Defining a crime scene: Flashcards
T or F: once the incident is reported, first responders are called through a three tiered dispatch system.
True
Who asses the crime scene first?
Responding officer (Constable)
- Also ensures the management of the scene (crucial for integrity of the scene).
What are the five steps of crime investigation:
- Crime reported, first responders dispatched.
- Responding 1st officer (uniformed), performs assessment and decides on immediate action and services scene
- If there’s a deceased= death scene (coroner is called)
- The ranking officer arrives and manages the scene
- CSI consults the Ranking upon arrival.
What are the three types of officers involved in types of officers?
- Uniformed
- Ranking
- Detective
Uniformed:
“Constable”
- Responds to emergency calls
- Assumes initial control of the scene until the Ranking officer arrives.
- Specifically establishes an inner and outer
Ranking:
“Sergeant”
- Supervises constables
- Assumes control of scene until ranking CSI arrives
Detective:
“Criminal investigator”
- Police officer (any rank) for crime investigator
- Conducts/manages investigations to prepare case (court).
CSI In Canada is also called . . .
Forensic identification officer
To become a a Forensic identification officer you must . . .
- A sworn officer
- Become a Soco (scene of crime officer)
- Become an identification officer
- Spend time in the central investigation bureau
T or F: Depending on the crime, 1-2 I.D officer
True
How many officers are in a death investigation?
Death investigation (2 I.D officers)
- Lead FSC investigator
- Less experienced FSC investigator
What are other types of people who work on a crime scene:
Civilian, FSC I.D assistant
Civillian:
Someone who hasn’t completed formal police training and is not sworn.
FSC I.D assistant:
Assist officer (process evidence)
- Toronto: crime scene support techs require FSC backgrounds
Forensic scientists in Canada:
- Evidence submitted to a crime lab, by CSI
- Enters case recipient unit
- Exhibits tagged “Computerized monitoring systems”
What did acomputerized monitoring system allows . . .
- Where evidence is
- Who has it
- How far the analysis (proceed)
T of F: Exhibits go to ERU (Evidence Recovery Unit)
True
Who collects Exhibits?
CRO personnel
Other areas of Forensics . . .
- Forensic Biology
- Forensic Toxicologist
- Forensic Chemist
- Forensic Firearm examination
- Forensic Questioned Document examiner
Forensic Biologist:
Analyze Biomaterial (semen, blood, ect)
- Human/non-human and DNA analysis
Min honours degree: Bio/Biochem/molecular bio (most have grad degree)
Forensic Toxicologist:
Determine the presence/amount of toxins)
- Determine Physiological effects
- Min honours B.Sc (most grad degrees) Bio-chem/pharmacology/physiology/chem
Forensic Chemist: “Trace evidence specialist”
- Analyze non-bio evidence (Trace evidence, substances)
- What substance is/what are its chem continents and elements
- Min honours B.SC (most grad degrees)
Forensic Firearm Exam: not ballistics
- Analysis (tool marks, tools, firearm, and ammunition)
- Phys matching of tool and suspect mark
- Min honours B. Sc (engineering, and physics)
Forensic Questioned document examiner:
- Documents that contain (Letters, numbers, and symbols) don’t express meaning or authorship
- Analyze/compare handwriting
- Examine document alterations (Where document comes from)
- Min honours B.Sc (chem)
Investigative ethics:
Outlined by organizations
- CSI/FSC work (facts)
- Professional ethics and intengrity are essential
Ethics:
“Moral principled that govern a persons behaviour or the conducts at an activity”
What are the three most important factors within investigative ethics?
Objectivity, Honesty, and Openness
Objectivity:
Discover truth regardless of how (may/may not) affect legal outcome.
Honesty:
Tells the Truth, avoids distortion of facts and misinterpretation.
Opennesses:
Be open (criticism) be transparent
T or F: error and bias can be made at any time
True
Errors and Bias:
Error can be made at any point
- may affect validity (established in conclusion)
- May lead to flawed understanding events
Types of error:
Ethics (Violation), and honest error
Cognitive bias:
- May also be a factor in error
- Broad term that includes (Variety of processes that may lead to inaccurate judgements)
T or F: cognitive bias may affect memory, reasoning, and decision
True
Type of Bias:
Confirmation, and Context
Bias may result in . . .
Miscarriage of Justice, and loss of public confidence
