Chapter 3: THE CRIME SCENE

Chapter 3: THE CRIME SCENE
“Oh, how simple it would all have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and wallowed all over it.” —A. Conan Doyle, in The Boscombe Valley Mystery, 1892 Kendall/Hunt

Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company
CRIME SCENE Students will learn: The steps to take when processing a crime scene. The type of evidence that determines what packaging should be used. Why the chain of custody must be preserved. Students will be able to: Isolate, record, and search for evidence at a mock crime scene. Collect and package evidence at a mock crime scene using to proper forensic procedures. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

CORPUS DELICTI “Body of the Crime”
You must prove that a crime occurred that the person charged with the crime was responsible for the crime Top Reasons for Committing a Crime Money Revenge Emotion—love, hate, anger Source of Evidence Body Primary and/or Secondary Crime Scene Suspect(s) Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

CRIME SCENE TEAM A group of professional investigators, each trained in a variety of special disciplines. Team Members First Police Officer on the scene Medics (if necessary) Investigator(s) Medical Examiner (if necessary) Photographer and/or Field Evidence Technician Lab Experts Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Based on the scientific method and the Locard Exchange Principle, logic and forensic techniques Involves: Recognition—scene survey, documentation, collection Identification—comparison testing Individualization—evaluation and interpretation Reconstruction—reporting and presenting Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

PROCESSING A CRIME SCENE
Isolate and secure the scene Document the scene Search for evidence Collect and package evidence, maintaining the chain of custody Submit evidence to the crime lab Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

FIRST OFFICER ON THE SCENE
A Assess the crime scene and assist those hurt D Detain the witness A Arrest the perpetrator P Protect the crime scene T Take notes How to Enter a Crime Scene Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Process a Crime Scene Isolate and secure the scene Document the scene
Search for evidence Collect and package the evidence while maintaining the chain of custody Submit the evidence for analysis

Secure the Crime Scene Look for signs of life
Cordon off the scene (only allow authorized personnel in) Bodies should be certified as “dead” by a medical examiner (ME) before being moved

Survey the Crime Scene A walkthrough is performed by the crime scene investigator, the first officer, and sometimes the lead detective Record initial observations of who, what, where, when, and how Make a plan of action

Document the Crime Scene
Record the crime scene and potential evidence with Notes Photography Sketches Videography

Notes Record the following while at the crime scene (details are the key): Date Time Description of the location, weather, and environmental conditions Description of the crime Location of the evidence relative to other key points Names of all people involved Any other relevant information

Photography Nothing should be moved until photographed
Take photos of the scene and the surroundings Photograph entrances and exits Take wide and close-up photos Use various angles for each piece of evidence Use a ruler to show size

Photography Advantages of photographs Can be taken immediately Can accurately depict crime scene Creates interest Supports testimony Disadvantages of photographs Do not show actual distances Can be distorted Digital images can be altered Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Videography Narrate the video Be objective
Record from different perspectives

Videography Advantages of Video Taping Increases Intoxication convictions-DUI Enhances officer integrity Provides officer safety Documents traffic violations Reduces court time for officers Lowers liability for misconduct claims Documents probably cause and evidence Disadvantages of Video Taping Records unwanted sound Documents errors made by officers and technicians Officers not always trained Discrepancies with Time/Date stamp Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Sketches Draw a rough sketch at the scene (reconstruct it better later). Include: Date, time, and location Scale (use inches for court testimony) Recovered items Important features Accurate distance measurements of objects (from two fixed points) A legend for description of items A compass designating north Names of investigators, victims, and suspects

Sketches Crime Scene Sketches Sketches are important supplements to photographs and crime scene reports. Sketches….. Accurately portray physical facts Relate to the sequence of events Establish locations and relationships Provide an overall picture of the scene Are a permanent record of the scene Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Sketches Crime Scene Sketches The rough sketch is drawn at the crime scene. It is not a finished product, although it does contain measurements and other data. The finished sketch is often drawn by a draftsman to show proper relationships and scales. The finished sketch is more presentable for court presentations. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Example: Final Sketch

Measuring Techniques Rectangular Coordinates: Baseline Rectangular Coordinates Triangulation Polar Coordinates Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Measuring Techniques (continued)
Rectangular Coordinates – Baseline The simplest form of the rectangular coordinate system, but least accurate (90 degree angles) Using a straight line between two known points, items are measured along the line and then measured perpendicular to the line Inside or outside of a house, this line can be a straight wall Outdoor scenes can use a string or long measuring tape as the reference or baseline

Measuring Techniques Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Measuring Techniques Rectangular Coordinates
More accurate than Baseline because measuring from two points, but still not most accurate (90 degree angles) Measure the distance of items from two perpendicular baselines This technique is particularly appropriate in a room with perpendicular walls or outdoors with perpendicular streets

Measuring Techniques Triangulation Most accurate, but time-consuming.
For each piece of evidence being recorded, use two permanent objects as reference points that are not likely to be moved (no round objects) The two reference points and the piece of evidence form a triangle, hence the term triangulation Fixed or constant shape-two sets of measurements. Not fixed- center of mass (puddle of blood)

Measuring Techniques Polar Coordinates
Measure both the distance and the direction (angle) an object is from a known reference point For example, 40 feet from the edge of the house and 15 degrees east of north Best used with large, open areas with no fixed reference points. Outdoor crime scene such as an airplane crash in a forest or large field.

Search the Crime Scene When searching a crime scene, wear the following, if available, to minimize contamination Disposable gloves Masks Coveralls with a hood Slippers

Search Patterns Depend on the size and the location of the crime scene and the number of investigators available Stick to one pattern and one supervisor Better to collect everything and not need it than fail to collect something and need it later

Search Patterns Spiral – may move inward or outward; best used where there are no physical barriers Grid – basically a double-line search; effective, but time-consuming Line (Strip) – best in large, outdoor scenes Zone (Quadrant) – most effective in houses or buildings; teams are assigned small zones for searching

Search Patterns Spiral Grid Quadrant or Zone Strip or Line

Collect & Package Evidence
Physical evidence must be packaged and collected before time and weather can alter it Physical evidence – any object that can establish that a crime has been committed or links a crime and the victim or suspect The Golden Hour – the window of opportunity to collect time-sensitive information or evidence

Each item must be placed in a separate container, and sealed and labeled The most fragile evidence is collected and packaged first Different types of evidence require specific or special collection and packaging techniques The body is the property of the coroner or medical examiner; collection of evidence on the body is done by that department

Containers such as vials, envelopes, plastic bags, paper bags, canisters, and cardboard boxes are good packaging devices Most items should be placed in a primary container and then in a secondary container Trace evidence may be placed on a piece of paper which is then folded in a “druggist fold” and placed in a secondary container

Containers should be sealed with tamper proof tape, and dated and initialed Each package should contain Date, time, and location Case number Agency and collector’s name Victim’s name(s) Description of contents Never package two items from two different sources or locations

Chain of Custody There must be a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence, beginning at the time of collection Every person who handled or examined the evidence must be accounted for Chain of Custody should include Date and time of transfer Location of transfer To/From names Purpose of the transfer

National Databases Crime Scene Investigators can submit evidence for analysis to several national databases based on the type of evidence Examples include Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) International Forensic Automotive Paint Data Query (PDQ)

Crime Scene Techniques from Pennsylvania University Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Montgomery County Evidence Lockers
Evidence Lockers at MCCL used by deputies to securely store property after normal business hours. Staffed with two civilian clerks They maintain accurate records of all incoming property and evidence, meticulously storing this evidence. Many pieces of evidence may be submitted to the Department of Public Safety or to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for specialized examination that cannot be performed on the local level. Once an investigation is complete, property may be returned to the rightful owner, transferred to the Montgomery County Purchasing Agent for auction, or destroyed. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

MC Crime Lab Facts and Figures: * In 2014 there were 10,708 cases submitted to the property room * There were 29,453 individual items submitted as property/evidence * A record of each item is entered into a computer to help maintain accurate records of the evidence Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

INVESTIGATORS “The wise forensic investigator will always remember that he must bring all of his life experiences and logic to find the truth. This means common sense, informed intuition, and the courage to see things as they are. Then he must speak honestly about what it adds up to.” —Dr. Henry Lee Chief Emeritus for Scientific Services and the former Commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Connecticut Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE CORONER
A medical examiner is a medical doctor, usually a pathologist and is appointed by the governing body of the area. There are 400 forensic pathologists throughout the U.S. A coroner is an elected official who usually has no special medical training. In four states, the coroner is a medical doctor. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

MEDICAL EXAMINER’S RESPONSIBILITIES
Chapter 3 MEDICAL EXAMINER’S RESPONSIBILITIES Identify the deceased Establish the time and date of death Determine a medical cause of death—the injury or disease that resulted in the person dying Determine the mechanism of death—the physiological reason that the person died Classify the manner of death Natural Accidental Suicide Homicide Undetermined Notify the next of kin Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Kendall/Hunt

THE CORPSE “The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you.” —Mary Roach. Stiff. W. W. Norton & Company. 2003 Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Dr. Michael M. Baden is a renowned pathologist and was the Chief Medical Examiner in NY City and for Suffolk County. Dr. Baden was on the panel that investigated the assassinations of president John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has been involved as an expert in forensic pathology in many cases of international interest including: The remains of Tsar Nicholas of Russia and his family The Claus Von Bulow murder trial Expert witness for the defense in the O.J. Simpson trial Re-autopsy of Medgar Evers, Civil Rights leader Re-examination of the Lindberg Kidnapping and murder Autopsies of the victims of TWA Flight 800 Dr. Baden is the host of HBO’s Autopsy series and is featured on many of the crime talk shows. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

MORE INFORMATION For additional information on crime scene investigation, check out Court TV’s Crime Library: On Michael Baden and the autopsy: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company

Chapter 3: THE CRIME SCENE

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