Transcript Crime Scene Preservation

Crime Scene
Preservation
For Search and Rescue
Objectives
• What is a crime scene
• Overview of investigation and forensics
• Learn basic crime scene preservation
techniques for response (R.E.S.P.O.N.D.)
The Crime Scene
• The physical location where an event took
place.
• The physical location from which most
physical evidence associated with the
crime will be obtained.
• Multiple scenes!
• Indoor/Outdoor.
Crime Scene Timelines
• Jill Behrman
– MAY 31, 2000: The 19-year-old Indiana University
freshman disappears while bicycling on
Bloomington's southeast side.
– On April 18, 2001, police said they believed Behrman
may have been hit by a passing vehicle and that
her body and bicycle were removed from the
scene.
– Early in April, 2002, investigators began searching
Salt Creek, about six miles from where they theorized
Behrman was struck by a vehicle.
– The search of Salt Creek was ended in September,
2002.
– On March 9, 2003, skeletal remains were found by a
turkey hunter and his son in a Morgan County field.
– Four days later, after comparing Behrman's dental
records with the teeth found at the scene,
investigators confirmed that Behrman's remains had
been found.
Protocol
• An accepted guideline for performing a
task.
• A process that is recognized by review of
peers.
• A method that attempts to lessen
disorganization, incompleteness,
slovenliness, and intelligibility.
Crime Scene Investigation (overview)
• Investigation
– “A criminal investigation is the reconstruction of
a past event.” – Professor Ralph F. Turner,
Michigan State University.
– An investigation includes crime scene work,
participants information, follow-up, information
and evidence analysis and evaluation,
information management, theory building and
testing, and testimony.
Criminalistics
• The discovery, documentation, collection.
storage, examination, analysis, and
interpretation of evidence.
• “..the science of individualization..” Paul L.
Kirk
• Chemistry, firearms, tool marks, questioned
documents, fingerprints, photography, lie
detection, statement analysis, bloodstain
analysis, entomology, paleontology,
archaeology, botany, serial number
restoration
Forensic Medicine
• The discovery, documentation, collection, storage,
examination, analysis, and interpretation of
medical evidence.
• Pathology, odontology, psychiatry, toxicology,
anthropology, serology, neurology, radiology.
Basic Forensic Terminology
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Morphology: structure.
Minutia: small detail or artifact.
Striation: marks
Impression: surface alteration
Class characteristics: belonging to a group.
Individual characteristics: in a class of one,
unique.
• Identification: sharing a common source.
• Identity: positive match, individual.
Forensics
• Forensics - the ability through physical
evidence and modern technology, to
speak for someone who can not speak or
will not speak
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ie: victim is deceased
victim is frightened, withdrawn, intimidated
victim is a child
defendant invokes 5th ammendment
• Forensic Evidence - that which tends to
prove or disprove any matter in question
Forensics
• Functions of Forensic/Crime Scene Units
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prove that a particular crime was committed
corroboration of victim/witness accounts
corroboration of defendant’s confession
support leads/theories through physical evidence
show physical evidence in court - Set the Stage
First Responder Crime Scene
Training for Search and Rescue
First Responder Crime Scene
Training for Search and Rescue
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R
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RESPOND
EVALUATE
SECURE
PROTECT
OBSERVE
NOTIFY
DOCUMENTATION
Respond
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Approach (victim found)
Personal Safety (survey the scene)
Observations (do not get tunnel vision)
Identifying the Scene (could this be a crime
scene)
Evaluate
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Responder’s Safety - In Progress
Suspect(s), witness, victims
First Aid, Bio/Chemical, haz-mat, SWAT
Weapons
Fire, Gas, Electric
Gloves and other PPE
TIME TO TAKE NOTES!
Notepad Content
– What have you seen?
– What have you heard?
Evaluate
• Evidence
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Obvious is apparent
Gun
Knife
Blood pools
• Trace Evidence
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Latents
Blood spatter
Hair, Fibers
Debris
Biostains
Secure
• Establish Perimeter
– Authorized personnel only
– Attendance Log
Secure
• Limit essential personnel
• Only qualified and assigned
• No family, bosses, witnesses
etc
• Use Polaroid/video in place of
direct viewing
• Escort all non-assigned
• Control all news audio/visual
and get copies
• Crowd photograph, video
Protect
• Safeguard scene
– Weather
– Animals
– Traffic
Coverups were developed to protect a wide variety of evidence at crime
scenes such as pistols, knives, shell casings etc. from being rained on,
snowed on, stepped on, moved or picked up by unauthorized personnel.
Protect
• Safeguard items within scene
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Bathrooms
Phone
ID’s, wallets, personal items
No movement of body
Transport to autopsy
No smoking, eating or drinking
If you move anything by necessity, document it
DO NOT reposition items for photographs
Observe
• Basic factors
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Time of call, arrival, narrative/description
Basic sketch when first arrived
Weather/Temperature
Doors open or locked
Lights on or off
Thermostat setting
Observe
• Vehicles
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Odometer
Registration
Gas in tank
Trip meter
Look under vehicle
Damage interior/exterior
Inventory
Stains interior/exterior
Notifications
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Incident Command
Police (probably already on scene)
Medical Examiner
District Attorney
EMT / Fire Personnel
Next of Kin
Documentation
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Attendance Log
Narrative
Sketch
Photographs with log
Evidence log
Reports
Documentation
• Write a narrative (be as descriptive as possible) of
what happened, date it and place it in a sealed
envelope.
• Put narrative in a personal file for reference.
• Narrative should flow
• Information should NOT backtrack
If you should be called to court 5 years from the
response you will have a document that contains
everything you observed, secured, and did while on
the scene. You will not be able to remember the
details and this document will be beneficial if called
to testify.
First Responder Crime Scene Training
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R.E.S.P.O.N.D
Evaluate
Secure
Protect
Observations
Notification
Documentation
Questions?