Crime Scene InvestigationCrime Scene Investigation

By: Mindelei WuoriBy: Mindelei Wuori

What is Crime Scene Investigation?

• Crime Scene Investigation:– involves purposeful

documentation of the conditions at the scene

– includes collection of any physical evidence that could explain what happened and point to who did it.

– is the meeting point of science, logic and law

– keep in mind: there is no typical crime scene, there is no typical body of evidence and there is no typical investigative approach

Who’s at the Scene of a Crime?• Police Officers – first to

arrive, secure the scene • CSI Unit – documents the

crime scene in detail, collects evidence

• District Attorney – determines if search warrants are necessary, secures warrants from a judge

• Medical Examiner – may be present to determine a preliminary cause of death

• Specialists – may be called in if evidence requires special analysis

• Detectives – interview witnesses and investigate the crime

So, what exactly needs to be done at the scene of a crime?

• The investigators would simply use their senses for observation at this point, making detailed notes. At this stage known as “Scene Recognition”, nothing should be touched.

• Now it is time to determine the “Extent of the Crime Scene.” Does the scene include several rooms in a house, does it go out into the yard? The scene must be secured to ensure that no evidence is tampered. This is frequently done by taping it off with yellow “do not cross” tape.

So, what exactly needs to be done at the scene of a crime?

• Once the scene is secure, it is time to contact the District Attorney to secure any necessary search warrants.

• After warrants are issued, notes of potential evidence are made during the initial walk through (particular attention is paid to things that could change such as smells, sounds, etc.)

• During the second walk through, the scene is thoroughly documented through drawings, photographs, and digital video. At this point, the investigators have been careful to ensure that nothing has been touched.

So, what exactly needs to be done at the scene of a crime?

• Now it is time to begin collecting potential evidence (paint residue, broken glass, fibers, chemicals, drugs, phone books, diaries, recent correspondence, email, blood, saliva, clothing, etc).

• Items are tagged, logged in the crime scene record, and packaged carefully to ensure they remain intact when traveling to the lab for analysis.

• Detailed reports about the investigators activities at the scene and their observations of the are made.

So, what exactly needs to be done at the scene of a crime?

There are several different methods of search patterns used during the examination of the scene.

So, what happens after the evidence is collected?

• Once the crime lab has processed the evidence, the results are forwarded to the lead detective on the case.

• It is up to the lead detective and his team to reconstruct the crime scene based upon the evidence and lab findings and determine who committed the crime.

• Once a case is made, the person who committed the crime can be arrested and tried in a court of law.

How has careful review of a crime scene helped to convict a criminal?• A double murder – no

fingerprints, no DNA, no murder weapon. The only thing that could link the killers to the crime were the fibers from the blankets.

Works Cited• Anderson, S. Online Image. Crime scene. September 11, 2006. Flickr.com

February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=44124372363%40N01&q=crime+scene&m=text>.

• Causin, Valerio, Schiavone, Sergio, Marigo, Antonio, & Carresi, Pietro. (May 10, 2004). Bayesian framework for the evaluation of fiber evidence in a double murder - a case report.  In Forensic Science International, 141, p159(12). Retrieved February 21, 2007, from LegalTrac via Thomson Gale: <http://find.galegroup.com/itx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=LT&docId=A132766739&source=gale&userGroupName=lom_nmichu&version=1.0>.

• Criminal Justice USA.com (2004). Crime scene investigation. February 20, 2007. <http://www.criminaljusticeusa.com/crime-scene-investigation.html>.

• Darwish, H. Online Image. Murder at sunset: crime scene analysis. July 23, 2005. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://flickr.com/photos/darwishh/28115507/>.

• Harris, S. Online Image. Crime scene photo. October 31, 2005. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/smharris/58237179/>.

• Kaoe, C. Online Image. Crime scene. July 11, 2006. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/catikaoe/187291122/>.

Works Cited• Kelley, P. Online Image. 016. February 7, 2006. Flickr.com February 17,

2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/77448961@N00/96984465/in/dateposted/>.

• Layton, J. How crime scene investigation works. 1998-2007. How Stuff Works. February 17, 2007. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm/printable>.

• Layton, J. Online Image. How CSI works: Search pattern inward spiral. 1998-2007. How Stuff Works. February 17, 2007. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm/printable>.

• Layton, J. Online Image. How CSI works: Search pattern outward spiral. 1998-2007. How Stuff Works. February 17, 2007. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm/printable>.

• Layton, J. Online Image. How CSI works: Search pattern parallel. 1998-2007. How Stuff Works. February 17, 2007. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm/printable>.

• Layton, J. Online Image. How CSI works: Search pattern grid. 1998-2007. How Stuff Works. February 17, 2007. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm/printable>.

• Layton, J. Online Image. How CSI works: Search pattern zone. 1998-2007. How Stuff Works. February 17, 2007. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm/printable>.

Works Cited• McLaughlin, D. (February 11, 2007). Forensic science: Real crime scene investigation

at the state police lab. Daily News Tribune Online. February 16, 2007. <http://www.townonline.com/homepage/8998938953201483773>.

• O’Connor, Dr. T. The criminology mega-site. January 21, 2004. North Carolina Wesleyan College. February 17, 2007. <http://faculty.ncwc.edu/TOConnor/criminology.htm>.

• P., P. Online Image. Crime scened – evidence test. July 5, 2006. Flickr.com February 20, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/polykuur/182514371/in/set-72157594254915325/>.

• Tsai, K. Online Image. Crime scene. October 30, 2005. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/kmar/57942830/>.

• Unknown, Neil. Online Image. Luminol. June 29, 2006. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/csiminime/177660544/in/set-72157594191886264/>.

• Unknown, Neil. Online Image. ALS. June 29, 2006. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/csiminime/177660549/in/set-72157594191886264/>.

• Unknown, Neil. Online Image. Latent from scene. November 30, 2006. Flickr.com February 17, 2007. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/csiminime/310853701/in/set-72157594191886264/>.

• Vercammen, P. Forensic sleuthing comes to prime time on CSI. November 21, 2000. CNN.com <http://archives.cnn.com/2000/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/21/csi.interview/index.html>.

Other Pertinent Informaiton

• Grade Level: Sixth or Seventh

• Standards for Entry Level Michigan Teachers:– Standard 1: Appreciation of liberal arts– Standard 5: Organize teaching practices– Standard 7: Using technology