Crime Scene Investigations Criminal scene investigations is the purposeful use of science, rationale and law. It is a long, monotonous process that includes deliberate documentation of the conditions at the scene and the gathering of any physical proof that could conceivably explain what happened and indicate who did it. There is no common criminal scene, there is no average group of proof and there is no common investigative approach. Each crime scene is a unique situation (Layton, 2005). The evidence assembled from a scene is looked at, reviewed, written up, and then collected. Once the evidence is acquired it is packed away and sent to a research center where testing and examinations will be directed. Once at the lab, a group of researchers …show more content…
Numerous scenes warrant the utilization of an evidence vacuum in the scene to gather any potential micro-particle, for example, hair and filaments. This stride ought to be performed preceding any nearby in assessment of the victim.
In the report it is assumed that CSI team conducted a thorough search of the premises, by taking photographs, conducting a grid search, placing markers on items deemed important, and maintaining notes throughout the search. The reason the CSI did this was to try and collect as much evidence as possible that may be related to the case at hand.
Evaluate and Collecting Evidence
The examination group on the crime scene will then create documentation of the scene by taking photos and drawing sketches. At the same time, the investigator and CSI can gather all potential evidence, label it, log it and bundle it so it stays uncontaminated. The research facility will have the greater part of the evidence that was assembled by the unit that was on site. Each unit will handle the separation between field work and lab work. The procedure of assessing and assembling evidence at a scene is a procedure in itself (Schiro, n.d.).
• Create a narrative of the scene
• Photograph the scene and evidence before
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After some time, cases left unsolved get to be known as a cold case. Cases well on the way to be named cold incorporate deaths caused by gangs or drug use; cases including outsiders, drifters, and destitute or unidentified individuals; deaths that are unclassified; and unsolved police shootings (Turner and Kosa, n.d.).
Cold Cases after 30 years
It becomes more difficult to locate witnesses and deal with issues like possible deteriorating evidence. Paperwork may also get lost or misplaced over time creating gaps of information that must be regathered in order to gain information required for the case. The apprehension of a suspect renders a case shut paying little mind to whether the suspect is sentenced or even conveyed to trial. A case might be shut authoritatively if the suspect for which the division has reasonable justification either has died or has been indicted for another crime and is in jail
The photographic logs details who took the photos of the scene, which light was used to take these pictures these pictures will later be used to construct a diagram. Finally, the evidence recovery log which lists what piece of evidence was recovered such as bone fragments, articles of clothing, or bullets from the crime scene (Swanson, et al., 2012) In this series, Dr. Brenan can be seen accompanying FBI agent Seeley Booth to interrogate both witnesses and possible suspects. Further, in the series, Dr. Brenan can be seen in possession of a weapon and join the hunt for the criminal. In reality, the forensic investigator is needed in the scene of the crime in order to collect evidence. This type of portrayal from the media is leading the public to believe that both the agent and the investigator or attorney will engage in the “exciting adventures” when the reality is it is just the way the media portrays these types of scenarios (Surette, 2015). The way the series portrays forensic science differs from the real world even though the author of the series is a forensic anthropologist
Houck, M. M., Crispino, F., & McAdam, T. (2012). The science of crime scenes. (pp. 323-329).
The blood of the unknown person became apparent through comparing the blood type found at the crime scene with the contrasting blood types of the suspects. The blood identified at the crime scene could have possibly belonged to Anna Garcia or Erica Piedmont. This observation was based on the information that the blood type found at the crime scene was type A and these two individuals are the only ones that carry that specific type. In similarity, a microscopic photography was taken of the unknown hair follicle found at the crime scene. Then hair samples were taken from the potential suspects, and the victim. These findings were then compared. This was done by looking at each individuals hair follicles and comparing it with the unknown one. By looking at the similarities and differences in medulla diameter, the discovery of the unknown hair follicle became established that it belonged to Anna Garcia. Further examination resulted in the analyzation of a shoe print found at the crime scene. Shoe patterns and sizes were taken from each suspect, including the victims. They were then identified and compared to the one found at the crime scene. By looking at the distinct pattern, size, and the fact that both shoes were a Columbia brand sneaker it became obvious that the shoe print was extremely similar to Anna’s shoe design. Through this found evidence it became
The Trace Evidence Unit is known to examine the largest variety of evidence types and uses the biggest range of analytical methods of any unit. materials are compared with standards or known samples to determine whether or not they share any common characteristics. In this paper I will discuss the different kinds of trace evidence and how crime scene investigators use it to solve cases and convict criminals. Trace evidence was first discovered by Edmond Locard. Edmond Locard was born in 1877, and founded the Lyon’s Institute of Criminalistics.
In today’s time, modern Crime Scene Investigation has increased rapidly. From throughout the late 1900’s and in the early 2000’s (Taylor 1). For all of the evidence that they find, a solid foundation has formed over the thousands of years of Crime Scene
Collection of evidence is usually a term designated to refer to the collection of physical evidence, government agencies such as police or environmental protection departments will have their own methods for the collection, storage and conservation of physical evidence and it is the responsibility of forensic personnel to adhere to these set guidelines. General principles which are shared amongst various agencies include, the creation of contemporaneous notes, recording the collection of evidence via photographing, videotaping and/or audiotapes, preserving the crime scene by sealing off the location and only allowing designated personnel to enter, avoiding contamination of the crime scene by investigators through the use of full body covering and also preventing cross-contamination with the scene and any suspects.
With the warrant, new evidence can be found and help to see if the crime was homicide or suicide. With challenges of investigations, there are also deaths that are open to
Crime Scene Investigation For my assignment, I will be looking into the case of James Bulger, aged 2 years old, who was kidnapped and murdered by John Venables and Robert Thompson on February 12th 1993. Through evidence found at the crime scene and testimonial statements, the police saw that the two boys, ages 11, abducted James from Bootle Strand Shopping Center, Liverpool. They took him on a long, aimless walk where they brutally attacked him and left him for dead. In my assignment I will show how work done by the police, forensic scientists and Investigators helped to convict Jon and Robert.
Collecting evidence from a crime scene is a crucial aspect of solving crimes. Before evidence can be seized, there must first be a court order approving the search of the crime scene and the seizure of the evidence found at the scene. Standard protocol for officers is for them to always use latex gloves, avoid plastic bags, double wrap small objects, package each object separately, and to collect as much evidence as possible. It is better to have too much evidence than to not have enough. There are countless amounts of evidence that can be found at a crime scene.
The other was in Tennessee which required the officers to look beyond the obvious to explain a mysterious death of Lenora Robinson which happened on December 23rd 1997. A 911 call was placed by Terry Robinson about his wife not breathing and was later pronounced dead at the scene upon the arrival of the medic and nothing was seen to be out of place since she previously visited the a doctor just a day before and was given an injection for the flu like sickness which lasted for about four to five
...ditional visits to the crime scene could cause a compromise if entered into evidence at trial.
Forensic Science, recognized as Forensics, is the solicitation of science to law to understand evidences for crime investigation. Forensic scientists are investigators that collect evidences at the crime scene and analyse it uses technology to reveal scientific evidence in a range of fields. Physical evidence are included things that can be seen, whether with the naked eye or through the use of magnification or other analytical tools. Some of this evidence is categorized as impression evidence2.In this report I’ll determine the areas of forensic science that are relevant to particular investigation and setting out in what method the forensic science procedures I have recognized that would be useful for the particular crime scene.
The Process of a Crime Investigation Many thoughts may come to mind when an investigation is mentioned, such as TV shows like Law and Order, CSI or Criminal Minds. The reality of an investigation can differ from these shows immensely. These crime solving series make it seem that the process of an investigation is so easy, and often these never show the hiccups that investigators have to deal with along the way. In real life, there are certain responsibilities an investigator must go through to achieve the evidence needed to prosecute the offender and close the case successfully. It is important to remember that an investigation ultimately contributes to the resolution of crimes, which also leads to the crucial process and effort in gathering
Forensic science has now been recognized as an important part of the law enforcement team to help solve crimes and cold cases. The advances in technology are being used each day and we must continue to strive to develop better advances in this field. The recent discovery of using DNA in criminal cases has helped not only positively identify the suspect, but it has helped exonerate hundreds of innocent individuals. “With new advances in police technology and computer science, crime scene investigation and forensic science will only become more precise as we head into the future.” (Roufa, 2017) Forensic science and evidence helps law enforcement officials solve crimes through the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence. By having a mobile crime laboratory, the scene gets processed quicker and more efficiently. Forensic science will only grow in the future to be a benefit for the criminal justice
Since the old times primary investigations do not typically yield enough information to prosecute a criminal case. The information yielded in criminal investigations may be used to prosecute a criminal case or can even assist in a federal case. Even though primary investigations can identify a lot of evidence and information, a secondary investigation will usually identify further details and allows for a second look at everything pertaining to the investigation. This paper is to explain criminal investigations and the necessary tools and skills needed to conduct and thorough investigation.