Introduction to crime scene processing and the need to collect and preserve evidence before analysis.
The instructor emphasizes teaching the same process used by FBI evidence response teams; the goal is to train you to the same standards.
Focus of today: the six basic team positions of a crime scene unit; note that real scenes may involve more or fewer people, and roles can be filled by one person or many (the key is to accomplish the six responsibilities).
The six basic team positions are:
Team Leader
Photographer
Sketch Preparer
Evidence Custodian
Evidence Recovery Personnel
Specialist
A personal context: Kosovo (1999) mission where the instructor led a group of 60 FBI agents to mass graves and crime scenes, recovering bodies across the region.
The Six Basic Team Positions ( Overview )
Important caveat: not every crime scene will have exactly 6 people; scenes typically involve at least 5 or 6 of these positions, but the number can vary widely (one person may fulfill multiple roles, or many individuals may be assigned).
Team Leader
Primary responsibilities:
Ensure the safety of all personnel at the scene.
Manage the large amount of documentation that accompanies crime scene work; memory for details can wane over time, so documentation is essential.
Documentation emphasis:
The content of forms matters (where, what, when, why, and how), not the specific form used.
Administrative log: records where people are, who is present, time of day, weather conditions, and all scene details.
Narrative description: a continuous account of events during the scene from start to finish (hour to week, depending on how long the investigation lasts).
Role in assignment and survey:
The team leader assigns tasks to team members (photographer, sketch preparer, etc.).
Collaborates with the photographer on a preliminary survey after the site is secured.
Preliminary survey and transient evidence:
Assess whether the right personnel are present, whether specialists are needed, whether the equipment is adequate, and whether the entire scene is secured.
Identify transient evidence (evidence that may be present now but could be destroyed soon due to wind, rain, or other conditions) and arrange for its collection, photographing, and preservation before it disappears.
Specialist decisions and final survey:
Determine if specialists are needed (e.g., dive team for bodies in a lake) based on the preliminary survey.
Conduct a final survey to ensure all evidence has been collected and all items brought into the scene have been removed.
Scene release:
The team leader ultimately releases the scene; there is typically no return to the scene after release.
Photographer
Core duties:
Take photographs of the crime scene and all items of evidence, with a clear progression from broad to close-up views.
Photo types include: overall/general, medium, close-up of evidence, and close-ups with/without a scale.
Always photograph evidence in place before it is collected.
Working area and identifiers:
Also photograph areas outside the crime scene (identifiers) to establish context of where the scene occurred (e.g., outside motel room, street signs, identifiers of location).
Special photographic considerations:
When new evidence becomes visible (e.g., fingerprint revealed by powders or alternate light sources), take additional photographs of the area.
For patterns like shoe impressions, photograph before casting (e.g., dental stone casts).
Documentation and logs:
Create separate logs for photographs that tie each image to the photographer, location, and time.
Logs integrate with the item ledger for traceability.
Interdependence with other roles:
The photographer’s work is complementary to the sketch preparer; photographs capture details that sketches can relate to, and sketches can illustrate spatial relationships not always visible in photos.
Practical note:
The photographer must consider identifiers outside of the scene to document the scene’s surroundings and context.
No going back to the photographer position:
Once the photography phase shifts away, the photographer role is not typically revisited in the same scene (subject to team structure).
Sketch Preparer
Duties:
Create a hand-drawn sketch of the scene, not a computer-generated map.
What each sketch should include:
Location of the crime scene and case details (sketch preparer’s name, the case number or identifier, and the scene location).
Administrative information on the sketch (case ID, location, etc.).
A legend or key and a north arrow (orientation).
Notation that the sketch is not to scale (hand-drawn, not computer-generated).
Relationship to photographs:
Sketches are complementary to photographs; they can reveal relationships not easily seen in photos and help illustrate spatial relationships between evidence items.
Example: a sketch showing the body’s location relative to items within a room, including approximate measurements.
Example of scope:
A second sketch can show items located outside the main house (e.g., distance from the house to evidence outside) to convey relationships between location and context.
Evidence Custodian
Role and security:
The evidence custodian is the receiver of all evidence recovered from the scene.
They must stay outside the crime scene tape so as not to contaminate the scene.
Evidence log responsibility:
Create a formal evidence log for each item as it is received, including who collected it, the time of collection, where it was collected, and the time it was provided to the custodian.
Packaging and preservation:
Responsible for packaging and preserving evidence during transport and storage, ensuring integrity and chain of custody.
Documentation emphasis:
The form used is less important than the information recorded (who, when, where, and time).
Evidence Recovery Personnel
Core duties:
Locate and recover evidence after it has been photographed in place.
They must initial and date every item of evidence, either directly on the evidence, on a tag, or on the packaging if necessary to avoid interfering with the evidence.
Handover to custodian:
After initial handling, they turn the evidence over to the evidence custodian.
Documentation and integrity:
Each action is logged to preserve an unbroken chain of custody and to ensure traceability of evidence from scene to lab.
Specialist
When are specialists used?
Specialists are engaged only under special circumstances and after the preliminary survey indicates the need.
Examples of specialists (illustrative list):
Dive team (for bodies or evidence in water)
Bomb technician
Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response personnel
Bloodstain pattern analysis
Botanist
Cadaver dog
Entomologist
Preparation and timing:
Specialists should be identified and arranged in advance so they can respond quickly if needed; on-scene calls after the fact are not ideal.
Role within the team:
A specialist supplements the five core positions when their expertise is essential to the investigation.
Transient Evidence, Documentation, and Scene Integrity
Transient evidence:
Evidence that may be present now but could vanish before the scene is fully processed (e.g., prints washed away by weather, footprints erased by wind).
The team leader and responders must capture transient evidence promptly via photographs, notes, and immediate collection when appropriate.
Documentation as a foundation:
Crime scene processing is document heavy because memories fade; the forms capture the what, where, when, why, and how.
The content of forms (not the specific forms) ensures a complete narrative and defensible chain of custody.
Scene safety and security:
Team leader is responsible for safety; security to prevent contamination or loss of evidence; careful sequencing of actions to maintain integrity.
Scene release and closure:
The scene is closed/released by the team leader after all tasks are completed and all resources are accounted for; once released, no re-entry is typical without a formal re-opening process.
Contextual Examples and Practical Implications
Why a sketch and photos?
Photos provide visual detail; sketches reveal spatial relationships and measurements that photos alone may not convey.
How a dive team might be used?
If evidence is suspected to be in a lake or water body, the team leader would determine the need for a dive specialist during the preliminary survey.
How items are tracked?
Evidence items are logged with details of collector, time, location, and the handover to the custodian; the chain of custody is preserved through the sequence of hands.
On-scene identifiers outside the crime scene:
Identifiers help locate and corroborate the scene’s location and context for later investigators and witnesses.
Example of evolving documentation:
When new methods reveal evidence (e.g., fingerprint visible via alternate light sources), additional photographs are taken to document the new evidence before collection.
The ethics and practicalities of memory vs. recordkeeping:
Relying solely on memory is risky; thorough documentation safeguards the investigation and supports eventual testimony in court.
The balance between speed and accuracy:
The team must process efficiently to avoid contamination while ensuring no critical evidence is missed; the preliminary survey and final survey stages help balance these needs.
Kosovo Field Context (Anecdote)
The instructor recounts leading a group of 60 FBI agents in Kosovo (1999) to mass crime scenes and international crime scenes.
The experience underscores the scale and coordination required to recover bodies and evidence across multiple locations.
Practical takeaway:
Real-world deployments demonstrate how the six positions operate in large, complex operations and how teamwork and documentation are essential in high-stakes environments.
Core Principles and Takeaways
Six basic team positions establish a framework for organized, thorough crime scene response, with roles that can be combined or expanded as needed (always aiming to fulfill these six responsibilities).
Documentation is central: administrative logs, narrative descriptions, and logs for photo evidence, sketches, and evidence handling keep the investigation intact for future testimony.
Preliminary and final surveys ensure the scene is appropriately secured, resources are adequate, and transient evidence is captured before it can be lost.
The use of specialists is situational and planned; pre-identification of potential specialists reduces response time during an incident.
Photographs and sketches are complementary tools that together convey spatial relationships and evidence context more completely than either could alone.
Ethical and practical implications include maintaining chain of custody, ensuring safety, and balancing rapid response with meticulous documentation to avoid compromising the investigation.
Quick Reference: Key Terms and Concepts
6 basic team positions
Transient evidence: evidence that may disappear if not captured promptly
Administrative log: record of scene details (where, who, when, weather, etc.)
Narrative: continuous account of events at the scene
On-site identifiers: location cues outside the scene to establish context
Not-to-scale sketch: hand-drawn sketch with north arrow and legend
Evidence log: itemized record for each piece of evidence including collector, time, location
Chain of custody: documented trail of evidence from collection to presentation in court
Preliminary survey: initial assessment of personnel, equipment, and scene coverage
Final survey: confirmation that all tasks are complete and all personnel/equipment accounted for