NCJ Number
60871
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 27 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1979) Pages: 28-38
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS OF A POLICE DETECTIVE, THIS OPERATIONAL GUIDE PART 2, EXAMINES THE HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE, EMPHASIZING THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF THE CADAVER AND EVIDENCE COLLECTION.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH COOPERATION WITH THE MEDICAL EXAMINER IS CRUCIAL IN DETERMINING CAUSE OF DEATH, HOMICIDE DETECTIVES SHOULD HAVE BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF POSTMORTEM CHANGES AND THE EFFECT OF TIME AND ATMOSPHERE ON BLOOD POOLS OR STAINS SO THAT THEY CAN MAKE INTELLIGENT OBSERVATIONS AT THE SCENE. FOUR GAUGES ARE USED TO ESTIMATE THE APPROXIMATE TIME OF DEATH: (1) BODY HEAT; (2) RIGOR MORTIS--THE LEAST EFFECTIVE GAUGE BECAUSE IT DEVELOPS AT DIFFERENT TIMES ACCORDING TO BODY WEIGHT, SHOCK, OR OTHER VARIABLES; (3) LIVOR MORTIS (LIVIDITY) --WHEN THE BLOOD IN THE BODY SETTLES TO THE LOWEST POINT; AND (4) STOMACH CONTENTS--REVEALING WHAT THE DECEASED LAST ATE. SEARCH OF THE HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE; IT INVOLVES 'DUSTING' THE SCENE FOR LATENT PRINTS AND OTHER METHODS OF PRESERVING EVIDENCE FOUND IN THE APARTMENT OR ON THE BODY. BECAUSE IDENTIFICATION AND FINAL DISPOSITION OF EVIDENCE IS CARDINAL TO THE PROPER JUDICIAL PRESENTATION, HOMICIDE DETECTIVES MUST ENSURE THAT EVIDENCE HAS BEEN PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, CONTINUITY OF CHAIN OF CUSTODY HAS BEEN PROVEN, AND COMPETENCY HAS BEEN ASSURED (I.E., THE EVIDENCE IS MATERIAL AND RELEVANT). UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK AT THE HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE, THE DETECTIVE THE IDENTITY OF THE PERPETRATOR. EFFECTIVE INTERVIEW PROCEDURES ARE DESCRIBED, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF OBTAINING A STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE THE WITNESSES' MEMORY DETERIORATES OR THEY DECIDE NOT TO GET INVOLVED. FINALLY, RESTRICTIONS ON THE RIGHT OF POLICE TO SEARCH THE HOMICIDE CRIME SCENE ARE DISCUSSED IN LIGHT OF THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION IN MINCEY V. ARIZONA (1978), MANDATING USE OF A SEARCH WARRANT UNLESS SPECIFIC LEGAL EXCEPTIONS OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES EXIST. FOOTNOTES, A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF HOMICIDES ARE PROVIDED. (WJR)