jimtrue.com : school : CJT1111 : 2003-05-28: Crime Scene Investigator (Ch 3)
Posted by Jim True on May 28, 2003 6:18 AM. Last Updated October 22, 2006 9:23 PM
Disclaimer for all material noted here is at the bottom of this web page.
Bachelor Program - University of Florida, don't have instructor's that can teach this stuff. UF is trying to back out of it at present. Bachelor's in Crime Scene in Forensics. Will not start in August. Will accept the AS in Crime Scene; online Master's at present.
Mike Healy - discuss regarding UCF's degree or Gulf Coast University for transfer.
A really good resource: Death Investigator's Handbook by Louis N. Eliopulos.
One chance to work a crime scene... ONE.
No photographs of the cohort or your equipment.
What is a crime scene? Where a crime is committed.
Have to figure out where the crime scene is before you can work it. Rape, date rape drugs, don't know where they were when the crime was committed. SAVE kit takes upwards of 6 months to come back. If you have DNA, you're great, but if there is no DNA. Crime scene is on the victim.
Objectives of any Crime Scene Investigation are to:
Figure out what DID NOT happen. If you have testimonial evidence that says something happened, and the science says it didn't happen, you must determine that as well.
AFIS - Automated Fingerprint Identification System: Difference between automatic and Automated; automated assists a human; automatic replaces a human.
It is better to have processed the scene more thoroughly than needed, than to have overlooked something seemingly insignificant that turns out to be a critical item of evidence in the investigation.
Crime scene investigators may not allow superiors or coroner's investigators to influence calm deliberation on the case before or during the actual crime scene examination. The investigation should not be rushed on their account; the investigator is personally responsible for his mistakes and, therefore, has the right to determine personal actions at the scene.
Dr Henry Lee's specialty is reconstruction of crime scenes. 90 degree blood droplets on Nicole's back; was never tested or collected, was hosed down at the coroner's office.
Panama City Beach Police Department - Michelle Brouchard. Twelve of the officers with the dead guy in the middle of the room, one of the guy's is smoking. You're always right because you've had the training; if you're holding the scene for someone else (FDLE or Coroner), document and hold the crime scene. Begin the chain of custody and record of the folks at the scene. All they tell them is 'don't' mess up the crime scene; that is a matter of opinion.
Latent means invisible; patent is visible.
National Forensic Training Institute - person who teaches the online Intro to Forensics works at NFTI.
If you have any say in the matter, if it's a matter of not being a natural death, ask the ME for a full autopsy.
As Crime Scene Techs, our day begins as your's ends.
Make sure you know the protocol for your department: know who owns the crime scene, who runs the crime scene, etc.
Photograph the entire outside of the crime scene, videotape, closeups of every window and door. Same with the inside. From the front door, photograph, videotape, alternate light source (hairs and fibers), photograph and collect and sketch on crime scene. Roll out paper, start over again. One thing we don't want to do is cross contaminate the scene (bring in evidence).
Crime Scene Proper - where the body is. Make a path to the body, work the scene up to the body, so there is a path covered with paper so the coroner has a path. Do not use a vacuum on the body; use tape for hairs and fibers. Work around the entire body before the ME comes in. When they move the body, photogaph underneath.
Some ME's think they own the crime scene; some do, collect all hairs and fibers, photographs before the ME gets there.
Two crime scene techs for every crime scene.
What is Evidence?
People going to screw up your crime scene, family, cops and other crime scene techs.
How long for a Blow Fly to arrive on dead body in the State of Florida? 10-20 minutes.
Lack of evidence IS evidence. No scratches on the arms, defense wounds, could be evidence of suicide. Must prove intent to prove suicide.
2 - 3 minutes after heart stops pumping, brain is still alive.
Anything, everything and nothing can be evidence.
Make sure you have a legitamite, legal search warrant before doing the crime scene.
Homicide scenes, no real need for a search warrant, but if the body is dead, get one just in case.
Inventory vs. photos, protecting and not releasing the scene.
Disclaimer: These are MY notes taken from classroom lectures while I'm in the classroom. While I'm perfectly happy to share my notes with my classmates and I know I take very good notes, you should still make every effort to attend the class and TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES. I will not transcribe everything the instructor says in the classroom, and I will NEVER post pre-exam reviews. My notes will not replace the value of actually attending class and taking your own class notes.I also cannot attest to their accuracy, other than they are what was provided in the lecture; you should not reference my notes as "expert opionion" by any means, and if you notice an error or omission, please do me the favor of e-mailing me with the correction and I will re-post my notes. End of Disclaimer.