1. S. Puget Sound Community College

2. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
Crime scene processing is a
slow, methodical, systematic
and orderly process that
involves protocols and a
processing methodology.

3. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 AVOID HUB!!!  The main thing you can do in a
scene is to remain aware.
 HUA=Head up Butt.
 Never assume a case is one thing or  Using the power of observation
another. is key.
 Treat every case like a homicide and  Don’t assume everyone has seen
work backwards.
an object-mention it.
 Do not let yourself be fooled or
 KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN AT
talked into something.
ALL TIMES!!!!
 Base your decisions on your
exams/scene evidence.
 Good rule of thumb: Nothing is
what it seems.

4. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 
HAZARDS: -includes officer
 
-personal safety #1 concern. -Approach scene cautiously
1st officer on scene-
  a. EMS holding short
 
-Actions very important b. suspect still on scene
 
-crime scene starting point c. obvious dead-let one medic in
 
-physical evidence on scene -injured take precedence
 
-#1 task:prevent -mistakes cannot be corrected
destruction/disturbance of  STEPS:
evidence  1. Record time/precise times
 -time of call/arrival
 -witnesses times

5. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 -who entered scene
 2. Protect scene
 a. name
 -close/post door
 b. agency
 -crime scene tape
 c. purpose/actions taken
 -1st PO stay at scene until
 d. time in/out
properly relieved
 4. Isolate/hold witnesses
 3. Start log
 a. start on voluntaries
 -name/ID#
 b. keep separated until detectives
 -times can interview
 -exact location

6. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 Look/think before you:
 POSSIBLE EVIDENCE:
 -enter
 -look before you leap!
 -touch
 -never charge into a scene.
 -move
 -stand at periphery and look
 -step
around.
 Physical evidence-can be seen with
 -let scene “talk” to you.
naked eye ( shell casings, blood
 -be aware at all times for possible spatter)
evidence.  Trace evidence-cannot be seen with
naked eye (fibers, blood)
 DO NOT TOUCH WHAT YOU
DON’T HAVE TO. IF YOU DO
TOUCH SOMETHING OWN UP
TO IT!!

7. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 EVIDENCE: 2 TYPES
 Testimonial
 Real:
Physical
Trace

8. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 EXAM OF SCENE:
 Understand trace
 Follow law/protocols
evidence
 Start when entire team
 Few absolute rules assembled
 Remain calm, flexible  3 conditions for success

and adaptable -organization
 -thoroughness
 -caution

9. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 Crime scene processing is a team  District Attorney (DA)
effort  will present case in court
 -no one is an expert in all areas.  (grand jury/trial)
 -consults are done with many  Dentists/Odontologists
disciplines:  Entomologists
 Forensic pathologist
 Anthropologists
 MD specially trained to  Canines
 perform autopsies  Firearms experts
 can respond to scene but  Forensic toxicologists
 usually do not
 determine cause/manner of
 death

10. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 EVIDENCE:  Identification versus
Individualization of evidence.
 Value of:
 IDENTIFICATION:
 Crime committed
 Items share common source-
 Suspect contact w/vics & scene
classified /placed into groups with
 Exonerate innocent
all other items w/similar properties.
 Corroborate stories
 INDIVIDUALIZATION:
 Suspect confronted w/evidence may
 Items come from unique source.
confess
 Physical is more reliable than
eyewitnesses
 Juries love the “smoking gun”

11. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 TRACE EVIDENCE:
 -not visible to the naked eye
 -sources:clothing, fibers, footwear, tools.
 -use alternate light sources
 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE:
 -can be seen with the naked eye.
 -blood/shell casings
 -documented with photos/notes
 collected properly

12. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 EDMOND LOCARD-father of Criminalistics
 LOCARD EXCHANGE PRINCIPLE:
 Whenever an individual comes into contact with another
person/location certain small seemingly insignificant
changes occur. Small items, such as hair, fibers and
assorted microscopic debris may be left by one person or
picked up by that person. In short it is impossible to come
into contact with an environment without changing it in
some small way

13. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 *RESPONSIBILITIES:  3. owe duty to truth
 1.  4.
skill/knowledge in outcome of
investigation may establish guilt/innocence not
guilt/innocence important as long as
collected evidence in good
 2. professional
faith.
ethics/integrity are
 5.
essential thorough, competent
and unbiased

15. CRIMINALISTIC SCIENCE
  -establish appropriate scene
1. Arrive on scene and get info:
boundaries
 -start note taking
 -entire team discusses and
 -chronological order
formulates plan of action
 -specific as possible
 -plan search patterns
 -Officer’s name/P#
 -once agreed on implement plan of
 -Time of call action.
 -Details of events  3. Photograph/diagram scene
 -Who has entered/left scene  -search for evidence and mark as
 -Scene changed/items moved found-letter or # w/each item
 -Primary detective/investigator  -leave in place during first search
 -Witnesses/suspect info  -take measurements for scene
 2. Review the scene/formulate boundaries
plan  -take measurements of items using
 -stand at periphery and look at perpendicular or triangulation
whole scene

16. CRIMINALISTIC SCIENCE
 4. Collect evidence of fragile
 -draw diagram of scene to include
nature first
all items
 -blood
 -mark north on diagram
 -hair
 -use legend
 -fibers
 -photograph overalls of scene first
 -fingerprints
 -document photo w/# & description
 -powders
in notebook
 5. Properly Recover remaining
 -if you don’t know what photo is of evidence
no one else will  -Fingerprints-dusting, photo, lifting
 -document #/total #.  -physical evidence-gun, casings
 -conduct secondary search to be
sure nothing was overlooked

17. CRIMINALISTIC SCIENCE
 6. Properly package evidence & tag with appropriate
information.
 -date/time
 -what evidence is
 -where collected from
 -who collected by (initial)
 -case #
 7. Complete inventory of impounded evidence/maintain chain of
evidence.
 -evidence log to go to lab-describing each item
 -chain of custody-definition?

18. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
 CHAIN OF CUSTODY: The written documentation of
where the evidence has been and who has had
custody/possession of it from it’s collection to the
present time.

20. CRIMINALISTIC SCIENCE
 Photographs:
 -2 of every picture
 -1 with/1 without scale
 -number photo in corresponding photo log
 OVERVIEWS:
 -from farthest part of scene (outward working inward)
 MEDIUMS:
 -closer views
 UP-CLOSE:
 -close up of items/scene

21. CRIMINALISTIC SCIENCE
 PHOTOS
 Of body:
 All five angles:
 1. From above
 2. From feet
 3. From left side
 4. From right side
 5. From head

22. L IN E S E A R C H P A T T E R N

23. S P IR A L S E A R C H P A T T E R N

24. ZO N E SEA RCH PA TTERN

25. 20’ 8”
17’ 8”
N orth

26. Light pole
S outh R ainbow B oulevard
25’ 8”
P ow er B ox
18’ 6”
25’ 10” W . C harleston B lvd.
5067 W . C harleston B lvd.

27. CRIME SCENE PROCESSING
Every crime scene should be evaluated
on its own merits.
Do not take anything for granted.
Pay attention to every detail.
Things are not always what they seem.