Fictional Crime Scene Analysis
As a team your task is to canvas a fictional crime scene. You are the fingerprint examiner:
You respond to a homicide scene in a retail store employing numerous people, and upon arrival find police officers and several employees present. You also find a deceased victim who has obviously been shot, indications of a fight, articles of clothing, office supplies, papers, narcotics enclosed in plastic containers, and two guns, scattered on the floor and in other locations within the scene.
Explain what you are looking for, how you would conduct your investigation at the scene, and how you would process any fingerprint evidence you’ve found.
What steps would you take to determine if any of the people present at the scene may have been
involved in the homicide or are merely witnesses?
Introduction There are many things to do when trying to process a crime scene thoroughly and correctly. Every crime scene is a different scenario for investigators. That is why there are certain steps and procedures that need to be done to make sure the integrity of a crime scene stays intact. These steps would involve:
-Photography of scene from all three ranges and with scales when needed.
-Photograph all pieces of evidence with scales as needed.
-Set up a command post where we could trade information gathered from the police and also the witnesses.
-A fingerprint station would be set up while all key witnesses are present.
-The medical examiner would be called to pick up the body.
-An entry and exit point would be set up and the perimeter taped off to prevent contamination of evidence and our scene.
-An evidence log would be started.
-Chain of custody needs to be established.
-Photography log would be started.
-A list of everyone who entered and exited would be compiled including contact numbers as well as badge numbers.
Getting Started
After all of this is started getting all of the extra people or possible witnesses or suspects should be cleared and out of the scene. Separate all of the witnesses and have them questioned immediately. I would also explain to each of them that their fingerprints will be taken to rule out any involvement in the crime. I would explain that this was a standard procedure so that no one felt they might be being accused. This step of fingerprinting will aid in the search of an answer for are they involved or just witness.
Finding the Evidence
All areas of the scene must be looked over very well to find as much evidence that will help in the case. Even looking where you wouldn’t think there would be any evidence. After all the evidence is collected fingerprints need to be located if there are any. The fingerprints should be found photographed and lifted. These will be used to match to any of the suspects and witnesses to rule them out. . You can use fingerprint powder, light sources, and fuming processes to lift fingerprints from items. When removing a firearm do not unload the weapon record the make, model, caliber, and serial number. The cylinder rounds, casings, the magazine and the rounds can be examined for fingerprints.
The fingerprints that are collected will be taken back to the lab for further processing.
Conclusion
Following all of these rules when processing the scene will help to be successful when it comes to solving cases. Crime scenes can often be horrific and nobody really expects, but they do happen. Investigators that are skillful at their jobs can keep the integrity of the crime scene in hopes that suspects will be caught, convicted, and sentenced.
Reference:
1) Leo, W. (2004). Fingerprint Identification: Criminal Investigations Series. Law Tech Custom Publishing.
2) N.A. New Mexico Survivors of Homicide retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://www.nmsoh.org/homicide_investigator_checklist.htm
3) Byrd, M. (2004). Duty Description for the Crime Scene Investigator retrieved May 20, 2008 from
http://www3.sc.maricopa.edu/ajs/crime_scene_technician.htm
You respond to a homicide scene in a retail store employing numerous people, and upon arrival find police officers and several employees present. You also find a deceased victim who has obviously been shot, indications of a fight, articles of clothing, office supplies, papers, narcotics enclosed in plastic containers, and two guns, scattered on the floor and in other locations within the scene.
Explain what you are looking for, how you would conduct your investigation at the scene, and how you would process any fingerprint evidence you’ve found.
What steps would you take to determine if any of the people present at the scene may have been
involved in the homicide or are merely witnesses?
Introduction There are many things to do when trying to process a crime scene thoroughly and correctly. Every crime scene is a different scenario for investigators. That is why there are certain steps and procedures that need to be done to make sure the integrity of a crime scene stays intact. These steps would involve:
-Photography of scene from all three ranges and with scales when needed.
-Photograph all pieces of evidence with scales as needed.
-Set up a command post where we could trade information gathered from the police and also the witnesses.
-A fingerprint station would be set up while all key witnesses are present.
-The medical examiner would be called to pick up the body.
-An entry and exit point would be set up and the perimeter taped off to prevent contamination of evidence and our scene.
-An evidence log would be started.
-Chain of custody needs to be established.
-Photography log would be started.
-A list of everyone who entered and exited would be compiled including contact numbers as well as badge numbers.
Getting Started
After all of this is started getting all of the extra people or possible witnesses or suspects should be cleared and out of the scene. Separate all of the witnesses and have them questioned immediately. I would also explain to each of them that their fingerprints will be taken to rule out any involvement in the crime. I would explain that this was a standard procedure so that no one felt they might be being accused. This step of fingerprinting will aid in the search of an answer for are they involved or just witness.
Finding the Evidence
All areas of the scene must be looked over very well to find as much evidence that will help in the case. Even looking where you wouldn’t think there would be any evidence. After all the evidence is collected fingerprints need to be located if there are any. The fingerprints should be found photographed and lifted. These will be used to match to any of the suspects and witnesses to rule them out. . You can use fingerprint powder, light sources, and fuming processes to lift fingerprints from items. When removing a firearm do not unload the weapon record the make, model, caliber, and serial number. The cylinder rounds, casings, the magazine and the rounds can be examined for fingerprints.
The fingerprints that are collected will be taken back to the lab for further processing.
Conclusion
Following all of these rules when processing the scene will help to be successful when it comes to solving cases. Crime scenes can often be horrific and nobody really expects, but they do happen. Investigators that are skillful at their jobs can keep the integrity of the crime scene in hopes that suspects will be caught, convicted, and sentenced.
Reference:
1) Leo, W. (2004). Fingerprint Identification: Criminal Investigations Series. Law Tech Custom Publishing.
2) N.A. New Mexico Survivors of Homicide retrieved May 20, 2008 from http://www.nmsoh.org/homicide_investigator_checklist.htm
3) Byrd, M. (2004). Duty Description for the Crime Scene Investigator retrieved May 20, 2008 from
http://www3.sc.maricopa.edu/ajs/crime_scene_technician.htm