Processing a Crime Scene Essay

Due the victim being dead, the first step I would take in this case is a perimeter search. I would probably secure a larger area than I need because I can always shrink the perimeter once I begin processing. The second step I would do is once I found the perimeter, I would secure that boundary. And add police officers in various sides on the outside of the perimeter to help keep people away and sabotaging any evidence. In my head, I would do a walk though of the scene to determine the possible strategy or motive.

To record a crime scene, forensic scientist can use photography, drawings, and videography. Photographs are an important record of the unaltered crime scene, Drawings or sketches provides valuable information when a photograph cannot accurately depict the scale of a room or the relationship of items to each

For the lecture on Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Investigation we were assigned a cold case reading. This cold case reading entitled “Cold Case Models for Evaluating Unresolved Homicides” written by James Adcock PhD and Sarah Stein PhD outlines cold cases and their nature as well as providing possible protocol for cold case scenarios. Within these cold cases, the main goal is to ultimately solve the investigation. However, it is never that simple. Where Crime Scene and Criminal Investigators come into play is in the fact that they are involved with any ongoing investigation; whether it be a cold case or hot one. In most cases these two positions are equally important, these two work hand in hand to paint the entire picture of the crime that took place and the criminal that is to be apprehended. Cold case investigations are similar and different at the same time to any standard investigation. The main difference rests in the fact that these cases have been unsolved for so long and therefore, the dynamic of the investigation must change.

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

Upon arrival at a crime scene you will need to speak with the lead officer or lead crime scene investigator to find out what allegedly happened at the crime scene. There are certain precautions that are taken at crime scenes to preserve evidence. First you will have to wear protective gear including, hair net, shoe covers, plastic surgical gloves, suits and any other items that are required to prevent scene contamination. This gear will also help protect you against any health hazards that may be located in the crime scene such as blood or tissue contaminates. Before entering a crime scene be sure to look for protective plates that are put in place to

While entering the crime scene, the first responding officer should look out for any evidence which is present on the ground. There have some cases in which the first responding officer stepped on the evidence such as blood or

Thoroughly document scenes and gather potential evidences (physical, specimens, documents, photographs, statements etc) to send to crime lab

Upon arriving to the crime scenes, the first responder would secure the scene to make sure the scene was safe. Safety is the first priority when going to a possible crime scene (Young, 2011). While officers search the area for a suspect another officer will obtain the preliminary information from the witnesses. Once the scene is secure the forensic team and investigators are notified (Young, 2011).

After investigating the crime scene, the investigator should run the victims information through the police database to see if he/she had any previous convictions. Learning that the victim has been to prison before can open up a whole new list of suspects and motives. After concluding with the background search, the investigator should search for any close living relatives or acquaintances that can provides the victims family background, employment history, close friends, and if any, enemies. The victim's residence would also be processed after receiving a search warrant. Any and all calendars with appointments, phone messages, voicemail, and answering machines would be processed. Information from bank statements and other financial information located at the victim's residence would also be processed. This would be used to trace an individual's movement through the use of their credit cards. Where they were prior to the crime might be traced through the use of their credit cards. Interviews with the staff of

The first priority for a first responding officer(s) is safety that there is no threat to the officer or citizens at the scene. Once the scene is secured, investigators and forensics personal can process the scene. Once forensics personal is notified this is called “called out”. They should record the date and time of the call out they receive. Once at the crime scene they get a briefing about the incident. Forensic technician should record arrival time, and time briefing is over. Should also document the names and identification numbers of all personal present. Ask if any fragile evidence or area of the scene has been disturbed is important. Tracked blood, shoe or tire impressions from first responder’s activity. Start processing scene. Initial search for evidence is a search conducted by the forensic technician to survey the scene to determine and prioritize task. Records date and time the initial search for evidence. Records notes on areas of interest, and location of evidence. Notes environmental and premises conditions. Always proceed slowly (sight, smell, hearing, and touch) using senses. Night time crime scenes are difficult to see blood, firearm casings etc. hard to locate.

They have to make sure that before they entered the crime scene, nothing in the scene should have been moved. While they are going through a walk-through, they may have to construct theories about what happened in the crime scene based on visual examination. Investigators have to take photographs of the scene and will later on be collected. Taking photographs of the scene will help them solve the crime because there are some points of the investigation that investigators may have overlooked evidence, and that evidence could be found in the photographs. After taking photographs of the scene, they will start to collect clue and evidence that may lead them to their possible suspect(s). What they may find in the crime scene are fingerprints which can be done using colored powder and a brush, other thizngs such as blood, firearms, hair, glass and many more things that can be found in the crime scenes.

used to looking at a dead body. Then she saw it, clutched in her hand

The first is the preservation of the crime scene. If the crime scene has not been secured and borders not set up this will result in the contamination or loss of physical evidence, which is crucial in a reconstruction. The second is an investigator is the use of inductive and deductive reasoning, not have any preconceived ideas) by using the facts of the case, in addition to photography, video, crime scene sketches, and other documentation to draw inference (M.U.S.E. (2), 2017)

In the documentation stage of an organized approach for processing the crime scene all functions have to correspond and be consistent in depicting the crime scene. The final results of a properly documented crime scene are the ability of others to take the finished work and reconstruction the events that occurred at the scene and make a court room presentation. In the Scene Documentation stage there are three simple steps to properly document the crime scene written notes and reports, photographs, sketching.

The photographer that is present at the crime scene is responsible for making one picture worth a thousand words. Photography plays an integral role in the documentation of physical evidence found at crime and accident scenes as well as during forensic autopsies. Forensic Photographers are among the first crime scene technicians to arrive at crime and accident scenes. They walk through a scene to obtain an overview before they begin taking photographs. Forensic Photographers apply their technical skills and their knowledge of anatomy and forensic requirements to take photographs that convey the information that crime scene, criminal, medico legal, or forensic investigators need documented. These