General Identifying Statement
Crime scene investigation and reconstruction are both central aspects in the study of policing. By definition, a crime scene is a scene or place where an offence has been committed, and the site where forensic evidence is to be gathered in the pursuit of investigating the offence (Fisher, 2012, p.10). Fisher goes on to clarify that a crime scene may refer to a physical place that may provide potential evidence to an investigator. This is not limited to a location but rather may include a include a person’s body, any type of building, vehicles, places in the open air or objects found at those locations. Fisher elaborates; explaining how hoth forensic and scientific techniques are used in order to preserve and obtain evidence of crime at the crime scene. (Fisher, 2012, p. 13).
Lee and Palmbach (2001) point out that the processes involved in examining a crime scene does not need to be sophisticated or elaborate; instead, investigators need to concern themselves with adhering to the fundamental principles and procedures within crime scene investigation. It is important to remember that there is not a comprehensive plan or sole guiding principle when it comes to processing crime scenes (Pepper, 2010, p. 101). This being the case, exploring different protocols and methods that assist in forming a logical plan towards crime scene investigation is crucial in policing. Understanding how different methods, protocol, and elements relate and connect to
As a crime scene investigator it is their job to collect all of the evidence in a timely manner. Although, there are ways to collect the evidence it is very important to make sure that the evidence is collected correctly and properly. Now as a crime scene investigator I have arrived on a crime scene where there is a lot of evidence that needs to be collected. All of the evidence that needs to be collect for the case is drying blood on the floor, a hand gun, several shell casings near the victim, and some hairs that is still in the deceased victim’s hand. Therefore, I would start by taking pictures of the entire crime scene to ensure that everything is documented as it was found before I start to remove any of the evidence. Furthermore, I would ensure that I am at all times wearing latex gloves so that I don’t leave my own finger
The popular television show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigations has been on the air for 12 years, and it has brought forth the behind-the-scenes actions of criminal investigations, even if its portrayals are not always scientifically accurate. This has caused an interest in the forensic sciences that has led most people to a skewed view of how a criminal investigation actually works. The reality of a criminal investigation is that it is generally more tedious and difficult than the theory of criminal investigation would have you believe. By examining the forensic and investigative procedures of the case of Pamela Foddrill, it is apparent that the theory of criminal investigation was not representative of the procedures concerning examination
By now the crime scene has been labeled a homicide and detectives have been dispatched to the scene. When the detectives arrive the lead officer will then provide a detailed crime scene briefing to the detective in charge of the scene. This briefing will be the only opportunity for the detective to receive the initial aspects of the crime scene prior to subsequent investigation. Since the crime scene and any/all evidence collected are the key factors in making a case, the crime scene must be documented as soon as possible including, appearance and condition of the scene upon arrival, lights on/off, shades up/down, doors, windows open/closed, any unusual smells, ice, liquids, weather conditions, temperature, and any personal items that may have been left behind. Once the lead detective has been briefed and evaluates the scene him/herself, he/she will then need to determine if consent to search and/or obtaining a search warrant is needed. The scene assessment allows the lead detective
Since the time that the scientific science dramatization "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" turned into a tremendous hit and generated its fans, reporters have been worried about what they instituted the "CSI Effect." The hypothesis behind the effect is that fans of the well-known show disguise misguided judgments about the law that they bring with them into the court as jurors. In this way, the trepidation is that the TV show is at last influencing the results of trials - and not in a great manner. Criminal justice researchers have started to study the inquiry of whether nationals who are called to serve on juries bring unreasonable desires and convictions to the court as a consequence of TV projects. The impact that these projects may have on the jurors, their desires, and their choices is known as the CSI effect.
One of the biggest legal challenges of crime scene investigations is whether federal or state procedural laws were followed correctly, failure to properly conduct procedural steps in the collection of evidence could result in the evidence being contaminated, altered, or if stored improperly it would result in the lost of evidence (Buckles, 2006, p. 29). Evidence that is not properly documented will not be admissible in court or if the evidence was obtained illegally meaning that the evidence was collected without a warrant when a warrant was needed the evidence will not be admissible in court therefore it is crucial for law enforcement and investigators to be familiar with the laws that govern crime scene investigations (Buckles, 2006, p.
What is crime scene investigation? Crime scene investigation is the use of physical evidence at the scene of the crime and the use of of the deductive and inductive reasoning to gain knowledge of the events and of the surrounding crime. Crime scene investigating is a big combination of Science, logic and law.
2009, ‘Integrity, ‘Continuity and contamination’, in Crime scene management: scene specific methods, Wiley, Wolverhamptom, ENG, pp. 51-54.
At the homicide there was a body of a young woman found on the kitchen floor with a stab wound in her stomach. A forensic anthropologist was investigating the victims age and how long she had been dead. A forensic artist interviewed a witness who claims to have seen the suspect leave the house after the estimated time of the murder and sketched an image of the suspect.
When investigating a crime scene before touching anything investigators must document and photograph everything, investigate all doors, windows, ect of any evidence of how offender got in and out of the crime scene, investigate every inch of the crime scene for blood, fingerprints, footprints, weapons, bullet holes, shell casings etc. and anything that looks out of place. Once this is done investigators can then collect any evidence using the right equipment.
Law enforcement, in some form, has existed for centuries and since its creation there has been numerous improvements. Improvements have come about because of community changes and the need for more effective ways of policing the people. As crimes became more fierce and complex so did the need for the investigation and solving of these crimes. Criminal investigative techniques were not just born from thin air, some thought and planning had to go into figuring out the proper ways to go about doing things. Pioneers of the criminal justice and criminal investigation field such as August Vollmer, Alphonse Bertillon, Edward Henry, and Edmond Locard have made superior contributions to the development of criminal investigative techniques. These techniques have impacted the way police operate today and set a substantial base for law enforcement to build on.
If a murder, a homicide and or a suicide occur, the crime scene investigator(s) collects the clues and evidence that will be analyzed by the forensic scientist(s) which can lead them to their suspect(s). The purpose of a Crime Scene Investigation is to help victims find justice.
The book gives a general overview of the field of forensic science. The sections of the book include “The Scene of the Crime; Working the Scene--The Evidence; Working the Scene of the Body Human;
evidences can tell what sex, age, and race of the suspect. If the scene was not
The purpose of crime scene reconstruction is to help determine what actually occurred or eliminating actions, events, or suspects through a methodical analysis of identification and examination of physical evidence. By recognizing and identifying the location, impressions, patterns and positions of physical evidence, as well as the scene presentation, an examiner or investigator can apply scientific methods, logic and past experiences to develop a theory in conjunction with information collected from a victim and witnesses (University of Split, n.d.).
Since most investigations start with very limited information, care and common sense are necessary to minimize the chances of destroying evidence. A plan of operation is developed and initiated from an initial walk through of the scene. The plan is to decide what evidence may be present, what evidence may be fragile and need to be collected as soon as possible. What resources, equipment, and assistance are necessary for the processing? Consideration of hazards or safety conditions may need to be addressed.