN'T HAPPEN

- Written notes begin w/ the first responder & continue through the investigation process

- Document negative findings as well (ex: search for latent prints that yield nothing)

- At the very basic level, written documentation includes: notification information, arrival information, scene description, victim description, & crime scene team

Notes

- Are brief, often in bullet point format, documentation of efforts, observations, & actions

- Taken @ the time of the incident & are informal

Reports

- Either be fill-in-the-blank forms that are utilized record pertinent information, or they can be narratives

- Are formal, usually written in the 1st person, active voice & past tense

Taking Notes

- Field notes are (usually) the first step of written documentation

- Typically conducted while @ the scene/during the initial stages of the investigation

- FIELD NOTES: are the most readily available & reliable record of the crime scene. They include: who, what, where, when, why, & how

Photographic Ranges & Perspectives

- PHOTOGRAPHER

- 3 important ranges of photographs should be taken @ a crime scene:

1. Overall: should be 1st photos taken of crime scene, sets the stage for the beginning of the story

2. Midrange/evidence establishing: closer to body

3. Close-up/comparison/examination: on top of body/wounds

* IMPORTANT: A photo placard should be the very FIRST photo taken (before the crime scene)!!!!

Photo Placards

- Hand written/agency developed sheet that lists pertinent case information for the photos to follow. INCLUDE: case #, date, location, photographer name & ID

Overall Photographs

- Exposed w/ a wide-angle lens or in such a fashion that allows the viewer to see a large area in the scene @ eye level

- Purpose is to document the condition & layout of the scene as found

- Typically shot from the 4 corners of a crime scene

- Most likely will capture the entire scene

- Include street signs & addresses

- Photographs facing away from the scene to show the surround area!!

- Ultimately, these photos SET THE SCENE

Mid-Range/Evidence Establishing Photographs

- Frame the item of evidence w/ an easily recognized landmark

- Visually establishes the position of the evidence in the scene, w/ its relationship to other items

- NEVER include a scale of reference

- Not intended to show detail

- Simply taken to Fram the item with a known landmark in the scene

Close-up/Comparison/Examination Potographs

- Allow the viewer to see all evident detail on the item of evidence

- Should be close & fill the frame w/ evidence itself

- Taken with & w/o a scale

- Take the photograph w/o scale first

- This shows the crime scene prior to contamination/manipulation by the photographer/crime scene personnel

Photo Logs

- Each photograph taken @ a crime scene should be documented on a photo log (a permanent record of all information pertaining to documentation by photographs)

- Information to include:

1. Title, date/time/case #/agency name

2. Photo equipment used

3. Numerical order of each photo taken

4. Brief description of each photo taken

5. Direction facing for each photograph

6. Approx. distance from subject matter in each photo taken

7. Shutter speed, aperture setting, & ISO for each photo

- If taken in a digital format, then such information is not imperative because it will be digitally recorded

- Photo log should be a documentation of visual storytelling that flows from general to specific

Guidelines for Crime Scene Photography

1. Always use a photo placard

2. Always use a crime scene log

3. Document the entire scene in situ ASAP

4. Photograph all fragile evidence ASAP

5. As items are discovered, return & document them fully

6. Try NOT to include the photographer or other people in photos

7. Shoot all close-up photos w/ a tripod (ignore for mock scene)

8. Close-up photographs should be taken w/ & w/o a scale

Crime Scene Videography

- Video is taken to record the scene in as close to its original condition as possible

- Video is often shot while conducting the initial walk-thru

- Record the layouts & conditions of the scene

- Turn off the audio on the video recorder

- Do not move the camera too quickly

- Do not zoom unless it is necessary because of inability to get physically closer

Sketching & Mapping the Scene

- Sketch: A permanent record of the size & distance relationship of the crime scene & the physical evidence within it

- Accurately portray the physical facts

- Sketch all serious crimes & accident scenes after photographs have been taken & before anything is moved

- Final sketch should include: title, legend, case information, initials/name, direction, & scale

Mapping

- term associated w. crime scene measurements

Baseline Mapping

- Most basic & least accurate type of mapping

- Is developed by personnel, by placing string or tape through the scene & conducting measurements

- Two fixed points

- Measurements taken from the baseline to a point on the identified item

- Measurements usually taken to center mass of the item

Rectangular Coordinate Mapping

- Slightly more accurate variation of the baseline method

- Two baselines instead of one

- 2 measurements are taken to a point on an item/location @ the scene

Triangular Mapping

- Most accurate method --> can pinpoint locations

- 2 fixed points

- From the 2 fixed points, measurements are taken to specified points on an item

- Minimum of 2 measurements are made to each identified point

- If the object is a fixed or constant shape, then the object is measured o 2 points, from 2 fixed points, for a total of 4 measurements

Searching the Crime Scene

- Should be undertaken only after overall photographs have been taken

- Personnel should mark the location of evidence as it is found & mid-range photos should be taken

- Important things to remember when conducting a search:

1. do NOT touch, handle, or move evidence

2. Mark or designate found items w/o altering them

3. Found evidence must be documented BEFORE any evidence can be moved/collected

Lane/Strip Search

- breaks the scene up into manageable lanes in which the searcher(s) proceed back & forth, in a slightly overlapping fashion

- similar to mowing one's lawn, typically conducted by 1 person

Line Search

- incorporated when there is a large # of personnel available

- Searchers assemble in a line that runs along a chosen edge of the crime scene

- Searchers stand side by side, spreading apart

- All searchers must remain in a straight line

- Most common w/ missing persons

Grid Search

- a land is searched in one direction

- As the line terminates, a 90 degree direction change is made & another lane is searched

Submitting Evidence to the Lab

- Each & every item shipped to the crime lab should be packaged separately

- Evidence submission form should include:

1. Submitters name

2. Agency

3. Case #

4. Requested analysis

Types of Fingerprints

1. Plastic

2. Patent

3. Latent

Plastic Fingerprints

- Fingerprints that come in contact w/ a soft material (soap, wet putty, wet cement, wet paint, etc.) & leave an impression

- 3 dimensional appearance

- Often do not require further processing

Patent Fingerprints

- Easily identifiable as fingerprints by the unassisted eye

- fingerprints that have been in contact w/ a colored material (ink, blood, paint, oil, etc.)

Latent Prints

- prints that require additional processing to be rendered visible

- body perspiration & oils might leave invisible residue on surfaces

- processing of latent prints is accomplished through development, enhancement, & visualization

Searching For & Processing Latent Prints

- Latent prints can be found on almost any type of surface

- Will not be developed on every attempt

- Initiate search for latent prints ASAP

- Once a print has been located, it must be documented w/ photography & then processing method is determined

Physical Method For Collecting Prints

- Most common physical method is powder dusting, or magnetic powder dusting

- DO NOT over dust because the print may be wiped clean

- Lift w/ fingerprint tape

- Magnetic powder is used on non-magnetic surfaces

Preserving & Packaging Latent Prints

- Whether or not an investigator believes that the print is identifiable, the print should be properly processed, documented & recovered

- Once the print is visible, it must be PHOTOGRAPHED

- The print should then be lifted if possible

Collection of Trace Evidence

- Trace evidence = any evidence that is small in size, such as hairs, fibers, paints, glass, soil, which would require microscopic analysis

- Collected using forceps, tweezers, by hand, tape lift, or vacuuming

- If possible, the entire item containing the suspected evidence should be collected & preserved

- Must document & collect questioned samples & known samples for comparison!!

Glass Evidence

- Typically characterized as transfer evidence

- Can lead an investigator to determined which direction the impact originated (whether broken from the inside or outside)

Radial Fractures

- Originating from the point & moving AWAY from that point

Concentric Fractures

- Concentric circles around the impact point

Soil Evidence

- Generic term used for any disintegrated surface material, natural or man-made, which lies on or near the earth's surface

Hair Evidence

- Presence can associate a suspect to a victim or a suspect/victim to a crime scene

- Hairs are routinely lost during the telogen phase (follicle is dormant/resting & is most important phase) & often become a primary source of evidentiary value

- Reference & elimination samples MUST be collected, properly documented, & packaged

Hair Evidence: Cuticle

- the outermost layer, which contains the scaly protective layer that covers the shaft of the hair

- there are identifiable cuticle characteristics

Hair Evidence: Medulla

- the innermost region

- w/o a clearly defined shape & lacks visible cellular material

Hair Evidence: Cortex

- region between the medulla & the cuticle, which contains pigment cells that are responsible for hair color

Packaging Hairs

- Separately package the hairs & fibers collected from different persons & different locations!!

- Submit individual hats & fibers in clean paper or in an envelope w/ sealed corners

- Primary paper should be placed within a secondary sealed envelope

Fiber Evidence

- type of trace evidence

- smallest unit of a textile material

Primary Transfer

- Occurs when a fiber is transferred from a fabric directly then onto a victim's clothing

Secondary Transfer

- Occurs when an already transferred fiber on the clothing of a suspect transfer to the clothing of a victim

Collection of Blood Evidence

- If a blood stain is found, the following information should be recorded: physical state, amount present, shape, exact location pattern, scaled & unscaled photographs, date & time of observation

- If blood or blood pool is present, collection should be made in the following manner: what gloves, use cotton swabs, avoid contamination of swabs, allow the swabs to dry, package the dried swab in a paper container, properly label & seal the container

- If the stained object is transportable, submit the item intact, label the area w/ a "biohazard" sign

- To collect a bloodstained: moisten a swab w/ distilled water, swab the stain, allow the swabs to dry, package & label correctly

Biological Evidence Collections

- Should be thoroughly air dried, packaged in paper, & properly labeled

Preservation of Dried Biological Evidence

- Ideal way to preserve biological evidence is to freeze it

- Evidence w/ dried biological stains can be stored in a temperature controlled room

- Large fluctuations in temperature should be avoided

- DNA packets should be frozen

Condom Evidence

- Should be placed in a glass specimen jar & frozen until submitted to the crime lab

Boodstain Shape

- Will allow the CSI to determine the direction from which the blood originated

- Directionality: the direction that the blood was traveling

- The narrow end of & elongated bloodstain will typically point in the direction of the travel

- Area of convergence: 2-D point, that if an investigator were to draw an imaginary line through the long axis of each bloodstain in the direction opposite of observed travel, they would arrive @ the point in which the event occurred

- Area of origin: approx. location of where the blood source was when is was impacted

Angle of Impact:

- 90 degrees

- Less than 90 degrees

- If blood impacts a target surface @ 90 degrees, the restyling blood stain generally will be circular

- Blood droplets that strike a target @ an angle LESS THAN 90 degrees, will create elliptical bloodstains

- When measuring the length of the bloodstain, do NOT include the tail

Stringing a Scene

- One method of determining the 3-D origin of the bloodstain patterns is to place strings @ the base of each bloodstain & project these things back to the axis

- This is NOT exact, jut a way to determine if the victim was standing, lying down, or sitting in a chair when the blood was spattered

Passive Bloodstains

- consists of clots, drips, flows, & blood pools

- they are the aftermath associated w/ the violence

Drip Patterns

- result from satellite staining (accumulation of liquid blood on a surface)

- usually strike the surface @ a 90 degree andle

Flow Patterns

- A change in the shape & direction of a bloodstain due to the influence of gravity or movement of the surface

Pooling

- Occurs when gravitational forces pull blood to the lowest possible level & there is an accumulation of blood that develops

Target Surface/Documentation

- No matter how far a drop of blood falls, it will not break into smaller droplets or spatters unless something disrupts the surface tension

- Document the size, shape, & distribution of stains & patterns

- Photograph w/ & w/o a scale of reference

- Photograph overall, mid-range, & close-up photos

Footwear Impressions

- Provide an important link between the criminal & the place where the crime occurred

4 Methods of Recording Footwear Impressions

1. Photography

2. Documentation/sketching

3. Casting

4. Lifting

- Distant & close-up photographs need to be taken

- Close-up photos require w/ & w/o a scale

Recovery of Tire Evidence

- Photographs, casting & measurements

- Overall, mid-range, & close-up photographs

- Scale must be placed on the same plane as the impression

- Any cast of 4 feet or less should be cast in its entirety

Recovery of Toolmarks

- Should be kept in their original condition

- Always submit an object containing the tool mark

3 types of Firearms

1. handguns

2. rifles

3. shotguns

Handgun

- Most common: pistol

- A pistol will have depended shell casings (cartridges) when fired

Revolver

- Type of handgun that incorporates a revolving cylinder as the method of containing ammunition & cycling the ammunition into battery

- Failure to find shell casings @ a crime scene could mean the perpetrator may have user a revolver (or picked them up)

- single action & double action (most common)

Rifles

- A weapon designed to be held in 2 hands

- Single-shot, semi-automatic versions, or automatic are called Rifled Firearms

- Rifled firearms contain rifling within the bore (interior of the firearm barrel)

Rifling

- series of spiral grooves that are formed in the bore, which are designed to impart spin upon a projectile as it passes through the barrel to improve its accuracy

Striations

- Characteristics made on the bullet from it passing through the barrel

Caliber

- diameter of the bore of a rifled firearm (.22 caliber & 9mm caliber)

Smoothbore firearm

- If there is no rifling present within the firearm bore

- ex: shotgun

Handling Digital Evidence @ the Scene

- First responders should follow these steps when handling digital evidence:

1. Recognize, identify, seize, & secure all digital evidence @ the scene

2. Document the entire scene & the specific location of the evidence found

3. Collect, label, & preserve the digital evidence

4. Package & transport digital evidence in a secure manner

Collection & Preservation of Firearms

- Investigator should remove the section of the building structure that contains the bullet

- Place the bullet or cartridge in a sealed pillbox or plastic vial

- Loaded weapons should be unloaded before transported to the firearms lab

- Firearms should be securely placed within a container (typically cardboard), w/ the barrel end of the firearm noted on the outside of the package

Evaluating & Documenting Zones of Possibility

- Zone of possibility = establish limits as to what is likely, what is possible, & what is impossible, based upon evidence presented

1. Zone 1, probable = area of greatest possibility

2. Zone 2, possible: area includes possible locations where a shooter could have been when the shot was fired, but includes an awkward stance/position

3. Zone 3, impossible: area that would be impossible for the shooter to be when the shot was fired