Chapter 3 Flashcards
The contributions of physical evidence to an investigation are diminished primarily by:
The inability, unwillingness, or failure to locate, properly collect, mark, and preserve the evidence, and by the drawing of improper conclusions of its analysis.
When officials fail to prevent or cannot deal effectively with crime, other problems are created: (4)
- Future illegal acts are encouraged
- Resources that could be devoted to other social problems are diverted to deal with rising crime
- Public confidence in government faces a crisis
- It tears the fabric of social relations and living patterns
The investigative process has the following 4 objectives:
- To establish that a crime was actually committed.
- To identify and apprehend the suspect(s).
- To recover stolen property.
- To assist in the prosecution of the person(s) charged with the crime.
The most important skill of the investigator is the ability to:
Converse equally well with a wide range of people
This is essential because much of what we learn during an investigation comes from people
This reasoning moves from the specific details to a general view. It uses the factual situation of a case to a form a unified and logically consistent explanation of the crime.
Inductive
This reasoning creates a hypothesis about the crime. The explanation is tested against the factual situation.
Deductive
Normally the primary investigation is conducted by a uniformed officer from the patrol division and consists of the following seven steps: (7)
1) Receipt of information, Initial Response, and Officer Safety Procedures
2) Emergency Care
3) Secure scene and Control person and evidence
4) Issue a Be-On-The-Lookout (BOLO)
5) Conduct Neighborhood and Vehicle Canvass
6) Administrative Procedures for Processing Crime Scenes
7) the Incident/Offense Report
In assessing the scene, use all of your senses: look, listen, smell.
Be alert for: (3)
1) The possibility that violence is still going-on.
2) Dangers for “ordinary”people.
3) Dangers from special hazards.
One or more plainclothes investigators may also come to the scene, depending on the severity of the crime. If they do, the first responding officer has the following crime scene turnover responsibilities: (4)
1) briefing the personal taking charge,
2) assisting in controlling the scene,
3) turning over responsibility for starting another crime scene entry log, and
4) remaining at the scene until relieved.
The public thinks success is when the perpetrator is arrested and convicted. However, police consider success in two additional ways: (2)
1) “Clear by Exceptional Means”, meaning the police can demonstrate who committed the crime, but for any other reasons can not pursue the case further
2) “Clear by Arrest”, meaning that the perpetrator has been arrested and there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against him/her.
The fundamental assumption on which crime scene searches rest is the
_____________________: there is something to be found.
Locard’s Principle
Criminal incidents may have more than one crime scene. The primary scene is the location where the initial offense was committed; the locations of all other subsequent connected events are called:
Secondary scenes
This scene is the “large view”. It includes things such as the relevant locations(s), the victim(s), and the suspects’as bodies, cars and buildings.
Macroscopic Scene
This scene consists of the specific objects and pieces of evidence that are associated with the commission of the crime including knives, bite marks, hairs and fibers, shoe and tire impressions, cigar butts, blood and so on.
Microscopic Scene
Crime scene investigation is purposeful behavior and is intended to accomplish the following nine objectives: (9)
1) Establish what happen
2) Determine the sequence of events
3) Find out what the suspects did or did not do
4) Establish the modus operandi
5) Determine what property was stolen and what articles were left by the suspect
6) Note inconsistencies
7) Locate and interview witnesses
8) Document and recover physical evidence
9) Provide investigative leads
The work at the crime scene is divided into three major functions: (3)
1) overall coordination of the scene
2) Forensic services
3) investigative services
Evidence located in areas that are”Open-View” to the public are ordinarily processed first and then the out of view areas.
The Open View rule is especially important when:
Bodies are in plain sight because common talk and potential news media photography will cause family members and friends great pain.
A variety of factors shape the initial plan for processing crime scenes, which may need revisions in light of new information/developments.
Among these factors are these:
1) Remote or difficult terrain
2) physical hazards that in peril crime scene technicians (ie: downed power lines etc)
3) a hostile crowd
4) human remains that are widely scattered cause of animal predation
5) weather conditions
6) potential presence of chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear weapons and agents
7) the presence of dangerous chemicals and vapors (ie meth labs)
8) limited personnel or the availability of additions, personnel
9) infectious disease risks
Types of Evidence
There are three broad categories of evidence in which investigators have a particular interest: (3)
1) Corpus delicti
2) Associative
3) Tracing
Each criminal offense contains a distinct set of elements whose commission or omission must be demonstrated to have in order to prove a case ____________________substantiates these elements.
Corpus Delecti Evidence
This evidence is bidirectional in that it connects the perpetrator to the scene or victim, or connects the scene or victim to the suspect.
Associative Evidence
The identification and location of the suspect are the goals of this evidence; corpus delicti and associative evidence may also serve these purposes.
Tracing Evidence
Rules for the Crime Scene Investigator
Regardless of the type of crime involved 5 fundamental rules must be observed: (5)
1) Maintain Control
2) Conceptualize Events
3) Proceed with Caution
4) Apply Inclusiveness
5) Maintain Documentation
The arrest of a news media worker at a crime scene should be made only upon:
The most serious provocation and with full awareness of the adverse publicity that is certain to follow for the police department.
News media personnel may photograph or report:
anything that they observe while legally at a crime scene or covering any other incident involving the police.
When suspects have been interviewed but not arrested, their identities should not be disclosed. It is appropriate for the crime scene coordinator to GENERALLY describe to reporters the:
1) physical evidence found at the scene
2) proceeds of the crime
3) weapons involved
4) issuance of warrants