Crime Scene Invest.
When searching a scene for evidence, an officer should use a __________________or _______________________.
a systematic approach or established pattern.
Officers should never handle evidence with their ___________________.
bare hands
blood, semen, saliva, bones, teeth, body tissues, hair, and DNA are all examples of what type of evidence?
biological evidence DNA
The most common method of sketching is using the ____________________or downward observation perspective.
birds-eye-view
Although generally invisible to the naked eye, latent prints result from ___________________ left behind when the friction ridges of the hands or feet make contact with a surface.
body residues
Officers should avoid including _________________ or _______ in crime scene photographs. (LE114.4.)
bystanders or pets
A _________________ is documentation of everyone who handled the evidence as well as when, why, and what changes, if any, were made to it.
chain of custody
A ____________________ is a person who alleges that a crime has been committedAn officer may also learn from dispatch if someone is injured.
complainant
Unnecessary people (officers, bystanders) on the scene can be counterproductive, and increase the possibility of _____________________________. (LE162.3.)
contaminating evidence
The first step in preparing to interview victims, complainants, or witnesses at a crime scene is to determine to what extent the ________ will be investigated.
crime
There is no______________exception to the Fourth Amendment search warrant requirement. (LE089b.3.)
crime scene
_____________ are a means of documentation that aid in the reconstruction, explanation, and permanent recording of an incident.
crime scene sketches
_____________________allow fingerprint analysts to distinguish between prints belonging to the victim or witnesses and possible suspects. Inked fingerprints must be taken from innocent parties who may have been at the crime scene in order to eliminate their prints from the scene. (LE109.9.)
elimination prints
It is easier to reduce the size of a perimeter than to __________ it.
enlarge it
Other pieces of ___________that may contain saliva and require examination are cigarette butts, drinking straws, soda and beer cans, masks, bottles, etc. Bite marks may also contain saliva.
evidence
_______________ is anything that tends to prove or disprove an alleged fact.
evidence
A person occupying private property has an _____________________ that may not be violated without a search warrant or a valid exception to the warrant requirement. Even though an area is a crime scene, a search warrant may still be needed.
expectation of privacy
A few examples of evidence that might be found and collected at a crime scene are_________________________________________.
fingerprints, shoe prints, blood, fibers, hair, tool marks, paint scratches, broken glass, body fluids, controlled substances, electronics equipment and computers, firearms, broken or damaged materials, tire tracks, documents, and bones.
weapons, projectiles, gunshot residue, cartridge cases, tool marks, database information are all examples of what type of evidence?
firearms evidence
The ___________________officer should make an initial determination regarding the type of crime committed and define the appropriate extent of the crime scene.
first responding
______________________often used indoors; a variation of the strip/line search pattern. It overlaps a series of lanes in a cross pattern, making the search more methodical and thorough.
grid search pattern
Officers have the authority to arrest any individual who crosses an area marked by crime scene tape after ________________________. (LE089b.1.)
having been warned
An _________________ is a label used to illustrate size and provide scale and other valuable information relevant to the scene. Most agencies provide cards with a ruler printed on them.
identifier
When photographing specific items such as blood drops, weapons, or tire marks, an officer should place an _________________ with the evidence to establish the original positions for photographing and sketching.
identifier
fingerprints, tire tracks, footwear impressions, footprints, bite marks, tool marks are all examples of what type of evidence?
impression evidence
An __________________ occurs when an officer makes detailed and systematic inquiries or observations.
investigation
Crime scene perimeters should be _________ rather than ___________.
larger, smaller
Lifting _______________ is a basic skill of law enforcement, and the ability to lift a latent print directly relates to an officer's attention to detail.
latent prints
______________________are among the most valuable types of physical evidence and one of the most common types of evidence an officer will recover at crime scenes.
latent prints
Sketches should include the statement "____________________" unless the officer is prepared to testify that every item is precisely drawn to scale on the sketch.
not to scale
_____________________ can also be jeopardized by the entry of unauthorized people into a scene.
officer safety
The primary officer or investigator will designate _____________of access to the crime scene and assign an officer to maintain a crime scene log at that location.
one point
________________are transferred from the friction ridges on fingers by a foreign substance (not a body residue), like blood, paint, or dirt, and are readily visible.
patent prints
The crime scene must be protected until it can be __________________ and ________________.
photographed and documented.
___________________________should take place before any detailed investigation begins.
photographing
________________ consists of objects or things such as fingerprints, blood, or tire tracks.
physical evidence
____________________ entails dividing the area into a number of pie-shaped sections, which are usually searched using the strip/line search pattern. This method should be used for extremely large search areas. (LE078.7.)
pie/wheel search pattern
___________ are molded or imbedded fingerprints created by touching an impressionable surface such as wet paint or mud and are easily seen.
plastic prints
__________________ belongs to an individual and is not open to the public.
private property
Prior to searching a potential crime scene, an officer should determine if the scene location is ____________ or __________ property.
public or private
__________________ is designed for the use and enjoyment of the public and is open to the public.
public property
The log should include the name, rank, and agency of each person entering or leaving the scene; the date and time of the person's entry or exit; and ____________________________________________.
reason the person was at the scene.
A person occupying private property has an expectation of privacy that may not be violated without a search warrant or a valid exception to the warrant requirement. Even though an area is a crime scene, a ____________________may still be needed.
search warrant
It is extremely important to keep witnesses______________ in crime scene investigations.
separated
___________ can show relative positions (spatial relationships) of objects within the crime scene that are not readily seen in photographs. T
sketches
____________ usually used outside by one person. The searcher begins at a certain point and walks in increasingly larger circles to the outermost boundary of the search area.
spiral search pattern
_______________usually used outside by several people. The search area is divided into lanes that are searched by one or more people in both directions until the entire area has been examined.
strip/line search pattern
A _____________ is a person believed to have committed a crime or offense.
suspect
_________ can be used in some cases for identification and evidence. In the event an officer discovers human skeletal remains, a supervisor should be contacted so that agency policy and procedures can be followed in processing the scene.
teeth
_____________evidence is gathered from witnesses, _______________ evidence is generally less reliable than physical evidence because people perceive events differently, do not remember accurately, or lie. When physical evidence is correctly handled, preserved, maintained, and scientifically analyzed, it cannot give false results.
testimonial
What are the two kinds of evidence?
testimonial and physical
The sketch should show, room by room, ________________________________of entrances, exits, and contents.
the size and relationship
hairs, fibers, clothing, glass, wood, soil and dirt are all examples of what type of evidence?
trace evidence
________________ is the most common method of surveying (measuring and documenting) objects within the crime scene. The method measures objects from at least two fixed points forming a triangle.
triangulation
An officer will need to be able to testify that the photographs are a _________ and ___________ representation of the scene as it appeared when the pictures were taken. All objects pictured must be material or relevant to the scene.
true and accurate
Curious, ___________________ can damage, contaminate, or destroy evidence at a scene, and should not be allowed to enter the secured crime scene area.
unauthorized people
A _____________ is a person harmed by a crime.
victim
For example, ____________________, such as items soaked with body fluids or living plant material, must either be air-dried, packaged in breathable containers such as paper bags, or both. If packaged improperly, wet items will deteriorate to a point where they have no evidentiary value. An officer must pay particular attention to the proper collection of evidence.
wet evidence
A _________________ is a person who sees, knows, or vouches for something and makes a sworn statement about that information.
witness
Keep ____________ separated so they cannot discuss the incident together and coordinate their accounts of what happened.
witnesses
______________________ used outdoors or for an area that is large. The area should be divided into four different sections and searched using one of the patterns above.
zone/quadrant search pattern
_______________, a pioneer in forensic science, formulated the fundamental principle of forensic science: "Every contact leaves a trace." Referred to as Locard's Exchange Principle, this contends that everyone who enters a crime scene will both bring something into and take something from it.
Dr. Edmond Locard
_____________________(PPE) must be used whenever evidence is handled or collected.
Personal protective equipment