1. Collection and Preservation of Physical Evidence

2. Forget everything you’ve seen!

3. Scene management at it’s best

4. What we will cover… Crime Scene Management Collection of evidence
Methods & materials
Photography
Diagramming
Fingerprints
Blood evidence
Collection
Scene testing
DNA
Contamination
Testing methods
Bloodstain Patterns
Recognition
Footwear evidence
Photos & casts
Case Studies

5. Why physical evidence?

7. Crime scene management
Usually neglected…until it’s too late
No second chances
Cases fall apart at the basics
Make ‘em scatter…take pictures!!!
Shows control from the beginning

8. How many of them wrote a report?

9. Flash goes off…and away they go!

11. Stages of a crime scene The stages help you stay organized
Your documentation and search will be more organized
It’s one less thing for you to worry about

12. Preparation You’re doing it now! Training Equipment
Commitment – from you and the organization
Court decisions

13. Preparation
All this should be done prior to arriving at the scene – if possible
Pre-planning assignments/equipment
Safety of personnel
Assignments based on training/aptitude and experience
ERT
Prolonged searches
Rest of personnel
Maintaining the scene

14. Preparation Multiple jurisdictions involved
Expertise available from other departments
Equipment available from other departments

15. Approach Notes Discarded or disturbed items
Time dispatched
Time arrived
Who’s there upon arrival
Weather conditions
Discarded or disturbed items
Safety issues (your own and the scene)

16. Secure and Protect Too large is better than too small
What has been done to secure it
Is it enough?
Crime scene log
Everybody that goes in gets written down
The officer maintaining it also makes an entry
Too large is better than too small

17. Secure and Protect
Use of protective equipment (shoe covers, Tyvex suits) by those who enter
Notes…and more notes
ONE person in charge to relay information
Command post – to keep “them” away from the scene

18. Preliminary Survey Walk through
Go with one of the first officers there
Preliminary photos – digital
Keeps the # of people entering to a minimum
Start a trash container – for trash you generate

19. Preliminary Survey ID & protect transient evidence
Personnel and equipment needs
Determine what has been changed by the first responders
Develop a general theory of the crime based on this review and information provided by others
Compare what you are seeing with what is being provided by witnesses

20. Physical Evidence Possibilities
Transient evidence – changes with time and is easily lost
A staged scene?
Most transient to least transient
What may have been moved by mistake
Specialized techniques needed?

21. Narrative Description
DO NOT collect evidence at this point
Go from general to specific
Photos can help to supplement your notes but must not replace them
Weather, lighting, parked vehicles, wet items, items apparently missing, as you found it – do not put items back in place

22. Written, audio or video Operable? Written notes should be retained
May need to be provided through discovery
Audio
Video – use of sound
Radio traffic
Comments by others
Humor

23. Photography Rule of three Overhead photos DPW and other resources
Overall
Intermediate
Close up
Overhead photos
DPW and other resources

24. Photography Photos with and without scale Views of witnesses
Photos are two dimensional – not likely to be able to determine distances
Take plenty…
Some evidence can only be recorded photographically
Need for specialized photographic techniques

25. Diagrams Rough sketch Finished sketch Measuring methods Not to scale
Retained
Finished sketch
Drawn to scale
Concern for appearance
Measuring methods

27. Measuring Methods Baseline Triangulation Requires a straight line
Measurements made off baseline at 90 degrees
Triangulation
Two fixed points

31. Conduct Detailed Search Record & collect physical evidence
Specialized search patterns
Master Evidence List
Mark the item or the package
Minimize handling
Try to have one person do this

32. Record & Collect Physical Evidence
Paper bags or paper containers
Avoid plastic if possible
Mark the seal half on the tape and half on the package

33. Record & Collect Physical Evidence
Get in the habit of putting your initials, the date and time on items you collect
This helps you to stay organized and methodical
Mark the package – not the item itself

34. Record and Collect Physical Evidence
Marking
Initials/ date/ time ASAP – on the item itself or the package. The package is usually a better choice.
Recording
Master evidence list
KMM-1 One bullet casing…
CMS-2 Victim’s plaid shirt…

35. Master Evidence List

36. Specialized Search Patterns
Line search
Grid search
Spiral search
Coverage of large area

37. Grid Search Pattern

38. Record and Collect Physical Evidence
Evidence is packaged AND sealed at scene
Package to minimize movement
Collection of “known” or “alibi” standards should also be done now
You have ONE chance to do this

39. Final Survey Get out Take a break Review what you’ve done
Think of the overtime
Review what you’ve done
All equipment out
Compare notes with other investigators

40. Final Survey All evidence is accounted for
All equipment is accounted for
Do we need to keep this scene?

41. Release the scene Everybody needs to know this is going to happen
Autopsy results?
Security of scene?
Notify person assuming control what processing has been done

42. Release the Scene Document the release
Date and time
To whom
By whom
Re-entry will likely require a warrant
The person in charge of the investigation MUST be aware this is being done

43. Back to basics…
By following this general outline you ensure that the basics are covered
Many high profile cases are criticized at the basic level – crime scene management
A high profile case can happen anywhere, at any time