THE CRIME SCENE (2)

Old Crime
 WHAT IS A CRIME SCENE?
A dynamic environment which begins
to change immediately after the
criminal action occurs
The longer the interval between the
crime and the investigation, the less
the scene resembles the original
 CRIME SCENE
The investigator becomes part of the crime
scene
processing the scene will alter it
alterations can be minimal or major
alterations can be deliberate or
unconscious
 CRIME SCENE DON'TS

No Eating
No Drinking
No Smoking
 WHO IS AT THE
SCENE?
The Detective
law enforcement representative
usually in charge of the crime scene
takes notes
The Criminalist or Evidence Technician
(Various specialties)
collects evidence
The Photographer
documents the scene before anything is
removed
may use both still photography & video
 WHO IS AT THE
SCENE?
Latent Print Analyst
looks for both visible and invisible (latent)
fingerprints
Firearms Expert
may be called if a firearm is believed to have
been discharged
Collects and examines bullets, shells, casings,
wads
Bloodstain Pattern Expert
measures & documents patterns at scene
takes photos for later study
 WHO IS AT THE SCENE?
Coroner/Medical Examiner
declares a body to be dead
transports body to morgue for autopsy &
evidence collection
medical examiner
holds a medical degree
appointed to position
coroner
need not have a medical degree
often an elected office
 CRIME SCENE
SEARCHES
Lockerbie Bombing
35 S.U. students killed by terrorist bomb on Dec. 1988
(Pan Am Flight 103).
Crime Scene spread over 845 sq. miles of Scotland.
 7 S OF CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATION
1. SECURING THE SCENE
2. SEPERATING THE WITNESS
3. SCANNING THE SCENE
4. SEEING THE SCENE
5, SKETCHING THE SCENE
6. SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE
7. SECURING AND COLLECTING
EVIDENCE
SEARCH PATTERNS

Spiral Line

Zone Grid
WHAT SEARCH TYPE?
 BURIED SITES FOLLOW
ARCHEOLOGY PROTOCOLS
 LEVELS OF SEARCH
Phase 1
Examine scene with EYES ONLY
Mark potential evidence
Photograph
Draw
Take Notes
Measure distances of evidence from fixed
points
 EVIDENCE TEAM
Personnel Duties and Responsibilities
Sketch Preparer
Diagram area of scene (incl. orientation)
Rough sketch - accurate dimensions, orientation and
location of evidence (from a fixed point)
Finished sketch - aesthetic appearance (usually done
later sometime w/ CAD)
Set forth major items of evidence on
sketch (with scale)
Make measurements (double check)
CRIME SCENE SKETCH
 EVIDENCE TEAM

Personnel Duties and Responsibilities

Sketch Preparer
Finished Sketches
 EVIDENCE TEAM
Personnel Duties and Responsibilities
Photographer and Photographic Log Recorder
Photograph entire scene (before and after entered)
Photograph victim, crowd, vehicles
Photograph evidence before its moved (including
fingerprints, casts, etc.)
Photograph evidence both in wide view (position at
scene) and close-up (with scale)
Possible use of video recording (does not replace
still photography
Prepare photographic log
CAPTURE CRIME SCENE
WIDE ANGLE LENSES ARE
USED TO DISTORT THE
TRUTH OR EMPHASIS IT
DETAILS PRESERVED
3D LASER SCANNING
 DOCUMENTATION IS
KEY!
1. Description of item
2. Location in crime scene from which
collected
3. Case number
4. Date & time collected
5. Signature or initials of collector
 CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
Phase 2
Collect and store evidence appropriately
Also collect control samples

Body
Bag
Paper Pill bottles Tweezers+Tools
bags

Empty Paint Cans

Swabs Manila
envelopes Vacuum
 PACKAGING EVIDENCE
Prevents any change after collection
Proper identification
Prevents cross contamination (separate packaging)
Preserved intact (e.g., blood on clothes)
Crime scene safety
 WHAT DETERMINES THE TYPE AND
MANNER OF COLLECTING AND
PRESERVING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE?

The nature of the evidence

 CRIME SCENE
PROCESSING
Large areas many be sawed out and transported
Cars removed to lab garage
 CRIME SCENE SEARCH
Phase 3 (most intrusive)
Open drawers
Turn over items in scene
Look in clothes
Develop latent prints
Spray Luminol
Remove carpet and wall sections
 ON SITE ANALYSIS
Visible prints on immovable objects will be
photographed
Latent prints (invisible) will be dusted or
fumed for visualization
lifted
Photographed
Presumptive Tests
blood
semen
hydrocarbons (arson)
 ON SITE ANALYSIS
Bullet trajectory
best established at crime scene
direct measurement of distances between holes
investigator can stand in the 3-D space
to get sense of relationship of the holes to
one another
Bloodstain pattern
measurements of pattern help establish the
direction & angle of impact
standing in 3-D space gives useful impression of
how the pattern was created
CHAIN OF CUSTODY
Case number
Item inventory
number
Description of the
evidence
Name of suspect
Name of victim
Date and time of
recovery
Signature of person
recovering the
evidence
Signature of any
witnesses present
during collection
CHAIN OF CUSTODY
 NON-BIOLOGICAL
IMPURITIES
storing improperly sealed volatiles in the
same physical space
cross-contamination
crime scene investigator tracking soil
from outside a crime scene into crime
scene or from one scene to another
 NON-BIOLOGICAL
IMPURITIES
chemicals which also react in a test
paraffin test for nitrate residue on hands
(firearm discharge)
tobacco & fertilizer give positive tests
 NON-BIOLOGICAL
IMPURITIES
chemicals may be introduced in an attempt to
locate evidence
dusting for fingerprints
Luminol for detecting non-visible blood
accommodations can be made in analysis &
interpretation since the presence of these materials
is known
 BIOLOGICAL
IMPURITIES
Biological Impurities
Microorganisms
Can destroy a sample overnight
bacteria & fungi grow well in warm moist conditions
microorganismal spores are ubiquitous
prevented by drying & freezing (sterile lab
equipment)
Non-human physiological substances
generally no effect on human biologicals
marker systems for human protein or DNA
Human physiological substances
if source is known a substrate control can be
incorporated into the analysis
 CRIME SCENE SAFETY
Infectious materials
Wear gloves, have
biohazard bags, shoe
covers, Kleengard suits
and masks, disposable
writing instruments
 CRIME SCENE SAFETY
Sharps
Be alert and
once
encountered
they are
packaged
 CRIME SCENE SAFETY
Explosive Scenes

Boston
Marathon
Bombing

A Meth Lab
 CRIME-SCENE
RECONSTRUCTION

Crime scene reconstruction is an application of forensic science,

the work of every forensic scientist is a contribution to crime
scene reconstruction in toto.
A true crime scene reconstructionist is a forensic scientist, but
not every forensic scientist is a crime scene reconstructionist. It
is important to understand who a forensic scientist is.
A scientist is someone who possesses an academic and clinical
understanding of the scientific method and the analytical
dexterity to construct experiments that will generate the
empirical reality that science mandates.
A forensic scientist is one who is educated and trained to
examine and determine the meaning of physical evidence in
accordance with the established principles of forensic science,
with the expectation of presenting her findings in court.
 FUNDAMENTAL
QUESTIONS
In reconstructing crime scenes, the practitioner seeks
answers to certain fundamental questions:

1. What happened?
2. Where did it happen?
3. How did it happen?
4. When did it happen?
5. Who was involved?
6. Why did it happen?
 CRIME-SCENE CHE 113 43

RECONSTRUCTION
Step 1 - State problem - type of crime and the legal elements.

Step 2 - Collect data - - records checks and police checks, interview

victim, witnesses, and suspects, try to get additional witnesses and
comparison samples from suspects

Step 3 - Form a hypothesis - look at all evidence - determine motive

and possible suspects

Step 4 - Test hypotheses - evaluate how truthful and reliable the

stories are, weigh their stories against the physical evidence

Step 5 - Follow up the most promising hypotheses (theories)

Step 6 -- Draw conclusions - supported by court-admissible evidence

leading to the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of the offender.
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 CRIME-SCENE CHE 113 44

RECONSTRUCTION
Was there more than one
person involved?
How was the crime
committed?
Reconstruction supports likely
sequence of events by the
observation and evaluation of
physical evidence and
statements made by
witnesses and those involved
with the incident
Reconstructions can play a
vital role in aiding the jury to
arrive at an appropriate
CHE 113
verdict.
 CRIME-SCENE
CHE 113 45

RECONSTRUCTION

Saferstein
CHE 113 Criminalistics
 CHE 113 46

KENNEDY
ASSASSINATION

CHE 113
 CHE 113 47

Homicide: Rape: Robbery: Burglary:

1- focus on deceased 1- focus on victim 1 - modus operandi 1 - focus on scene

2 -crime scene 2 - medical reports 2 - crime scene 2 - records check
3 - crime lab 3 - crime scene 3 - police records 3 - property check
4 - usual suspects

Source: adapted from Gilbert, J. (1980) Criminal Investigation. Columbus: Merrill.

CHE 113