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Criminal Investigation > Crime scene investigations > Flashcards

Crime scene investigations Flashcards

0
Q

Reason for investigations and reports

A
  1. ) To determine what happened.
  2. ) to identify the perpetrator.
  3. ) to prosecute and convict
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1
Q

Define investigation

A
  1. Observation and inquiry to obtain factual information
  2. Observation and inquiry to reconstruct events
  3. A specific form of research
    a. ) A science-has certain steps and procedures
    b. ) A systematic approach to find facts- simple, refined observation skills
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2
Q

The goals of the investigation.

A
  1. Discover, gather and preserve evidence that supports facts and leads to truth.
    a. ) determine what, if any, offense has occurred
    b. ) answer “journalistic” questions: Who, what, when, where, why, and how.
  2. Determine what information/evidence is relevant
    a. ) The more information, the better – seldom too much.
    b. ) The keyword is “relevant” not “favorable”
  3. Transmit information to those who need it.
  4. Work to ensure conviction of offenders and freedom innocent
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3
Q

Requisites for an investigator

A 
Suspicion and curiosity
Ability to look and listen
Knowledge, resourcefulness, adaptability
Tact, patience, dignity
Common sense
Appreciate the importance of accurate observation, recording, collection, preservation, handling and identification of evidence
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4
Q

Importance of reports

A
  1. Each reader expects the report to give a word picture
    a. ) report is a new incident for each reader, even though the officer has lived it.
    b. ) The officer probably knows the people, places, etc., but the readers know only what is in the report
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5
Q

Who are the readers of the report?

A
  1. The report writer – to continue investigation, to refresh memory for court
  2. Investigators – to furnish a starting point for follow-up, to know what has or has not happened or been done
  3. Attorneys
    a. ) DA-check elements
    b. ) Defense- impeach officer, check client story, find loopholes in the case
    c. ) Law enforcement
    d. ) criminal justice support – psychologist, counselors, rehabilitation workers, department of human resources, rape victims advocates etc.
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6
Q

The report is a permanent record that?

A
  • Communicates fax regarding the investigation
  • is used as a basis for prosecution
  • Is used for testimony
  • is reviewed by other law-enforcement and nonlaw enforcement personnel
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7
Q

Identify the extent of the scene

A
  1. how many locations?
  2. multiple crime scenes?
  3. multiple victims?
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8
Q

Assess personnel, materials and resources needed

A
  1. what is my level of crime scene knowledge?

2. is that adequate for this scene?

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9
Q

Motives for the crime

A

Money
Sex
Revenge
Fear

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10
Q

Weapon or tool used, if possible

A
  1. what did the suspect bring to the scene?
  2. What did the suspect to leave at the scene?
  3. What did the suspect take from the scene?
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11
Q

Secure the scene

A
  1. secure the scene – preserve the evidence
  2. try to have only one officer in charge, one officer seizing, collecting in handling evidence
  3. search the scene – critical evidence v. supporting evidence v. property
  4. record the scene – photographs, video and sketches
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12
Q

Evidence

A

Anything that tends to prove or disprove a fact: physical materials, writings, testimony(stories and conversation) observable phenomena, (sights, sounds, smells, etc.)

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13
Q

An item is evidence if:

A
  1. It provides commission of a crime
  2. It shows the identity of the suspects
  3. It links the suspect to the crime and/or victim
  4. It shows how the crime was committed
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14
Q

Initial investigation procedure

A

Arrive safely. Be aware of your surroundings

a. ) you are the most important person there
b. ) render first aid
c. ) preserve the evidence
d. ) remember that under stress tunnel vision can occur

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15
Q

Be ready to act immediately upon arrival

A
  1. ) Dispatchers information may not always be accurate
  2. ) Always expect the unusual. Don’t jump to conclusions. Base your decisions on FACTS
  3. ) look at everything – thanks 3 dimensional not two. What does the overall scene tell you about the incident and persons
16
Q

Determine what has happened: initial interviews

A
  1. check injured
  2. get an overview of who, what, when, where, why and how
  3. be concerned with “fleeting” evidence
17
Q

Identify the perpetrator

A
  • Victim knows the suspect
  • witnesses know the suspect
  • suspect developed from database
  • suspect developed from other similar crimes
  • The anonymous tip

Remember a suspect bring something, leaves something, or take something from the scene.

18
Q

What is included in the description?

A
  1. number of persons
  2. physical/clothing descriptions
  3. armed?
  4. direction/method of travel
19
Q

Types of lineups to identify perpetrators

A
  1. Sixpack photo lineups
  2. Sequential lineup
  3. Live lineup
  4. Victim/witness show up to identify
20
Q

Blind presentation

A

The presenter does not know who the suspect is.

21
Q

Blinded presentation

A

The presenter knows who the suspect is shows the photos in such a manner that the presenter cannot see which photo is being displayed

22
Q

Confidence statement

A

The witnesses statement about their selection of their confidence at the selection is the suspect: taken immediately after a pic has been made

23
Q

Where does the burden lay for eyewitness admissibility

A

More on DA to prove than defense to disprove.

24
Q

Memory of what happened won’t change and isn’t susceptible to suggestion or contamination

A

False

25
Q

It is okay to use sequential lineup procedures for witnesses or victims under the age of 12?

A

False- use standard 6pack arrangement

26
Q

How to determine which areas to search – have information before searching to minimize efforts.

A

Use information from informants including victims witnesses and suspects

27
Q

Physical search indicators “what’s wrong with this picture”

A

Objects out of place, missing objects or voids of space, damaged objects, check areas were objects had been resting prior to the crime

28
Q

The five area search methods

A
  • grid
  • circular
  • strip
  • spiral
  • point to point
29
Q

Three types of vehicle search

A
  • quarter search
  • left to right
  • top to bottom
30
Q

Documentation

A
  1. ) Chain of custody starts at the crime scene
  2. ) 95% of evidence is collected by police officers
  3. ) document location with notes, sketches and photographs
  4. ) market evidence and packaging with appropriate information
  5. ) crime lab request form 49
31
Q

Things to look for when conducting a crime scene search

A

Point of entry
Fingerprints and foot or shoeprints
Vehicle tire marks
Specific personal injury to the victim
Items used in the commission of the crime
Blood, trace evidence, firearms evidence etc.

32
Q

Steps in collecting forward/marking evidence

A
  1. Photograph it in it’s place as appropriate
  2. measure and sketch location
  3. Order of gathering
  4. Seize items – large enough sample for lab to work with
  5. Log in notebook: item, location, condition
  6. Place individually in a paper or plastic bag if possible – on container place tag or receipt listing item, date, time, agency, and case number with officer’s name
  7. Mark the container not the evidence
  8. Use evidence seals
  9. Complete a property form or evidence form, her agency policy
33
Q

Why photograph a? crime scene

A
  1. Act as a permanent record
  2. Identify the location of evidence
  3. Support the police report
  4. Assist in courtroom presentations
  5. Identify the condition of the evidence
34
Q

How to photograph crime scene

A

Start with the overall scene, then move to specific areas of interest

35
Q

What to photograph

A
  1. Theory of evidence
  2. Point of entry
  3. Anything disturbed
  4. The victims, witnesses, suspects
36
Q

Crime scene sketch

A

Should be proportional, contain all relevant information, and be done with sketch paper larger than standard notebook

37
Q

Evidence should be handled by has few handlers as possible and every time it changes hands it should be recorded.

A

True

Criminal Investigation (4 decks)

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