AP+Ramsland+Notes+pg.1-28

Pg.1-28

Crime Scene:

 * location where an illegal act took place
 * can be any where
 * "Cool Change"
 * where a single crime can join 2 or more places
 * "Table Stakes"
 * can be scene of multiple crimes where the crime took place
 * a 2nd murder could have been involved where another body is found
 * CSI: "read the room" and "listen"
 * meaning CSI have to form an idea of what might have happened at the scene
 * main focus of physical evidence
 * key to any criminal investigation

Crime Scene Analysis:

 * combination of criminalistics and criminology
 * Criminlistics:
 * apply science to the physical evidence, such as blood stream and DNA
 * Criminology:
 * studying the crime scene motives, traits, and behavior that will help them understand the evidence better

Initial Call:

 * 1st someone calls 911
 * 2nd police arrive to the scene: if there is a murder they call the homicide or arson unit
 * the police write down: time, observations around the room, lights on or off, not any odors, blinds open or closed, if food is spoiled
 * officers should not touch anything or move anything
 * investigators can re-in-act something and most assume that anyone who has left the crime scene has either taken something or left something behind
 * too many people in a crime scene can obliterate on the floor
 * if someone was injured at the scene the police calls the ambulance and they HAVE to note where the body was and write down any wombs on the victim
 * officers mark off the scene with tape so none of the evidence gets destroyed

Las Vegas:

 * nations suicide capital
 * "a macrocosm that significantly colors the microcosm of a crime scene"

Processing the Scene:

 * 1st a detective is called in and he/she is in charge of the crime scene
 * Define Boundries:
 * if there was a murder it could be in multiple rooms or just one room depending on charge
 * Grid search:
 * where investigators walk the premises and stopping only when they see evidence and when they see evidance they put a flag down
 * Visual
 * covers a large area that goes father than a grid search
 * 24 hrs after a crime scene is the most crucial because everything is untouched and the witnesses memory is fresh
 * investigators most have a search warrant to obtain someone legally and if they don't get one then all the evidence found with out a warrant will not be held against them

Types of Evidence:

 * testimonial:
 * any one who was near the scene and saw something
 * the witnesses are seperated, detained and interview, some are asked to write formal statements
 * physical:
 * 5 types:
 * Temporary: may change or be lost
 * Conditional: deals with certain conditions
 * Associative: links suspect or victim to scene
 * Pattern: blood, tire treads
 * Trace/transfer: physical contact with some kind of surface
 * for technicians:
 * collect evidence
 * trained to look for foreign evidence
 * take notes, sketch scene, take pictures, analysis of scene, preparing detail reports
 * Evidence collected at a scene:
 * Prove that a crime has been committed
 * Indicate key aspects of the crime
 * establish identities of the victim or suspect
 * corroborate any testimony given by witness
 * help to exonerate a suspect who is innocent
 * provide leads for further investigation

Crime Scene Kits:

 * Tackle Box:
 * crime scene tape and a box of chalk
 * hand held magnifying glass
 * flashlight
 * tweezers and a box of swabs
 * pen, sketchpad, and log books
 * camera w/ extra film, cassette recorder and blank tapes
 * paper sacks and envelopes
 * disposable clothing, gloves and mask
 * string
 * measuring implements
 * orange evidence flags or markers
 * lint pick up adhesive roller
 * ultraviolet or laser light
 * Finger print kit:
 * fingerprint powder
 * fiberglass dusting brushes
 * camel hair brushes to clean dust from prints
 * clear lifting tape
 * latent print cards
 * ink pad
 * magnifying lens, scissors, tweezers, and scalpel
 * disposable gloves
 * Casting kit:
 * for collecting tire and footprints
 * take impressions from tool marks
 * Laser trajectory kit:
 * for shootings to find out where the shot came from
 * Trace evidence collection:
 * to collect broken glass and soil samples
 * Gun shot residue kit:
 * atomic absorption
 * has seals on containers, a nitric acid dispenser
 * SEM kit
 * to find if a suspect has handled a gun
 * Equipment for finding blood samples
 * Serology kit:
 * collects any type of body fluid
 * Special kit to collect entomology specimens
 * Hazmat kits
 * used for crime scenes where toxic gases were present
 * Sexual assault kit

Forensic Specialties:

 * Anthropologist: examine bones to find their identity and time of death
 * Artists/ sculptor: sketches of the offender
 * Accountant:
 * Ballistics expert: knows about firearms and bullets
 * Chemist/ trace expert: studies glass,paint chips, fibers and dyes
 * Dactyloscopist: analyzes fingerprints
 * Entomologist: studies insects to find out the time of death of a body or when a body was dumped
 * Geologlist: analyzes the soil to determine where the body might have been
 * Geographical profiler: uses computers to help figure out where a offender lives
 * Linguist: analyzes words to figure out the person educational level
 * Metal health expert/criminologist/profiler: analyzes motives and criminal behavior of a crime scene
 * Odontologist/ dentist: studies teeth and bite marks
 * Serologist: analyzes blood, semen and saliva

Photographing the Scene:

 * they take black and white and various types of color flim
 * use cameras with different lenses
 * use various forms of flashes
 * use a tripod
 * photo log: example" to show if the entrance and exist of a bullet
 * bring filters for better depth
 * bring scales
 * take two pictures of each shot
 * they walk through the scene to see what they need to take more pictures of
 * take pictures from every corner of the room and every angle
 * most items are photographed up close and very detail
 * Body pictures:
 * head to feet
 * right and left side of body
 * feet to head
 * straight down from above
 * close ups of wombs, weapons present, tire treads, trace evidence, fingerprints, blood, footprints