Ramsland+Ch.1+Notes+KS

Chapter 1: Scene of the Crime

Crime Scene Analysis

Crime scene: The location where an illegal act took place. Crime scenes can be located anywhere. Scenes can also be more than one location. Ex: If a murder took place in a room, and then the body was moved to a barn, both locations are crime scenes.


 * Investigators look at the whole crime scene before examining individual elements.

Crime Scene Analysis – combination of criminalistics and criminology. ^ This is the application of science to the physical evidence.

Physical evidence is what investigators mainly focus on, but psychology is important as well when examining the crime.

^Different types of kits that help investigators to handle the different types of evidence.
 * In a crime scene, the primary concern is to preserve the evidence.

The Initial Call

1.	Call is made to 911 2.	Dispatcher notifies patrol units 3.	Police arrive and decide if they need to call other units (bomb squad, homicide, etc.) 4.	At the scene, they note the time and record observations. 5.	If someone is tampering intentionally or unintentionally, they must be stopped.

Locard’s Exchange Principle: “Every contact leaves a trace.” Perpetrators will always leave something behind at the crime scene or on the victim.


 * The investigators avoid contamination of the crime scene by restricting access to the non-principal personnel. When there are too many people at a crime scene, evidence is more likely to be destroyed.

-	If there is an injured person at the scene, the first priority is to provide first aid and to make sure they get to a hospital. This is essential, even if moving the injured damages evidence. -	If a dead body needs to be moved, investigators have to sketch the position of the corpse, take notes on the location, and attempt to move it in the same position as it was while at the scene.

Perpetrator on scene = arrest In the case of JonBenet Ramsey, the girl’s father moved her from the basement. This was a criticism of the investigation.

An Aside About Sin City

The general area is a desert valley with hot, dry terrain.

30 million visitors arrive annually to spend money vacationing. The level of crime in the city is incredibly high, because people use the excuse “I’m in Vegas” when they are accused of something illegal.


 * Vegas is the nation’s suicide capital.
 * Liberace Museum is the most popular attraction.

Processing the Scene

In major crimes, detectives are brought in. They are in charge of the investigation and the crime scene.

- Defining a crime scene is difficult: When investigators are unsure of the boundaries of the scene, they perform a “grid search.” During this search, investigators walk from the crime scene, and place flags or markers wherever there is something appearing to be evidence. - The first 24-hour period after a crime is the most important. - Investigators decide whether a search warrant is necessary. ^ If they search without one, evidence can be thrown out in court, letting dangerous criminals go free. With a warrant, the search has to be confined to the locations and items on the list.

Types of Evidence

Two kinds of evidence:

Testimonial: Any evidence coming from people who were near the scene and saw something. These witnesses are often unreliable though, so what they say isn’t the only thing that investigators use in building their case. Physical: Split into 5 categories 1.	Temporary 2.	Conditional 3.	Associative 4.	Pattern 5.	Trace/transfer

Forensic Science: The application of the scientific method to legal proceedings. It is also known as forensics.

Fingerprints, Impressions, body fluids, biological evidence, trace evidence, weapons, questioned documents, and special evidence from cases dealing with arson.
 * Technicians must be prepared to testify in court about the evidence from cases that they worked on. When they search the scene, they are looking for…

- C.S.I.s may spend most of their time collecting and documenting evidence.

Evidence collected serves multiple purposes: a)	Prove a crime has been committed b)	Key aspects of crime c)	Establish identities of victim(s) an suspect d)	Prove or disprove testimonies given by witnesses e)	Exonerate an innocent suspect f)	Provide new leads g)	Pressure suspects into confessions

They generally have a background in chemistry, biology, computer programs, anthropology, and police and court procedure.
 * C.S.I.s must be good at “reading the scene” to form an idea of what happened. The idea needs to be flexible, though, in case evidence changes it.

Crime Scene Kits


 * Multiple kits, each designed for a different purpose.

Initial analysis: crime scene tape, magnifying glass, flashlight, tweezers and swabs, pen, sketchpad, logbooks, camera and extra film, paper sacks, disposable clothing, gloves, string, measuring implements, orange evidence flags, and more.

As said above, there are many different kits, some of which include a fingerprinting kit, a casting kit for tire and footprint, a casting kit to take impressions from tool marks, a laser trajectory kit, a kit for trace evidence, gunshot residue kits, a serology kit (bodily fluids), and sexual assault kit.


 * Portable workshops can be used so that technicians can safely use the chemicals needed to process evidence.

Forensic Specialties

Some of the specialties that criminalists might receive further education for include, anthropologist, artist, accountant, ballistics expert, botanist, chemist/trace expert, dactyloscopist (analyzes fingerprints), entomologist, geologist, geographical profiler, linguist, and serologist.

The Coroner

With a body, the coroner ‘commands the scene.’ ^ The authority and abilities differ from state to state.

In Las Vegas, the description of the coroner’s office is to… investigate all deaths by violence, criminal means, or suicide, order autopsies, provide identification of victims, conduct inquests, hold unidentified remains, and keep violent death statistics.


 * On the scene, the coroner determines whether an autopsy is needed.

Photographing the Scene

After the crime scene boundaries are determined, and notes are taken, the photographer begins taking pictures of the scene. – Sometimes there is a designated photographer, other times everyone involved takes pictures.

There are certain protocols that investigators tend to follow. These are… a)	Black and white and color film b)	Different types of lenses c)	They bring separate extension flashes d)	Tripod e)	Photograph log f)	Filters g)	Scales h)	At least 2 photos of each shot


 * First walk through the scene to get perspective
 * Photographs are taken before evidence is moved or collected
 * Different angled pictures should be taken

-	Bodies are photographed from five different angles: head to feet, right side, feet to head, left side, and straight down from above. -	Close-ups are taken of wounds, marks, bites, or bruises. -	If there is a living victim, photographs must still be taken for identification.

If something appears to be a suicide, investigators treat it like a homicide until proven a suicide. Investigators use color film to photograph bloodstains Sketches are made for accurate descriptions of the scene.

Collecting and Preserving Evidence

After photographing and documenting the scene, the search for evidence is started. All evidence gets a numbered flag.

Chain of Custody: The order and documentation of who handled what evidence at what time.
 * Assignments to different areas of the crime scene are given.
 * The type of terrain determines the search pattern used.

Evidence is kept in a container with labels and the case number in order to ensure preservation.


 * Plastic bags are not good for organic matter because they accelerate the deterioration of biological specimens.

Everything has as specific method for removal.

After removing evidence, all of it is transported to the lab for further analysis. Bodies go to the morgue for autopsy.