Crime Scene Management Criminal Investigation Chapter 3
Three major functions executed at a crime scene Overall Coordination- overall responsibility for the crime scene Technical Services- Identification, collection, marking, preservation of evidence as well as photography and sketching Investigative Services- Interviewing complainant, witnesses, follow-up on suspect leads, surveillance, intelligence, location, arrest of suspect and interrogation of the suspect
Rules for the crime scene coordinator Maintain control and integrity of the crime scene, chain of custody Manage safety of involved officers, proper equipment, evidence collection and disposal of contaminated objects Management of the press and press releases
Conceptualization It is important for the crime scene investigator to keep both known facts and inferences in mind
Primary and Secondary Scenes Primary Scene- The location where the offense was committed Secondary Scenes- The locations of all subsequent connected events
Macroscopic and Microscopic Scenes Macroscopic “large view”- It includes all relevant locations and items of evidence. Microscopic “small view”- Consist of specific objects and pieces of evidence that are associated with the commission of the crime
Types of evidence Three Broad Categories of Investigative Interest Corpus Delicti- evidence which tends to prove the elements of the crime Associative- connects the suspect to the crime scene and/or connects the crime scene to the suspect Tracing- leads to the identification and location of suspect
Crime Scene Turnover and Release Turnover- When turning over control and chain of custody of the scene to an investigator: brief them, assist in scene control, turn over crime scene entry log, remain at scene until relieved. Release- Before releasing the scene to the owner, make certain all evidence has been documented, photographed, collected and conduct a research for law enforcement equipment.
Trace Evidence Small evidence which is often, but not always, microscopic and not visible to the unaided eye –Ultraviolet illumination
Protection from infectious disease AIDS Hepatitis A,B, C, D, E, F- Tuberculosis-