Chapter 2: Crime-Scene Investigation and Evidence Collection
Student Learning Objectives
Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations, 2nd ed., Bertino & Bertino, 2015
At the conclusion of this chapter, the student should be able to do:
Crime-Scene Investigation
____ 1. Describe the primary role of each of the following members of an investigative
team:
a. Law-enforcement officer
b. Crime-scene investigator
c. Detective
d. Medical examiner or coroner
e. Specialists
____ 2. Differentiate between the duties of a crime-scene investigator and a detective.
____ 3. Describe and discuss the top two priorities of a first responder at a crime scene.
____ 4. Distinguish between a primary and a secondary crime scene and provide
examples of each.
____ 5. Summarize the main duties for each person involved in the seven steps of crimescene investigation.
a. Secure the scene.
b. Separate the witnesses.
c. Scan the scene.
d. See the scene.
e. Sketch the scene.
f. Search for evidence.
g. Secure, collect, and document evidence.
____6. Describe and give specific examples of how failing to secure the crime scene can
lead to contamination of the evidence collected.
____7. Explain the rationale for separating witnesses at a crime scene.
____8. List several types of questions that an investigator might ask a witness to a crime.
____9. Distinguish between scanning a crime scene and seeing the crime scene.
____10. Demonstrate how evidence location is recorded using the process of
triangulation.
____11. Elaborate on the idea of “seeing the scene.” Include in your answer:
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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a. The types of photos that need to be taken of the crime scene
b. The importance of a ruler being placed in the photo
c. The reason for taking close-up and distance photos
d. The importance of taking photos showing triangulation of evidence
____ 12. Explain the role of a datum point in crime scenes. Include in your answer:
a. Define a datum point.
b. Provide examples of items that could be used as datum points.
c. How are datum points used when mapping a crime scene?
____13. Summarize how a crime-scene is designated. Include in your answer:
a. How the location and size of the collection area is determined
b. The role of the datum point
c. How the four corners of the collection site are defined and positioned
using a compass
d. How the subdatum points are determined
____14. Distinguish between datum and subdatum points and provide examples of each.
____15. Explain how a rough sketch of the crime scene is drawn. Include in your answer:
a. How to use at least two immovable landmarks when measuring any objects
b. How direction should be indicated on the sketch
c. The role of using a scale on the sketch to indicate relative distance.
d. What other objects should be included in the rough sketch
a. What information should be written on the sketch
_____ 16. Compare and contrast the various search patterns and the number of people
involved, and indicate when each type of search pattern would be most
effective.
a. Spiral
b. Grid
c. Linear
d. Quadrant
_____ 17. Identify and describe methods used to document a crime scene.
_____ 18. Elaborate on the role of technology in documenting a crime scene.
Evidence at the Crime Scene
_____ 19. Summarize Locard’s Principle of Exchange and explain its significance in
forensics.
_____20. Identify four examples of trace evidence.
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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_____21. List at least four examples of materials that could be transferred from a crime
scene to a suspect.
_____ 22. List at least four items of materials that could be transferred from a suspect to a
crime scene.
_____ 23. Explain how the intensity, duration, and nature of the materials in contact with
each other can affect the extent of the transfer.
____ 24. Distinguish between physical and biological evidence and describe several
examples of each type.
_____ 25. Compare and contrast class evidence and individual evidence and provide an
example of each.
_____ 26. Distinguish between direct and circumstantial evidence and provide an
example of each.
_____ 27. Evaluate which form of evidence is more likely to lead to a conviction: direct
or circumstantial.
_____ 28. Analyze a crime scene: locate, photograph, and document all evidence.
Evidence Collection
_____ 29. Demonstrate proper technique in collecting and packaging trace evidence.
_____ 30. Compare and contrast the methods of collecting and packaging:
a. Liquids and arson remains
b. Moist biological evidence such as blood, saliva, and semen
c. Dry evidence
d. Toxic substances
_____ 31. Describe how to make a paper bindle and package evidence in one.
_____ 32. List and describe the information that must appear on an evidence log.
_____ 33. Describe how the exact location of the evidence is documented within the
evidence collection site.
_____ 34. Describe how an evidence bag is opened and resealed as different technicians
examine the evidence in order to maintain the chain of custody.
_____ 35. Explain the importance of the chain of custody of evidence.
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_____ 36. Provide examples of how different types of evidence from a crime scene are
analyzed using both technology and observation.
_____ 37. Analyze how the evidence examiners on television programs such as CSI
process evidence as compared to the procedures outlined in this chapter.
_____ 38. Describe how a detective will try to reconstruct a crime scene using the
documented evidence and any eyewitness accounts of the crime.
_____ 39. Elaborate on how detectives evaluate whether a crime has been staged.
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Forensic Science Fundamentals & Investigations, Bertino & Bertino
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