24 Apr 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Lecture 7 – Crime Scene Investigations
Crime scenes require special consideration and involve teams of specialists
o If there are human remains, the state of the remains dictates
procedure
o Many cases of skeletonized remains are ancient
o Decisions are based on the context of burial
o Many different types of crime scenes it is difficult to state specific
protocols
Post Mortem Examination
o Address the 5 Ws
o Pathologist provides information on cause, manner and time of
death
o Pathologist should attend the crime scene if possible as an aid to
addressing the 5 Ws
o MDs not trained in forensics often confuse mode and cause of
death
How Crime Scenes are Discovered
o Organized searchers
o Accidental discovery
o Informants or perpetrators plea bargain
o Combination thereof
Searching for Crime Scenes
o Classified into 4 categories
Open or unobstructed (fields)
Cluttered or obstructed (dense bush)
Underwater
Mixed
Methods of Searching
o Strip/line search
Used for open areas
o Grid search
More time consuming
Following line search the same area searched in a
perpendicular direction double coverage
Increased potential for evidence
o Circular/Spiral pattern
Best in small areas
One-person search
Move outside to inside to avoid disturbing evidence
o Cadaver Dogs
Trained to locate human cadavers or body parts by detecting
human specific composition
Types of Analysis
o Blood stain analysis
o Forensic analysis
Science behind the genesis of a crime scene