CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT What is crime scene management? The purpose of crime scene management is to control, preserve, record, and recover evidence from the scene of an incident. Any evidence removed from a scene by investigators must be packaged and labelled correctly to prevent injury and contamination. TYPES OF CRIME SCENES A crime scene is any location that may be associated with a committed crime. There are mainly 3 types: a) Homicidal b) Suicidal c) Accidental Based on the criminal activities • Primary scene of crime • Secondary scene of crime Based on criminal behavior • Active • Passive Based on the location of the crime scene • Indoor • Outdoor THE SEVEN S' Securing the scene Scanning the scene Seeing the scene Separating the witness Sketching the scene Searching for evidence Securing and collecting evidence RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER There are two factors that could potentially change the crime scene: people and the weather. People can be controlled by keeping everyone who is not law enforcement away from the scene. When people do enter the scene, it is important to keep a log. The log should include the following: A. The name of each person entering the scene B. The date and time each person entered the scene C. The reason for each person entering the scene D. The date and time each person exits the scene DOCUMENTATION Crime scene documentation begins with the first responder. Police officers are taught the importance of taking notes from the time of arrival. The crime scene investigator documents the scene in the form of still and video photography. Sketches are completed at the scene to illustrate relationships between articles of evidence not easily depicted by photography. The following methods of crime scene documentation are used to provide an accurate representation of the scene. o Photography and Videography The primary means of crime scene documentation is still photography. Police officers should have an understanding of the importance of keeping the scene preserved, and not moving anything until it is photographed. The photographer must be able to testify that the photograph is a true and accurate representation of the scene at the time the photograph was taken. Crime scene photographs should reveal a detailed, chronological story of the scene. o Notes One of the main actions and more important investigators of the scene is taking notes. Taking notes is done for many reasons. One of the main reasons, why should it be asked, is that they should be available to all case and then, when the investigator or the court requires something, entries must be ready and similar actions were taken at the scene and with all other data, such as the scene, as well as traces and physical evidence found there. Taking notes begins upon receipt of the call for the given case noted: time, date, source of the information was, instructions are provided for storing the scene. Further extended the composition of the investigation team, responsible officials find there and the time of arrival at the scene. It should also be noticed and all actions of the inquiry regarding the examination of the scene until its conclusion. In the notes of the scene investigators must be included: • The date and time when the case is reported to the police; • Type of crime; • Location of the scene and its description; • Name of the person who ordered / requested locationviewing; • The names of all persons, police officers, witnesses, investigators, specialized personnel to the scene. • Names of officers photograph, shooting with the camera, make sketch, take fingerprints, seek and obtain clues and material evidence; • atmospheric and lighting conditions at the time of inspection; • The first description of the scene, including the condition of the victim at the time the investigation team has arrived; • The location of any trace or evidence material that is found and by whom is found, the search results of fingerprints and other trace evidence; • Description of the exact location of the scene, surrounding houses or buildings; • Description of the correct entry and exit of the scene, a description of the house, number of rooms, windows; • Description of the external scene: land, planted field, the ground muddy, ground paved with asphalt, tiles, etc. • The time of completion of the examination of the scene; • In the notes given no conclusions, but what can be seen in it. o Sketching Sketches are used to supplement photographs, especially spatial relationships between objects. Sketches should depict the overall layout of the scene and contain all the necessary information for the investigator to complete a final version. Types of sketches may include the following: Entire scene (the complete scene with measurements). Bird's-eye view (an overhead view of the scene). Elevation sketch. Cross projection sketch (walls, windows, and doors are drawn as though the walls had been folded out flat on the floor). Three dimensional sketch. Triangulation method (two or more reference points are located. The item of evidence or interest is then documented by measuring along a straight line from the reference points to the item). Coordination between police personnel and forensic scientists: Role of police person: a. Identification of evidence b. Immediate dispatch of evidence c. Maintaining chain of custody of evidence Role of forensic scientist: 1. Examines the evidence in lab 2. Experiments, makes observations collects necessary data and draws conclusion. 3. Prepares a report and presents in the court. Chain of Custody refers to the logical sequence that records the sequence of custody, control, transfer, analysis and disposition of physical or electronic evidence in legal cases. Each step in the chain is essential as if broke, the evidence may be rendered inadmissible. BELOW IS THE SAMPLE OF THE EXHIBIT LOG USED FOR EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT: Often, for minor crimes, a single investigator will be alone at the crime scene and will engage in all the roles described, albeit on a far smaller scale. When this process is being undertaken by a single investigator on a smaller scale, the issues of diagram, security log, and exhibit log may be limited to data and illustrations in the notebook of the investigator. It is important to stress that each of the tasks below needs to be considered and addressed for every crime scene investigation, no matter how big or how small. Specifically: The crime scene must be secured, preserved, and recorded until evidence is collected Existing contamination must be considered and recorded Cross-contamination must be prevented Exhibits must be identified, preserved, collected, and secured to preserve the chain of continuity.
