2. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 2 Corpus Delicti“Body of the Crime” Authorities must prove: That a crime occurred That the person charged with the crime was responsible for the crime Top reasons for committing a crime Money Revenge Emotion—love, hate, anger Source of evidence Body Primary and/or secondary crime scene Suspect(s)
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4. carefully documenting the conditions at a crime scene and recognizing all relevant physical evidence.
5. The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical to both solving and prosecuting violent crimes.
6. It is important to determine the full extent of a crime scene. A crime scene is not merely the immediate area where a body is located or where an assailant concentrated his activities but can also encompass a vehicle and access/escape routes.
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8. Crime Scene Vocabulary CRIME SCENE: Any physical location in which a crime has occurred or is suspected of having occurred. PRIMARY CRIME SCENE: The original location of a crime or accident. SECONDARY CRIME SCENE: An alternate location where additional evidence may be found. SUSPECT: Person thought to be capable of committing a crime. ACCOMPLICE: Person associated with someone suspected of committing a crime. ALIBI: Statement of where a suspect was at the time of a crime.
9. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 6 Crime Scene Team A group of professionals trained in a variety of special disciplines Team members First police officer on the scene Medics (if necessary) Investigator(s) Medical examiner (if necessary) Photographer and/or field evidence technician Lab experts
10. Crime Scene Personnel POLICE OFFICERS are typically the first to arrive at a crime scene. They are responsible for securing the scene so no evidence is destroyed and detaining persons of interest in the crime. The CSI UNIT documents the crime scene in detail and collects any physical evidence. The DISTRICT ATTORNEY is often present to help determine if any search warrants are required to proceed and obtains those warrants from a judge. The MEDICAL EXAMINER (if a homicide) may or may not be present to determine a preliminary cause of death. SPECIALISTS (entomologists, forensic scientists, forensic psychologists) may be called in if the evidence requires expert analysis. DETECTIVES interview witnesses and consult with the CSI unit. They investigate the crime by following leads provided by witnesses and physical evidence.
11. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 8 Crime Scene Investigation Based on the scientific method, the Locard Exchange Principle, logic, and forensic techniques Involves: Recognition—scene survey, documentation, collection Identification—classification of evidence Individualization—comparison testing, evaluation, and interpretation Reconstruction—sequencing events, reporting, and presenting
12. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 9 Processing a Crime Scene Isolate and secure the scene Document the scene Search for evidence Collect and package evidence, maintaining the chain of custody Submit evidence to the crime lab for analysis
13. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 10 First Officer on the Scene A Assess the crime scene and assist the injured D Detain the witness A Arrest the perpetrator P Protect the crime scene T Take notes
14. Investigators gather information to: Reconstruct sequence of events Determine the modus operandi MO: the characteristic method of the crime Determine the motive of the crime
15. Processing the Crime Scene There are 7 steps to processing a crime scene Secure and Isolate the Crime Scene Record the Scene Photograph, Sketch, Take Notes Conduct a Systematic Search For Evidence Collect and Package Evidence Maintain Chain of Custody Obtain Controls Submit Evidence to the Laboratory
31. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 18 Crime Scene Survey Walk-through—performed by the crime scene investigator, the first officer, and sometimes the lead detective Purpose: Mentally prepare a reconstruction theory Note any transient or conditional evidence that could change over time Note environmental and weather conditions Note points of entry or exit, as well as paths of travel within the crime scene Record initial observations of who, what, where, when, and how Identify special needs within the crime scene for personnel, precautions, or equipment and notify superior officers or other agencies
34. Standard search patterns used at a crime scene, especially when the scene is very large. These patterns include: spiral, grid, strip or linear, wheel or ray and quadrant or zone search
40. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 21 Documentation Notes—date, time, description of the location, weather and environmental conditions, description of the crime, location of the evidence relative to other key points, the names of all people involved, modifications that have occurred, and other relevant information Photography—photos of scene and surroundings; mid-range to close-up photos with various angles of each piece of evidence; photos as viewed by any witnesses Sketches—inclusion of date; time; scale; reference points; distance measurements; names of investigators, victims, suspects; a legend (key) Videography—allows for narration (non-subjective) and different perspectives
44. The scope extends to possible arguments which might be made in this case (suicide/self defense) and documenting conditions supporting or refuting these arguments.
54. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 29 Crime Scene Sketch Date: August 14, 2005 Criminalist: Ann Wilson Time: 11:35 am Location: 4358 Rockledge Dr., St. Louis, Mo. N 5 ft
55. Evidence Collector/Custodian Have significant evidence photographed before collection. Describe evidence and its location on appropriate bag or envelope. Sign and date evidence container/maintain chain of custody. Appropriately collect and package evidence to maximize evidence integrity. Maintain evidence log. Use appropriate protective equipment (gloves) and methods when dealing with potentially infective evidence (blood).
61. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 33 Packaging Most items should be packaged in a primary container and then placed inside a secondary one. Pill bottles, vials, manila envelopes, and plastic bags are good for most evidence. Trace evidence may be placed on a piece of paper which is then folded in a particular way called a “druggist’s fold.” These are then placed inside other containers such as paper bags, plastic bags, canisters, packets, or envelopes, depending on the type and size of the evidence.
62. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 34 Chain of Custody There must be a written record of all people who have had possession of an item of evidence, beginning at the time of collection. The evidence container must be marked for identification. The collector’s initials should be placed on the seal. If evidence is turned over to another person, the transfer must be recorded.
65. Maintaining the chain of custody is vital for any type of evidence. In addition, if laboratory analysis reveals that DNA evidence was contaminated, it may be necessary to identify persons who have handled that evidence.
76. Many labs require specific documentation before they will process evidence
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78. Evidence Log Contains the following info Case # Item Inventory # Description of evidence Name of suspect Name of victim Date and time of recovery Signature of person recovering evidence Signature of any witness present during collection
79. Packaging Evidence Size of bindle depends on evidence Small Piece of sheet paper Large Large sheet of wrapping paper Packaging techniques Choose appropriate size of sheet paper for bindle Crease paper (9 squares) Place evidence in center square Fold left and right sides in Fold in top and bottom Insert top flap into bottom flap and tape closed Place bindle into plastic or paper evidence bag and fold bag closed Place seal over folded edge of evidence bag Have collector write their name over the folded edge Wet evidence Place in paper container and allow to air dry Wet evidence should NEVER be packaged in plastic container when wet (any DNA will degenerate and evidence may become moldy and useless) Controls must be obtained from victim and crime scene and package accordingly
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81. The field of forensic science is so broad today that no agency will have every form of specialty service available from among its ranks.
82. Typically, specialists are brought in from industry, the academic community, private scientific laboratories, and similar concerns.
83. Some items to consider when dealing with outside specialists: The competence and reliability of the specialist. The ability of the specialist to work at a scene within law enforcement guidelines. The role of the specialist in presenting expert testimony in court.
84. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 43 The Medical Examiner and the Coroner A medical examiner is a medical doctor, usually a pathologist, and is appointed by the governing body of the area. There are 400 forensic pathologists throughout the U.S. A coroner is an elected official who usually has no special medical training. In four states, the coroner is a medical doctor.
85. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 44 Medical Examiner’s Responsibilities Identify the deceased Establish the time and date of death Determine a medical cause of death (the injury or disease that resulted in the person dying) Determine the mechanism of death (the physiological reason that the person died) Classify the manner of death Natural Accidental Suicide Homicide Undetermined Notify the next of kin
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88. asphyxiation, hemorrhaging, intoxication, infection, arrythmia Manner of death • Why the cause of death came to be Natural Accidental suicide homicide undetermined
89. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 46 The Corpse “The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you.” —Mary Roach, Stiff, W. W. Norton & Company, 2003
90. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company 47 People in the News Dr. Michael M. Baden is a renowned pathologist and was the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City and for Suffolk County. Dr. Baden was on the panel that investigated the assassinations of president John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has been involved as an expert in forensic pathology in many cases of international interest, including: The remains of Tsar Nicholas of Russia and his family The Claus von Bülow murder trial Expert witness for the defense in the O. J. Simpson trial Reautopsy of Medgar Evers, civil rights leader Reexamination of the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder Autopsies of the victims of TWA Flight 800 Dr. Baden is the host of HBO’s Autopsy series and is featured on many of the crime talk shows.
