1. Crime Scene Procedures

2. Introduction Derek Walker 4th year Forensic Science Student
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
Bachelor of Science (Hons)
Minors in Biology and Chemistry
Research experience:
Forensic Psychology (eyewitness identification)
Microbiology
CCSS graduate

3. What is Forensic Science?
Forensic: “pertaining to legal matters”
Science: “the systematic organization of knowledge through the experimental testing of hypotheses for the purpose of explaining phenomena in our universe”
Essentially, “The Scientific Method”
Forensic Science: “The application of the Scientific Method to legal matters”
Forensic Science encompasses a wide variety of disciplines

4. Disciplines of Forensic Science
Physiological
Social Sciences
Criminalistics
Digital
Physical
pathology
psychology
ballistics
computers
accident reconstruction
anthropology
psychiatry
dactology
databases
physics
entomology
toxicology
networks
engineering
biology
document analysis
mobile devices
fire investigation
chemistry
video
botany
audio

5. Personnel Involved in Investigations of Crime
First responders
Crime scene investigators
Forensic Identification Officer
Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO)
Forensic Scientists
Typically experts in a specific discipline
Coroner (Medical Examiner)
In Ontario, all are physicians
Forensic Pathologist

6. Homicide Investigations
Some scenes require experts to collect evidence or provide analysis
If death appears suspicious
Coordination of crime scene investigation
Forensic Identification Officer
Forensic Scientists
First Responders
SOCO
Police officers, EMS, firefighters
Many police services don’t have the resources to analyze all types of evidence, so it is outsourced
Homicide
Determines manner of death, issues death certificates, recommends how to prevent similar deaths
Crime Labs, other external agencies
Body goes to autopsy after being documented
Coroner and pathologist communicate to report cause and manner of death
Forensic Pathologist
Coroner

7. Other Types of Investigations
Office of the Fire Marshal
Investigate major fire scenes
Special Investigations Unit
Investigate scenes where police have caused serious injury
Ministry of Labour
Investigate industrial and farming deaths

8. Crime Scene Investigation Misconceptions
Clip from Superbad

9. Crime Scene Investigation Misconceptions – The CSI Factor
Don’t drive hummers
Don’t wear Prada to crime scenes
Don’t wear high heels to crime scenes
Don’t utter cheesy one-liners like Horatio at the start of every investigation
Don’t find fingerprint or DNA matches in minutes
Don’t investigate in the dark

10. Crime Scene Management
Preserves the integrity of evidence to ensure that it is admissible in court
Initial response:
Preservation of life if possible
Isolate suspects and witnesses
Protect the scene
Record scene details
i.e. time, date, personnel and persons present

11. Initial Response
First priority is always to assist a victim who is still alive
Limit access to scene
Be aware of possible evidence

12. Scene Protection Video

13. Scene Protection
Establish a perimeter that appears to encompass scene in its entirety
Block off boundaries
Physical presence of police and crime scene tape
Remove unnecessary personnel
Chose a “path of contamination” and avoid walking around aimlessly

14. Scene Continuity
Locard’s Exchange Principle: “Every contact leaves a trace”
Must ensure not to deposit foreign objects, or take away any objects from the crime scene
Starts with personal protective equipment (PPE)

15. PPE

16. Investigative Teams Crime scene investigation is a team effort
Searching usually requires at least 2 people, but can be a lot more if the scene is bigger
2-3 people for photography
2-3 people for sketches and measurements
2-3 people for collection of evidence
1 person to take notes

17. Scene Examination
Durham Regional Police Services Forensic Identification Unit uses LOSER principle
Listen to victims/witnesses
Observe the scene
Search victims and scene for evidence
Evaluate if evidence adds up to statements
Record the scene

18. Scene Observation
Helps to choose a path which will prevent any unnecessary contamination
Allows you to see where the body is located within the scene
Can give a general idea of where to look for evidence
Allows you to judge which type of search method is best for the scene

19. Scene Search Should be done in a systematic and controlled manner
Begin with an initial walkthrough
Note location of evidence so that you can return to collect it later
Method of scene search will depend on number of CSI’s and size/type of scene

20. Search Methods There are 4 general types of searches:
Spiral
Strip
Grid
Zone
Some methods are more effective for different types of scenes

21. Spiral Search
Start in the middle of an area, and spiral outward/inward in a clockwise/counterclockwise direction
Effective in small interior rooms

22. Strip Search
CSI’s begin at one end of search area standing directly beside each other, and walk (or crawl) toward the opposite end of the search area
Advantageous for large outdoor scenes

23. Grid Search
CSI’s begin at one end of search area, and proceed to other end in a straight line
Done once again except same area is searched perpendicularly to initial search direction
Advantageous because the same area is searched twice

24. Zone Search
Search area broken down into zones, and each zone is searched separately
Useful in small confined spaces

25. Types of Evidence Common types of evidence: Fingerprints
Footwear impressions
Firearms, weapons and toolmarks
Trace evidence
Biological evidence

26. Search Tools Oblique lighting Chemical reagents Polilight
Angled light that causes shadows of trace evidence to become more visible
Chemical reagents
Phenolphthalein (Kastle-Meyer test)
Luminol
Polilight
Different wavelengths of light can cause certain invisible biological specimens to fluoresce

27. Polilight

28. Polilight Video

29. Luminol
Reacts with oxidizing iron present in hemoglobin to produce a strong blue chemiluminescene
Can detect trace amounts of blood that may not be visible to naked eye
Can show if there is evidence of an attempted clean up
Doesn’t react specifically with blood

30. Luminol Video

31. Luminol

32. Phenolphthalein
Indicator used in Kastle-Meyer test as a presumptive test for blood
Reacts with hemoglobin which has peroxidase-like activity
Can detect very small amounts of blood
Can react with natural produced vegetable peroxidases
Found in broccoli, cauliflower, horseradish

34. Scene Documentation Most important part of investigation
When case eventually goes to court, must be able to account for all evidence, its exact location in the scene, and who has been involved in the investigation
Different types of scene documentation:
Photography
Measurements
Evidence
General notes and logs
Sketches

35. Crime Scene Photography
Evidence and scene are photographed as it is found
Provides accurate visual descriptions for future analysis by investigators, attorneys, judges/juries
Shows that evidence hasn’t been altered or tampered with between collection, and as an exhibit in court
Gives context of scene, and shows areas of interest
Take overall, mid-range, and close-up photographs

36. Crime Scene Photography
Overall shots
Intend to show as much of scene or area of interest as possible
Mid-range shots
Focus on an area of interest
Includes objects that are also found in overall shots
Used to establish location of close-ups
Close-up shots
Taken using macro lens
Show detail of evidence
Take shots with and without scale
Film plane must be perpendicular to object

39. Crime Scene Measurements
Used to visualize the exact position of evidence/objects in the scene
Also to visualize where windows, doors and points of entry are located in relation to evidence/objects
Allows reconstruction of scene at a later date
Measurements must be very precise
Made with tape-measures, rulers, laser, etc.
Movable objects measured to points of reference
Usually immovable objects or landmarks

40. Evidence Collection Depends on type of evidence being collected
Packaged in a manner that ensures continuity of evidence
Some evidence can be damaged by the method of packaging
Most fragile or weather dependent evidence collected first
Chain of Custody is started upon collection

41. Notes and Logs Meticulous notes are key to any investigation
Forces investigators to commit observations to writing
Corroborates statements
Refreshes memory
Detailed narration of all actions taken at the crime scene in chronological order

42. Notes and Logs What to include in notes: Date and time
Location of scene
Description of scene and surrounding area
Who requested investigation
Names of officers, investigators, emergency personnel, witnesses, suspects, detainees
Name of investigators associated with tasks they were responsible for (photographer, sketcher, etc.)
Weather, lighting conditions
Location and description of evidence, and who collected it

43. Notes and Logs
Logs to catalogue all photographs, measurements and evidence

44. Crime Scene Sketches Supplement reports and photographs
Photos don’t always depict exact location of objects or their relation to other objects
Photographs can sometimes be deceiving due to perspective or distortion
Excellent visual aid for juries in court
Two phases of sketches
Rough sketch
Finished/Formal sketch

45. Crime Scene Sketches Rough sketch Done free-hand at scene
Never replaced by finished sketch and is considered evidence as well
Often compared to finished sketch in court

46. Crime Scene Sketches Finished sketch
Correct any mistakes in rough sketch
Presents clean, clear diagram of scene with scaled measurements included

48. UOIT Crime Scene House

49. UOIT Crime Scene House
Stage mock crimes and use forensic investigative methods to “solve” crimes
In 2nd year, learn basic investigative techniques
Dusting for fingerprints, taking toolmark and footwear impression casts, collect biological evidence, collect trace evidence (paint, glass, powders)
In 3rd year, apply investigative techniques to full investigations such as a hit and run, a shooting case, a sexual assault, a homicide, and a suspicious death
Need to document really well, because one of these cases goes to mock court!

50. UOIT Forensic Science Program
Strong base in Biology and Chemistry
Lots of lab work
Mini-research projects
Opportunity to do honours thesis project with internal or external supervisors

51. UOIT Forensic Science Program - Courses
1st year
General courses: biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, computers, introduction to forensic science
2nd year
Organic chemistry, cell biology, physiology, anatomy, genetics and molecular biology, biochemistry, statistics and probabilities, introductory psychology

52. UOIT Forensic Science Program - Courses
3rd year – forensic biology, forensic chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, principles of pharmacology and toxicology
4th year – forensic drug chemistry and toxicology, interdisciplinary topics in forensic science, law for forensic scientists, forensic psychology, forensic physics*
Plus electives

53. UOIT Forensic Science Program
Intimate classroom sizes
Hands-on experience with instruments used in the field
Prepared very well for work force
Different types of research currently underway
Decomposition chemistry, forensic entomology, forensic microbiology, computer-based blood spatter analysis

54. Questions?
Or Laura Benninger – Forensic Science Program Director