Crime Scene SearchCrime Scene Search

CJUS 201CJUS 201

Part 14Part 14

SceneScene1.1. LimitsLimits

- size must be determined- size must be determined- limits established / violators- limits established / violators

a. How large?a. How large? - definition: - definition: - - “The area that includes all direct “The area that includes all direct traces of traces of the crime as determined the crime as determined by the type of by the type of crime committed.” crime committed.”

(1) Indoors(1) Indoors

SceneScene- central scene- central scene- criminal’s entry / exit paths- criminal’s entry / exit paths

(2) Outdoors(2) Outdoors- ample area roped off- ample area roped off- suspect’s path to and from - suspect’s path to and from

centralcentral

b. Crime scene limitsb. Crime scene limits

(1) Safety line(1) Safety line- media may enter- media may enter

SceneScene - no information given- no information given

- use designated person - use designated person

(a) Photography permitted(a) Photography permitted - do not pose- do not pose - not w/o permission- not w/o permission

(b) No specific clues(b) No specific clues - only criminal profits- only criminal profits - destroying property- destroying property

SceneScene (2) Evidence line(2) Evidence line

- everything inside protected- everything inside protected

- keep all out - keep all out

- except official personnel- except official personnel

2.2. Principle of searchPrinciple of search

- properly search - properly search

- without loss of evidence- without loss of evidence

- 5 principles:- 5 principles:

SceneScene a. a. Be thoroughBe thorough

- outdoor scene / daylight prevails- outdoor scene / daylight prevails - not discernible in artificial light- not discernible in artificial light

(1) Fragile nature(1) Fragile nature- collected before other- collected before other- less likely to be lost / destroyed- less likely to be lost / destroyed

(2) Find everything(2) Find everything

- minute trace evidence- minute trace evidence- hairs / fibers / glass fragments / - hairs / fibers / glass fragments /

etc.etc.

SceneScene (a) Minute trace evidence(a) Minute trace evidence

- hairs / fibers / glass - hairs / fibers / glass fragmentsfragments

- specially equipped vacuums- specially equipped vacuums- shaking onto clean sheet- shaking onto clean sheet- 4” piece cellophane tape- 4” piece cellophane tape

(b) Cannot afford to lose anything(b) Cannot afford to lose anything- never touch / change / alter- never touch / change / alter- photo / measure / record- photo / measure / record

b. b. Be organizedBe organized

SceneScene

- save time / limit contamination- save time / limit contamination - method should be guide- method should be guide - systematic / uninterruptible manner- systematic / uninterruptible manner

(1) Varied problems(1) Varied problems- proper consideration- proper consideration- complete / thorough- complete / thorough

(2) Assemble personnel(2) Assemble personnel- team approach- team approach- designate responsibilities - designate responsibilities

SceneScene - recorder / photographer / sketcher - recorder / photographer / sketcher

- evidence gatherer / - evidence gatherer / measurementmeasurement

taker / latent print person / etc.taker / latent print person / etc.

(3) Explain in detail(3) Explain in detail- evidence searched for- evidence searched for

(4) Inform of all information(4) Inform of all information- importance of recovery- importance of recovery

(5) Impress with urgency(5) Impress with urgency

SceneScene- lack of evidence- lack of evidence

(6) Person in charge(6) Person in charge

- each team- each team

(7) Method of search(7) Method of search

- pre-determined pattern- pre-determined pattern

C. C. Search methodsSearch methods

- several classifications- several classifications

SceneScene (1) Point-to-Point search(1) Point-to-Point search

- line method- line method - better suited for special problems- better suited for special problems - closer coverage / larger - closer coverage / larger

percentagepercentage

(2) Area or sector search (grid)(2) Area or sector search (grid) - broken into smaller sections- broken into smaller sections - searched in grid pattern- searched in grid pattern - single grid / double grid- single grid / double grid

(3) Concentric or spiral search (circular)(3) Concentric or spiral search (circular)

SceneScene - start from outside crime scene- start from outside crime scene - circle inward- circle inward - move outward (not - move outward (not

recommended)recommended)

(4) Quadrant search(4) Quadrant search - large crime scene / search areas- large crime scene / search areas - divide into 4 smaller areas- divide into 4 smaller areas

e. e. Number of searchers / spacingNumber of searchers / spacing

(1) Spacing (1) Spacing

SceneScene - short grass / no brush: farther - short grass / no brush: farther

apartapart

- heavy brush / trees: closer- heavy brush / trees: closer

(2) Searchers(2) Searchers

- as many as necessary- as many as necessary

- depending on object of search- depending on object of search

(3) Evidence sought(3) Evidence sought

- group will move together- group will move together

- no faster than slowest member- no faster than slowest member

SceneScene f. f. Work from perimeterWork from perimeter

- experts available- experts available - photographer / fingerprint person - photographer / fingerprint person

/ lab / lab technician technician

4.4. Vehicle searchVehicle search- arrest / warrant / permission- arrest / warrant / permission

a. a. Exterior firstExterior first - under vehicle / around tires / etc.- under vehicle / around tires / etc. - under hood - under hood

SceneSceneb. b. InteriorInterior

- divide into sections- divide into sections

- under dashboard / front floorboard / - under dashboard / front floorboard / seatseat

- front door panels- front door panels

- back floorboard / backseat- back floorboard / backseat

- back door panels- back door panels

(1) Vacuum(1) Vacuum

- for trace evidence- for trace evidence

- interior / trunk - interior / trunk

SceneScene(2) Fingerprint last(2) Fingerprint last

- dashboard / rearview mirror - dashboard / rearview mirror

- door handles / flat non-porous- door handles / flat non-porous

- fuming / powder- fuming / powder

- raise first - raise first

- photograph before lifting- photograph before lifting

c. c. Record all informationRecord all information

- evidence / facts- evidence / facts

- logical conclusions- logical conclusions

SceneScene d. d. Points to rememberPoints to remember

(1) Sequence(1) Sequence

- protect the scene - protect the scene

- plan where to search- plan where to search

(a) Order of search(a) Order of search

- escape route- escape route

- home / business - home / business

- person- person

SceneScene (2) What you expect to find(2) What you expect to find

- anything unusual- anything unusual - out of place- out of place

(3) Switch positions(3) Switch positions - other officer / second search- other officer / second search - switch teams- switch teams

(4) Record findings(4) Record findings - photo / sketch / notes- photo / sketch / notes - another officer: witness- another officer: witness

SceneScene e. e. Reasonable timeReasonable time

- guidelines for- guidelines for - no set times- no set times

(1) Times(1) Times - burglary: 1 – 1 ½ hours- burglary: 1 – 1 ½ hours - robbery: 2 – 3 hours- robbery: 2 – 3 hours - homicide: 10 – 16 hours- homicide: 10 – 16 hours

5.5. Non-destructive techniqueNon-destructive technique- protect the crime scene- protect the crime scene

SceneScenea. a. Begin on floorBegin on floor - scan floor / ceiling / walls before- scan floor / ceiling / walls before - determine path- determine path - little / no destruction- little / no destruction

]] - avoid false leads - avoid false leads

b. b. Do not destroy while markingDo not destroy while marking - evidence is marked- evidence is marked - characteristics / where = recorded- characteristics / where = recorded

(1) When to mark(1) When to mark

SceneScene - time it is removed- time it is removed - photo / measure / record / - photo / measure / record /

sketchsketch

(2) How to mark(2) How to mark- never use “X”- never use “X”- distinctive / unmistakable- distinctive / unmistakable- initials best- initials best- monogram rather than printed- monogram rather than printed

(3) Where to mark(3) Where to mark

- extreme care used- extreme care used

SceneScene - mark in same place- mark in same place

(a) Clothing(a) Clothing- inner lining / tag- inner lining / tag

(b) Coat(b) Coat- lining of sleeve / armpit / - lining of sleeve / armpit /

cuff /cuff / pocketpocket

(c) Trousers(c) Trousers

- inside pockets - inside pockets

SceneScene (d) Shirt(d) Shirt

- under collar / tail- under collar / tail

(e) Tools(e) Tools

- striking/cutting edge not - striking/cutting edge not disturbdisturb

- mark on handle / grip- mark on handle / grip

(f) Guns(f) Guns

- never disturb barrel / name / - never disturb barrel / name /

serial # / caliberserial # / caliber

SceneScene (g) Knives / clubs / etc.(g) Knives / clubs / etc.

- never disturb cutting edge /- never disturb cutting edge / striking surfacestriking surface- mark on handle / grip- mark on handle / grip

(h) Liquids / powders / paint (h) Liquids / powders / paint chips / chips /

glass fragments / hair / fiber / glass fragments / hair / fiber / etc.etc.

- place in suitable container- place in suitable container- mark as evidence- mark as evidence

c. c. Once locatedOnce located

SceneScene - properly marked / tagged- properly marked / tagged

- date / time / exact location- date / time / exact location

- who found it / case number / - who found it / case number / crimecrime

6.6. Terms usedTerms used

a. a. Relevant evidenceRelevant evidence

- tends to prove / disprove- tends to prove / disprove

- a material fact- a material fact

- in a judicial case / controversy- in a judicial case / controversy

TermsTerms b. b. Trace evidenceTrace evidence

- minute articles left at crime scene- minute articles left at crime scene - link suspect to crime- link suspect to crime - help in locating suspect- help in locating suspect

(1) Examples:(1) Examples: - blood / seminal fluid- blood / seminal fluid - hair / fibers / glass / paint- hair / fibers / glass / paint - flammables / pry marks / prints- flammables / pry marks / prints - firearms / ammunition / casings- firearms / ammunition / casings - narcotics / documents- narcotics / documents

TermsTerms c. c. EvidenceEvidence

- items pertaining to the case- items pertaining to the case - legally obtain / scientific value- legally obtain / scientific value

d. d. Chain of custodyChain of custody - recovering officer marks- recovering officer marks - everyone who handles- everyone who handles - preserve integrity- preserve integrity

e. e. Evidence considerationsEvidence considerations - submit enough- submit enough

TermsTerms - known standards / comparison- known standards / comparison

- protect from contamination- protect from contamination

- maintain chain- maintain chain

f. f. Officer responsibilitiesOfficer responsibilities

- mark- mark

- tag (if appropriate)- tag (if appropriate)

- evaluate- evaluate

- preserve- preserve

- release (if appropriate) - release (if appropriate)

ChainChain7.7. Chain of custodyChain of custody

- witnessed / written record- witnessed / written record

- all who maintained unbroken control over- all who maintained unbroken control over

- proof: evidence produced / same - proof: evidence produced / same recoveredrecovered

a. a. ComponentsComponents

- anyone who had contact- anyone who had contact

- date / time handled- date / time handled

- circumstances - circumstances

- changes occurred as a result- changes occurred as a result

ChainChain b. b. Information requiredInformation required

- name / ID number - name / ID number

- date / time of collection / transfer- date / time of collection / transfer

- agency case no. / crime typology- agency case no. / crime typology

- victim / suspect name- victim / suspect name

- description - description

(1) Insure protection(1) Insure protection

- contaminated- contaminated

- no value in court- no value in court

ChainChain c. Safeguardsc. Safeguards

- limit access- limit access - signed receipts issued- signed receipts issued - check for alterations- check for alterations - notify prosecutor, if any- notify prosecutor, if any

*key concept: “*key concept: “proof is the result of proof is the result of evidenceevidence””

8.8. Features of physical evidenceFeatures of physical evidence- very large to minute- very large to minute- understanding of types- understanding of types

FeaturesFeaturesa. a. Knowing elements of crimeKnowing elements of crime - found on dead body- found on dead body - on or near approach / exit- on or near approach / exit

(1) Burglary(1) Burglary- broken window / pry marks / - broken window / pry marks /

printsprints

(2) Rape(2) Rape- bruises / semen / hairs/ fibers / - bruises / semen / hairs/ fibers /

skinskin

b. b. Evidence characteristicsEvidence characteristics

FeaturesFeatures - class / individual- class / individual

(1) Class(1) Class- places item in specific category- places item in specific category- size / shape of tool mark- size / shape of tool mark

(2) Individual(2) Individual- features that distinguish from - features that distinguish from

anotheranother- chips / marks on blade- chips / marks on blade

(a) Shoeprint(a) Shoeprint

FeaturesFeatures - class: type of shoe- class: type of shoe

- individual: cuts / gouges on sole- individual: cuts / gouges on sole

9.9. Types of physical evidenceTypes of physical evidence

a. a. FingerprintsFingerprints - rounded portion: “- rounded portion: “bulbbulb”” - friction ridges- friction ridges - positive identification- positive identification

(1) Latent prints(1) Latent prints

FeaturesFeatures - impressions transferred- impressions transferred

- left by oils / sweat / chemicals- left by oils / sweat / chemicals - considered to be invisible- considered to be invisible

(2) Visible prints(2) Visible prints

- left by material attached to - left by material attached to fingersfingers

- dirty / blood / other stains- dirty / blood / other stains

(3) Plastic prints(3) Plastic prints - soft substances- soft substances - putty / tar / butter / etc.- putty / tar / butter / etc.

FeaturesFeatures (4) Raising fingerprints(4) Raising fingerprints

- dusting / fuming / chemical - dusting / fuming / chemical sprayssprays

b. b. Shoe / tire impressionsShoe / tire impressions - plaster of paris- plaster of paris - exterior used for impression- exterior used for impression - dirt / sand / snow / wet cement / - dirt / sand / snow / wet cement /

etc.etc. - size / brand / class / individual- size / brand / class / individual

(1) Photograph first(1) Photograph first - spray with acrylic sealer- spray with acrylic sealer

FeaturesFeatures - pour in plaster- pour in plaster

c. c. Bite marksBite marks - dental impression material- dental impression material - food / skin- food / skin (1) Photograph first(1) Photograph first

- dentist: ID model to dental - dentist: ID model to dental workwork

(2) Swab bite mark with cotton(2) Swab bite mark with cotton - saliva samples - saliva samples

FeaturesFeatures d. d. Tools / tool marksTools / tool marks

- impression left on surface- impression left on surface - size and type- size and type - broken tool / pieces / striation - broken tool / pieces / striation

marksmarks

e. e. Weapons / ammunitionWeapons / ammunition - barrel: lands / grooves- barrel: lands / grooves - spin of bullet- spin of bullet - striations- striations

(1) Ammunition(1) Ammunition

FeaturesFeatures - extractor / ejector- extractor / ejector

- hammer / firing pin - hammer / firing pin

(2) gunpowder(2) gunpowder - barrel / cylinder / ejector port- barrel / cylinder / ejector port - burnt / partially / non-burnt- burnt / partially / non-burnt

(3) Crime lab(3) Crime lab - make / mechanical condition- make / mechanical condition - gun fired bullet- gun fired bullet - shooting distance / recent - shooting distance / recent

firingfiring

FeaturesFeatures f. f. GlassGlass

- glass at crime scene- glass at crime scene - fragments / particles on suspect- fragments / particles on suspect

(1) Pieced back together(1) Pieced back together

- direction of impact- direction of impact

(2) Gather all pieces(2) Gather all pieces- package separately- package separately

g. g. Soils / mineralsSoils / minerals

FeaturesFeatures - forensic geologist- forensic geologist - mud / cement / plaster / insulation- mud / cement / plaster / insulation

(1) At crime scene / on victim / on (1) At crime scene / on victim / on suspectsuspect

- clothing / vehicle / bedding- clothing / vehicle / bedding

(2) Pollen / vegetation / dirt(2) Pollen / vegetation / dirt- take evidence- take evidence- sample for comparison- sample for comparison

h. h. Safe insulationSafe insulation

FeaturesFeatures - breaks apart: drilled / ripped / - breaks apart: drilled / ripped /

punchedpunched

(1) On clothes / tool / vehicle / self(1) On clothes / tool / vehicle / self

(2) Can show type of safe(2) Can show type of safe

- comparison samples- comparison samples

i. i. Rope / string / tapeRope / string / tape

- compare cut or torn- compare cut or torn

- identify manufacturer- identify manufacturer

FeaturesFeatures j. j. DrugsDrugs

- identify- identify

- urine / blood / hair- urine / blood / hair

10.10.Body fluidsBody fluids

- liquid or stain- liquid or stain

- blood / semen / saliva / urine / - blood / semen / saliva / urine / perspirationperspiration

/ pus/ pus

a. a. Laboratory examinationLaboratory examination

FeaturesFeatures - purity of sample- purity of sample

- adequate sample- adequate sample - care in collection- care in collection

(1) Blood stains(1) Blood stains- stains / pooled / person- stains / pooled / person

(2) Lab can furnish following:(2) Lab can furnish following:

- blood- blood wet / wet / drydry

- species- species wet / wet / drydry

FeaturesFeatures- blood type- blood type wet / drywet / dry- alcohol content- alcohol content wetwet- veins/fetal/menstrual - veins/fetal/menstrual wetwet- certain drugs- certain drugs wetwet- ways deposited- ways deposited wetwet

b. b. Seminal stainsSeminal stains - rape / sex related cases- rape / sex related cases - major type of evidence- major type of evidence

(1) Determine blood type(1) Determine blood type

FeaturesFeatures- positive ID- positive ID

- DNA: 1970s / Molecular Biology- DNA: 1970s / Molecular Biology

(2) Evidence suitable for DNA(2) Evidence suitable for DNA

- blood: white cells present- blood: white cells present

- hair: root is present- hair: root is present

- skin: certain cells present- skin: certain cells present

- saliva / bone / semen / urine- saliva / bone / semen / urine

(3) Fingerprint of body fluids(3) Fingerprint of body fluids

- King County was first- King County was first

FeaturesFeatures - since 1990 all states- since 1990 all states

- 1991: FBI established DNA index- 1991: FBI established DNA index

11.11.DocumentsDocuments

- compare handwriting / printing / typing - compare handwriting / printing / typing

- paper used- paper used

a. a. Handwriting exemplarsHandwriting exemplars

- document signed / forged- document signed / forged

- letter / note written- letter / note written

FeaturesFeatures b. Genuine document / carbon copiesb. Genuine document / carbon copies

- suicide note / will / letter / bill / - suicide note / will / letter / bill / checkcheck

- subpoena bank- subpoena bank

c. Additions / deletions madec. Additions / deletions made - made at time / added later- made at time / added later

d. Written by more than one persond. Written by more than one person

12.12.Trace evidenceTrace evidence - by size: overlooked - by size: overlooked

FeaturesFeatures - treated more carefully- treated more carefully

a. a. Small materialSmall material- microscopic / macroscopic- microscopic / macroscopic- easily overlooked / transferred- easily overlooked / transferred

(1) Fibers / textiles(1) Fibers / textiles

- fragments of cloth- fragments of cloth- class and individual- class and individual- large pieces- large pieces- color, type, fiber twist, thread - color, type, fiber twist, thread

count count

FeaturesFeatures (2) Types of textiles(2) Types of textiles

- wool / vegetable fiber / - wool / vegetable fiber / synthetics /synthetics /

mineral / blendsmineral / blends

(3) Dust(3) Dust- ash / soil / wood / etc.- ash / soil / wood / etc.

13.13.HairHair- physical contact- physical contact

a. a. Three partsThree parts

FeaturesFeatures (1) Root(1) Root

- little help as to origin- little help as to origin- usually will be missing- usually will be missing- DNA comparison- DNA comparison

(2) Tip / shaft(2) Tip / shaft

b. b. Inner structureInner structure - medulla: inner- medulla: inner - cortex: middle- cortex: middle - cuticle: outer - cuticle: outer

FeaturesFeatures c. c. Size / texture varySize / texture vary

- animals / humans- animals / humans

- between humans- between humans

- between sexes of same race- between sexes of same race

(1) Crime lab looks at:(1) Crime lab looks at:

- length / diameter / pigmentation - length / diameter / pigmentation / /

general anatomy general anatomy

(2) Conclusions:(2) Conclusions:

FeaturesFeatures - whether human / animal- whether human / animal

- cut / broken / torn- cut / broken / torn - probable race- probable race - probable sex- probable sex - approximate age- approximate age - part of body- part of body - bleached / dyed- bleached / dyed

(3) Belong to certain individual?(3) Belong to certain individual?

- can exclude- can exclude - not positively identify- not positively identify

FeaturesFeatures (4) Method of removal(4) Method of removal

- pulled from body- pulled from body

- each section- each section

- minimum of 12 hairs each- minimum of 12 hairs each

(5) Place in pill box(5) Place in pill box

- do not bend or damage- do not bend or damage

14.14.Pain chipsPain chips

- hit and run / forced entry- hit and run / forced entry

FeaturesFeatures a. a. Can be conclusiveCan be conclusive

- large enough- large enough - fit together- fit together

b. b. Class characteristicsClass characteristics - by physical properties- by physical properties

c. c. ID type of vehicleID type of vehicle - US Bureau of Standards (1968)- US Bureau of Standards (1968)

d. d. Taking samplesTaking samples::

FeaturesFeatures - two samples- two samples

- damaged area / undamaged area- damaged area / undamaged area

(1) Chipping method(1) Chipping method- collect as they drop- collect as they drop- do not scrape- do not scrape

(2) Folded paper / small box(2) Folded paper / small box- package separately- package separately

15.15.Broken glassBroken glass

FeaturesFeatures - consistent in manufacturing / breakage- consistent in manufacturing / breakage

a. Typesa. Types- window pane (1/8” to 1/4”)- window pane (1/8” to 1/4”)- plate (1/4” to 2”)- plate (1/4” to 2”)- tempered (break into 1/4” cubes)- tempered (break into 1/4” cubes)- laminated (safety feature)- laminated (safety feature)

b. Commonly found breaks:b. Commonly found breaks:

(1) BB gun holes(1) BB gun holes

FeaturesFeatures - round projectile- round projectile

- 100’ per second- 100’ per second- does not penetrate- does not penetrate- punched out cone- punched out cone- direction of travel- direction of travel

(2) Gun shots(2) Gun shots

- 900+ feet per second- 900+ feet per second- puncture glass- puncture glass- shards / splinters- shards / splinters- round hole- round hole

FeaturesFeatures (3) Blunt object(3) Blunt object

- irregular hole- irregular hole- give clue as to tool- give clue as to tool

(4) Stress cracks(4) Stress cracks- frequently heat related- frequently heat related- expansion against glaze points- expansion against glaze points

c. c. Types of cracksTypes of cracks

(1) Radial(1) Radial

FeaturesFeatures- radiates from contact point- radiates from contact point

(2) Spiral (concentric)(2) Spiral (concentric)- glass rebounding from impact- glass rebounding from impact- connects with radial cracks- connects with radial cracks

(a) Cannot cross each other(a) Cannot cross each other

(b) Determine sequence(b) Determine sequence

(3) Trace evidence / fingerprints (3) Trace evidence / fingerprints