Crime Scene Management Flashcards
Define crime.
An act punishable by law.
Define crime scene.
Any place where an act has taken place that is contrary to the law.
Define manage
2
- To take charge or care of
- To handle, direct, govern, or control in action or in use
Are all “scenes” crime scenes?
No
Give example of scenes a forensic investigator may be called to that aren’t crimes.
3
- Motor vehicle collision
- Sudden death
- Suicide
Other than the police, what agencies might get involved in a scene examination?
4
- Chief Coroner for the Province of ON
- Office of the Fire Marshal
- Ministry of Labour
- Special INvestigations Unit
What is the Special Investigations Unit?
Agency that watches over the police, protecting against misuse of power and illegal behaviour.
Why do we need to manage crime scenes?
4
- Allow full investigation
- Proper documentation of evidence
- Collection of physical evidence
- Admissibility in court
What is the main objective of crime scene management?
Safety of public and first responders
What is one of the most important aspects of securing a crime scene?
Preserving the scene with minimal contamination and disturbance of physical evidence.
What types of things should initial responding officer(s) remain observant of when first responding to a crime scene?
5
- People
- Vehicles
- Events
- Potential evidence
- Environmental conditions
Give examples of individuals/organizations a first responding officer might contact to assess the safety of a crime scene.
5
- Electrical
- Structural engineer
- Fire hazard
- Chemicals
- Explosive risk
How should a scene be treated until proven otherwise?
As a crime scene
What is the next responsibility of the initial responding officer(s) after controlling any dangerous situations or persons?
Ensure medical attention is provided to injured persons while minimizing contamination of the scene.
What is the role of the initial responding officer(s) in terms of people present at a scene?
Shall identify persons at the crime scene and control their movement.
What should be kept in mind when establishing the boundaries of a crime scene?
Understand that the boundaries can be reduced in size if necessary but cannot be as easily expanded.
List some methods for establishing crime scene boundaries.
6
- Police barrier tape
- Police cars and equipment
- Officers
- Natural existing barriers
- Buildings
- Seals
What does briefing the investiagtors taking charge assist in?
Controlling the crime scene and helps establish further investigative responsibilities.
What must be done regarding all activities conducted and observations made at a crime scene?
Must be documented as soon as possible
List factors that could alter a scene.
9
- Weather
- Media
- Bystanders
- First responders
- Witnesses
- Victims/family
- Sun
- Temperature
- Wildlife
What does assessment of the scene by the investigator(s) in charge allow for?
3
- Determination of type of incident to be investigated
- Level of investigation to be conducted
- Resources required
List some roles of the investigator(s) in charge.
5
- Identify specific responsibilities
- Share preliminary information
- Develop investigative plans in accordance with departmental policy and local, Provincial and Federal laws
- Conduct a walk-through
- Determine team composition
What is the purpose of a scene walk through?
3
- Provide overview of scene
- Identifies any threats to scene integrity
- Ensures protection of physical evidence
Aside from the investigator(s) in charge, who should be present during a scene walk through?
Individuals responsible for processing the scene.
Who ensures documentation of the scene, according to policy?
Investigator(s) in charge
What is the purpose of prioritizing the collection of evidence?
3
Prevent loss, destruction or contamination
Who determines the order in which evidence is collected?
The investigator(s) in charge and team members
What is the ideal order of evidence collection?
Outside in, least destructive to most destructive.
What types of things shall team members ensure regarding evidence?
4
Effective collection, preservation, packaging and transport of evidence.
List some things to consider at a crime scene.
8
- Safety
- Security
- Preservation/integrity of evidence
- Proper documentation and collection techniques
- Proper handling and storage of evidence
- Retention for future analysis and storage
- Prosecution and court considerations
What is the name of the principle that helps to ensure a successful scene examination?
LOSER Principal
Define the LOSER Principle?
Listen
Observe
Search
Evaluate
Record
Who should be listened to at a crime scene?
5
- Victims
- Witnesses
- Suspect
- Front line personnel
- Communications operator
What should be observed at a crime scene?
The scene
What should be searched at a crime scene?
Evidence, victims
What is meant by evaluating a crime scene?
Looking at what you’ve listened to, observed and evaluated to see if it all adds up.
What could be indicated if there are inconcsistencies in what you’ve heard, observed and searched?
4
- Tampering
- Natural processes altered scene
- Lying
- Procedural error in evidence collection
How can a scene be recorded?
3
- Notes
- Photos
- Video
What are the two distinct zones of a crime scene?
- Primary/hot zone
- Secondary/warm zone
Describe the primary/hot zone of a crime scene.
3
Zone of greatest interest and usually where event took place. Physical and trace evidence most likely compromised by non-forensic personnel.
Describe the secondary/warm zone of a crime scene.
2
Larger perimeter surrounding primary zone. Generally where line tape located as barrier to signify crime scene perimeter.
List ways that the security of a crime scene can be maintained.
7
- Physical presence
- Police line tape
- Police evidence/security seals
- Locks and barriers
- Evidence logs
- Tamper proof property evidence bags
- Check-in officer
Who is charged with securing and protecting the scene?
Scene security officer
What is the path of contamination?
An establshed route in and out of the crime scene that results in the least amount of scene degredation.
What must be done regarding any changes made to the scene prior to FIS arrival?
Must be explained and justified
How can we protect against change at a crime scene?
4
- Scene security
- Minimize contact
- Follow LOSER principle
- Be creative - be cognizant of how your efforts may protect or compromise evidence
List some vehicle-specific crime scene management techniques.
4
- Treat the same as any other scene
- Consider the path to the vehicle
- Tow to police garage for expert exam under seal
- Dry before commencing exam
How long can a crime scene be held for?
Hours, days, weeks
Who determines the breakdown of a scene?
Case manager
What should be done before releasing a crime scene?
2
- Final walkthrough by investigators
- Ensure proper cleanup
Define evidence.
Refers to anything that can give or substantiate information in a legal investigation.
Define testimonial evidence.
Witnesses who testify, provide knowlesge or information concerning the case.
List the two types of testimonial evidence.
- Direct
- Indirect
What is indirect testimonial evidence?
Beyond the scene, did not witness the crime.
What is direct testimonial evidence?
Witnessed the crime or are the victim
List the different types of evidence.
- Testimonial
- Physical
Define physical evidence.
Evidence that can be seen, touched, extracted and exhibited.
List the different types of physical evidence.
7
- Associative
- Class
- Electronic
- Latent
- Trace
- Indicative
- Circumstantial
Define associative evidence.
Any evidence that places an individual at a scene and/or with a victim.
Define class evidence.
Evidence that requires classification into a more narrow range.
Define electronic evidence.
Information and data transmitted and/or stored in any electronic device
Define latent evidence.
Any evidence that is not visible without the use of chemical, photographic or electronic development/enhancement.
Define trace evidence.
Evidence that has to be extracted from another substance and is in very small amounts, often invisible to the naked eye.
Define indicative evidence.
Evidence that substantiates or proves that a certain period of time has elapsed.
Define circumstantial evidence.
Facts, observations, activities from which the culpability of an individual may be inferred.
List different types of conclusions that can be inferred from circumstantial evidence.
5
- Motive
- Opportunity
- Means, capacity and skills
- Post-offence conduct
- State of mind
What does physical evidence show?
5
- That a crime has been committed
- Key elements of the crime
- Link suspect with scene and/or victim
- Corroborate statements
- Exonerate the innocent
Give examples of physical evidence.
4
- Fingerprints
- Footwear
- Firearms, other weapons
- Tool mark impressions
give examples of trace evidence
- Blood
- Hair and fibres
- Semen
- Epithelial cells
- Vaginal secretions
- Accelerants
- Saliva
- GSR
