Test #2

Question 1

What happens at a crime scene? PT 1

Answer 1

1. The First Responding Officer arrives at the scene and…
   - Check the victim and call the ambulance if needed
   - Secure the scene (most important)
   - Catch any suspects
   - Interview witnesses
   - Report to higher ups about the incident

Question 2

What happens at a crime scene? PT 2

Answer 2

2. Next the criminal investigators and police officers come to the scene. Criminal investigators…
   - Gather information
   - Search, document, collect, and preserve any evidence where the chain of custody needs to be maintained (documenting is most important!!)
   - Conduct field test and reconstruct the sequence of events

Question 3

Primary Crime Scene

Answer 3

Where the criminal act occurred (can be indoor or outdoor)

Question 4

Secondary Crime Scene

Answer 4

Where the body was dumped and anywhere evidence was found (there can be several secondary scenes) + (can be indoor or outdoor)

Question 5

Types of Crimes

Answer 5

Murder & Robbery

Question 6

Condition of Crime Scenes

Answer 6

Organized or disorganized & active or passive

Question 7

What do CSI teams do?

Answer 7

• Discover the nature and patterns of the crime & the different types of physical evidence left behind

Question 8

Questions to Think About at a Crime Scene

Answer 8

1. Who did it?
2. How did they do it?
3. Why did they do it?
4. When and where was the crime committed?

Question 9

Steps in Surveying a Crime Scene

Answer 9

• Lead investigators and case officers conduct a “walk through” of the crime scene trying to answer: Who? What? Where? When? How? Why?

Question 10

Documenting the Crime Scene: Notetakings

Answer 10

• Time and date of the investigations
• When investigators arrive and who was already there
• Description of the weather, smells, location, and other detailed of the crime scene
• Description of victim (clothes, position, and wounds)
• Other observations like broken windows, stains on a carpet etc.

Question 11

Documenting the Crime Scene: Videotaping

Answer 11

• Allows investigators to review the video evidence with advanced tech
• No vocal commentary
• The video should include a view of the crime from the POV of the victim

Question 12

Documenting the Crime Scene: Photography

Answer 12

• Must be done after videotaping
• Provides a visual record of the crime and evidence
• Take a lot of pictures of everything!!!!
• Something might become important later
• Nothing should be touched or altered or the evidence will be inadmissible in court

Question 13

Documenting the Crime Scene: Drawing diagrams

Answer 13

• Show spatial relationship of objects
• Hard to get scale in photography
• Relates rooms together

Question 14

What does physical evidence say about a crime?

Answer 14

• How a crime was committed
• MO (Mode of Operation) of a particular crime
• Tells how people, objects, and places are linked together
• Identifies unknown substances at the scene
• Provides leads and help reconstruct what happened during a crime

Question 15

Patterns of Looking for Physical Evidence: Grid

Answer 15

• Multiple people are involved
• Each person walks in a straight line so that every part of the room is covered and searched

Question 16

Patterns of Looking for Physical Evidence: Inward Spiral

Answer 16

• A single investigator is going towards the center then walks around in a spiral pattern so every section is touched moving inward

Question 17

Patterns of Looking for Physical Evidence: Outward Spiral

Answer 17

• Used at a larger scene where a single investigator will go towards the center then walks around in a spiral pattern so every section is touched moving outward

Question 18

Patterns of Looking for Physical Evidence: Parallel

Answer 18

• A group of investigators move in a straight line together

Question 19

Patterns of Looking for Physical Evidence: Zone

Answer 19

• A group of investigators will search at different viewpoints in order to get a general idea scene

Question 20

Seven S Method: Secure the Scene

Answer 20

First Responding Officers:

A: Approach the scene ensuring that there aren’t any hazards and identify the different individuals to survey what’s going on the scene
R: Render First Aid (Safety is everything!!)
I: Identify other victims, witnesses, and possible suspects
S: Secure the crime scene setting boundaries so nothing and no ones leaves or enters that’s unauthorized
N: Notify appropriate authorities

Question 21

Seven S Method: Separate the Witnesses

Answer 21

• Witnesses should not be speaking to one another
• This prevents them from working together to create a story aka a collusion

Question 22

Seven S Method: Scan the Scene

Answer 22

• Scan the scene to see where photos should be taken
• Identify Primary and Secondary Scenes

Question 23

Seven S Method: See the Scene

Answer 23

The Photography Unit takes photos of the:
- overall area to see relationships between evidence to the crime
- close-up photos with and without a ruler to show the scale of the evidence

(see previous notes on photography)

Question 24

Seven S Method: Sketching the Scene

Answer 24

• North is labeled and scale of distance is included
• All object are measured from 2 immovable landmarks; measurements must be exact
• Any other objects nearby should be included in the sketch
• Key aka legend of characters must be included
• Date, time, location, type of crime, case #, and names of sketcher and verifier must also be included
• Final sketch is made later

Question 25

Seven S Method: Searching for Evidence

Answer 25

• Systematic patterns ensure no area is left unsearched: light is used to find hairs/fibers, vacuum cleaners suck all evidence/traces, and flashlights & forceps reduce picking up unnecessary material

(Refer to Patterns of Looking for Physical Evidence)

Question 26

Seven S Method: Securing and Collecting the Evidence

Answer 26

• All evidence must be properly packaged, sealed, and labeled using specific techniques and procedures.
• Packaging evidence avoids contamination, breakage, evaporation, scratching, and bending keeping the evidence in its original condition. All items should be in separate containers to prevent damage and cross-contamination.
• Metal or plastic forceps are used to pick up small items
• Plastic pill bottles are used for hairs, glass, fibers, and trace evidence
• Airtight and unbreakable containers are used for liquids and arson remains to avoid evaporation
• Biologicals are breathable containers are dry and avoid mold contamination
• Air-dried evidence is packages into a paper bindle (druggist’s fold) then placed in a paper or plastic container then taped and signed by collector

Question 27

Chain of Custody

Answer 27

Document that contains:
- Case #
- Item inventory #
- Description of the evidence
- Name of suspect
- Names of victim
- Date and time of recovery
- Signature of person recovering evidence
- Signature of any witnesses present during collection

All people who come in contact with a piece of evidence must document it!!

Question 28

Prosecutor

Answer 28

Prosecutors are government representatives who work in criminal cases that investigate and prosecute criminals in order to ensure that justice is being served. They work in law enforcement agencies.

Question 29

Forensic Toxicologist

Answer 29

Forensic Toxicologists are people who study toxins and poisons that enter the body and how they affect the human body. They work in labs.

Question 30

Forensic Nurse

Answer 30

Forensic Nurses are people who care for victims and help provide evidence, assess patients, and provide emotional and psychological support. They work in hospitals and medical examiners offices.

Question 31

Forensic Psychologist

Answer 31

Forensic Psychologists are people who study criminal behavior and connect psychology to law. They work in rehabs, prisons, and law enforcement agencies.

Question 32

Coroner

Answer 32

Coroners are people who determine the cause of death of sudden deaths that have happened. They work in medical examiner’s offices and coroners offices.