Crime Scene Procedures

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Crime Scene
Procedures
Introduction
Derek Walker

4th year Forensic Science Student

University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)

Bachelor of Science (Hons)

Minors in Biology and Chemistry

Research experience:



Forensic Psychology (eyewitness identification)
Microbiology
CCSS graduate
What is Forensic Science?

Forensic: “pertaining to legal matters”

Science: “the systematic organization of knowledge
through the experimental testing of hypotheses for
the purpose of explaining phenomena in our
universe”

Essentially, “The Scientific Method”

Forensic Science: “The application of the Scientific
Method to legal matters”

Forensic Science encompasses a wide variety of
disciplines
Disciplines of Forensic Science
Physiological Social
Sciences
Criminalistics
Digital
Physical
pathology
psychology
ballistics
computers
accident
reconstruction
anthropology
psychiatry
dactology
databases
physics
entomology
toxicology
networks
engineering
biology
document
analysis
mobile
devices
fire
investigation
chemistry
video
botany
audio
Personnel Involved in
Investigations of Crime
 First
responders
 Crime scene investigators


Forensic Identification Officer
Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO)
 Forensic

Typically experts in a specific discipline
 Coroner

Scientists
(Medical Examiner)
In Ontario, all are physicians
 Forensic
Pathologist
Homicide Investigations
If death appears suspicious
First Responders
Coordination of crime scene investigation
Forensic
Identification
Officer
SOCO
Forensic
Scientists
Many police services don’t have the
resources to analyze all types of
evidence, so it is outsourced
Police officers,
EMS, firefighters
Homicide
Determines manner of
death, issues death
certificates, recommends
how to prevent similar
deaths
Coroner
Some scenes require
experts to collect
evidence or provide
analysis
Body goes to
autopsy after being
documented
Coroner and
pathologist
communicate to
report cause and
manner of death
Forensic
Pathologist
Crime Labs,
other external
agencies
Other Types of Investigations
 Office

of the Fire Marshal
Investigate major fire scenes
 Special

Investigate scenes where police have
caused serious injury
 Ministry

Investigations Unit
of Labour
Investigate industrial and farming deaths
Crime Scene Investigation
Misconceptions
Clip from Superbad
Crime Scene Investigation
Misconceptions – The CSI Factor
 Don’t
drive hummers
 Don’t wear Prada to crime scenes
 Don’t wear high heels to crime scenes
 Don’t utter cheesy one-liners like Horatio
at the start of every investigation
 Don’t find fingerprint or DNA matches in
minutes
 Don’t investigate in the dark
Crime Scene Management
 Preserves
the integrity of evidence to
ensure that it is admissible in court
 Initial




response:
Preservation of life if possible
Isolate suspects and witnesses
Protect the scene
Record scene details
 i.e.
time, date, personnel and persons present
Initial Response
 First
priority is always to assist a victim who
is still alive
 Limit
 Be
access to scene
aware of possible evidence
Scene Protection Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LbV9l
9d2Cw
Scene Protection
 Establish
a perimeter that appears to
encompass scene in its entirety
 Block off boundaries

Physical presence of police and crime
scene tape
 Remove
unnecessary personnel
 Chose a “path of contamination” and
avoid walking around aimlessly
Scene Continuity
 Locard’s
Exchange Principle:
“Every contact leaves a trace”
 Must
ensure not to deposit foreign
objects, or take away any objects from
the crime scene

Starts with personal protective equipment
(PPE)
PPE
Investigative Teams
 Crime





scene investigation is a team effort
Searching usually requires at least 2 people,
but can be a lot more if the scene is bigger
2-3 people for photography
2-3 people for sketches and measurements
2-3 people for collection of evidence
1 person to take notes
Scene Examination
 Durham
Regional Police Services Forensic
Identification Unit uses LOSER principle





Listen to victims/witnesses
Observe the scene
Search victims and scene for evidence
Evaluate if evidence adds up to statements
Record the scene
Scene Observation
 Helps
to choose a path which will prevent
any unnecessary contamination
 Allows
you to see where the body is
located within the scene
 Can
give a general idea of where to look
for evidence
 Allows
you to judge which type of search
method is best for the scene
Scene Search
 Should
be done in a systematic and
controlled manner
 Begin
with an initial walkthrough
 Note
location of evidence so that you
can return to collect it later
 Method
of scene search will depend on
number of CSI’s and size/type of scene
Search Methods
 There




are 4 general types of searches:
Spiral
Strip
Grid
Zone
 Some
methods are more effective for
different types of scenes
Spiral Search

Start in the middle of an area, and spiral
outward/inward in a
clockwise/counterclockwise direction

Effective in small interior rooms
Strip Search

CSI’s begin at one end of search area
standing directly beside each other, and walk
(or crawl) toward the opposite end of the
search area

Advantageous for large outdoor scenes
Grid Search

CSI’s begin at one end of search area, and
proceed to other end in a straight line

Done once again except same area is searched
perpendicularly to initial search direction

Advantageous because the same area is
searched twice
Zone Search

Search area broken down into zones, and
each zone is searched separately

Useful in small confined spaces
Types of Evidence
 Common





types of evidence:
Fingerprints
Footwear impressions
Firearms, weapons and toolmarks
Trace evidence
Biological evidence
Search Tools

Oblique lighting


Chemical reagents



Angled light that causes shadows of trace
evidence to become more visible
Phenolphthalein (Kastle-Meyer test)
Luminol
Polilight

Different wavelengths of light can cause certain
invisible biological specimens to fluoresce
Polilight
Polilight Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoyRe
nZMldE&feature=related
Luminol
 Reacts
with oxidizing iron present in
hemoglobin to produce a strong blue
chemiluminescene
 Can
detect trace amounts of blood that
may not be visible to naked eye

Can show if there is evidence of an
attempted clean up
 Doesn’t
react specifically with blood
Luminol Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Lr83J
gp_I&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=
PLC8565883057111BC
Luminol
Phenolphthalein

Indicator used in Kastle-Meyer test as a
presumptive test for blood

Reacts with hemoglobin which has
peroxidase-like activity

Can detect very small amounts of blood

Can react with natural produced vegetable
peroxidases

Found in broccoli, cauliflower, horseradish
Scene Documentation

Most important part of investigation


When case eventually goes to court, must be
able to account for all evidence, its exact
location in the scene, and who has been
involved in the investigation
Different types of scene documentation:





Photography
Measurements
Evidence
General notes and logs
Sketches
Crime Scene Photography

Evidence and scene are photographed as it is
found




Provides accurate visual descriptions for future
analysis by investigators, attorneys, judges/juries
Shows that evidence hasn’t been altered or
tampered with between collection, and as an
exhibit in court
Gives context of scene, and shows areas of interest
Take overall, mid-range, and close-up
photographs
Crime Scene Photography

Overall shots


Mid-range shots




Intend to show as much of scene or area of interest as
possible
Focus on an area of interest
Includes objects that are also found in overall shots
Used to establish location of close-ups
Close-up shots




Taken using macro lens
Show detail of evidence
Take shots with and without scale
Film plane must be perpendicular to object
Crime Scene Measurements

Used to visualize the exact position of
evidence/objects in the scene

Also to visualize where windows, doors and points
of entry are located in relation to
evidence/objects

Allows reconstruction of scene at a later date

Measurements must be very precise


Made with tape-measures, rulers, laser, etc.
Movable objects measured to points of
reference

Usually immovable objects or landmarks
Evidence Collection

Depends on type of evidence being
collected

Packaged in a manner that ensures continuity
of evidence

Some evidence can be damaged by the
method of packaging

Most fragile or weather dependent evidence
collected first

Chain of Custody is started upon collection
Notes and Logs
 Meticulous
notes are key to any
investigation



Forces investigators to commit observations
to writing
Corroborates statements
Refreshes memory
 Detailed
narration of all actions taken at
the crime scene in chronological order
Notes and Logs
 What








to include in notes:
Date and time
Location of scene
Description of scene and surrounding area
Who requested investigation
Names of officers, investigators, emergency
personnel, witnesses, suspects, detainees
Name of investigators associated with tasks
they were responsible for (photographer,
sketcher, etc.)
Weather, lighting conditions
Location and description of evidence, and
who collected it
Notes and Logs
 Logs
to catalogue all photographs,
measurements and evidence
Crime Scene Sketches

Supplement reports and photographs


Photos don’t always depict exact location of
objects or their relation to other objects
Photographs can sometimes be deceiving due
to perspective or distortion

Excellent visual aid for juries in court

Two phases of sketches


Rough sketch
Finished/Formal sketch
Crime Scene Sketches
 Rough



sketch
Done free-hand at
scene
Never replaced by
finished sketch and is
considered evidence
as well
Often compared to
finished sketch in court
Crime Scene Sketches
 Finished


sketch
Correct any mistakes in rough sketch
Presents clean, clear diagram of scene with
scaled measurements included
UOIT Crime Scene House
UOIT Crime Scene House

Stage mock crimes and use forensic investigative
methods to “solve” crimes

In 2nd year, learn basic investigative techniques


Dusting for fingerprints, taking toolmark and footwear
impression casts, collect biological evidence, collect
trace evidence (paint, glass, powders)
In 3rd year, apply investigative techniques to full
investigations such as a hit and run, a shooting
case, a sexual assault, a homicide, and a
suspicious death

Need to document really well, because one of these
cases goes to mock court!
UOIT Forensic Science
Program
 Strong
 Lots
base in Biology and Chemistry
of lab work
 Mini-research
 Opportunity
projects
to do honours thesis project
with internal or external supervisors
UOIT Forensic Science
Program - Courses
 1st

year
General courses: biology, chemistry,
physics, calculus, computers, introduction
to forensic science
 2nd

year
Organic chemistry, cell biology, physiology,
anatomy, genetics and molecular biology,
biochemistry, statistics and probabilities,
introductory psychology
UOIT Forensic Science
Program - Courses

3rd year – forensic biology, forensic chemistry,
analytical chemistry, instrumental analytical
chemistry, physical chemistry, principles of
pharmacology and toxicology

4th year – forensic drug chemistry and
toxicology, interdisciplinary topics in forensic
science, law for forensic scientists, forensic
psychology, forensic physics*

Plus electives
UOIT Forensic Science
Program

Intimate classroom sizes

Hands-on experience with instruments used in the
field

Prepared very well for work force

Different types of research currently underway

Decomposition chemistry, forensic entomology,
forensic microbiology, computer-based blood
spatter analysis
Questions?
derek.walker@mycampus.uoit.ca
Or
Laura Benninger – Forensic Science
Program Director
laura.benninger@uoit.ca
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