JS 112- Crime Scene Procedures

I. Pre class activitiesa. Quizb. Announcements and Assignmentsc. Acknowledgements

II. Crime Scene Management, First Responders and Processing the Crime- Fisher Ch 2 and Ch 5a. Management considerations- Information, Person power, Technology and Logisticsb. Role of the First Responder- Before arriving, Arrivingc. Secure and Isolate- Multilevel security Walk throughd. Recording the scene (CSI exercise)e. Communicationf. Legal Considerations and Safety

Announcements

• Next time- John Jermaine MS. Chemist ATFE Guns, Drugs and Bombs, Investigative Chemistry

• Looking ahead- Weds 03/01/10- Student led reviews- E mail summary by 02/28/10 by 1200 noon

• Monday 03/03/10- Exam I• Assignment- Read Chapters 2 and 3

Elements of Crime Scene Management

• Combined power of crime scenes, physical evidence, records and witnesses

• Use of teamwork, advanced investigative skills, ability to process the crime scene properly, recognizing, collecting and preserving all relevant physical evidence

• Effectiveness of crime scene functions are only as good as management that supports those functions

Components of an effective crime scene management system

• Information

• Person power

• Technology

• Logistics

Information management• Victim- background

– Actions and whereabouts– Belongings accounted for-anything missing– Locate family, friends and associates for recent events and how the

victim got to the scene– Motor vehicle registry

• Extended Victim Background– Business, family and personal associates identified and interviewed– Habitual behaviors– Financial affairs-credit cards, bank accounts, telephone records– Residence and personal belongings inventoried for anything

missing or out of the “norm”

Information Management• Witnesses

– Interactions with victim near time of death– Clothing, food eaten, trace material foreign biological material or

drugs taken– Find physical evidence to corroborate witness statements

• Potential Witnesses– Direct witness– First responding officer – witnesses and potential suspects, transient

or conditional evidence, eg position of the door or on/off light status– General public– Informants

Management of person power

• Allocation of personnel and training• Time, talent, resources• Scene documentation• Photography• Videotaping• Sketching• Search methods• Recognizing, collecting and preserving physical

evidence

Information Management

• Crime scene/evidence– Documentation- Photography,sketches, notes– Physical evidence-any evidence/object that can provide

useful information for investigators in solving the crime– Transient evidence- eg odors, temperatures, markings– Conditional evidence- lighting conditions, smoke or fire,

precise location of specific pieces of evidence– Pattern evidence-Imprints, indentations, striations, markings,

fractures, blood spatter, glass fracture, tire or skid mark, projectile trajectory pattern, powder or residue.

– Transfer evidence- Locard exchange principle- trace– Associative evidence- suspects wallet

Information Management

• Suspects– Background Information- like victim– Modus operandi patterns

• Databases– DNA

• CODIS – Combined DNA Index system

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/codis/index1.htmThe FBI Laboratory's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) blends

forensic science and computer technology into an effective tool for solving violent crimes. CODIS enables federal, state, and local crime labs to exchange and compare DNA profiles electronically, thereby linking crimes to each other and to convicted offenders.

Advances in DNA technology permit analysis of very small, extremely

old evidence

Information Management

• Databases– Fingerprints- Automated Fingerprint Identification system-AFIS– Many states with millions of fingerprints on file– Fingerprints can be checked with latent prints

• http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cjisd/iafis.htm

– Cartridge casing and bullets- Drugfire- IBIS• DrugFire/IBIS is a ballistic imaging system initially designed by

the FBI for use in counteracting drug and gang shootings in the early 1990’s. The FBI found that guns used in one drug related crime were often used in other crimes. A database was created that stores the unique markings found on bullets and cartridge cases.

Technology and Equipment

• Inventory equipment• Keep current in technology• Know unit limitations• Training• Equipment

– Support vehicles– Communications– Tools and search equipment– Specialized crime scene kits– Chemical and reagents– Evidence packaging materials and forms– Portable instrumentation

Management of Logistics• Command Posts• Media Relations• Inter-agency Liason• Resource allocations• Developing procedures• Selecting appropriate crime scene investigation model

– Traditional– Crime scene technicians– Scene of the crime/major crime squad– Laboratory crime scene scientist– Collaborative team approach

Forensic Laboratory Management Practices American Society of Crime Laboratory

Directors Guidelines• Provide guidelines to safeguard integrity

and objectives of criminalistics• See Fisher pp 15-20• Included are: Integrity, quality, security,

training, competency, communication, public responsibility, legal compliance, disclosure and discovery, accreditation, certification, research and ethics

CSI Crime Scene:Before Arriving- Pre-assessment

• What am I responding to?• What do I need to bring?• Who do I need to bring?• How much time will it take?• How long will it take to get there?• What has transpired at the scene?• Who has been through it?• Have you secured the scene?

CSI - Crime Scene -Arriving

• Get ID ready• Park in a place not blocking exits• Team approach- Observations to assist in determining

potential value of evidence– What has happened (in agencies eyes)?– Who has been in?– When did it happen?– What has been done? – Do we have a search warrant?– Some apparent evidence may be superfluous- eg medical treatments

can create blood/footprints

• Interview first officer on the scene

First Responder’s Duties 1• Successful resolution of the case may hinge on the actions

and stops taken by the first responder• First responder duty does not vary due to rank• Preserve the integrity of evidence• Change to the scene may occur with each contact - Locards

exchange principle: Leverite • Value of meticulous note taking• Do not approach in haste• Calm and Deliberate movements• Expect the worst- If something can go wrong it will

(Murphys law)

First Responders duties (2)• Every crime is different – not possible to set hard and fast

rules• Generally applicable

– Secure the scene:– Responsibility of the first officer on the scene to Secure and protect– Take measures to isolate the area- ropes, barricades and positioning

of guards– Authority to exclude- Scene security officer– Potential destruction of physical evidence– Logs- example from SJSU- no one in w/o authority- requiring report– Critical to the investigation

Multi-level security approach

• Level 1: Overall scene security- restriction of general public: set up special media area

• Level 2: Area security- restriction to official business- higher ranking officers and officials- Set up command post for briefings, logistics, break and rest areas

• Level 3: Target Area security- highest limited access only for crime scene investigators

First Responders duties (3)Arrest the suspect-

• Check for weapons• Do not let suspect back to scene• Document condition, injuries and behavior of suspect

Assist the victim• Injured person on the scene-administer first aid--- even if evidence lost or

destroyed

Dead body-Homicide?– Dead person- do not touch. Use a phone… not radio due to press– Summon the coroner

Record the time– Critical to the investigation– Estimate what may have happened

First Responders duties (4)• What to do until investigating personnel arrive

– Write down names of witnesses and other persons who entered the scene

– Note who was at the scene when the officer arrived– Establish the basic facts– Keep suspect and witnesses separated wherever possible– Instruct witnesses not to discuss the events– Do not discuss the crime with witnesses or bystanders– Listen attntively but unobtrusively– Protect evidence that is in danger of being destroyed

• Continued protection of the scene– No one allowed without investigators permission-GOSOKEEO

First Responder Duties (5)• Observe transient evidence

– Doors, windows, lights, shades, odors, signs of activity, date and time indicators, mail, newspapers etc.

• First officer should remain and send others to call headquarters

• Inteview/Detain witnesses• Communicate with supervisors• Report all actions, observations and changes

Legal Considerations

• Removal of any evidence from a person of from the scene of a crime in conformity with Fourth Amendment privileges:– The right of the people to be secure in their persons,

houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizure, shall not be violated and no warrants shall issue, but upon probably cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Legal Considerations• Justification of warranties searches

– Existence of emergency– Need to prevent immediate loss or destruction of evidence– Search of a person and property within the immediate control of the person

provided it is made incident to a lawful arrest– Search made by consent of the parties involved

• Message from Supreme Court-when time and circumstance permit obtain a search warrant– Mincey vs Arizona-

• Police raid on suspected drug dealer Rufus Mincey• Undercover officer forced entry pretext of buying drugs and was killed in

scuffle.• Collected evidence including bullets, drugs and paraphernalia over 4 days

without warrant• Violated 4th amendment rights court unanimously agreed

Fundamental Practices: Crime Scene Safety

• AIDS, hepatitis B and TB- Inoculation for hepatitis B• OSHA

– Double glove, tyvek shoe covers, coveralls– Particle masks, respirator, goggles or face shield– Sharp objects- appropriate container– Blood latent print powder brush needs to be decontaminated or

disposed– Biohazard bags for infectious materials – used gloves etc.– Notes taken with uncontaminated gloves– Soiled protective equipment needs to be removed and decontaminated– Eating and drinking is prohibited

Summary (1)• Physical evidence has many uses- establish a crime

has been committed, exonerate the innocent, establish links, corroborate statements, provide investigative leads

• Examples of physical evidence include drugs, hair, fibers, fingerprints, bullets, paint, ropes and shoeprints.

• The goal of identification is to determine the physical or chemical identity of a substance. Contrast this to individualization that is to determine that an item has come from a unique source.

Summary (2)• Elements of crime scene management include teamwork,

information, person power, technology and logistics• ASCLD has published guidelines to insure integrity and objectives• First responder duties may vary depending on the crime. Duties

that are common include preserving the integrity of the evidence, secure the scene, arrest the suspect, assist the victim, record the time, note transient evidence, interview witnesses and communicate to supervisors

• Legal considerations include fourth amendment privileges and getting a warrant before processing the scene

• Safety considerations include AIDS, hepatitis B and TB