FSC100H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Human Body, Birds Eye
Scene of a crime
The crime scene
➢ Many types of crime scenes
➢ All scenes are different
➢ Can be classified in a variety of ways
❖ Location of offense
❖ Size
❖ Type of crime
➢ A crime scene is not static
❖ Boundaries can be redefined
Importance of a scene
➢ Establish links: victim, suspect, scene, object
➢ Generate leads
➢ Understanding the evidence itself
➢ Corroborating witness statements
➢ ID suspects
First Responder
➢ Initially approach incidences as criminal investigations
❖ Could have criminal origin
❖ Common sense
➢ Initial officer
❖ Identify and begins response to situation: control and leadership
❖ First priority: safety and well-being of others
❖ Second priority: preservation of life
❖ Third: preserve scene
❖ Note alterations
L.O.S.E.R.
➢ Practical guideline for crime scene management, begin even before arrival
➢ Recommended approach for any officer(s) responsible for the initial assessment
of a crime scene prior to evidence collection
❖ Listen to victims and/or witness
❖ Observe the scene and surroundings- including the approach
❖ Search for potential victim, suspects, witnesses, and physical evidence
❖ Evaluate the scene and information obtained
❖ Record Information in a memorandum or case book
Scene alterations
➢ ‘altering scene acceptable along with justification
➢ examples of alterations
❖ damage caused to gain entry
❖ items moved to assist with medical treatment
❖ damage from suspect apprehension
❖ environment: rain, snow, wind
❖ time delay before determine criminal origin
❖ document “paths of contamination”
➢ suspect, first responders
Securing a crime scene
➢ scene assumed to yield physical evidence
❖ control
❖ maintenance
❖ documentation
➢ Locard’s exchange principle
❖ Exclude scene from public access until processes
❖ Oversize perimeter, reduce later
❖ Hot zone/ inner perimeter
❖ Warm zone/ outer perimeter
❖ Scene vacated and evidence left for forensic personnel
❖ Exceptions
➢ Leaving evidence in place poses safety concern
➢ Fragile evidence that may be lost
➢ Collect or cover
❖ Ex: footwear and tire track impressions
➢ Graphic scenes in open view
➢ Cover/close out of respect
❖ Scene security officer stationed at access point or outer perimeter
➢ Authorize access
➢ Log comings and goings
❖ People at the scene
➢ Victim
➢ Offender
➢ Witnesses
➢ Relatives
➢ Media
➢ Police
Recording the scene
➢ PHOTOGRAPHY
❖ Accurate and permanent record
❖ Items not moved until photographed
❖ Scene photographed as completely as possible
❖ Overall shots
❖ Various angles
❖ Photograph items to show position and location relative to entire scene
❖ Walk the viewer in
➢ Overall- mid-close
