Unit 3: Crime Scene
Processing
3.2 Crime Scene Team
CRIME SCENE TEAM
A group of professional investigators, each
trained in a variety of special disciplines.
Team Members
 First Police Officer on the scene
 Medics (if necessary)
 Investigator(s)
 Medical Examiner (if necessary)
 Photographer and/or Field Evidence Technician
 Lab Experts
Crime Scene Team
SOCO
Medics (if necessary)
Investigators
Medical Examiner
Photographer
Lab Experts
“Scene Of Crime Officer”
SOCO
SOCO
First officer on the scene
First to respond but also first to potentially
damage or contaminate.
Cardinal Rule:
“Eyes open, mouth shut,
hands in pockets”
FIRST OFFICER
ON THE SCENE
A
Assess the crime scene
and assist those hurt
D
Detain the witness
A
Arrest the perpetrator
P
Protect the crime scene
T
Take notes
Only required if an injured victim or witness are present
medics
Emergency Medical Services
(EMS)
Both EMTs and paramedics have the knowledge
and skills to transport patients and provide them
with emergency care.
Difference is
 the amount of education they receive
 scope of practice
Emergency Medical Technician (E.M.T.)
 120-150 hours of coursework
 Cannot break skin (no needles)
Paramedics
 1200-1800 hours of coursework
Medical examiner
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
AND THE CORONER
A medical examiner is a medical doctor, usually
a pathologist and is appointed by the governing
body of the area.
 About 400 certified forensic pathologists
A coroner is an elected official who
usually has no special medical training.
MEDICAL EXAMINER’S
RESPONSIBILITIES
Identify the deceased
Establish the time and date of death
Determine a medical cause of death (COD)
Determine the mechanism of death
Classify the manner of death
Notify the next of kin
Investigators & Field Technicians
INVESTIGATORS
“The wise forensic investigator will always remember
that he must bring all of his life experiences and logic
to find the truth. This means common sense,
informed intuition, and the courage to see things as
they are. Then he must speak honestly about what it
adds up to.”
—Dr. Henry Lee
Chief Emeritus for Scientific Services and the
former Commissioner of Public Safety for the state of Connecticut
Field Technicians
Trained in a single or multiple fields
specializing in processing a crime
scene.
Almost always with a partner or team
Their actions can “make or break” a
case.
Field Tech Specializations
Field technicians can specialize
in:
Evidence collection
Note taking
Photography
Crime scene
sketches/measurements
Videography (relatively new field)
Highly specialized lab
Lab Experts
Lab Experts
In rare or high profile cases a highly
specialized lab expert might be called
to the scene to process or collect
evidence.