lecture 3 - crime scene investigation Flashcards
1
Q
defining a crime scene
A
- any place where a crime has been committed
2
Q
different ways to classify a crime scene
A
- location of original criminal activity
- size of other crime scene
- other
3
Q
primary and secondary crime scenes
A
- primary is original site of criminal activity
- secondary is any subsequent location
4
Q
macroscopic vs microscopic
A
- macro refers to overall crime scene
- micro usually refers to trace evidence or “smaller” scenes within the overall
5
Q
the crime scene expands and changes as the evidence dictates
A
- type of crime committed
- physical location of crime
- crime scene condition
- type of criminal behaviour associated with scene
6
Q
importance of physical evidence and 3 major avenues available to investigators:
A
- confessions
- eyewitness accounts
- physical evidence
7
Q
what is physical evidence free from?
A
- inherent error or bias
8
Q
how can physical evidence help with crime scene reconstruction? (7)
A
- link a system with a victim or crime scene
-establish identity of persons associated with crime scene - corroborate or refute testimony
- be more reliable than testimony
- provide investigative leads
- identify unknown substances
- prove a crime was committed
9
Q
product rule and probability
A
- states the probability of two independent events occurring together can be calculated by multiplying the individual probabilities of each event occurring alone
10
Q
principles of crime scene investigation are critical in helping: (4)
A
- recognize
- preserve
-collect - and interpret physical evidence
11
Q
lead investigator (often most experienced) and responsible for managing
A
- information
- what is leaving the scene
- where is all information going
- personnel
- technology
- logistics
12
Q
maintaining what among all personnel is critical?
A
- good communication
13
Q
first responder
A
- first person at scene of crime
- only people to view crime scene in its most original and pristine condition
14
Q
duties of first responder
A
- assist the victim and prevent changes to victim
- search for and arrest suspect if still there
- detain witnesses and keep them separate from each other and do not let them go back to scene
- protect and secure crime scene
- document everything
15
Q
crime scene survey
A
- preliminary scene survey is the first examination or orientation of the crime scene by CSI
16
Q
crime scene survey guidelines?
A
- use the walk through as mental beginning for reconstruction theory
- note any evidence that needs immediate protection/processing
- be aware of impending weather conditions that could affect scene
- note possible points of entry/exit
- briefly record 5W’s
- assess scene to determine what personnel/equipment is required
- transient evidence
- condition evidence
17
Q
crime scene documentation
A
- single most important task is generating a permanent record of the scene and its physical evidence
- must document everything!!!
18
Q
4 major documentation tasks
A
- note taking
- video
- photography
- sketches
19
Q
note taking
A
- effective notes serve as important written record
- general guideline for taking notes is to consider the 5W’s
20
Q
good notes include
A
- notification information (date, time, etc.)
- arrival information (date time who)
- scene description (weather, location)
- victim description (positions, wounds, etc)
- crime scene team
21
Q
videography
A
- has now become routine procedure
- can provide virtual image of scene
- should be performed after crime scene survey
- should not include members of team
- should not be narrated at the scene
- **not a substitute for the other document tasks
22
Q
photo
A
- provides true and accurate pictorial record of crime scene and physical evidence present
- normally performed immediately after videography or preliminary scene search
- number of photographs vary from scene to scene
- must be recorded in photo log
23
Q
what is included in photo log
A
- time taken
- camera settings used
- distance to object,
- type of photograph
- brief description of image
24
Q
sketching
A
- final documentation task
- must obtain and record accurate measurements of the scene
- all previous tasks do not have any information about the objects actual size or measurement
- provides proper perspective of scene and how physical evidence relates to scene
25
rough sketch vs final
- rough is taken at scene and done by hand, has measurements
- final is cleaned up and used for court
26
4 main type of search methods
- spiral
- strip
- grid
- zone
27
spiral search
- begins in middle of area and follows clockwise pattern outward, or can do inward
- very effective small interior scene searches
- requires one person
- there is potential to miss evidence as perimeter increases and is hard to do perfect spiral
28
strip search
- group of ppl begin at one end and walk down the strip in linear fashion
- used for large outdoor crime scene
- good for when boundaries well defined
- area only searched once so can miss evidence
29
grid
- searchers begin at one end and proceed in line to end of search area. then searchers cover same area from 90 degree angle
- second pair of eyes searching
- takes longer than other methods
30
zone search
- search area broken down into zones and each zone is searched individually
- useful in small confined areas
- useful in complex scenes
31
ray search
- searches start at common/central point and walk away from each other
- good for large outdoor areas
- not often used as a lot can be missed in the gaps
32
collection and preservation
- extremely important
- evidence must be collected, packaged, marked, sealed and preserved in consistent manner
- transient, fragile and lost evidence is given priority
33
what are containers marked with
- date and time
- when time collected
- location item was found
- seal is initialed by collector
34
chain of custody
- want the chain to be small
- list of all people who came into possession of an item of evidence
- unbroken chain must be established to get piece of evidence presented in court of law
