Crime Scene Investigative Team Notes on provided notes page (page 47)

Who’s at the scene? First Responder (police officer) First Responder (police officer) Team leader Team leader Photographer Photographer Sketch preparer Sketch preparer Evidence Recorder/Custodian Evidence Recorder/Custodian Specialists Specialists

First Responder What are the responsibilities of the first responder? What are the responsibilities of the first responder?

First Responder What are the responsibilities of the first responder? What are the responsibilities of the first responder? Determine the nature of the crime Determine the nature of the crime Get medical assistance if needed Get medical assistance if needed Isolate the crime scene Isolate the crime scene Detain suspects and witnesses Detain suspects and witnesses

Team Leader Assume control of the scene Assume control of the scene Conduct initial walk-through Conduct initial walk-through Make preliminary survey, evaluate potential evidence, prepare a narrative description Make preliminary survey, evaluate potential evidence, prepare a narrative description Determine search patterns Determine search patterns Control access to scene (designate another person to guard entrance; keep a log of who enters scene) Control access to scene (designate another person to guard entrance; keep a log of who enters scene) Releases scene when appropriate Releases scene when appropriate

Photographer Photograph: Photograph: Entire area Entire area Crowds, suspects, victims Crowds, suspects, victims Entire scene with overall, medium and close-up photographs Entire scene with overall, medium and close-up photographs Major evidence Major evidence Prepare photographic log Prepare photographic log

Sketch Preparer Diagram immediate area of scene Diagram immediate area of scene Locate major pieces of evidence to diagram on sketch Locate major pieces of evidence to diagram on sketch Label areas to be searched Label areas to be searched Take measurements Take measurements Make sure sketch is labeled and includes all necessary information Make sure sketch is labeled and includes all necessary information

Evidence Recorder Describe evidence and its proper location on bag or label Describe evidence and its proper location on bag or label Sign and date evidence label….why? Sign and date evidence label….why? Chain of custody! Chain of custody! Collect and package evidence Collect and package evidence Keep evidence log Keep evidence log

Who’s the specialists? Anthropologist Anthropologist Blood Spatter Analyst Blood Spatter Analyst Bomb Technician Bomb Technician Entomologist Entomologist Medical Examiner (Pathologist) Medical Examiner (Pathologist) Odontologist Odontologist

Searching a Crime Scene Notes on Page 49

Determine Search Pattern Begin End Grid Pattern BeginEnd Linear Pattern Quadrant or Zone Pattern Spiral Pattern

Grid Pattern Best used in large, outdoor scenes Best used in large, outdoor scenes Provides a double check of the area Provides a double check of the area Begin End Grid Pattern

Linear Pattern Best search for indoor areas when there is one searcher Best search for indoor areas when there is one searcher BeginEnd Linear Pattern

Quadrant or Zone Patter Best used when there are multiple people available to search Best used when there are multiple people available to search Area is divided into zones Area is divided into zones Each searcher is assigned a zone Each searcher is assigned a zone Another searcher can double check somebody else’s zone Another searcher can double check somebody else’s zone Quadrant or Zone Pattern

Spiral Pattern Used best in outdoor scenes by one searcher Used best in outdoor scenes by one searcher Start on outside edge, make smaller concentric circles as you search Start on outside edge, make smaller concentric circles as you search Spiral Pattern

Why search patterns? Ensure no part of the crime scene goes unsearched Ensure no part of the crime scene goes unsearched All evidence is located All evidence is located

Documenting a Crime Scene Notes on provided notes page (page 51)

Note Taking Forces investigators to be more observant Forces investigators to be more observant Should detail every step you took while at the crime scene Should detail every step you took while at the crime scene Necessary information in notes: Necessary information in notes: Date, time, description of the location, weather, description of the crime, location of evidence relative to key points, names of people involved Date, time, description of the location, weather, description of the crime, location of evidence relative to key points, names of people involved Also include written description of physical evidence, location, time of discovery and packaging Also include written description of physical evidence, location, time of discovery and packaging

Guidelines for Note Taking Take notes in pen in bound notebook Take notes in pen in bound notebook Cannot erase pen Cannot erase pen Number pages consecutively before taking notes in notebook Number pages consecutively before taking notes in notebook Shows that pages have not been removed or destroyed Shows that pages have not been removed or destroyed Draw a single line through mistakes (do not completely mark through mistake) Draw a single line through mistakes (do not completely mark through mistake) Initial and date each page Initial and date each page Notes can be used as evidence in trial Notes can be used as evidence in trial

Why Sketches? Complete rough sketch at scene; make final copy after leaving Complete rough sketch at scene; make final copy after leaving Sketches give perspective to photographs taken at crime scene Sketches give perspective to photographs taken at crime scene Record relationships of different points of interest in a crime scene Record relationships of different points of interest in a crime scene Important details: Important details: Date and time, scale, reference points, distance measurements, names of investigators, victims and suspects, and a legend Date and time, scale, reference points, distance measurements, names of investigators, victims and suspects, and a legend

Sketch Terms Definitions: Definitions: Measurements: length of each wall, piece of furniture, size of evidence, distance from fixed points to pieces of evidence Measurements: length of each wall, piece of furniture, size of evidence, distance from fixed points to pieces of evidence Compass directions: shows the direction of north Compass directions: shows the direction of north Scale of proportion: each object in the room should be relatively proportionate to the length of walls (ex. Couch should not take up more room along a wall in sketch as compared to reality) Scale of proportion: each object in the room should be relatively proportionate to the length of walls (ex. Couch should not take up more room along a wall in sketch as compared to reality) Title: Informs people of the location of the sketch, date and time, case #, person drawing the sketch Title: Informs people of the location of the sketch, date and time, case #, person drawing the sketch Legend/Key: evidence represented by numbers, fixed points and large objects represented by letters (do not use I and O) Legend/Key: evidence represented by numbers, fixed points and large objects represented by letters (do not use I and O)

Drawing Location of Objects Need to accurately draw where objects were located in crime scene Need to accurately draw where objects were located in crime scene Use measurement techniques to determine where objects were Use measurement techniques to determine where objects were Several different methods: Several different methods: Triangulation: measurements taken from two fixed points to point on object to create an imaginary triangle Triangulation: measurements taken from two fixed points to point on object to create an imaginary triangle

Door to Hallway Door to Bathroom Nightstand Lamp Nightstand Lamp Dresser TV Blood

Drawing Location of Objects Several different methods: Several different methods: Rectangular coordinates: Using a straight line between two points (can be a wall), measure once in the same direction as the line and once perpendicular to the line Rectangular coordinates: Using a straight line between two points (can be a wall), measure once in the same direction as the line and once perpendicular to the line

Door to Hallway Door to Bathroom Nightstand Lamp Nightstand Lamp Dresser TV Blood

Drawing Location of Objects Several different methods: Several different methods: Straight line: measurements are taken from fixed points to either side of the object Straight line: measurements are taken from fixed points to either side of the object

Door to Hallway Door to Bathroom Nightstand Lamp Nightstand Lamp Dresser TV Blood

Drawing Location of Objects Several different methods: Several different methods: Transecting baselines: lay a measuring tape from 2 fixed positions; evidence is measured from the baseline at 90 degrees (usually used outside) Transecting baselines: lay a measuring tape from 2 fixed positions; evidence is measured from the baseline at 90 degrees (usually used outside)