The process whereby physical proof at a scene where crime has been committed, inductive and deductive knowledge of the events surrounding the crime is applied to find the truth about the crime is referred to as crime scene investigation. It is a rigorous task involving a well planned search of the crime scene, proper observation and documentation of the scene, taking pictures and making sketches of the scene, collection of material evidence such as fingernails, blood, hair, and also fingerprints. Hinneburg (Para, 2), notes that the only place that holds an answer to the events surrounding a committed crime is the crime scene. This gives the reason why crime scene investigation is a very important task in the process of searching for the perpetrators of a crime.
The most important part of a crime scene investigation is the careful reasoning of the details obtained from the scene. The procedures conducted at the surrounding area during a crime scene investigation are very restricted to minimize the chances of contaminating possible evidence. It is usually sealed with a yellow tape with the words crime scene written on it. Professionalism of the highest order is applied in the process of investigation. All materials that may be useful are handled with care to avoid contamination. According to Hinneburg (Para, 6), thorough investigation is done even to areas that a common man would just overlook such as the mouth piece of a mobile phone or even the door knob. Everything that has been collected at the crime scene is protected and later taken to forensic lab for thorough investigation. Each and every collected detail of evidence goes through a series of tests that are aimed to leading the investigators closer to obtaining the solution of the crime.
Crime scene investigation procedure
The process of a crime scene investigation starts immediately after the CSI unit receives a call from the detectives on the scene. The initial responding officer promptly but with a lot of caution enters a crime scene and makes strict observation of any person, vehicle or any event around the scene that might pose as potential evidence. The officer should treat the incidence as crime and remain attentive and alert assuming the crime is ongoing until determined otherwise (Julia, para, 2). The responding officer secures the scene to control any further dangerous situation from occurring so as to ensure hisher safety and that of others present. Medical attention is also provided to the injured person by the responding officer and the officer calls for help incase the situation is out of hand. The initial responding officer makes sure that the scene remains strictly secure to minimize disturbance of physical evidence (Julia, Para7).
Scene assessment
On arrival at the scene, the CSI agent makes sure that the scene is secure. The agent even secures a wider area because it is very easy to decrease the area rather than to increase it as a result of onlookers. A short briefing by the initial responding officer helps in shedding light for further investigative responsibilities. The CSI gets the district attorney involved so as to obtain a search warrant. A brief examination of the area is done by a CSI agent on arrival to verify that nothing has been relocated before the agents arrival. Initially, notes of potential evidence are made without moving or touching anything in order to understand what a particular investigation will entail and develop a well organized approach in looking for and collecting evidence.
Documentation and evaluation of the scene
Thorough documentation is then made by taking pictures and making sketches. Documentation allows the forensic lab and the prosecuting legal representative to easily and precisely reconstruct the scene. After thorough documentation, the CSI agents starts collecting materials from the scene and packaging them with the main aim of preserving all physical evidence so as to remain in one piece all the way to the lab. In case of death, a CSI closely examines the body and takes detailed pictures. The following are some of the details marked before the body is moved to the morgue whether the victims clothing had any form of stain or mark, any signs which would tell if the victim was dragged and if so in which direction, any form of bruise inflicted to the body, missing organs are also noted, whether the flow of blood follow the law of gravity to detect whether the body was moved, presence of any other form of body fluid besides blood, and lastly presence of insect activities. Any insect activities noted requires a forensic entomologist to analyze the activities for hints as to how long the person has been dead. The body is then wrapped with white clothing and transported to the morgue for an autopsy (Byrd, para 7).
Collecting evidence
All evidence that might give a hint to the cause of the crime is collected. Trace evidence including gun short residue, residue of paints, traces of illicit drugs. Clothing is also collected if the crime involves a gun shot to analyze whether the victim was shot at a close or long range. Samples of illicit drugs at the crime scene are collected and preserved in separate disinfected containers. The lab performs thorough test to determine the purity of these substances, their possessions and whether they might have been the possible cause of death for the victim. Blood and any form of body fluid at the scene of crime are collected so as to be investigated for DNA comparison. The victims nails are also scrapped because if there was a fight, the suspects DNA may be obtained under the nails. Incase blood was initially present at the scene of crime but has been washed off, a Portable UV light is used to detect it. Analysis of blood spatter is also done to illuminate the direction from which blood came from and how many separate incidences may have created the pattern.
Finger prints are recovered using brushes, powder, super glue, tapes, magnifying lenses, lift cards, and chemicals (National Institute of Justice, Para, 8). The main aim of collecting fingerprints is to help identify or rule out a suspect. Byrd (2009), states that on finding a firearm or bullets at the scene of crime, the CSI agent puts on gloves and picks up the gun by the barrel and then packages them separately for further analysis in the lab. A laser trajectory kit is used to determine from which direction a bullet was fired. Embedded bullets are not dug out as this can damage it making it inappropriate for comparison. All the documents that can help solve the mystery of a crime such as the diaries, phone books, planners, or suicide notes are collected. Burned documents are also collected for reconstruction. Any piece of evidence collected at the scene of crime however trace it may be is photographed, collected, and tagged (para, 12).
In the lab, all the evidence collected by the CSI is analyzed and the results forwarded to the lead detective in the case. Each and every process that takes place at the scene of crime is referred to as the crime scene analysis whereas each and every task that is performed at the laboratory is called forensic science. Some of the tests performed in the laboratory include blood pattern identification, DNA test for all body fluids, photography and trajectory determination (Julia, para, 6). Chemistry is done in the lab to analyze and compare illicit drugs, explosives and other chemicals whose identity can not be determined by a mere look. A single piece or evidence often passes through a battery of departments for further analysis with each department handing in a complete report of its results. The CSI in charge compiles these reports and delivers them to the lead detective (Julia, 2009).
Completing and recording the crime scene investigation
After comparing all the evidence, crime scene debriefing is done to allow law enforcement agency and other parties involved to share information appertaining a particular scene findings before the results of the scene are released. The debriefing involves each and every personnel who was involved in the investigation. Evidence is determined and each and every detail of the investigation is discussed (National Institute of Justice, para, 26).
Final survey of the crime scene
At the conclusion of the scene investigation, the investigators in charge direct a walkthrough in order to make sure that the scene investigation is complete. This is done to ensure that each and every detail that had been documented and all the materials collected have been addressed and a thorough report made on them (Pepper, p 18).
Documentation of the crime scene
A case file is opened in which all the details of the crime scene investigation are compiled. Every single action that was taken by the investigators and all the evidence they collected are indicated in this file. The final stage of a CSI after compiling all the results of the investigation is to testify in court.
If crime scene investigations were not conducted, very many crimes would perish without a single hint of truth ever coming to surface. Though the work of crime scene investigators do not receive extensive media coverage, their efforts in determining the cause of a certain crime are very great. Their work is highly appreciated by the authority.
The most important part of a crime scene investigation is the careful reasoning of the details obtained from the scene. The procedures conducted at the surrounding area during a crime scene investigation are very restricted to minimize the chances of contaminating possible evidence. It is usually sealed with a yellow tape with the words crime scene written on it. Professionalism of the highest order is applied in the process of investigation. All materials that may be useful are handled with care to avoid contamination. According to Hinneburg (Para, 6), thorough investigation is done even to areas that a common man would just overlook such as the mouth piece of a mobile phone or even the door knob. Everything that has been collected at the crime scene is protected and later taken to forensic lab for thorough investigation. Each and every collected detail of evidence goes through a series of tests that are aimed to leading the investigators closer to obtaining the solution of the crime.
Crime scene investigation procedure
The process of a crime scene investigation starts immediately after the CSI unit receives a call from the detectives on the scene. The initial responding officer promptly but with a lot of caution enters a crime scene and makes strict observation of any person, vehicle or any event around the scene that might pose as potential evidence. The officer should treat the incidence as crime and remain attentive and alert assuming the crime is ongoing until determined otherwise (Julia, para, 2). The responding officer secures the scene to control any further dangerous situation from occurring so as to ensure hisher safety and that of others present. Medical attention is also provided to the injured person by the responding officer and the officer calls for help incase the situation is out of hand. The initial responding officer makes sure that the scene remains strictly secure to minimize disturbance of physical evidence (Julia, Para7).
Scene assessment
On arrival at the scene, the CSI agent makes sure that the scene is secure. The agent even secures a wider area because it is very easy to decrease the area rather than to increase it as a result of onlookers. A short briefing by the initial responding officer helps in shedding light for further investigative responsibilities. The CSI gets the district attorney involved so as to obtain a search warrant. A brief examination of the area is done by a CSI agent on arrival to verify that nothing has been relocated before the agents arrival. Initially, notes of potential evidence are made without moving or touching anything in order to understand what a particular investigation will entail and develop a well organized approach in looking for and collecting evidence.
Documentation and evaluation of the scene
Thorough documentation is then made by taking pictures and making sketches. Documentation allows the forensic lab and the prosecuting legal representative to easily and precisely reconstruct the scene. After thorough documentation, the CSI agents starts collecting materials from the scene and packaging them with the main aim of preserving all physical evidence so as to remain in one piece all the way to the lab. In case of death, a CSI closely examines the body and takes detailed pictures. The following are some of the details marked before the body is moved to the morgue whether the victims clothing had any form of stain or mark, any signs which would tell if the victim was dragged and if so in which direction, any form of bruise inflicted to the body, missing organs are also noted, whether the flow of blood follow the law of gravity to detect whether the body was moved, presence of any other form of body fluid besides blood, and lastly presence of insect activities. Any insect activities noted requires a forensic entomologist to analyze the activities for hints as to how long the person has been dead. The body is then wrapped with white clothing and transported to the morgue for an autopsy (Byrd, para 7).
Collecting evidence
All evidence that might give a hint to the cause of the crime is collected. Trace evidence including gun short residue, residue of paints, traces of illicit drugs. Clothing is also collected if the crime involves a gun shot to analyze whether the victim was shot at a close or long range. Samples of illicit drugs at the crime scene are collected and preserved in separate disinfected containers. The lab performs thorough test to determine the purity of these substances, their possessions and whether they might have been the possible cause of death for the victim. Blood and any form of body fluid at the scene of crime are collected so as to be investigated for DNA comparison. The victims nails are also scrapped because if there was a fight, the suspects DNA may be obtained under the nails. Incase blood was initially present at the scene of crime but has been washed off, a Portable UV light is used to detect it. Analysis of blood spatter is also done to illuminate the direction from which blood came from and how many separate incidences may have created the pattern.
Finger prints are recovered using brushes, powder, super glue, tapes, magnifying lenses, lift cards, and chemicals (National Institute of Justice, Para, 8). The main aim of collecting fingerprints is to help identify or rule out a suspect. Byrd (2009), states that on finding a firearm or bullets at the scene of crime, the CSI agent puts on gloves and picks up the gun by the barrel and then packages them separately for further analysis in the lab. A laser trajectory kit is used to determine from which direction a bullet was fired. Embedded bullets are not dug out as this can damage it making it inappropriate for comparison. All the documents that can help solve the mystery of a crime such as the diaries, phone books, planners, or suicide notes are collected. Burned documents are also collected for reconstruction. Any piece of evidence collected at the scene of crime however trace it may be is photographed, collected, and tagged (para, 12).
In the lab, all the evidence collected by the CSI is analyzed and the results forwarded to the lead detective in the case. Each and every process that takes place at the scene of crime is referred to as the crime scene analysis whereas each and every task that is performed at the laboratory is called forensic science. Some of the tests performed in the laboratory include blood pattern identification, DNA test for all body fluids, photography and trajectory determination (Julia, para, 6). Chemistry is done in the lab to analyze and compare illicit drugs, explosives and other chemicals whose identity can not be determined by a mere look. A single piece or evidence often passes through a battery of departments for further analysis with each department handing in a complete report of its results. The CSI in charge compiles these reports and delivers them to the lead detective (Julia, 2009).
Completing and recording the crime scene investigation
After comparing all the evidence, crime scene debriefing is done to allow law enforcement agency and other parties involved to share information appertaining a particular scene findings before the results of the scene are released. The debriefing involves each and every personnel who was involved in the investigation. Evidence is determined and each and every detail of the investigation is discussed (National Institute of Justice, para, 26).
Final survey of the crime scene
At the conclusion of the scene investigation, the investigators in charge direct a walkthrough in order to make sure that the scene investigation is complete. This is done to ensure that each and every detail that had been documented and all the materials collected have been addressed and a thorough report made on them (Pepper, p 18).
Documentation of the crime scene
A case file is opened in which all the details of the crime scene investigation are compiled. Every single action that was taken by the investigators and all the evidence they collected are indicated in this file. The final stage of a CSI after compiling all the results of the investigation is to testify in court.
If crime scene investigations were not conducted, very many crimes would perish without a single hint of truth ever coming to surface. Though the work of crime scene investigators do not receive extensive media coverage, their efforts in determining the cause of a certain crime are very great. Their work is highly appreciated by the authority.
