Florida BRT Chapter 7, crime scene investigation

What is the first step in preparing to interview victims, complainants, or witnesses at a crime scene?

To determine to what extent the crime will be investigated.

Firearms Evidence includes-

Weapons Projectiles Gunshot residue Cartridge casings Tool Marks Database information

Verbal commands and directions.

What should an officer use to prevent intrusion by anyone who knowingly or unknowingly approaches the crime scene perimeter?

Dr. Edmond Locard

Which pioneer in forensic science, formulated the fundamental principle of forensic science: " Every contact leaves a trace "

What normally is included with a basic latent fingerprint kit?

a basic latent fingerprint kit that includes latex gloves, black and light gray powder, a brush, tape, and cards.

Bird's-eye-view

a depiction of a crime scene sketched as if looking down from above the scene.

Suspect

a person believed to have committed a crime or offense

Investigation

a process that involves making detailed and systematic inquiries or observations that beings upon the officer's arrival at the scene of a reported crime, and usually ends with him or her filing the initial report or turning the matter over to a detective or investigator.

Zone/Quadrant Search Pattern

a search pattern often used for an area that is large or outdoors in which the area is divided into four different sections and searched using an alternative search pattern.

Spiral Search Pattern

a search pattern often used outside by one person in which the searcher begins at a certain point and walks in increasingly larger circles to the outmost boundary of the search area.

Strip/Line Search Pattern

a search pattern often used outside by several people in which 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.

Latent Prints

a type of fingerprint that is invisible to the naked eye and is the most common evidence found at crime scenes. They result from body residues left behind when the friction ridges of the hands or feet make contact with a surface.

Grid search pattern

a variation of the strip/line search pattern that is often used indoors and which overlaps a series of lanes in a cross pattern, making the search more methodical and thorough.

Elimination Prints,...

allows fingerprint analysts to distinguish between prints belonging to the victim or witnesses and possible suspects.

begins upon the officer's arrival at the scene of a reported crime and usually ends with him or her filing the initial report or turning the matter over to a detective or investigator.

an investigation.

When collecting drug paraphernalia,

an officer should package sharp objects such as needles or syringes in puncture-proof packages clearly labeled with the words WARNING: SHARPS

Public Property

any property designated for public use and enjoyment that is open to the public.

Evidence is,...

anything that tends to prove or disprove an alleged fact

Crime scene sketches

are a means of documentation that aid in the reconstruction, explanation, and permanent recording of an incident.

bullet casings, blood, finger prints,...

are all examples for types of evidence that can be found and collected at a crime scene.

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

Plastic Prints,...

are molded or imbedded fingerprints created by touching an impressionable surface such as wet paint or mud and easily seen.

Patent Prints,...

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.

When should an officer began photographing?

as soon as he/she arrives on the location of the incident/scene.

Private property,...

belongs to an individual and is not open to the public.

what is left at crime scenes may contain DNA?

biological evidence.

Chemistry or Toxicological Evidence includes-

blood alcohol levels, drugs, poisons, etc.

What are some examples of biological evidence?

blood, seaman, saliva

Paint Transfer,...

can be useful evidence in solving crimes such as a hit-and-run crash.

Teeth,...

can provide dental evidence in the form of bite mark impressions that can lead to the identity of the suspect.

Physical evidence,...

consists of objects or things such as fingerprints, blood, or tire tracks.

What are some common ways to process latent fingerprints?

dusting with powder, lifting with tape.

pie/wheel searches are,...

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.

Impression Evidence includes-

fingerprints tire tracks footwear impressions footprints bite marks tool marks

What must be worn when handling evidence?

gloves, a protective layer.

Trace Evidence includes-

hairs fibers, clothing paint chips, transfer evidence glass wood soil, dirt

Officers,...

have the authority to arrest any individual who crosses an area marked by crime scene tape after being warned.

Complainant

he person who reports the crime or alleges that a crime has been committed

identifiers, i.e. "are pens, Miranda cards, dollar bills or coins, or rulers "

is a label used to illustrate size and provide scale and other valuable information relevant to the scene.

A suspect,...

is a person believed to have committed a crime or offense.

A Victim,...

is a person harmed by a crime.

A Complainant,...

is a person who alleges that a crime has been committed.

A Witness,...

is a person who sees, knows, or vouches for something and makes a sworn statement about the information.

" Not to scale " ,...

is a statement that should be included on a sketch unless the officer is prepared to testify that every item is precisely drawn to scale on the sketch?

a Document,...

is anything containing a mark to convey a message.

Public property,...

is designed for the use and enjoyment of the public and is open to the public.

Chain of Custody,...

is documentation of everyone who handled the evidence as well as when, why, and what changes, if any, were made to it.

Testimonial Evidence,...

is gathered from witnesses.

Birds Eye view,...

is the most common method of sketching; this is also known as downward observation perspective.

Microanalysis,...

is the process of microscopically analyzing trace evidence, such as paint, glass, and cloth fibers, to determine a possible source of orgin.

What are some common threats that may be present due to conditions at a scene?

known weapons (firearms, knives, explosives), potential weapons (broken glass, stones, sticks, baseball bats, branches), and natural elements (fire, electricity, water hazards, rain).

triangulation,...

measures objects from at least two fixed points forming a triangle.

an investigation,...

occurs when an officer makes detailed an systematic inquires or observations.

grid searches are,...

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.

Chain of Custody,...

proves that evidence submitted in court is the same evidence that was collected at the crime scene.

Photographs,...

provide a visual record that may be stored indefinitely and is readily available when needed.

Latent Prints,...

result from body residues left behind when the friction ridges of the hands or feet make contact with a surface

The toxicology,...

section of a laboratory analyzes sample of blood and urine to detect alcohol and other impairing drugs or chemicals.

F.S.S 918.13

states that to alter, destroy, conceal, or remove any record, document, or thing with the purpose to impair its verity or availability in a criminal trial or investigation is a felony.

What should an officer begin as he arrives to an incident?

taking field notes.

If evidence is contaminated or altered in any way,

the crime scene officer must document the incident in a contamination list or crime scene log. Information about the original condition of the evidence and the events leading to its damage or destruction should be included

Chain of Custody

the documentation of who came into contact with the evidence, as well as when, why, and what changes, if any, were made to the evidence.

Triangulation

the method employed in crime-scene sketching using measurements made from at least two fixed objects to form a triangle.

Elimination Prints

the physical evidence that allows a fingerprint analyst to distinguish between prints belonging to the victim or witness and possible suspects.

Private Property

the property that belongs to an individual and is not open to the public and where the person occupying that property has an expectation of privacy.

T/F Prior to searching a potential crime scene, an officer should determine if the scene location is public or private property.

true, an officer may need consent or a warrant if it is private property and does not need it if it Public property.

T/F Officers should never handle evidence with their bare hands.

true, if gloves are not use you can contaminate evidence.

T/F It's better to overestimate the perimeter on a crime scene?

true, it is easier to make it smaller that make it lager.

zone quadrant searches are,...

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.

Spiral Search is,...

usually used outside by one person. The search begins at a certain point and walks in increasingly larger circles to the outermost boundary of the search area.

strip/line search is,...

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.

Questioned Documents Evidence includes-

Checks Bank Statements Address books Wire Transfers Credit Cards Phone bills Photographs or camera's Photo Copies

Electronic Evidence includes-

Computers Cell Phones PDA's Thumb drives External drives CD's, DVD's, VHS tapes Digital Camera's answering machines, digital recording devices

If bones are found on a site who should observe them?

A Medical examiner, or a Forensic specialist

Pie/wheel search pattern

A search pattern often used at extremely large search areas that entails dividing the area into a number of pie-shaped sections, which are usually searched using the strip/line search pattern

Lager, smaller,...

Crime scene perimeters should be ____________________ rather than ____________________.

FDLE has jurisdiction over what type of incident

FDLE handles incidents involving possible terrorist acts.

What are flashlights good for ?

Flashlights can be use to find fibers and prints by laving it level/flat to a surface to expose objects and residues.

gunpowder and firearm evidence -

An analyst may also examine the crime scene for the presence of gunpowder and shot pellet spread to determine firing distance. Tool marks, after-market modifications, and serial number restoration can also be identified by the analyst.

Plastic Prints

Any molded or imbedded fingerprints made by touching a surface that is impressionable, or when the fingers or hand is coated with a foreign substance.

What is some equipment that is used to construct a sketch?

Items used to construct a sketch include a blank sheet of paper or graph paper, pen or pencil, tape measure, and template or ruler.

True

Are crime scene sketches usually admissible in court ? T/F

what is unique as fingerprints for identification and evidence.

Biological evidence, DNA.

Biological Evidence/DNA includes-

Blood Seamen Saliva Bones Teeth Body tissues hair DNA

What should an officer avoid when taking photographs?

Bystanders and/or pets

What are some examples of protective gear?

PPE< Gloves, Masks, Glasses, full body suits, respirators. shoe shocks.

what are the five types of search patterns ?

Spiral strip/line grid zone pie/wheel

What is the job of a crime scene analyst ?

They prepare their findings and report on what they find to all involved in a case/incident. they also testify in court to there findings.