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CRIME:

The word crime is defined as an act punishable by law

Latin “Crimen.” meaning offence or charge

CRIME SCENE:

Defined as any place where an act has taken place that is contrary to the law

POLICE FORCE:

A police force is a constituted body of persons empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder. Their powers include the legitimized use of force; the term is most commonly associated with police services of a sovereign state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of responsibility.

DAY 1:

HISTORY OF POLICING

Modern police forces:

The first organized police force was with king Louis XIV in 1667 to police the city of Paris

Purpose of Police force:

ensuring the peace and quiet of the public and private individuals, purging the city of what may cause disturbances, procuring abundance, and having each and everyone live according to their station and duties

Modern police forces:

City of Glasgow police (1800)
Surete in paris (1810)
Metropolitan police in London (1829)
Royal Irish Constabulary (1822)

These forces were charged with a preventable Rolle patrolling the streets for the first time, maintaining a public presence. And investigating the crime as part of a professional service

Sir Robert Peel:

1809 - became a member of parliament
Introduced the constabulary act in 1822
2 terms prime minister in Great Britain
Municipal region of peel named after him
Brought about metropolitan police act in 1829
Popularized term “bobbies”

“The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence” -Robert Peel

POLICE FORCES: NORTH AMERICA

Benefits and duties:

Keeping law and order, maintaining a ‘presence’
Railroad security
Labour strikes
Horse thieving
Rioting

Beginnings

Began as a volunteer organization
Recognized the need for more permanent authority
Developed into a paid policeman position complete with formal training (gender specific)

When was the first municipal police force in North America: TORONTO

Watchmen in New York City in 16 hundreds, wasn’t recognized, ragtag

First signs of Canadian legal traditions in Quebec, 1651. Ontario was inspired and created its own after 1759

Expansion of police forces in NA:

Toronto police
Montreal and Boston police
Quebec City police
new York city police
Philadelphia police

1834, the muddy town of “York” or “Muddy York” was renamed Toronto

The focus of police activity was on the business district of Yonge street

Following confederation, (1867), provincial police forces were established for rural areas In eastern Canada

HOW THE LEGAL PROFESSION HAS EVOLVED DURING THE CENTURY

The NWMP (northwest mounted police) pioneered the enforcement of federal law in the west, and the arctic, from 1873 until 1920.

It was amalgamated with the dominion police at that time to form the RCMP.

In 2015 there were 176 stand-alone municipal police services serving 64% of the population of Canada.
Provincial police services, limited to Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and Ontario, policed 14% of the population of Canada.
The RCMP provided municipal and provincial contact policing to 22% population of Canada in addition to its national and international programs

OPP:

Provide rural policing needs for the province
Provide urban policing needs where no there municipal/regional police service exists
Provide support for all police agencies as required

Standards for policing services:

The standards that police services must meet are set out in the police services act and regulations such as the adequacy and effectiveness of police services regulation
The Ontario Ministry of community and correctional services provides the policing stands manual which contains guidelines to help municipalities and police services, understand and know how to follow the police services acts and regulations.
Explains the minister’s position on policy issues
Gives information and advice on how to manage and operate a police service
Makes recommendations for local policies, procedures and programs
Helps police services coordinate their activities
Encourages community-oriented police services
Promotes professional police practices, standards and training

Policing in Ontario

Prevent crime
Enforce our laws
Help victims
Keep public order
Respond to emergencies

Two contradictory philosophies pertaining to the criminal mind dating back to the 1880s:

Atavism: criminals were born to commit crimes due to biological deviance
Positivism: crime was the product of social causes

PIONEERS IN FORENSICS

Cesare Lombroso (1839 - 1909)

Advocate for Atavism, measured skeletons to determine criminals

Alexandre Lacassaagne (1843 - 1924)

Advocate for positivism, professor of legal medicine, measured crime statistics in France and biographies of criminals to link crime rates with geography. “Father of forensic medicine”

BOTH methods were popular and formed the basis for gathering empirical data on crimes and the people who committed them

Alphonse Bertillon:

Popularized headshots, and mugshots, taking physical aspects of a person to better narrow down suspects. Cataloging those and creating a database
Criminal anthropologist - Anthropological techniques for identifying prisoners
Realized a waste of time - criminals could change their names
Created Bertillonage - anthropometry
Took eleven measurements of head and body, including shapes of the ear, mouth and eye, limbs, scars, tattoos, and personal traits

Edmond Locard:

Lacassagne’s assistant in Lyon, France
Physician, but interest was with trace evidence, known as “dust”
Early part of the 20th century studied all things contained in trace evidence
Developed a methodology for examining causes of death ad any associated physical evidence
Popularized the idea that, evidence is left when a crime is committed always. “When something is taken, something is left.”
Every contact leaves a trace
Established the exchange principle named after him.
Established first crime lab in the world

Hans Gross:

Austria professor of criminal law
Wrote the book “Handbook for examining magistrates as a system in criminology” (in German)
Popularized and created the term “criminalistics”
Criminalistics became the term forensic science, the change occurring n the 1970s
Integrating criminalistics into the justice system was the only way of riddling the legal system with “bias and misunderstanding”

DAY 2:

CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT

Crime scene management

Are all “scenes” crime scenes?

Chief coroner for the province of Ontario: Death investigation of some sort
office of the fire marshal: A scene where a fire is involved
Ministry of labour: Something related to workplace crime or labour
Special investigations unit

So NO, not all scenes are crime scenes

Why do we need to manage crime scenes?

Allow full investigation
Proper documentation of evidence
Collection of physical evidence
Admissibility in court

Initial response/receipts of information: arriving at the scene; prioritization of efforts

One of the most important aspects of securing the crime scene is to preserve the scene with minimal contamination and disturbance of physical evidence. The initial response to an incident shall be expeditious and methodical. Upon arrival, the officers shall assess the scene and treat the incident as a crime scene
The initial responding officers shall promptly, yet cautiously, approach and enter crude scenes, remaining observant of any persons, vehicles, events, potential evidence, and environmental conditions

Safety procedures

The safety and physical well-being of officers and other individuals, in and around the crime scene, are the intimate responding officer’s first priority.
The initial responding officers arriving at the scene shall identify and control any dangerous situations or persons

Emergency care

After controlling any dangerous situations or persons, the initial responding officers’ next responsibility is to ensure that medical attention is provided to injured persons while minimizing contamination of the scene.
The initial responding officers shall ensure that medical attention is provided with minimal contamination of the scene

Secure and control persons at the scene

Controlling, identifying and removing persons at the crime scene and limiting the number of persons who enter the crime scene and the movement of such persons is an important function of the initial responding officers in protecting the crime scene
The initial responding officer shall identify persons at the crime scene and control their movement

Boundaries: identity, establish, protect and serve:

Defining and controlling boundaries provide a means for protecting and securing crime scenes. The number of crime scenes and their boundaries is determined by their locations and the type of crime. Boundaries shall be established beyond the initial scope of the crime scene with the understanding that the boundaries can be reduced in size if necessary but cannot be easily expanded.
The initial responding officers at the scene shall conduct an initial assessment to establish and control the crime scene and its boundaries

Documents actions and observations:

All activities conducted and observations made at the crime scene, just one documented as soon as possible after the event to preserve information
Documentation must be maintained as a permanent record

Conduct scene assessment

Assessment of the scene but the investigators in charge allows for the determination of the type of incident to be investigated and the level of investigation to be conducted
The investigators in charge shall identify specific responsibilities, share preliminary information, and develop investigative plans in accordance with departmental policy and local police.

Conduct scene, “Walkthrough” and initial documentation

the scene walk-through provides an overview of the entire scene, identifies any threats to scene integrity, and ensures protection of physical evidence. Written and photographic documentation provide a permanent record
The investigators in charge shall conduct a walk-through of the scene. The walkthrough shall be conducted with individuals

Determine team composition:

Based on the type of incident and complexity of the scene, the investigators in charge shall determine team composition. Trained personnel shall perform scene processing
The investigators in charge shall assess the scene to determine the specialized resources required.

Turn over control of the scene and brief the investigators in charge:

Briefing the investigators taking charge assists in controlling the crime scene and helps establish further investigative responsibilities
The initial responding officers at the scene shall provide a detailed crime scene briefing to the investigators in charge of the scene

Prioritize collection of evidence:

Prioritize the collection of evidence to prevent loss, destruction, or contamination.
The investigators shall ensure the effective collection, preservation, packaging and transport of evidence

L.O.S.E.R.

Listen (listen to people or witnesses)
Observe (observe broken or tampered with material, observe damage)
Searching (searching for evidence, potential victims, suspects
Evaluate (does it all add up?)
Recording (record information through video, writing, whatever)

Primary (hot zone):

Greatest investigative interest and most often where events took place. Physical and trace evidence most likely compromised by non-forensic personnel

Secondary (warm zone):

Larger perimeter surrounding primary zone. Generally where line tape is located as a barrier to signify the crime scene perimeter

How do you maintain security?

Physical presence: police officers gauging the scene
Police line tape: barricading perimeter
Police evidence/security seals (tamper proof)
Locks and barriers: preventing public access, theft and unauthorized entry
Evidence logs
Securing and protecting: the scene security officer
Horrific scenes: problems with civilians, media and other police officers
“Keep your hands in your pockets”
Protect scene until forensic investigator arrives (exceptions: safety, destruction or degradation of evidence, public interest)
Path of contamination (route in, route out)
Give an accurate representation of the scene as FIS finds it
Changes prior to FIS arrival must be explained and justified
Articulation is key

How can we protect against change?

Scene security
Minimize contact
Follow LOSER principle
Be creative - be cognizant of how your efforts may protect or compromise evidence
Treat the same as any scene
Consider the path to the vehicle
Vehicle towed to a police garage for expert exam under seal
Vehicles must be dry before commencing the examination
May be held for hours, days, or weeks
Breakdown of scene determined by a case manager
Ensure proper cleanup

DAY 3:

CRIMINAL CODE OF CANADA

•A law that codifies most criminal offences and procedures in Canada. Officially known as "An Act respecting the criminal law"

•Section 91(27) of the Constitution Act - 1867, establishes the sole jurisdiction of Parliament over criminal law in Canada

•Criminal Code contains some defences, but most are part of the common law rather than statute.

•Criminal Code of Canada was first enacted by Parliament in 1892.

•One of the conveniences of the Criminal Code was that it constituted the principle that no person would be able to be convicted of a crime unless otherwise specifically outlined and stated in a statute. This legal document has played a major part in Canada's history and has also helped form other legal acts and laws, for example, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

What's the difference between an indictable and a summary conviction offence in Canadian law?

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, there are three types of offences: summary conviction offences, indictable offences, and those offences where the Crown may elect to proceed by summary conviction or by indictment. Crown-electable offences are often referred to as

"hybrid offences". The simplest explanation of the difference between summary conviction offences and indictable offences is that the former is less serious than the latter.

Summary Conviction Offences:

Less serious

Few are pure summary

6-month limitation for a charge

No fingerprints required

Generally maximum of 6 months of jail time

Indictable Offences:

More serious
Often life imprisonment is the maximum sentence Usually have the right of election (judge, judge and jury)
No limitation for a charge

Hybrid Offences (dual procedure):

Crown has the option to proceed via indictment or summarily

ROLE OF FIRST RESPONDER

Safety and physical well-being of officers and others at or near the scene are the responsibility of the initial officer and should be first priority
First officers identify and initiate the appropriate response to dangerous situations or persons
Once deemed safe, the next priority…
Preservation of Life - Even at expense of damaging, degrading or destroying evidence
Preservation of evidence and crime scene examination practices remain secondary considerations
Even by first responders as training varies and scene priorities
No problem changing scene (well can be mitigated) - but relay information to forensic personnel
The duties of emergency first responders vary in complexity and are continuously evolving
Government policies, societal demands
Commonly three-tiered response
Must act in sync with one another
All incidents may have a criminal origin and must be taken seriously in this regard: can be downgraded as necessary and with more information being made available

Scenes will change - why and how?

Procedures to consider:

Respond promptly, while exercising caution
Remain observant - of surroundings
Note dispatcher information
Note persons and vehicles
Cognizant of possible secondary scenes
Initial observations (look, listen and smell)
Ensure safety (officer/victim etc.)
Ensure no immediate threats and mitigate
Remain alert - assume crime is still in progress until determined otherwise
Treat the scene as a crime scene unless determined otherwise
Scan area (sights, sounds or smells) indicating danger - for CBRNE calls notify appropriate authorities
Approach cautiously - in a way that will reduce risk while maximizing safety "no blue canaries"
Survey for dangerous persons and take control of the situation
Notify and update supervisory or investigative personnel and call for assistance or backup as required

Securing the scene:

Determine parameters if possible and secure - limitations?
Oversize if necessary
One opportunity to do it right

Fall out?

Primary/secondary zones

Primary (Hot Zone) - greatest investigative interest and most often where the event took place. Physical and trace evidence most likely compromised by non-forensic personnel
Secondary (Warm Zone) - larger perimeter surrounding primary zone. Generally where line tape is located as a barrier to signify the crime scene perimeter

FORMS OF EVIDENCE

evidence defined:

The term evidence refers to anything that can give or substantiate the information in a legal investigation. Derived from the Latin "evidentia" (to be visible)

Therefore, the evidence must be visible to be acceptable and provide information that may prove or disprove a point in question

Testimonial evidence:

Witnesses who testify, provide knowledge or information concerning the case.

Testimonial evidence can be direct or indirect.

Indirect: beyond the scene, did not witness the crime. Examples?
Direct: witnessed the crime or are the victim of a crime.

Physical evidence:

Evidence that can be seen, touched, extracted and exhibited constitutes physical evidence.

Can be manufactured or found in nature.

Class: evidence that requires classification into a more narrow range.

Latent: any evidence that is not visible without the use of chemical, photographic or electronic development/enhancement.

Trace: evidence that has to be extracted from another substance and is in very small amounts, often invisible to the naked eye.

Circumstantial: facts, observations, or activities from which the culpability of an individual may be inferred.

Direct evidence is evidence that, if believed, proves a fact or resolves a matter in issue. The only inference involved in direct evidence is that the testimony is true.

Circumstantial evidence on the other hand finds its probative value in the inferences to be drawn from the facts. In other words, circumstantial evidence, if believed, allows a fact to be inferred. However, a jury must be cautioned about "jumping to conclusions" or

"filling in the blanks" with circumstantial evidence.

Distinguish between inference and speculation:

•Traditionally, inferences had to be taken from direct evidence of facts.

•The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that it is acceptable to pull inferences from circumstanial evidence.

The inference is something that is reasonable.
Speculation can lead to erroneous, flawed and faulty inferences.

The Supreme Court of Canada indicated that when it comes to circumstantial evidence, any inferences based on circumstantial evidence must be reasonable, and not speculative. The danger is that speculative inferences can cause a trier of fact to make a leap of logic, unsupported by the evidence.

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Physical evidence shows

That a crime has been committed
Key elements of the crime
Link suspects with scene and/or victim
Corroborate statements
Exonerate the Innocent

Physical evidence:

Fingerprints
Footwear
Firearms, other weapons
Tool mark impressions
Trace evidence: Blood, hair and fibres

Conducting scene assessment

Scene assessment allows for the development of a plan for the coordinated identification, collection, and preservation of physical* evidence and identification of witnesses. It also allows for the exchange of information among law enforcement personnel and the development of investigative strategies.

Conducting a scene walk-through and initial documentation:

Conducting a scene walk-through provides the investigator(s) in charge with an overview of the entire scene. The walk-through provides the first opportunity to identify valuable and/or fragile evidence and determine initial investigative procedures, providing for a systematic examination and documentation of the scene.

Written and photographic documentation records the condition of the scene as first observed, providing a permanent record.

Processing the crime scene:

Assess the need for additional personnel. Be aware of the need for additional personnel in cases of multiple scenes, multiple victims, numerous witnesses, or other circumstances.
Assess forensic needs and call forensic specialists to the scene for the expertise and/or equipment.
Ensure that scene security and the entry/exit documentation are continued.
Select qualified person(s) to perform specialized tasks (e.g., photography, sketching, latent prints, evidence collection).
Document team members and assignments.

The scene(s) assessment determines the number of personnel and how responsibilities will be assigned.

DOCUMENTATION

The investigator(s) in charge and team members shall determine the order in which evidence is collected.

The team member(s) should:

Recording transient evidence and conditions

Documenting circumstances that require departures from usual procedures.

Review assessment of the scene to determine the type of documentation needed.

Coordinate photographs, video, sketches, measurements, and notes.

Photograph:

Scene utilizing overall, medium, and close-up coverage.
Evidence to be collected
Victims, suspects, witnesses, crowd, and vehicles.

Additional perspectives (e.g., aerial photographs, witness' view, area underbody once the body is removed).

Videotape as an optional supplement to photos.

Prepare preliminary sketch(es) and measure:

The immediate area of the scene, noting case identifiers and indicating north on the sketch.
Relative location of items of evidence and correlate evidence items with evidence records.

The evidence prior to movement.

Rooms, furniture, or other objects.

Distance to adjacent buildings or other landmarks.

Generate notes at the scene:

Documenting the location of the scene, time of arrival, and time of departure.
Describing the scene as it appears.
A well-documented scene ensures the integrity of the investigation and provides a permanent record for later evaluation.

DAY 4:

DEATH INVESTIGATIONS

Five questions to answer:

1. Who (identity of the deceased)

2. When (date of death)

3. Where (location of death)

4. How (medical cause of death)

5. By what means (natural causes, accident, homicide, suicide or undetermined)

MEDICO-LEGAL DEATH INVESTIGATION TEAM

•Coroner

•Police

•Pathologist

•Other Forensic Specialists

Must be approved by Chief Coroner…(They will be paying for it)

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO CALL

•City arborist crew

•3D Laser scanning technician

•Forensic Anthropologist

•Forensic Archaeological Recovery Team

(FART)

•Forensic Botanist

•Forensic Odontology

•Homicide Investigator

•Search team

THE DIFFERENT ROLES

CORONER VS MEDICAL EXAMINER

Often confused by general public and used synonymously, usually because their activities are not clearly defined by the media.

Canada has both:

Medical examiners are found in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador
Coroner system in the remainder of provinces and territories

MEDICAL EXAMINER:

Legally appointed medical doctor
Usually specializing in forensic pathology
Reviews deaths occurring as a result of accident, homicide and suicide
Any suspicious death - becomes central figure in forensic investigation (visits scene, responsible for autopsy and medico-legal examination of deceased)
No federal law in US requiring coroners to be physicians, medical examiner can be appointed to carry out duties

CORONER:

Dates back to 11th century - shortly after Norman Conquests - 1066
Formally established in England 1194 "keep the pleas of the Crown"
Primary function to protect the financial interest of the crown in criminal proceedings
The role was qualified in Chapter 24 of Magna Carta (1215), which states: "No sheriff, constable, coroner or bailiff shall hold pleas of our Crown."

THE CORONERS ACT:

The Coroners Act, R.S.O. 1990
Provincial legislation
Outlines the circumstances that qualify for a coroner's investigation

Outlines the coroner's powers:

Jurisdiction over the body
Enter and inspect
Examine
Seize
Issue warrants for autopsy and other testing
Inquests

Appointment of coroners:

The Lieutenant Governor in Council may appoint one or more legally qualified medical practitioners to be cotoners for Ontario who, subject to subsections (2), (3) and (4) shall hold office during pleasure.

Chief coroner:

Appointed by Lieutenant Governor in Council
Administer this Act and regulations
Supervise, direct and control all coroners in Ontario in the performance of their duties

Deputy chief coroners:

appointed
One or more
Act as and have all the power and authority of the chief coroner in their absence

Regional coroner:

appointed
Assists chief coroner in performance of duties in the region

•The Act provides structure to Coroner and Pathology Services - guidance or governance, disciplinary action, complaint resolution, and general oversight

Police Assistance:

9. (1) The police force having jurisdiction in the locality in which a coroner has jurisdiction shall make available to the coroner the assistance of such police officers as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out the coroner's duties

•10. (1) Every person who has reason to believe that a deceased person died,

(A) as a result of,

(i) violence,
(ii) misadventure,
(iii) negligence,
(iv) misconduct,
Or (v) malpractice;

(B) by unfair means;

(D) suddenly and unexpectedly

(E) from disease or sickness for which he or she was not treated by a legally qualified medical practitioner;

(F) from any cause other than disease; or

(G) under such circumstances as may require investigation,

Shall immediately notify a coroner or a police officer of the facts and circumstances relating to the death, and where a police officer is notified he or she shall in turn immediately notify the coroner of such facts and circumstances

Other reportable deaths:

Children's residence (licensing of Child and Family Services)
Group residences
Psychiatric facility
Public or private hospital
Long term care homes
Death of psychiatric facilities, correctional institutions, youth custody facilities etc.

Interference with body:

1. No person who has reason to believe that a person died in any of the circumstances mentioned in section 10 shall interfere with or alter the body or its condition in any way until the coroner so directs by a warrant

Coroners Investigation:

1. (1) Where a coroner is informed that there is in his or her jurisdiction the body of a person and that there is reason to believe that the person died in any of the circumstances mentioned in section 10, the coroner shall issue a warrant to take possession of the body

And shall examine the body and make such investigation as, in the opinion of the coroner, is necessary in the public interest to enable the coroner,

(A) To determine the answers to the questions set out in subsection 31 (1)

(B) To determine whether or not an inquest is necessary, and

•16. (1) A coroner may,

(a) Examine or take possession of any dead body, or both; and

(b) Enter and inspect any place where a dead body is and any place from which the coroner has reasonable grounds for believing the body was removed

•Idem:

Seizure of additional items to assist in the investigation

Delegation of Powers:

(3) A coroner may authorize a legally qualified medical practitioner or a police officer to exercise all or any of the coroner's powers under subsection (1)

Post mortem examination:

1. (1) A coroner may at any time during an investigation issue a warrant for a pathologist to perform a post mortem examination of the body

Additional roles of the CORONER:

Public safety
Outbreak surveillance
Public Inquests
Deaths in custody
Pediatric deaths
Institutional deaths
Some forms of workplace death

THE DEATH INVESTIGATION:

There are two purposes of death investigations:

PREVENTION or PROSECUTION (when criminal)

The process:

The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario receives a call about a death that is suspected to be a coroner's case
Who can call?
The investigating coroner on call is notified and speaks with the reporting person to decide:
Is this a coroner's case?

If yes, the coroner will attend the scene of the death, examine the environment, examine the body, and interview family members or other relevant parties

The coroner will work with:

The police
Forensic Identification Services*
Criminal Investigation Bureau*
Forensic Pathologist
Forensic Anthropologist*
Regional Supervising Coroner*
The Coroner will prepare a report on the case including the determined cause and manner of death
This will include recommendations for prevention

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATOR:

Homicide, traditionally known as the Homicide Squad, employs six teams of highly trained investigators that will lead, or support death investigations throughout the City of Toronto.

Homicide members are mandated to respond to the following:
All homicides occurring within the City of Toronto
All criminal acts that result in serious bodily harm, or life-threatening injury to an on-duty police officer in the City of Toronto

Additional duties of Homicide include:

Assisting and supporting divisional investigators in cases involving suspicious deaths
Conducting Chief's Administrative investigations, and supporting the Provincial Coroner, following deaths of persons in police custody
Providing education to law enforcement partners, adjunct agencies, and the public in all aspects of death investigations
Conducting investigations or providing assistance to outside police services, into the deaths of Toronto Police Service members that result from apparent suicide.
Fulfilling any other duties as directed by the Chief of Police

•The Toronto Police Service is fully committed to solving all murders that have occurred in the City of Toronto. To this end, Homicide employs a Cold Case section with a team of experienced investigators dedicated to uncovering fresh evidence in historical cases. Members of Homicide also act as a resource to officers citywide with regard to investigations of Attempted Murders, and act as trainers to other TPS members on best practices in conducting death and major investigations.

Primary co-ordinator of investigation
Oversee all aspects of investigation (include additional resources as required)
Conduct interviews - interrogations
Liaise with victim family, media, multi-jurisdictional
Pursue investigative leads
Draft and execute warrants
Arrest and process suspects

ROLE OF THE FORENSIC IDENTIFICATION OFFICER (FIO)

Provide scene photographs and other relevant information to coroner and forensic pathologist
Seize and control evidence relating to the death and scene
Attend post mortem examination
Photograph under the direction of the forensic pathologist
Receive clothing, artifacts, evidence, autopsy samples
Ensure continuity of above
Store and/or submit exhibits to The Centre of Forensic Sciences
Fingerprint and confirm identity of deceased
Notify RCMP of death - for expunging of criminal records
Photograph body without clothing
All injuries/marks photographed close-up with and without scale

POST MORTEM EXAMINATION

Investigating officer and FIO brief Pathologist on known facts
ID of body to the Pathologist (how?)
Serve Coroner's Warrant to hold Post Mortem to Pathologist
Develop plan of exam with Pathologist

PRIOR TO CLOSING A SCENE:

Have you had all of the experts in to provide insight?
Has the post-mortem been completed to determine cause of death?
Has a final documentation of the scene been done?
Has a second set of investigators been utilized to review the scene?
All items of potential evidentiary value shall be identified, catalogued, documented, seized and preserved (Ontario Major Case Management)

FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST

Application of anthropological method and theory to legal issues

Includes:

search for human remains/graves
document, excavate, recover
time since death/forensic significance
biological profile
trauma analysis
manner/mode of death
identification

Cases where Forensic Anthropologists are required (in Ontario):

Role of a Forensic Anthropologist at a scene:

Assist police in finding the body
Organize and lead searches
Decide to secure/release scene
Determine forensic significance
Ensure proper techniques are used during entire process
Coordinate with police protocols, and collaborate with other specialties

Once human remains are recovered:

Trained to complete a biological profile
Can complete trauma analysis
Trained to testify in court as an expert witness
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COLLECTIONS OF EVIDENCE

Conduct a careful and methodical evaluation considering all physical evidence possibilities (e.g., biological fluids , latent prints, trace evidence).
Focus first on the easily accessible areas in open view and proceed to out-of-view locations.
Select a systematic search pattern for evidence collection
Select a progression of processing/collection methods so that initial techniques do not compromise subsequent processing/collections methods.
Concentrate first on ______ evidence.
Move from least intrusive to most intrusive processing/ collection methods.
Continually assess environmental and other factors that may affect the evidence.
Be aware of multiple scenes (e.g., victims, suspects, vehicles, locations).
Recognize other methods that are available to locate, technically document, and collect evidence (e.g., alternate light source, enhancement, blood pattern documentation, projectile trajectory analysis).
Maintain scene security throughout processing and until …
Document the collection of evidence by recording its location at the scene, date of collection, and who collected it.
Collect each item identified as evidence.
Establish chain of custody.
Obtain control samples.
Consider obtaining elimination samples.
Immediately secure electronically recorded evidence (e.g., answering machine tapes, surveillance camera videotapes, computers) from the vicinity.
Identify and secure evidence in containers (e.g., label, date, initial container) at the crime scene.
Different types of evidence require different containers
Package items to avoid contamination and cross-contamination.
Document the condition of firearms/weapons prior to rendering them safe for transportation and submission.
Avoid excessive handling of evidence after it is collected.
Maintain evidence at the scene in a manner designed to diminish degradation or loss.
Transport and submit evidence items for secure storage.

Completing and Recording the Crime Scene Investigation:

Establish a crime scene debriefing team, which includes the investigator(s) in charge of the crime scene, other investigators and evidence collection personnel (e.g., photographers, evidence technicians, latent print personnel, specialized personnel, and initial responding officer(s) if still present).

Determine what evidence was collected.

Discuss preliminary scene findings with team members.

Discuss potential technical forensic testing and the sequence of tests to be performed.
Initiate any action(s) identified in the discussion required to complete the crime scene investigation.