Forensic Roles and Investigation Processes (before

RECAP: IMPORTANCE OF A CRIME SCENE

  • Establish links between victim, suspect, scene, and object
  • Generate leads for the investigation
  • Understand evidence and behavior
  • Corroborate witness statements
  • Identify suspects

KEY DEFINITIONS

  • Crime: Forbidden act that makes the offender liable to punishment.
  • Crime Scene Investigation (CSI): Systematic process to document, collect, preserve, and interpret physical evidence.
  • Criminalistics: Scientific analysis of physical evidence (US term); referred to as "Forensic Scientists" in Canada.
  • Criminology: Study of crime, its prevention, and societal responses.

ROLES IN INVESTIGATION

First Responder:

  • Initial police officer at the scene.
  • Secures the scene and preserves evidence.

Detective/Investigator:

  • Specialized officer processes information and determines further investigation needs.
  • Collects testimonial evidence.

Crime Scene Investigator:

  • Advanced training in evidence documentation and collection.
  • Processes and transports evidence.

Forensic Scientist/Criminalist:

  • Analyzes physical evidence using scientific methods.

Courts:

  • Involve legal proceedings to assess evidence of a crime.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIRST RESPONDERS

  • Approach incidents as criminal investigations.
  • Prioritize safety and preservation of life.
  • Secure and document the scene.

INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES

  • Conduct preliminary scene surveys with investigative personnel.
  • Assess scene for logistical and safety considerations.
  • Utilize specialized personnel (e.g., forensic entomologists, engineers).

TYPES OF SUPPORT PERSONNEL

  • Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO)
  • Medical examiners/coroners
  • Forensic specialists and technicians
  • K-9 units and forensic anthropologists

INVESTIGATION STRUCTURES

  • Vary based on agency size, geography, and population.
  • Generalist and specialist models exist for processing crime scenes.

LABORATORIES AND ANALYSES

  • Regional police labs and government labs conduct analyses (e.g., fingerprints, firearms)
  • Larger labs (e.g., Centre of Forensic Sciences) serve diverse clients and handle specialized tests.

THE CSI EFFECT

  • Raises public expectations regarding forensic evidence.
  • Increases challenge for prosecutors with unrealistic demands (e.g., "Where’s the DNA?").
  • Highlights misconceptions of infallibility in forensic science.