Crime Scene Investigations by First Responders

Crime mental picture Investigations by First RespondersCrime characterisations contain the forensic tell required to apprehend wrongs. The proper arrangement and impact of somatogenic take the stand is of primary importance to most police investigations. demonstrate offer non only pass on the fact of the offense and identify the perpetrator, it whitethorn even lead to a conviction. In collecting this essay we essential be conscious of the publics Fourth Amendment rights and not violate them in this collection of demonstrate. Unfortunately, poorly conducted offensive prospect investigations tush sometimes either eradicate recount or render it useless.Law Enforcement should approach the abuse survey investigation as if it will be their only opportunity to write and recover these sensual clues. They should consider other case information or statements from witnesses or suspects cargonfully in their objective assessment of the guess. Investigations whitethorn sort course a arrive of times during such an inquiry and visible clues, initi ally thought irrelevant, may become crucial to a thriving resolution of the case.The primary responsibilities of the initial respondent to a criminal offense acknowledge the following (1) to preserve life and (2) to control suspects and witnesses. Once these two objectives arrive been achieved, the initial responder should focus their assist on nourishing the disgust expression. The initial response to an incident shall be expeditious and methodical. Upon arrival, the officer(s) shall assess the scene and treat the incident as a abuse scene. The initial responder should note or log dispatch information such as names, address, time, type of call, and either other relevant information. Be aw be of any persons or vehicles leaving the execration scene. The importance of preserving the scene and its adjacent plains in their original condition give the gatenot be overemphasized. Approach the sce ne cautiously, scan the completed area to thoroughly assess the scene, and note any possible second-string curse scenes. Be aware of any persons and vehicles in the vicinity that may be related to the crime. Remain alert and attentive Assume the crime is ongoing until determined to be otherwise. as well treat the location as a crime scene until assessed and determined to be otherwise.It is usually the uniform peace officer who first arrives at the scene of a crime. by and by controlling any dangerous situations or persons, the initial responding officers next province is to ensure that medical attention is provided to injured persons while minimizing defilement of the scene. The initial responding officer shall ensure that medical attention is provided with minimal contamination of the scene by guiding medical power to the victim to minimize contamination or adjustment of the crime scene. Point out potential physical evidence to medical personnel, instruct them to minimize contact with such evidence (e.g., ensure that medical personnel preserve all clothing and in the flesh(predicate) effects without cutting through bullet holes, knife tears), and document exertion of persons or items by medical personnel. Instruct medical personnel not to clean up the scene and to avoid removal or alteration of items originating from the scene.Protecting the evidence typically involves the establishing a perimeter. In fact, for some crime scenes, two perimeters may be appropriate (Garrison, 1994, pp. 18-20). merely the investigator in charge and those personnel that he gives permission to should be allowed to cross these boundaries (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26).Detectives and supervisors are normally in charge of investigations. on that point should, however, only be whizz person in charge of the crime scene itself. The first distrust that the investigator will ask when he arrives is as follows Has anyone been allowed to enter the scene? (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16 -26)? The investigator should then use whatever resources are available (e.g., barricades or other uniformed officers) to further protect the area. Such measures exclude both curious bystanders and curious officials. Investigators often must turn away any number of officialsboth in and out of uniformwho could unintentionally destroy evidence.Once the area has been secured, the investigator then carries out the duties of seek commander. Initially, the commander must happen the following information The time of the arrival of the first officer at the scene, who was innovate, what was said, and whether or not everything is exactly as it was when the officer arrived (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Then, the addresses of all persons open on or adjacent to the scene should be collected. Although these deal are questioned about their exact location at the time of the crime, they do not usually undergo examen on the spot. Rather, such persons are scarcely re move from the scene and se parated They should not be allowed to talk to severally other until each has been carefully questioned and statements have been obtained singulars considered as suspect(s) should be ask their Miranda Rights. Any violation of Fourth Amendment rights could jeopardize any evidence obtained during an interrogation or interview for use in the case at a trial.The next phase of crime scene investigation make ups of surveying the scene. be and controlling boundaries provide a means for protecting and securing the crime scene(s). The number of crime scenes and their boundaries are determined by their location(s) and the type of crime. Boundaries shall be naturalized beyond the initial scope of the crime scene(s) with the understanding that the boundaries can be reduced in size if necessary but cannot be as easily spread out. The investigator needs to get an over-all picture of the area in which the offense occurred (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). After a preliminary survey has been perf ormed, the crime scene examination should be initiated. The investigator must try to start the investigation cold (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). There should be no preconceived notions of what happened, how it happened, or who cleverness have done it. Such conclusions must be based completely on the evidence install at the scene.It is during this initial stage of the investigation, that the seek commander has the scene photographed and sketched. Photography provides investigators with an accurate and permanent record. Nothing at a crime scene should ever be touched, picked up, or moved until it has been photographed. Only a true photograph can be presented in court (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). If it can be shown that something in the picture was tampered with, or that there are objects present that were not there originally, then the photograph cannot be used as evidence. Photographers should be present throughout the investigation. In amplification to photographs, the search commander also has a sketch made of the area. Sketching should be started as soon as possible. These freehand great dealings are typically orient by compass directions. Moreover, the location of all sketched objects should be determined by accurate measurements. While photographs produce everything within the range and field of the camera lens, sketches embroil only certain essential items. There are leash types of crime scene photographs and sketches. These include the following (1) those that describe the locality (2) those that reproduce the immediate grounds and (3) those that cover the inside information of the scene. Locality reproduction produces a picture of the crime scene and its surroundings. These pictures should include such things as neighbour buildings, streets, and sidewalks. Second, reproductions of the grounds should describe the crime scenes immediate surroundings (e.g., the house, the garden, etc.). Finally, a details picture shows only the scene itself (e .g., the room in which the offense was committed).During picture taking and sketching, the search commander must formulate a plan of action. This involves designating the unhomogeneous crime scene areas and objects that need to be searched and inspected. The commander must also steady down how many investigators to assign to the case. Once the search has begun, it is up to the searchers to decide what objects will be dusted for latent prints and what objects will be removed as evidence. Searches need to be both thorough and accurate Nothing should be taken for granted. Furthermore, searchers should not attempt to rely on their memories. Instead, everything of possible significance must be recorded (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26).With the development of more advanced research laboratory technologies, the role of physical evidence in the apprehension and prosecution of criminals has expanded considerably. It is generally assumed that by gathering more evidence, the investigator incre ases the likelihood of identifying the suspects (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 165-166). Evidence is defined as anything that may be presented in determine the truth about a fact in question (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). physiological evidence has three general purposes (1) it can verify that a crime has been committed (2) it can identify the person or persons who committed the crime and (3) it can exonerate all other persons who may be under suspicion. Physical evidence proving that a crime has been committed may include such things as broken door locks or bodily wounding to the complainant. Evidence indicating that the suspect was at the scene of the crime can consist of fibers or injury to the suspect (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 143-149). These forms of evidence support probable start in having a warrant issued for further investigations that lead away from the unfeigned crime scene. There are two main types of evidence found at crime scenes (1) fixed evidence and (2) movable evidence. Fixed evidence includes such things as latent fingerprints, shoe prints, tire prints, tool marks, and objects which cannot be removed because of bulk, weight, or other factors. In contrast, movable evidence consists of items which can be easily removed and stored. Finally, it should also be noted that close to anything can constitute a clue in a criminal investigation. Therefore, everything must be recorded and nothing should be overlooked.Once evidence is discovered, the search commander should have its location reproduced by sketch and/or photograph. The commander then marks the evidence for purposes of identification. The searcher who discovered the evidence should stand by as a witness to this marking and intervention procedure. The term, chain of clench, refers to the possession of evidence (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26). Investigators must be able to establish the continuous possession of evidence from the moment that it is discovered until the time that it is prese nted in court. By having the search commander handle all evidence, this chain of custody is reduced.In recent years, many police departments have augmented their evidence gathering capabilities by hiring additional personnel. Evidence technicians, or Crime Scene Search Officers, are highly trained crime scene processing specialists (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 143-149). These personnel can be dispatched just like patrol officers. Evidence technicians are generally used whenever there is retrievable physical evidence, or whenever the patrol officer feels that a photograph of the crime scene could be of benefit (Greenwood et al., 1977, pp. 143-149).A medical examiner may also be present at a crime scene. Coroners serve as a warmheartedness man between the medical examiner and law enforcement (Voelker, 1995, p. 1164). A coroner with forensic training may also act as a liaison between law enforcement, the media, and the public.The presence of many diverse personnel at a crime scene ca n give turn off to conflict. However, everyone present has a specific job to do moreover, each individual task is an important part of the broad(a) mission. Search commanders should direct all activities such that conflict is minimized. As Dienstein (1962) emphasizes, Teamwork is essential to crime scene search (Dienstein, 1962, pp. 16-26).Besides hiring personnel, many departments are also in the process of update their criminalist equipment. For example, Anchorage Alaskas police department recently converted a customized go home into a modern crime scene vehicle. By reservation crime scene investigation faster and more thorough, such tools can improve a teams overall efficiency.There are various problems that may be encountered during crime scene investigations. Two of these include staging and contamination. scaffolding involves the alteration of a crime scene prior to the arrival of police. There are different reasons for staging. For one, an offender might try to direct inv estigators attention elsewhere. Such persons may act overly cooperative or look extremely distraught. Second, staging can also represent an attempt to protect either the victim or the victims family. Such cases usually involve people who are concerned about the position, dress, or condition of a victims clay (Douglas Munn, 1992, pp. 1-10).Perhaps the biggest problem that crime scene technicians face, however, is crime scene contamination. mad forensic techniques may be adversely affected by crime scene trampling. Police departments should have a written policy regarding crime scene protection and preservation. In addition, supervisors and investigators must set an example for the entire crime scene team by adhering to the guidelines.Crime scene investigation is a complex process. It involves a number of different professionals and various areas of expertise. Only by acting as a team, however, will the members of such a diverse group ensure that their efforts result in a presuma ble outcome. The alteration of a crime scene can cause investigators to draw erroneous conclusions. By expeditiously carrying out his responsibilities, the initial responder may determine the ultimate outcome of an entire investigation.