NCJ Number
44517
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
METHODS, PROBLEMS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF THE INVESTIGATOR IN COLLECTING EVIDENCE FROM A CRIME SCENE AND PROCESSING IT FOR USE BY EXAMINERS, POLICE, AND LEGAL OFFICIALS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
COLLECTING EVIDENCE INVOLVES ACCUMULATING ARTICLES WHICH ARE SUBSEQUENTLY TO BE STUDIED AND REVIEWED. THE ITEMS MUST BE COLLECTED IN PROPER FASHION OR THEY WILL BE OF NO VALUE TO THE USER. OF PRIMARY CONCERN ARE THE DEMANDS OF LEGAL OFFICIALS. CAREFUL SELECTION OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MATERIAL IS IMPORTANT, AS THE ENTIRE SCENE CANNOT BE BROUGHT INTO COURT AS EVIDENCE. PROSECUTORS AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS INFORM THE INVESTIGATORS AS TO WHAT PIECES OF EVIDENCE WILL BE REQUIRED. THE ROLE OF THE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR MAY BE DIVIDED INTO THREE SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES: OBSERVATION, RECORDING, AND DOCUMENTATION. HE OBSERVES THE GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE SCENE; RECORDS IT AS PRECISELY AS POSSIBLE, WITH DIAGRAMS OR SKETCHES; AND DOES WHATEVER ELSE IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A DEMONSTRABLE RECORD FOR FUTURE UTILIZATION IN COURT. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE TAKEN FROM ALL DIFFERENT ANGLES. THE USE OF LOGIC AND TYPICAL CRIMINAL PATTERNS IS IMPORTANT IN DECIDING WHERE TO LOOK FOR EVIDENCE. THE INVESTIGATION OF A CRIME SCENE MAY INVOLVE LONG HOURS OF TEDIOUS, DIRTY WORK AND THE VIEWING OF DISTASTEFUL SCENES. THE INVESTIGATOR MUST APPROACH THE SCENE WITH A PLAN IN MIND. NOTHING MUST BE TOUCHED UNTIL IT HAS BEEN RECORDED, AND IT MUST NOT BE DAMAGED. THE PROPER METHOD FOR DEVELOPING LATENT PRINTS MUST BE SELECTED DEPENDING UPON THE SURFACE THEY ARE ON. ANOTHER CONSIDERATION IS THAT ANY DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY CAUSED BY THE INVESTIGATOR MUST BE PAID FOR. LACK OF ADEQUATE TRAINING IN THE AREA IS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE FIELD. FEW TEXTBOOKS OR SCHOOL COURSES EXIST, AND THE INVESTIGATOR FREQUENTLY MUST TEACH HIMSELF. (VDA)