1. Crime Scene Search CJUS 201 Part 14

2. Scene 1. Limits - size must be determined - limits established / violators a. How large? - definition: - definition: - “The area that includes all direct traces of the crime as determined by the type of crime committed.” - “The area that includes all direct traces of the crime as determined by the type of crime committed.” (1) Indoors (1) Indoors

3. Scene - central scene - criminal’s entry / exit paths (2) Outdoors (2) Outdoors - ample area roped off - suspect’s path to and from central b. Crime scene limits b. Crime scene limits (1) Safety line (1) Safety line - media may enter

4. Scene - no information given - no information given - use designated person (a) Photography permitted - do not pose - do not pose - not w/o permission - not w/o permission (b) No specific clues - only criminal profits - only criminal profits - destroying property - destroying property

5. Scene (2) Evidence line (2) Evidence line - everything inside protected - everything inside protected - keep all out - keep all out - except official personnel - except official personnel 2. Principle of search - properly search - without loss of evidence - 5 principles:

6. Scene a. Be thorough a. Be thorough - outdoor scene / daylight prevails - outdoor scene / daylight prevails - not discernible in artificial light - not discernible in artificial light (1) Fragile nature (1) Fragile nature - collected before other - less likely to be lost / destroyed (2) Find everything (2) Find everything - minute trace evidence - hairs / fibers / glass fragments / etc.

7. Scene (a) Minute trace evidence (a) Minute trace evidence - hairs / fibers / glass fragments - specially equipped vacuums - shaking onto clean sheet - 4” piece cellophane tape (b) Cannot afford to lose anything (b) Cannot afford to lose anything - never touch / change / alter - photo / measure / record b. Be organized b. Be organized

8. Scene - save time / limit contamination - save time / limit contamination - method should be guide - method should be guide - systematic / uninterruptible manner - systematic / uninterruptible manner (1) Varied problems (1) Varied problems - proper consideration - complete / thorough (2) Assemble personnel (2) Assemble personnel - team approach - designate responsibilities

9. Scene - recorder / photographer / sketcher - recorder / photographer / sketcher - evidence gatherer / measurement taker / latent print person / etc. taker / latent print person / etc. (3) Explain in detail (3) Explain in detail - evidence searched for (4) Inform of all information (4) Inform of all information - importance of recovery (5) Impress with urgency (5) Impress with urgency

10. Scene - lack of evidence (6) Person in charge (6) Person in charge - each team (7) Method of search (7) Method of search - pre-determined pattern C. Search methods - several classifications - several classifications

11. Scene (1) Point-to-Point search (1) Point-to-Point search - line method - line method - better suited for special problems - better suited for special problems - closer coverage / larger percentage - closer coverage / larger percentage (2) Area or sector search (grid) (2) Area or sector search (grid) - broken into smaller sections - broken into smaller sections - searched in grid pattern - searched in grid pattern - single grid / double grid - single grid / double grid (3) Concentric or spiral search (circular) (3) Concentric or spiral search (circular)

12. Scene - start from outside crime scene - start from outside crime scene - circle inward - circle inward - move outward (not recommended) - move outward (not recommended) (4) Quadrant search (4) Quadrant search - large crime scene / search areas - large crime scene / search areas - divide into 4 smaller areas - divide into 4 smaller areas e. Number of searchers / spacing e. Number of searchers / spacing (1) Spacing (1) Spacing

13. Scene - short grass / no brush: farther apart - short grass / no brush: farther apart - heavy brush / trees: closer - heavy brush / trees: closer (2) Searchers (2) Searchers - as many as necessary - as many as necessary - depending on object of search - depending on object of search (3) Evidence sought (3) Evidence sought - group will move together - group will move together - no faster than slowest member - no faster than slowest member

14. Scene f. Work from perimeter f. Work from perimeter - experts available - experts available - photographer / fingerprint person / lab technician - photographer / fingerprint person / lab technician 4. Vehicle search - arrest / warrant / permission a. Exterior first - under vehicle / around tires / etc. - under vehicle / around tires / etc. - under hood - under hood

15. Scene b. Interior - divide into sections - divide into sections - under dashboard / front floorboard / seat - under dashboard / front floorboard / seat - front door panels - front door panels - back floorboard / backseat - back floorboard / backseat - back door panels - back door panels (1) Vacuum (1) Vacuum - for trace evidence - interior / trunk

16. Scene (2) Fingerprint last - dashboard / rearview mirror - door handles / flat non-porous - fuming / powder - raise first - photograph before lifting c. Record all information c. Record all information - evidence / facts - evidence / facts - logical conclusions - logical conclusions

17. Scene d. Points to remember d. Points to remember (1) Sequence (1) Sequence - protect the scene - protect the scene - plan where to search - plan where to search (a) Order of search (a) Order of search - escape route - home / business - person

18. Scene (2) What you expect to find (2) What you expect to find - anything unusual - anything unusual - out of place - out of place (3) Switch positions (3) Switch positions - other officer / second search - other officer / second search - switch teams - switch teams (4) Record findings (4) Record findings - photo / sketch / notes - photo / sketch / notes - another officer: witness - another officer: witness

19. Scene e. Reasonable time e. Reasonable time - guidelines for - guidelines for - no set times - no set times (1) Times (1) Times - burglary: 1 – 1 ½ hours - burglary: 1 – 1 ½ hours - robbery: 2 – 3 hours - robbery: 2 – 3 hours - homicide: 10 – 16 hours - homicide: 10 – 16 hours 5. Non-destructive technique - protect the crime scene

20. Scene a. Begin on floor - scan floor / ceiling / walls before - scan floor / ceiling / walls before - determine path - determine path - little / no destruction - little / no destruction ] - avoid false leads b. Do not destroy while marking - evidence is marked - evidence is marked - characteristics / where = recorded - characteristics / where = recorded (1) When to mark (1) When to mark

21. Scene - time it is removed - time it is removed - photo / measure / record / sketch - photo / measure / record / sketch (2) How to mark (2) How to mark - never use “X” - distinctive / unmistakable - initials best - monogram rather than printed (3) Where to mark (3) Where to mark - extreme care used

22. Scene - mark in same place - mark in same place (a) Clothing - inner lining / tag (b) Coat - lining of sleeve / armpit / cuff / pocket pocket (c) Trousers - inside pockets

23. Scene (d) Shirt (d) Shirt - under collar / tail (e) Tools - striking/cutting edge not disturb - mark on handle / grip (f) Guns - never disturb barrel / name / serial # / caliber serial # / caliber

24. Scene (g) Knives / clubs / etc. (g) Knives / clubs / etc. - never disturb cutting edge / striking surface striking surface - mark on handle / grip (h) Liquids / powders / paint chips / glass fragments / hair / fiber / etc. glass fragments / hair / fiber / etc. - place in suitable container - mark as evidence c. Once located c. Once located

25. Scene - properly marked / tagged - properly marked / tagged - date / time / exact location - date / time / exact location - who found it / case number / crime - who found it / case number / crime 6. Terms used a. Relevant evidence - tends to prove / disprove - tends to prove / disprove - a material fact - a material fact - in a judicial case / controversy - in a judicial case / controversy

26. Terms b. Trace evidence b. Trace evidence - minute articles left at crime scene - minute articles left at crime scene - link suspect to crime - link suspect to crime - help in locating suspect - help in locating suspect (1) Examples: (1) Examples: - blood / seminal fluid - blood / seminal fluid - hair / fibers / glass / paint - hair / fibers / glass / paint - flammables / pry marks / prints - flammables / pry marks / prints - firearms / ammunition / casings - firearms / ammunition / casings - narcotics / documents - narcotics / documents

27. Terms c. Evidence c. Evidence - items pertaining to the case - items pertaining to the case - legally obtain / scientific value - legally obtain / scientific value d. Chain of custody d. Chain of custody - recovering officer marks - recovering officer marks - everyone who handles - everyone who handles - preserve integrity - preserve integrity e. Evidence considerations e. Evidence considerations - submit enough - submit enough

28. Terms - known standards / comparison - known standards / comparison - protect from contamination - protect from contamination - maintain chain - maintain chain f. Officer responsibilities f. Officer responsibilities - mark - mark - tag (if appropriate) - tag (if appropriate) - evaluate - evaluate - preserve - preserve - release (if appropriate) - release (if appropriate)

29. Chain 7. Chain of custody - witnessed / written record - all who maintained unbroken control over - proof: evidence produced / same recovered a. Components - anyone who had contact - anyone who had contact - date / time handled - date / time handled - circumstances - circumstances - changes occurred as a result - changes occurred as a result

30. Chain b. Information required b. Information required - name / ID number - name / ID number - date / time of collection / transfer - date / time of collection / transfer - agency case no. / crime typology - agency case no. / crime typology - victim / suspect name - victim / suspect name - description - description (1) Insure protection (1) Insure protection - contaminated - contaminated - no value in court - no value in court

31. Chain c. Safeguards c. Safeguards - limit access - limit access - signed receipts issued - signed receipts issued - check for alterations - check for alterations - notify prosecutor, if any - notify prosecutor, if any *key concept: “proof is the result of evidence” 8. Features of physical evidence - very large to minute - understanding of types

32. Features a. Knowing elements of crime - found on dead body - found on dead body - on or near approach / exit - on or near approach / exit (1) Burglary (1) Burglary - broken window / pry marks / prints (2) Rape (2) Rape - bruises / semen / hairs/ fibers / skin b. Evidence characteristics b. Evidence characteristics

33. Features - class / individual - class / individual (1) Class (1) Class - places item in specific category - size / shape of tool mark (2) Individual (2) Individual - features that distinguish from another - chips / marks on blade (a) Shoeprint

34. Features - class: type of shoe - class: type of shoe - individual: cuts / gouges on sole - individual: cuts / gouges on sole 9. Types of physical evidence a. Fingerprints - rounded portion: “bulb” - rounded portion: “bulb” - friction ridges - friction ridges - positive identification - positive identification (1) Latent prints (1) Latent prints

35. Features - impressions transferred - impressions transferred - left by oils / sweat / chemicals - left by oils / sweat / chemicals - considered to be invisible - considered to be invisible (2) Visible prints (2) Visible prints - left by material attached to fingers - left by material attached to fingers - dirty / blood / other stains - dirty / blood / other stains (3) Plastic prints (3) Plastic prints - soft substances - soft substances - putty / tar / butter / etc. - putty / tar / butter / etc.

36. Features (4) Raising fingerprints (4) Raising fingerprints - dusting / fuming / chemical sprays - dusting / fuming / chemical sprays b. Shoe / tire impressions b. Shoe / tire impressions - plaster of paris - plaster of paris - exterior used for impression - exterior used for impression - dirt / sand / snow / wet cement / etc. - dirt / sand / snow / wet cement / etc. - size / brand / class / individual - size / brand / class / individual (1) Photograph first (1) Photograph first - spray with acrylic sealer - spray with acrylic sealer

37. Features - pour in plaster - pour in plaster c. Bite marks c. Bite marks - dental impression material - dental impression material - food / skin - food / skin (1) Photograph first (1) Photograph first - dentist: ID model to dental work - dentist: ID model to dental work (2) Swab bite mark with cotton (2) Swab bite mark with cotton - saliva samples - saliva samples

38. Features d. Tools / tool marks d. Tools / tool marks - impression left on surface - impression left on surface - size and type - size and type - broken tool / pieces / striation marks - broken tool / pieces / striation marks e. Weapons / ammunition e. Weapons / ammunition - barrel: lands / grooves - barrel: lands / grooves - spin of bullet - spin of bullet - striations - striations (1) Ammunition (1) Ammunition

39. Features - extractor / ejector - extractor / ejector - hammer / firing pin (2) gunpowder (2) gunpowder - barrel / cylinder / ejector port - barrel / cylinder / ejector port - burnt / partially / non-burnt - burnt / partially / non-burnt (3) Crime lab (3) Crime lab - make / mechanical condition - make / mechanical condition - gun fired bullet - gun fired bullet - shooting distance / recent firing - shooting distance / recent firing

40. Features f. Glass f. Glass - glass at crime scene - glass at crime scene - fragments / particles on suspect - fragments / particles on suspect (1) Pieced back together (1) Pieced back together - direction of impact (2) Gather all pieces (2) Gather all pieces - package separately g. Soils / minerals g. Soils / minerals

41. Features - forensic geologist - forensic geologist - mud / cement / plaster / insulation - mud / cement / plaster / insulation (1) At crime scene / on victim / on suspect (1) At crime scene / on victim / on suspect - clothing / vehicle / bedding (2) Pollen / vegetation / dirt (2) Pollen / vegetation / dirt - take evidence - sample for comparison h. Safe insulation h. Safe insulation

42. Features - breaks apart: drilled / ripped / punched - breaks apart: drilled / ripped / punched (1) On clothes / tool / vehicle / self (1) On clothes / tool / vehicle / self (2) Can show type of safe (2) Can show type of safe - comparison samples - comparison samples i. Rope / string / tape i. Rope / string / tape - compare cut or torn - compare cut or torn - identify manufacturer - identify manufacturer

43. Features j. Drugs j. Drugs - identify - identify - urine / blood / hair - urine / blood / hair 10. Body fluids - liquid or stain - blood / semen / saliva / urine / perspiration / pus / pus a. Laboratory examination

44. Features - purity of sample - purity of sample - adequate sample - adequate sample - care in collection - care in collection (1) Blood stains (1) Blood stains - stains / pooled / person (2) Lab can furnish following: (2) Lab can furnish following: - bloodwet / dry - specieswet / dry

45. Features - blood typewet / dry - alcohol contentwet - veins/fetal/menstrual wet - certain drugswet - ways depositedwet b. Seminal stains b. Seminal stains - rape / sex related cases - rape / sex related cases - major type of evidence - major type of evidence (1) Determine blood type (1) Determine blood type

46. Features - positive ID - DNA: 1970s / Molecular Biology (2) Evidence suitable for DNA (2) Evidence suitable for DNA - blood: white cells present - hair: root is present - skin: certain cells present - saliva / bone / semen / urine (3) Fingerprint of body fluids (3) Fingerprint of body fluids - King County was first

47. Features - since 1990 all states - since 1990 all states - 1991: FBI established DNA index - 1991: FBI established DNA index 11. Documents - compare handwriting / printing / typing - paper used a. Handwriting exemplars - document signed / forged - document signed / forged - letter / note written - letter / note written

48. Features b. Genuine document / carbon copies b. Genuine document / carbon copies - suicide note / will / letter / bill / check - suicide note / will / letter / bill / check - subpoena bank - subpoena bank c. Additions / deletions made c. Additions / deletions made - made at time / added later - made at time / added later d. Written by more than one person d. Written by more than one person 12. Trace evidence - by size: overlooked - by size: overlooked

49. Features - treated more carefully - treated more carefully a. Small material - microscopic / macroscopic - easily overlooked / transferred (1) Fibers / textiles - fragments of cloth - class and individual - large pieces - color, type, fiber twist, thread count

50. Features (2) Types of textiles (2) Types of textiles - wool / vegetable fiber / synthetics / mineral / blends mineral / blends (3) Dust - ash / soil / wood / etc. 13. Hair - physical contact a. Three parts

51. Features (1) Root (1) Root - little help as to origin - usually will be missing - DNA comparison (2) Tip / shaft (2) Tip / shaft b. Inner structure b. Inner structure - medulla: inner - medulla: inner - cortex: middle - cortex: middle - cuticle: outer - cuticle: outer

52. Features c. Size / texture vary c. Size / texture vary - animals / humans - animals / humans - between humans - between humans - between sexes of same race - between sexes of same race (1) Crime lab looks at: (1) Crime lab looks at: - length / diameter / pigmentation / - length / diameter / pigmentation / general anatomy general anatomy (2) Conclusions: (2) Conclusions:

53. Features - whether human / animal - whether human / animal - cut / broken / torn - cut / broken / torn - probable race - probable race - probable sex - probable sex - approximate age - approximate age - part of body - part of body - bleached / dyed - bleached / dyed (3) Belong to certain individual? (3) Belong to certain individual? - can exclude - can exclude - not positively identify - not positively identify

54. Features (4) Method of removal (4) Method of removal - pulled from body - pulled from body - each section - each section - minimum of 12 hairs each - minimum of 12 hairs each (5) Place in pill box (5) Place in pill box - do not bend or damage - do not bend or damage 14. Pain chips - hit and run / forced entry

55. Features a. Can be conclusive a. Can be conclusive - large enough - large enough - fit together - fit together b. Class characteristics b. Class characteristics - by physical properties - by physical properties c. ID type of vehicle c. ID type of vehicle - US Bureau of Standards (1968) - US Bureau of Standards (1968) d. Taking samples: d. Taking samples:

56. Features - two samples - two samples - damaged area / undamaged area - damaged area / undamaged area (1) Chipping method (1) Chipping method - collect as they drop - do not scrape (2) Folded paper / small box (2) Folded paper / small box - package separately 15. Broken glass

57. Features - consistent in manufacturing / breakage - consistent in manufacturing / breakage a. Types - window pane (1/8” to 1/4”) - plate (1/4” to 2”) - tempered (break into 1/4” cubes) - laminated (safety feature) b. Commonly found breaks: (1) BB gun holes

58. Features - round projectile - round projectile - 100’ per second - does not penetrate - punched out cone - direction of travel (2) Gun shots (2) Gun shots - 900+ feet per second - puncture glass - shards / splinters - round hole

59. Features (3) Blunt object (3) Blunt object - irregular hole - give clue as to tool (4) Stress cracks (4) Stress cracks - frequently heat related - expansion against glaze points c. Types of cracks c. Types of cracks (1) Radial (1) Radial

60. Features - radiates from contact point (2) Spiral (concentric) (2) Spiral (concentric) - glass rebounding from impact - connects with radial cracks (a) Cannot cross each other (b) Determine sequence (3) Trace evidence / fingerprints (3) Trace evidence / fingerprints