Crime Scene Procedures Flashcards
True or False: Having your equipment ready and knowing how to use it are important facets of being prepared.
True
Having your equipment ready includes…
Charging camera batteries, having gas in your vehicle, etc.
At the scene, you should be wearing…
Proper attire
At any crime scene, be sure to expect the…
Unexpected
Upon arrival to the scene, the first thing a CSI should do is…
Contact someone already on scene
When contacting someone already on scene, what 4 pieces of information should law enforcement be able to provide?
1) Exact location of the scene
2) Name(s) & condition of victim(s)
3) Any info the 1st responder has
4) Search warrant status
After contacting someone on scene, you should next…
Conduct an initial walkthrough of the scene
What 3 things should you be doing during your initial walkthrough?
1) Making a plan
2) Taking notes
3) Figuring out what equipment is necessary
What is fragile evidence?
Evidence that loses its evidentiary value if not promptly collected and preserved
Give 2 examples of fragile evidence.
1) Fibers
2) Blood in inclement weather
After the initial walkthrough, you should begin your…
Photography
Define in-situ, and explain why it is an important aspect of photography.
In-situ means “in the original place,” and it is important because photography allows the scene to be recorded and preserved in its original condition
After photography, you should begin…
Searching the scene
What is the most basic rule of thumb when searching the scene?
Stop and think about what you’re seeing
After your search, you should begin placing…
Evidence markers
When placing evidence markers, a good idea is to start at the area of most evidence and…
Working outwards from there
After placing down the evidence markers, you should do this again.
Photography
After photographing the evidence with the evidence markers, your next step is to…
Sketch the scene
After sketching the scene, you should conduct…
A more thorough search
When conducting your second, more thorough search of the scene, you will sometimes find yourself needing to collect…
Open view or already documented evidence
After the second search, you should now collect…
Evidence
What 3 bags should you have available while collecting evidence?
1) Bag for evidence
2) Bag for trash
3) “To-be-washed” bag
At the very end, after collecting your evidence, you should now conduct…
The final walkthrough
What are the 3 purposes of the final walkthrough (HINT: the 3 Ensure’s)?
1) Ensure all evidence is collected
2) Ensure no equipment is left behind
3) Ensure you don’t miss crucial info
