Intro and First Response Flashcards
What is Forensic Science?
-application of science to criminal and civil laws that are enforced by police agencies in a criminal justice system
What do CSI’s do?
-recognition of physical evidence
-document: notes, sketch
-collection and preservation of evidence
-conducting analysis/testing - process for prints, trajectory, bloodstain pattern analysis, etc.
-courtroom presentation
Who are CSI’s?
-can be sworn officers
-can be a civilian
-may have varying titles (crime scene analyst, crime scene specialist, evidence technician, etc.)
-employed by local, state, or federal agencies
Requirements to be a CSI
-currently no national standard
-IAI certifications - International Association for Identification
-ASCLD accreditation - American Society of crime laboratory directors/laboratory
other forensic professionals
Forensic Scientist- crime laboratory personnel
Forensic Nurse i.e. SANE Nurse
Medical Examiner / Forensic Pathologist
Other: Forensic Anthropologist, Forensic Archeologist, Forensic Botanist, Forensic Entomology, Forensic Odontologist
Who are first responders?
emergency medical personnel
firefighters
patrol officers
what does a first responder do?
-an officer will start a crime scene log/contamination sheet
-officers will set a perimeter to secure the scene
what is a crime scene log/contamination sheet?
list of people coming in and out of the scene, time, date, reason, and signature
How do you set a perimeter to secure the scene?
set beyond the initial scope of the crime scene and reduce if necessary “bigger is better”
who are the investigators?
detectives
ex: homicide/violent crimes, burglary, domestic, robbery, child abuse
who is on the forensic team?
crime scene investigators, crime scene analysts, crime scene agents, criminalists, identification technician
order of the investigative model
- crime
- first responders
- investigators
- forensic team/ crime scene unit
objectives of a first responder
-aid victims
-detain suspects
-separate witnesses
-secure scene
-communicate w/ supervisor/detective
objectives of investigators
-assess scene
-interviews: family, friends, victims, suspects, citizens
-develop flexible theory of case
-communicate with crime scene unit
objectives of forensic team
-preliminary scene survey
-evaluate resources
-document scene
-identify evidence
-collect & preserve evidence
-final scene walk-through
-communicate with detective
why CSI’s do what they do?
to establish associations using physical evidence
what is included in the forensic linkage?
crime - suspect - victim in the perimeter of triangle
evidence in the middle
what is physical evidence?
any tangible item that can be used to establish the facts of the case (corpus delicti) - body of crime
what can physical evidence help with?
-may help reveal the modus operandi (MO) method of operation
-corroborate witness statements
-identify suspect(s)
-classify materials/substances
-reconstruct the scene
-provide linkages
Locard’s Theory of Exchange
cross-contamination
first principle of Locard’s Theory
traces of the victim and the scene will be carried away by the perpetrator
second principle of Locard’s Theory
traces of the perpetrator will remain on the victim, and the victim may leave traces of himself or herself on the perpetrator
third principle of Locard’s Theory
traces of the perpetrator will be left at the scene
types of PPE
-tyvec
-goggles
-gloves
-masks
-respirators/SCBA
types of hazards
-biological, chemical, and environmental or mechanical hazards
examples of hazards
-Sharp objects- syringes, broken glass (sharps containers)
-Confined areas use mirrors and flashlights not hands
-Poisonous snakes, spiders, exotic pets
-Blood borne pathogens- Hep, HIV
-Airborne pathogens- TB
-Use biohazard bags and stickers
ratio of water to bleach to decontaminate
1:10 bleach/water solution
