Ramsland+1-28+RLG

Crime scene- location where an illegal act took place (1). Crime might join two or more places (1). Read the room and listen to the body before doing anything (1). Officers control the scene by setting an obvious barrier (2). Detectives are called in for a major crime. They are in control of the crime scene (4). Grid search-walk the area for evidence to define the boundaries of a crime scene (5). Twenty-four hour period after a crime is the most crucial (5). K-9 unit? (5). If seizure of evidence is made without protecting the rights of the people then it can be thrown out in court (5). Criminalistics is the application of science to the physical evidence (6). Crime occurs, call goes out to the authorities, police arrive and record observations (6). Locard’s Exchange Principle-whoever was at the scene has left something there or taking something away or both (7). CSI also called crime scene analysts or Ident technicians (7). To get a warrant there needs to be an affidavit that details what they’re looking for, where, why… (8). Physical and Testimonial Evidence (8). Physical evidence has five categories: temporary, conditional, associative, pattern, trace/transfer (9). Looking for fingerprints, impressions, body fluids, biological evidence, trace evidence, weapons or evidence of them, questioned documents, special evidence (9-10). CSI’s do not replace detectives (10). Evidence may prove a crime has been committed, indicate aspects of crime, establish identities, corroborate or not testimonies of witnesses, help exonerate a suspect, provide leads, pressure suspects into a confession (11). To become a CSI they have to complete hours of training in crime scene processing (11). Items needed for crime scene preservation: crime scene tape, chalk, magnifying glass, flashlight, tweezers, swabs, pen, sketchpad, logbooks, camera with extra film, cassette recorder, blank tapes, paper sacks, envelopes, disposable clothing, gloves, masks, string, measuring tools, markers, adhesive roller, portable alternative light source (13).

Kits for processing the scene: finger printing kit with fingerprint powder, casting kit, laser trajectory kit, gunshot residue kits, equipment for detecting blood, serology kit, kit for entomology specimens, hazmat kit, sexual assault kit (14-16). Dactoloscopist-analyzes fingerprints (17). Entomologist-insects (17). Coroner investigates all deaths by violence, orders autopsies, ids victims, conducts inquests, holds unidentified remains in morgues, keeps violent death statistics (19).

Protocols for photographing: black-and-white and color film, different lenses, flashes, tripod, photograph log, filters, scales in pictures, two photo of each shot (20). First photos should provide overview of scene (21). Mid range photos (21). Each item of evidence is photographed (21). Bodies photographed Head to feet, right and left side, feet to head, straight down from above (23). Close ups of any wounds (23). Equivocal death is treated as a homicide until shown to be a suicide (24). All evidence has a number flag of where it was found and a notebook keeps track of what each flag stands for (25). Chain of custody-each person who handles evidence sign off on it (26).