crime scene management Flashcards
what skills and techniques are needed in homicide cases?
- photography and video
- notes
- autopsy
- exhibits
- sketches & drawings
T/F: most homicides are readily apparent.
true
what system are homicide investigations in Ontario required to follow?
MCM: major case management system
what is the MCM?
case-management methodology emphasizing accountability and a multi-disciplinary approach to investigations
- comprises centralized coordinating body, investigative standards covering all areas, standardized training, and common case management technology for use by all Ontario police services
what does the MCM system facilitate?
coordination of all law enforcement agencies involved in multi-jurisdictional cases
how does the MCM help police?
- providing efficient way to keep track of, sort, and analyse huge amounts of information about a crime
- streamlining investigations
- making it so police see connections between cases
- preventing crime and reducing number of potential victims
why was the MCM made?
there was a report, Campbell Inquiry that found issues:
- lack of co-operation
- lack of communication
- need for common automated case management software
what case made the need for the MCM
Paul Bernardo
what was Bernardo’s labelled name?
Scarborough Rapist
What did Bernardo’s lawyer do to the detriment of the case?
removed video tapes showing sexual assaults of 4 women
What was the issue with Karla Homolka?
she said she was coorced and so took a deal with the police and she told them everything except she actually did it. Later found evidence proving she did it “deal with the devil”
what does the MCM actually manage?
- homicides and attempts
- sexual assaults and attempts
- non familial abductions and attempts
- suspicious missing persons
- found human remains
- criminal harassment
what are the roles of crime scene management?
- major case manager
- primary investigator
- file coordinator
- search warrant coordinator
- media liaison
- victim liaison
- scene investigator
- forensic identification officer
- field investigator
- canvass coordinator
T/F: only one individual can be assigned a crime scene management role.
false
Define a major case manager
- assumes overal responsibility for investigation
- determines direction strategies and the speed and flow of the investigation
- identifies, acquires and deploys investigative and support resources
- liases with officer of chief coroner, CFS, and representatives from other disciplines
T/F: primary investigators are assigned by the major case manager
true
which role in crime scene management will identify human and material resources required to conduct the type of investigation?
primary investigator
what is the interval of days all the roles in crime scene management have to submit exhibits and provide status reports?
every 30 days
when will a scene investigator be selected?
in every threshold major case
what are the duties of a scene investigator?
- report to primary investigator
- assess health and safety procedures of the scene
- development of investigation plan
what is included in a scene investigation plan?
- areas to be searched
- items to be searched for
- specialized investigative techniques/equipment to be employed
- sequence of examinations
- personnel requirements
- potential hazards
- legal search requirements
In every major case a ____ shall be selected and assigned by the forensic indentification supervisor
forensic identification officer
What should a forensic identification officer consider doing at major crime scenes? what is this dependant on?
consider photographing and videotaping depending on the complexity of the case and nature of the scene
when should forensic identification officers submit exhibit reports to the CFS? and where does the results of the contacts go?
every 30 days and the results of the contacts go to the command triangle
what is the command triangle?
Team Commander, Primary Investigator and File Coordinator
what are the policies and procedures of the MCM?
- initial crime scene functions
- use of experts
- search of the crime scene
- release of the crime scene
- post mortem examinations
- filing system
What are the initial crime scene functions?
- ensuring the best practices of crime scene managemnet are observed
- crime scene continutity register is maintained until crime scene is released
- in event of possible contamination personnel will be advised at the scene
- when a suspect is arrested an officer will ensure contamination is avoided
how does an officer prevent contamination after arresting a suspect during initial crime scene searches?
- in event of firearms the suspect will not be allowed to wash their hands
- clothing and footwear will be seized
- hair and biological samples may be needed for comparison purposes
what are the things officers should do in initial crime scene functions?
- officers shall exercise caution to prevent cross-contamination of multiple scenes
- officers shall whenever possible, utilize protective clothing to prevent the possible transfer of trace evidence
What is recommendation 15 in terms of scene searches?
officers conducting searches should be selected based on experience and expertise which should also have an effort to combine officers from different areas to ensure best results. A second team of searchers should be sent after first group
when might a scenes of crime officer take the duties of a identification officer?
may undertake duties of forensic identification offier in any major case other than homicide and when they are determined to be qualified for the task
What is ViCLAS?
violent crime linkage analysis system
who created ViCLAS? and who Coordinates it?
RCMP, coordinated by RCMP, QPP, and OPP
what is ViCLAS?
automated case linkage system designed to capture, collate, and compare crimes of violence
what is the investigation criteria in ViCLAS?
the same as the MCM benchmark for cases
How did ViCLAS come to be?
as a recommendation in the Campbell inquiry
