 Organizational stage to plan search: › Conducted by team leader › Initial cautious walk through of the scene › Identify extent of the search area - may require expanding initial perimeter › Consider methods and procedures needed to process scene Crime Scene Admin and Management 1

 Determine additional manpower, equipment, and specialist needs  Identify and protect transient evidence  Make extensive notes to document physical and environmental conditions Crime Scene Admin and Management 2

 Evaluation begins upon arrival at the scene  Becomes more detailed in preliminary survey stage  Concentrate on the most transient evidence first and work toward least transient  Ensure you have appropriate packaging material for evidence to be collected Crime Scene Admin and Management 3

 Narrative is a running general description of the condition of the crime scene  Present an overall general to specific description of crime scene  Note items that catch your attention  Methods of narrative can be: › Audio › Written › Video Crime Scene Admin and Management 4

 Record what eyes/brain forget  Detail recorded quickly/accurately  Best way to demonstrate scene to a jury  Shows location of evidence 5 Crime Scene Admin and Management

 Begin immediately  Use Photo Log for documentation  Photograph all evidence prior to collection 6 Crime Scene Admin and Management

 Photograph the scene completely to include: › Points of entry/exit › Overall, medium, close-up › Surrounding area/neighborhood › Victims, crowds, vehicles  Photographs supplement sketches and notes  Cannot take too many photos Crime Scene Admin and Management 7

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 Overall › Show the location of the scene › Street signs, etc.  Medium › Place the evidence into a location within the scene › Show the relation to the surrounding area  Close-up › Close view of each item of evidence (fill the frame) › Take with and without a scale  NEVER REMOVE EVIDENCE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED Crime Scene Admin and Management 9

10 Photographed in its original location or area

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 Show general layout or floor plan  Help jury understand the scene  Depict exact location of evidence  Supplement photographs  Item numbers on sketch must coordinate with the item numbers on the evidence log Crime Scene Admin and Management 14

 Provides measurements of scene/location of evidence  Enables construction of a “to scale” diagram  Always retain original sketch  Enables reconstruction of the crime scene and places each item of evidence in original location Crime Scene Admin and Management 15

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 Base search method on evaluation of scene  Conduct search from general to specific › Cautious then vigorous › Obvious then hidden › Remember to collect known samples  Use specialized search patterns when necessary › Strip, grid, spiral, quadrant, small search teams Crime Scene Admin and Management 17

 Search entrances and exits  Wear proper protective equipment to avoid contamination or damaging the evidence  Slow and methodic – DO NOT RUSH Crime Scene Admin and Management 18

 Photograph and mark evidence on the sketch  Complete evidence log  Have one person as evidence custodian, if possible  Seal the evidence packaging at the scene Crime Scene Admin and Management 19

 Check all logs and evidence for accuracy  Have at least two people: › Observe evidence in place before collection › Observe evidence being collected › Mark evidence directly or › Mark evidence containers for identification Crime Scene Admin and Management 20

 Four basic premises to consider: › The best search options are usually the most difficult and time-consuming › You cannot over-document the physical evidence collected › Start your search out CAUTIOUSLY and finish VIGOROUSLY Crime Scene Admin and Management 21

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 Personal safety must always be a consideration  Consider chemical and biological hazards  Booby traps  Terrorists, drug dealers Crime Scene Admin and Management 23

Crime Scene Admin and Management 24  Ensure all personnel has personal protective equipment  Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious  View crime scene as source of contamination

 Never place hands where you cannot see  Do not eat, drink, or smoke at crime scenes  Use face masks and eye protection when dealing with body fluids  Never recap hypodermic needles Crime Scene Admin and Management 25

 Anywhere you go you leave something behind and take something away with you  Good for evidence collection › Find evidence of the subject or victim  Bad for contamination › Contaminate the crime scene › Residue, hair and fiber, footprints etc. Crime Scene Admin and Management 26

 Wear clean clothing  Double glove and change gloves often  DO NOT go from one crime scene to another in the same clothing  Use shoe covers and remove when you leave the scene Crime Scene Admin and Management 27

 Explosive residue contamination › Do not wear same clothes worn at another post blast scene or residue search › Separate evidence from multiple scenes › Do not wear firearm while collecting residue samples Crime Scene Admin and Management 28

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 Paper › Use for biological materials › Can destroy latent prints  Plastic › Can cause biological materials to deteriorate  Heat Seal Bags › Works well for most evidence › No need to use evidence tape  Cartons › Large items  Biohazard Material › Clearly mark biohazard  Bomb/Arson Evidence › Paint cans, glass jars Crime Scene Admin and Management 30

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 Directly mark evidence when possible › Initials and date › Be careful not to destroy latent prints, DNA  Mark packaging with administrative info › Case number - Date › Item number - Description of evidence › Location evidence was found › Name/initials of 2 officers who recovered evidence  Seal evidence on site › Sign across evidence tape Crime Scene Admin and Management 32

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 Contains same information as evidence packaging › Description of evidence › Where it was found › Who found it (two names) › Evidence item number  Information on packaging must match that on evidence log Crime Scene Admin and Management 34

 1st signature is person who collected evidence  Each person thereafter signs if taking evidence into custody regardless time held  Must be diligently maintained  Remains with the evidence  Easiest way for the defense to suppress evidence  NO EVIDENCE – NO CASE!! Crime Scene Admin and Management 35

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Crime Scene Admin and Management 37  Critical review of all aspects of the search  Discuss search jointly with all personnel for completeness  Double check documentation to detect inadvertent errors or omissions

 Take exit photographs › Photograph search warrant and FD-597 in place  Ensure › all evidence is accounted for before departing and the scene is secure › you have all your equipment prior to departing › that nothing has been overlooked Crime Scene Admin and Management 38

 Before leaving the scene, make sure you collected everything you could to help solve the case  Ensure you have utilized all appropriate resources and specialists  You only have one chance to do it right! Crime Scene Admin and Management 39

 Release only after final survey is complete  Complete the administrative worksheet › Time/date of release › To/by whom scene was released  Release the scene only when all personnel are satisfied that the scene was searched correctly and completely  Team leader releases the scene Crime Scene Admin and Management 40

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