1. Investigators, the Investigative Process, and the Crime Scene

2. Chapter Objectives  Understand the skills and qualities needed by investigators.  Identify the objectives of crime scene investigation.  Distinguish between the preliminary and follow- up investigations.  Explain the importance of crime scene coordination.  Explain the factors that may affect crime scene processing plans. 2 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

3. Chapter Objectives  Discuss three broad categories of evidence.  Explain the “rules” for crime scene investigators.  Identify crime scene health issues.  Summarize the four major considerations that dominate the crime scene search.  Identify different methods of visually documenting the crime scene. 3 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

4. What Is A Crime?  A crime is the commission or omission of any act, which is prohibited or required by the penal code of an organized political state, to which some punishment or sanction is attached.  Classifications  Felony  Punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year in a state prison.  Misdemeanor  Punishable by fine and/or imprisonment for up to one year in a local or county jail.  Infraction or Violation  Minor offenses punishable by a fine only. 4 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

5. The Investigator  Someone who gathers, documents and evaluates evidence.  Strong professional training and experience  Strong degree of self-discipline  Uses legally approved & ethical methods  Does not act out of malice or bias  Includes all evidence of innocence as well as guilt  Uses systematic methods of inquiry  Uses both inductive and deductive reasoning  Compassionate, not calloused and cynical  Has wide ranging contacts across many occupations  Remains objective at all times  Leaves nothing to chance during investigation 5 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

6. The Investigative Process  Objectives  Establish if a crime was committed  Collect, document and preserve evidence  Identify and apprehend the suspect(s)  Recover stolen property  Assist in the prosecution of the person(s) charged with the crime(s) Major events in the investigation of a crime 6 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

7. The Preliminary Investigation  The actions taken at the scene of a crime immediately following its detection and report to the police  Receipt of information and initial response  Emergency care  Crime scene control  BOLO alerts  Crime scene determination  Evidence  The report 7 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

8. Follow-up Investigation  Subsequent investigation  Contacting witnesses who left the scene  Checking out suspect(s) alibi  Gathering additional evidence from other locations  Talk with informants  Attempt to locate additional witnesses  Evaluate evidence collected and laboratory results of tests  Obtain search and/or arrest warrants  Recover stolen property  Confer with prosecutor 8 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

9. Crime Scene  Location where the offense was committed  May include surrounding areas where evidence may be located  Always start big... It’s much easier to make it smaller than to expand it at a later time  There may be more than one crime scene  Macroscopic versus Microscopic scenes 9 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

10. Crime Scene continued Crime-scene investigators examine blood-stained clothes before placing them in an evidence bag. 10 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

11. Rules for the Crime Scene Investigation  Note all dispatch information  Be alert for people and cars leaving the crime scene or its immediate proximity and note their numbers and descriptions  Approach the scene with caution  Determine whether a tactical situation exists  Remain alert and attentive  Make sure that you follow departmental contact protocols  Treat the location as a crime scene until you conclude otherwise  If suspect is still at the scene, arrest him/her  Officer’s field notes should include information about a variety of conditions 11 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

12. Organization Of The Crime Scene  Overall coordination  Handled by assigned case agent  Power to call in additional resources & coordinate all investigative activities  Technical services  Crime laboratory personnel & supervisors  Investigative services  Interviewing witnesses and victims  Neighborhood canvass  Suspect field interrogations 12 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

13. Categories Of Evidence  Corpus Delicti evidence  Evidence that helps to prove the elements of the crime(s)  Associative evidence  Evidence that connects the suspect to the scene and/or victim or connects the scene/victim to the suspect  It is bidirectional  Trace evidence  Small or microscopic evidence, or evidence in limited amounts 13 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

14. Evidence Recovery Log  A chronological record of who found what evidence, where, witnessed by whom, and notations about other ways the evidence may have been documented, e.g., photography 14 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

15. Evidence Recovery Log The evidence recovery log is an important document which records all pieces of physical evidence found at a crime scene. This is critical if the case is to be successfully prosecuted later. 15 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

16. Crime Scene Control  The actions which the first arriving officer at the crime scene takes to make sure that the integrity of the scene is maintained.  Control also includes preventing people at the scene from becoming combatants and separating witnesses. 16 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

17. Conceptualization  Keep known facts AND inferences in mind when processing scene  Facilitates reconstruction of the offense  Identification of the modus operandi  Identification of certain types of evidence  Assists in establishing investigative direction 17 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

18. Caution  Don’t destroy evidence  Make crime scene bigger than expected and shrink as necessary  Don’t overlook fruitful areas for exploration  Do more than a cursory examination 18 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

19. Inclusiveness  Obtain every piece of evidence  If not sure, take it as evidence until it is ruled out  Do not dismiss items of possible evidence  Be careful of rationalization and fatigue 19 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

20. Documentation  Constant Activity  Starts with rough shorthand field notes  Sketches  Diagrams to scale  WAYS TO DOCUMENT A CRIME SCENE VISUALLY INCLUDE:  Video taping  Photographing  Sketching (Courtesy Lewiston, Maine, Police Department) 20 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

21. Threats To Investigators Health And Safety At Crime Scenes  Insect bites  HIV/AIDS  Hepatitis B and C  Tuberculosis 21 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

22. Major Considerations Of The Crime Scene Search  Boundary Determination  Choice of Search Patterns  Instruction of Personnel  Coordination  Documentation 22 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

23. Crime Scene Search Patterns The crime scene coordinator may choose from a variety of crime scene search patterns based upon the type and size of the crime scene. 23 © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved.

24. Digital Video Recording  Keep the lens clean  Use battery packs instead of cords  Begin recording with an identification  Keep camera running once recording begins  Pan the crime scene area 360 degrees  Use a rolling tripod or should brace for smoother pictures  Don’t go too fast © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 24

25. Digital Still Photography  Four classes of photographs that must be taken with digital still cameras:  Orientation  Relationship  Identification  Comparison © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 25

26. Crime Scene Sketching and Forensic Mapping  Crime scene sketch  Rough sketches: made by hand at the scene  Smooth or finished sketches: drawn at the office— either by hand or by specialized computer software  Forensic mapping  Overhead or bird’s-eye view  Elevation view  Cross-projection view © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 26

27. Submitting Evidence to the Crime Laboratory  The investigator’s name, agency, address, telephone number, and email address.  Copies of any previous correspondence about the case, including any pertaining to other evidence that was examined earlier.  The type of criminal act and the basic case facts related to each item of evidence.  The name(s) and descriptive data about the individual(s) involved (subject, suspect, victim, or a combination of those categories) and the agency assigned case number. © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 27

28. Submitting Evidence to the Crime Laboratory  A list of the evidence being submitted.  What type(s) of examination is requested.  Where the evidence should be returned and where the laboratory report should be sent.  A statement if the evidence was examined by another expert in the same field, if there is local controversy, or if other law-enforcement agencies have an interest in the case.  Any reason(s) justifying an expeditious examination request.  The name and locator information for the assigned prosecutor, if designated already. © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 28

29. Investigative Success  Law enforcement considers a case successful if it can be administratively classified:  “Cleared by exceptional means”  “Cleared by arrest” © 2012 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 29