Chapter 3: THE CRIME SCENE
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Transcript of 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
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CRIME SCENE
Students will learn:
The steps to take when processing a crime scene.
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CRIME SCENE
That type of evidence determines what packaging should be used.
Why the chain of custody must be preserved.
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CRIME SCENE
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.
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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
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CORPUS DELICTI“Body of the Crime”
Forensic Science begins at the crime sceneAny place where evidence may
be located to help explain events Information must be carefully,
systematically, scientifically & legally collected
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CORPUS DELICTI“Body of the Crime”
Top Reasons for Committing a CrimeMoneyRevengeEmotion—love, hate, anger
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CORPUS DELICTI“Body of the Crime”
Source of EvidenceBodyPrimary and/or Secondary Crime
SceneSuspect(s)
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CORPUS DELICTI“Body of the Crime”
Investigators: Gather information to reconstruct
series of events To find out the modus operandi
(MO) of the criminal
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CRIME SCENE TEAM
A group of professional investigators, each trained in a variety of special disciplines.
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CRIME SCENE TEAM
Team MembersFirst Police Officer on the sceneMedics (if necessary)Investigator(s)
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CRIME SCENE TEAM
Medical Examiner (if necessary)Photographer and/or Field Evidence Technician
Lab Experts
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Based on the scientific method and the Locard Exchange Principle, logic and forensic techniques
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Involves:Recognition—scene survey, documentation, collection
Identification—comparison testing
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Individualization—evaluation and interpretation
Reconstruction—reporting and presenting
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INVESTIGATOR
Accurately observe and collect all evidence for scientific analysis
Must decide what evidence is of importance at the scene
The scene may be more than one place
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PROCESSING ACRIME SCENE
Isolate and secure the scene
Document the scene
Search for evidence
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PROCESSING ACRIME SCENE
Collect and package evidence, maintaining the chain of custody
Submit evidence to the crime lab
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FIRST OFFICERON THE SCENE
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FIRST OFFICERON THE SCENE
A Assess the crime scene and assist those hurt
D Detain the witness
A Arrest the perpetrator
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FIRST OFFICERON THE SCENE
P Protect the crime scene
T Take notes
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A D A P T
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CRIME SCENE SURVEY
Walk-through— performed by the crime scene investigator, the first officer and sometimes the lead detective
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CRIME SCENE SURVEY
Purpose:Mentally prepare a reconstruction
theoryNote any transient or conditional
evidence that could change over time.
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CRIME SCENE SURVEY
Note weather conditionsNote points of entry or exit, as well as paths of travel within the crime scene
Record initial observations of who, what, where, when, and how
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CRIME SCENE SURVEY
Identify special needs within the crime scene for personnel, precautions or equipment and notify superior officers or other agencies
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DOCUMENTATION
Notes— date and timedescription of the locationweather and environmental conditions
description of the crime
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DOCUMENTATION
location of the evidence relative to other key points
the names of all people involvedmodifications that have occurred other relevant information
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DOCUMENTATION
Photographyphotos of scene and surroundings mid-range to close-up photos with
various angles of each piece of evidence
photos as viewed by any witnesses.
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DOCUMENTATION
Sketches—inclusion of date, time, scale, reference points, distance measurements, names of investigators, victims, suspects, and a legend (key)
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DOCUMENTATION
Videography—allows narration (non-subjective) to be included
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SEARCH METHODS
Line or strip method—best in large, outdoor scenes
Grid method—basically a double-line search; effective, but time-consuming
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SEARCH METHODS
Zone method—most effective in houses or buildings; teams are assigned small zones for searching
Wheel or ray method—best on small, circular crime scenes
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SEARCH METHODS
Spiral method—may move inward or outward; best used where there are no physical barriers
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CRIME SCENE SKETCH
Date: August 14, 2005 Criminalist: Ann WilsonTime: 11:35 am Location: 4358 Rockledge Dr, St. Louis, Mo.
N
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COLLECTING AND PACKAGING EVIDENCE
One individual should be designated as the evidence collector to ensure that the evidence is collected, packaged, marked, sealed, and preserved in a consistent manner
Why?? What does
this do?
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COLLECTING AND PACKAGING EVIDENCE
Each item must be placed in a separate container, sealed, and labeled
Most fragile is collected and packaged first What types?
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COLLECTING AND PACKAGING EVIDENCE
Different types of evidence require specific or special collection and packaging techniques
Why??
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COLLECTING AND PACKAGING EVIDENCE
The body is the property of the coroner or medical examiner. The collection of evidence on the body is done by that department
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PACKAGING
Most items should be packaged in a primary container and then placed inside a secondary one.
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PACKAGING
These are then placed inside other containers such as paper bags, plastic bags, canisters, packets and envelopes depending on the type and size of the evidence.
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CHAIN OF CUSTODY
There must be a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence. Why is
this important
?
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CHAIN OF CUSTODY
The evidence container must be marked for identification
The collector’s initials should be placed on the seal
If evidence is turned over to another person, the transfer must be recorded.
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CRIME SCENE RECONSTRUCTION
StagesData collectionHypothesis formationExamination, testing and analysis
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CRIME SCENE RECONSTRUCTION
Stages (con’t)Determination of the significance of the evidence
Theory formulation
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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
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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.
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THE MEDICAL EXAMINER AND THE CORONER
A coroner is an elected official who usually has no special medical training. In four states, the coroner is a medical doctor.
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MEDICAL EXAMINER’S RESPONSIBILITIES
Identify the deceasedEstablish the time and date of
deathDetermine a medical cause of
death—the injury or disease that resulted in the person dying
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MEDICAL EXAMINER’S RESPONSIBILITIES
Classify the manner of deathNaturalAccidentalSuicideHomicideUndetermined
Notify the next of kin
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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
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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.
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MORE INFORMATION
For additional information on crime scene investigation, check out Court TV’s Crime Library:
www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/crimescene/5.html
On Michael Baden and the autopsy: www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/forensics/autopsy/1.html