Crime Scene Investigation

Introduction

Crime scene investigation (CSI) is a critical component in the process of solving crimes
and ensuring justice. The crime scene is where investigators gather the crucial pieces of
evidence that will later be analyzed to understand what happened. The manner in which
the scene is processed and the evidence is collected plays a significant role in solving
the case. Forensic investigators and law enforcement officers work together to carefully
document, collect, and preserve evidence at the crime scene, which may include
physical traces, biological samples, or digital records.

Explanation

The process of crime scene investigation begins with securing the area. Once the scene
is secured, investigators begin documenting the scene through photographs, videos,
and sketches. This step is essential as it helps create an accurate representation of the
crime scene, which can be reviewed later in court or used in further investigations.

After the scene has been documented, the collection of evidence begins. This could
involve collecting physical evidence such as weapons, fingerprints, and personal
belongings, as well as biological evidence like blood, hair, and bodily fluids. It is
essential to preserve the integrity of the evidence during collection to ensure its
reliability in court.

Key Figures in Crime Scene Investigation

Key figures who have contributed to the development of crime scene investigation and
forensic science include:

• Sir Alec Jeffreys – The British geneticist who pioneered DNA profiling, which has
become a vital tool in solving crimes by matching biological samples with suspects
(Saks & Koehler, 2005).

• Edmond Locard – Often regarded as the father of forensic science, Locard developed
the Locard Exchange Principle, which states that whenever two objects come into
contact, there is always an exchange of material. This principle is fundamental in
forensic investigations (Saferstein, 2011).

Example of Crime Scene Investigation

In a robbery case, a crime scene investigation might unfold as follows:

1. Arrival and Securing the Scene: Upon arrival, law enforcement officers cordon off
the area to prevent unauthorized access. This step is essential to preserve the scene
and protect it from contamination.
2. Documentation: Investigators begin by photographing the crime scene from all
angles, capturing the position of any evidence, and documenting the layout of the
scene. This might include photographs of a broken window or any objects that were
disturbed during the crime.

3. Evidence Collection: In the case of a robbery, investigators might find a weapon,

fingerprints, or even a bank card left behind by the thief. Biological evidence, such as
blood stains, might also be found if there was any struggle. All collected evidence is
tagged, bagged, and documented to maintain the chain of custody.

4. Analysis and Follow-Up: The collected evidence is sent to a forensic lab for
analysis. Fingerprints can be compared against databases, and DNA found at the scene
can be analyzed to potentially match it to the suspect.

This example demonstrates how each step in the crime scene investigation process
contributes to gathering evidence that can be used to solve the case and identify the
perpetrator.

Nature of Evidence

Introduction

Evidence forms the foundation of any criminal investigation. It can vary greatly, ranging
from physical objects to biological material, and it is instrumental in reconstructing the
events of a crime. Investigators must understand the nature of evidence to gather and
utilize it effectively, as the evidence may help establish facts or refute the claims of
those involved.

Explanation

Evidence can be divided into two broad categories:

• Direct Evidence: This is evidence that directly proves a fact without the need for
further interpretation. For example, an eyewitness testimony or a video recording of the
crime in progress would be considered direct evidence.

• Circumstantial Evidence: This type of evidence implies a fact but does not directly
prove it. For example, finding a suspect’s fingerprint at the crime scene suggests they
were there, but it does not conclusively prove they committed the crime.

In addition, evidence can be classified into various types:

• Physical Evidence: Objects like weapons, tools, or documents that are tangible and
can be examined in a laboratory.
• Biological Evidence: Items such as blood, hair, or saliva that contain DNA and can
be used to link a suspect to a crime scene.

• Digital Evidence: Data obtained from electronic devices like computers, phones, or
GPS systems, which may provide crucial information about a crime or the movements
of a suspect (Lynch & McKeown, 2014).

Examples

In a robbery investigation, physical evidence might include a gun used during the crime,
a wallet containing cash, or surveillance footage of the suspect. Biological evidence
could include blood found at the scene, which could link the suspect to the crime. Digital
evidence might include security camera footage or phone records showing the
suspect’s movements around the time of the robbery.

Collection of Evidence

Introduction

The collection of evidence is one of the most critical phases in a criminal investigation.
How evidence is handled, preserved, and documented ensures that it remains viable for
analysis and later presentation in court. Any mishandling or contamination of evidence
could jeopardize the case, so it’s important that strict procedures are followed.

Explanation

When evidence is collected, it must be carefully handled to avoid contamination.

Biological samples, such as blood or hair, are collected with gloves and placed in
specialized bags. Physical evidence like weapons or documents is photographed in its
original location before being moved. Every piece of evidence must be carefully tagged
with relevant details, such as the date, time, and location of collection.

A vital component of the evidence collection process is maintaining the chain of

custody. This involves keeping detailed records of who has handled the evidence from
the moment it is collected to when it is presented in court. Each time evidence changes
hands, the person receiving it must sign off on it, ensuring no tampering has occurred
(Baker, 2016).

Examples

In a drug trafficking case, investigators may collect packets of drugs found at the crime
scene. They must carefully bag and tag each packet, ensuring that no other substances
contaminate the evidence. The evidence will be sent to a laboratory for analysis, where
it will be tested to confirm its composition.
Branches of Forensic Science

Introduction

Forensic science encompasses a variety of specialized fields, each focused on

analyzing different types of evidence or aspects of the criminal investigation. These
branches work together to provide a comprehensive understanding of the crime and its
perpetrator.

Explanation of Branches

1. Forensic Biology: This branch deals with the examination of biological evidence
such as blood, hair, and bodily fluids. It is often associated with DNA analysis, which
has become a pivotal tool for linking suspects to crime scenes (Evett & Weir, 2013).

2. Forensic Pathology: Pathologists perform autopsies to determine the cause of

death. They study injuries and other physical signs to figure out how the individual died,
whether from trauma, disease, or poisoning (Berkman & Lentz, 2014).

3. Forensic Toxicology: Forensic toxicologists examine biological fluids to detect

drugs, poisons, and other toxic substances. This branch is particularly useful in cases
involving overdose or poisoning (Marczinski, 2017).

4. Forensic Anthropology: Forensic anthropologists specialize in analyzing human

skeletal remains. They can help identify the victim and determine the cause of death,
especially when the body is too decomposed for traditional methods of analysis
(Schroeder, 2016).

5. Forensic Chemistry: This branch involves the analysis of chemicals found at crime
scenes, such as drugs, explosives, and poisons. It helps identify substances and
establish connections between evidence and suspects (Siegel & Worrall, 2015).

Key Figures in Forensic Science

• Sir Alec Jeffreys: Known for developing DNA profiling, Jeffreys revolutionized forensic
science and became a key figure in solving crimes with the help of biological evidence
(Saks & Koehler, 2005).

• Edmond Locard: His exchange principle laid the foundation for forensic investigations,
stating that every criminal leaves a trace of evidence at the scene (Saferstein, 2011).

Examples of Branch Applications

In a homicide case, forensic pathologists perform autopsies to determine the cause of

death, while forensic toxicologists test for substances like alcohol or drugs in the victim’s
system. Forensic biologists might analyze DNA found at the scene to link a suspect to
the crime.

Conclusion: Differences Between Crime Scene Investigation,

Evidence Collection, and Forensic Science Branches

In summary, crime scene investigation involves securing and documenting the crime
scene, whereas evidence collection is specifically concerned with gathering and
preserving material that may be analyzed in the lab. The various branches of forensic
science each focus on different types of evidence, contributing their specialized
knowledge to uncover the truth behind a crime. While crime scene investigation and
evidence collection are crucial initial steps, the branches of forensic science provide the
tools and techniques needed to analyze and interpret the evidence to solve the case
(James & Nordby, 2005).

Citations

• Albright, S., & Levin, S. (2018). Crime scene investigation: A guide for law
enforcement professionals. Prentice Hall.

• Baker, M. (2016). Criminal evidence: A handbook for criminal justice professionals.

SAGE Publications.

• Berkman, L., & Lentz, M. (2014). Forensic pathology and the role of pathologists.
Oxford University Press.

• Evett, I., & Weir, B. (2013). A guide to forensic DNA profiling. Wiley-Blackwell.

• Finkelstein, M., Reddy, N., & Sampson, A. (2012). Forensic science and law: Forensic
evidence in criminal investigations. CRC Press.

• James, S. H., & Nordby, J. J. (2005). Forensic science: An introduction to

criminalistics. McGraw-Hill.

• Jenkins, S. (2015). Understanding crime scene investigation. Routledge.

• Kebbell, M. R., & Milne, R. (2017). Forensic investigation: Crime scene to courtroom.
Routledge.

• Lynch, M., & McKeown, C. (2014). Introduction to forensic science and criminalistics.
Wiley-Blackwell.

• Marczinski, C. (2017). Forensic toxicology: A textbook. Springer.

• MacDonald, D. (2014). Handling evidence: The chain of custody. Pearson Education.

• Saferstein, R. (2011). Criminalistics: An introduction to forensic science. Pearson
Education.

• Siegel, L., & Worrall, J. (2015). Introduction to forensic science and criminalistics.
Prentice Hall.

 Miller, M. T., & Jones, P. (2014). Crime Scene Investigation. In CRC Press
eBooks (pp. 55–80). https://doi.org/10.1201/b16445-10

Introduction

Crime scene investigation is, by its most basic definition, the method of protecting,
processing and reconstruction of a crime. It doesn't matter where the crime took place
or if there are more than one crime scenes involved. A crime scene can envelop more
than one location, as in the case where a victim has been killed in one location and
found in another. A crime scene can be on land or in water, in a tree or buried six feet
under.

Crime scenes are a source for physical and material evidence. However, the
interpretation or reconstruction of a crime scene does not stop with obvious objects or
clues. When investigating any crime scene, the investigator, whether police officer,
detective or technician, must also take into consideration a philosophical approach to
the scene.

Crime scene investigators must never assume they know what happened based on
visual evidence, nor should they become biased or jump to conclusions when viewing
any type of evidence, which includes physical evidence as well as witness statements.

A crime scene investigator must always perform his or her job competently and with
integrity, reserving judgment until all evidence has been collected, analyzed and then
used to reconstruct a crime.

There are five major components to any Crime Scene Investigation process:

 Teamwork
 Documentation
 Preservation
 Common Sense
 Flexibility

Teamwork is vital. Many different agencies might be involved in the response to a crime
scene, as well as the collection of evidence. Teamwork also ensures that bias does not
come into play during the collection or documentation of evidence and that justice for
the victim is served. There are many different elements involved in a criminal
investigation, such as a uniformed police officer, detectives, crime lab technicians,
photographers, coroner and other forensic specialists.
Because of this, no one person who responds to the scene is more important than any
other. Those specializing in fingerprint analysis or crime scene photography are just as
vital to the collection and interpretation of evidence as the detective, who views the
scene and then begins to conduct his or her investigation creating diagrams,
measurements and then taking witness statements.

Every person who responds to a crime scene is an important and vital part of the
process, part being the key word. Egos and attitudes have no place at a crime scene.

Documentation of a crime scene is a vital component to the overall gathering of

evidence. Taking photographs and measurements, extensive notes and observations
will be recorded and referred to on countless occasions during the course of an
investigation. Because most crime scenes are not permanent, it is extremely important
to properly and accurately record every possible detail before the victim is removed
before time and weather take their toll on the scene, for it can never be re-created
exactly as it was upon arrival of the first law enforcement personnel to the location.

Preservation of the crime scene immediately upon arrival is tantamount to the collection
of evidence, as well as the integrity of the scene for processing. Many cases have been
thrown out of court because improper procedure was involved, or officers or detectives
arriving first on the scene did not take extreme care to ensure a "sanitary" scene.

Common sense seems like a given, but is a necessary part of approaching and
analyzing a crime scene. As such, flexibility, in the extent that a crime scene
investigator is able to adapt such analysis to the discovery of new evidence or
possibilities, is as much a part of processing a crime scene as the physical evidence in
plain view.

Understanding a Homicide Crime Scene

The location where a body is found is usually called the primary crime scene. However,
that doesn't necessarily mean that the homicide or crime occurred there. In many cases,
because it is obvious that a body has been "dumped" or transferred to the location
where it is first found, it may often mistakenly be considered the secondary crime
scene, with the original location of the homicide or death erroneously considered as the
primary

Nevertheless, location of the body or incident becomes the primary crime scene, and is
where most of the evidence is usually gathered. In this type of situation, several
questions exist:

 Where did the initial assault or murder occur?

 Where did the body come from?
 Did a vehicle transport the body to the current location?
  Is there physical or trace evidence connecting one scene to another?

A primary crime scene can be described as not only where an assault or murder took
place, but also where someone forced entry, a suspect's residence, an escape route or
even a suspect's clothing or body.

Because of so many possibilities, it is important for the crime scene investigator to

attempt to determine if the primary crime scene is a localized and contained area, or if
there are other crimes scenes involved.

A homicide investigation always starts at the location of the primary crime scene. Police
or other law enforcement personnel are almost always called to a location where a
crime, a body or a witness to the crime, is located. In addition, the location where the
body is discovered usually offers evidence of the crime and acts as a starting point, or
base, for the ensuing investigation.

A body and areas surrounding it offer crime scene investigators information such as
manner of death, identity of the victim and perhaps even clues as to the circumstances
surrounding the death. When first approaching a crime scene, it is important for any
personnel involved to recall Locard's principle of evidence:

1.
1. The perpetrator will leave some evidence behind.
2. The victim will retain some traces of contact with that individual, or traces
from the victim may be left on the perpetrator.
3. The perpetrator will take traces of the scene away with him.

Such traces don't have to be visible with the naked eye. They can be microscopic traces
of carpet or hair fibers, blood and other body fluids, plant life and even specks of dirt.

As such, anything may end up being valuable as trace evidence, even if it seems
inconsequential or unimportant upon first viewing. It is up to the crime scene
investigator to remember that when approaching evidence collection. Better to take too
much away from the scene of the crime than leave something valuable behind, just
because its import was not considered at the time.

The most important lesson that is stressed over and over again in crime scene
investigation and law enforcement training classes is that the primary duty of anyone
responding to the scene of a crime to protect and preserve the crime scene.

That's easier said than done in many cases, especially if a crime scene investigator is
unsure of what constitutes physical evidence and the boundaries of a crime scene.
There are three basic types of evidence found at a crime scene.

 Objects
 Impressions
  Body Fluids and Components

Objects commonly found at crime scenes can include, but are not limited to, weapons,
papers, vehicles, cigarettes and furniture or personal belongings.

Impressions are those such as fingerprints, tire tread marks, bullet holes, dented walls,
footprints and palm prints.

Bodily fluids and components can include blood, urine, feces, semen, hair, skin tissues
and even vomit.

Upon arrival at what may be considered a crime scene, it is the responsibility of the
responding officers or crime scene investigators, if the victim is dead, to secure the
area. At that point, the boundaries of the crime scene should be determined and
secured.

The crime scene begins where the confrontation took place or where the body is found,
and then widens to involve any escape routes, if known or discovered, as well as areas
where signs of struggle or chase are evident. To determine this boundary, there are
several hard and fast rules:

 Enclose as large of an area as possible to start, as the crime scene can be

narrowed later if necessary. Better to start off bigger than smaller.

 Evaluate the scene by determining:

a.
a. Location of body
b. Eyewitnesses
c. Presence of physical evidence
d. Natural boundaries; a room, a house, a car, etc.

It is easier to determine and isolate indoor crime scenes than those found outside, but
location, amount of vehicular or pedestrian traffic, as well as weather conditions, may
force crime scene investigators or first-response law enforcement personnel to adapt
boundaries as necessary.

Once a crime scene has been identified, it is up to the crime scene investigator to
examine all objects and evidence in the scene before it can be collected.

The main objectives of a crime scene investigation is to:

 Determine a sequence of events

 Recover physical evidence of the crime
 Reconstruct the incident
 Uncover a motive
  Determine the modus operandi
 Discover if anything has been taken from the crime scene
 Determine everything the criminal might have done

Conclusion

As is obvious, it is important for crime scene investigators, uniformed police officers,

detectives and any other forensic experts called to the scene of a crime to work together
to unravel the truth behind a crime. Teamwork is essential in order to insure that no
evidence is left uncovered and that every angle has been considered. Crime scene
investigation is not about individuals, but about a wide number of persons and experts
working together. It is not a time for showing off or grandstanding. It is a time to focus
determined effort and skills on finding the guilty party and to seek justice for the victim
and his or her family.

MEMBERS OF THE CSI:

 Team Leader
 Photographer and Photographic Log Recorder
 Sketch Preparer
 Evidence Recorder/Evidence Recovery Personnel
 Specialists

Organization and Procedures for Search Operations

 Preparation
 Basic Stages in a Search
 Approach Scene
 Secure and Protect Scene
 Initiate Preliminary Survey
 Evaluate Physical Evidence Possibilities
 Prepare Narrative Description
 Photograph Scene
 Prepare Diagram/Sketch of Scene
 Conduct Detailed Search/Record and Collect Physical Evidence
 Conduct Final Survey
 Release Crime Scene
 What is Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)?
 Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) is a field of forensics that involves the
examination and analysis of physical evidence collected from a crime scene.
CSI professionals gather, process, and analyze evidence such as DNA,
fingerprints, and fibers to help law enforcement solve crimes.
 In order to become a Crime Scene Investigator, a degree in CSI or a related
field is typically required. While some agencies may hire individuals with
only a high school diploma and relevant work experience, most employers
 prefer candidates who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Crime Scene
Investigation.
 In addition to a degree needed for CSI , on-the-job training is often required
to become proficient in the various techniques and technologies used in
crime scene investigations.

CSI focuses on the collection and analysis of physical evidence at a crime scene.

While both forensic science and CSI involve the analysis of physical evidence in order
to solve crimes, the roles and responsibilities of forensic scientists and CSI
professionals are different.

CSIs collecting and analyzing evidence at the crime scene.

 Both fields involve the analysis of physical evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA,
blood, and other trace evidence, in order to solve crimes.
 Both fields are important in providing evidence to law enforcement to help identify
suspects and build a case against them.
 Both fields require a high level of attention to detail and the ability to think
critically and solve problems.
 Both fields may involve working closely with other law enforcement personnel,
such as detectives and prosecutors, to gather and analyze evidence in a timely
and accurate manner.

The crime scene is one of the cornerstones of the police
investigation. In order to be able to bring the alleged
perpetrators to justice and to be able to convict them, if
necessary, it is necessary to carry out a correct and meticulous
intervention of the place where the crime was committed in
order to have and be able to send objective evidence and proof
to the police laboratories. Without a correct processing of the
evidence from the crime scene it will not be possible to
obtain forensic evidence with which to substantiate a
conviction.

The purpose of a crime scene, specifically the careful documentation and analysis of a
crime scene, is to reveal facts about a case and find the perpetrator. When investigators
arrive on scene, they should follow protocol and the proper chain of custody.

what, why, when, where, who, and how. The 5Ws and 1H framework is a super simple
but seriously effective method for collecting information.