Crime Scene Investigator - Essay Example

? Crime Scene Investigator Introduction A crime scene investigator refers to an expert in organized scientific collection and processing of evidence (Fish, Miller & Braswell, 2010). The investigator oversees numerous complex crime scenes for instance homicides, sexual assaults, home invasions, armed robberies and burglaries and other crimes involving property. He/she mostly assesses and processes the crime scene, packages and transfers evidence, views and takes pictures of autopsies, participates in police agencies’ briefings and conferences (Criminaljusticeusa.com, 2011). The major objectives of a crime scene investigator are to reconstruct the incidence, to determine the sequence of events, to determine the operation method, to reveal the intention, to uncover what was stolen and from where, to establish the criminal’s activities prior, during and after the incidence, and to identify, gather, record and preserve all pertinent physical evidence (a crime scene’s conditions) that begin the process of justice (Fish, Miller & Braswell, 2010). The ability to recognize and collect physical evidence properly is always invaluable in solving violent crimes as well as during prosecution. As a matter of fact, the role of a crime scene investigator is in most court cases very critical as he/she is the determining factor as to whether physical proof will be applied while prosecuting or solving violent criminal acts (Crime Scene Investigator Network, n.d). It is important to note that the investigation of a crime scene can either be straightforward or it can come with challenges, which would call for a multidisciplinary approach in order to resolve them. To start with, the investigator can get the wrong impression of the crime scene – for instance, a crime scene that seems to be accidental fire may have been staged to conceal further crimes. Therefore, hurried conclusions may make the investigator to miss out on important clues. The investigator should therefore know that every item that catches his/her attention is important and he/she should document it. He/she should thus be observant and diligent following standard procedures for every kind of scene response (Fish, Miller & Braswell, 2010). On arriving at the scene of crime, a crime scene-investigator must do various things and process lots of information. To start with, he/she should start by having a brief interview meeting with the first reporting officer on the scene as well as the lead detective in order to obtain information that can assist him/her comprehend what happened, when it occurred and the order of the events that took place (Domnauer, 2007). This should happen without the investigator getting too much information that is likely to taint his/her perspective. Instead, it should be sharpened in such a way that he/she is able to take the information that he/she received previously and mesh it with that which he/she gathered at the crime scene thereby enabling him/her to come to an impartial and logical determination of the events. In other words, the investigator should present the court with an accurate and true crime scene representation remaining unbiased as well as objective all through the proceedings. He/she should leave it for the court to weigh the value of the evidence and determine innocence or guilt (Fish, Miller & Braswell, 2010). Crime Scene Investigator Network (n.d) further records that a crime scene investigator has no substitute for a thoughtful and careful approach, and that he/she must not jump into making immediate conclusions regarding what happened founded on limited evidence. Instead, he/she must come up with several different theories of the crime, keeping those that incoming information at the scene do not eliminate. Rational deductions regarding what happened are generated from information from witnesses as well as the scene appearance. These theories assist in guiding the investigator in documenting specific conditions and identify valuable proof. According to Ruslander (2007), a crime scene investigator uses his/her assessment to generate theories/hypothesis based on physical proof of the victims and suspects’ actions before, during and subsequent to a criminal episode. He/she presents those findings to a lay person, triers of facts as well as other investigators in a way consistent with their comprehension level because they are the final decider of facts. After hearing from the first reporting officer on the scene as well as the lead detective, the investigator then conducts a first walk throughout the scene trying to get its overall feel. As he/she does this, he/she should ascertain that before his/her arrival, not anything was moved. It is vital for a crime scene investigator to approach the scene very carefully, as if it is his/her only opportunity of recovering and preserving crucial physical evidence. He/she then walks through the crime scene a second time, thoroughly recording all the details of the crime scene by sketching, taking videos and pictures of things present at the scene. He/she tries to make out the manner in which the crime took place and then collects all prospective proof that is not in the vicinity of the body if the crime had to do with death. He/she also takes a photo of each piece of evidence beside a ruler so as to demonstrate the object’s size. Afterwards, he/she tags, labels, logs and packages the evidence ensuring that it is safe while being carried to the crime lab. Subsequent to thorough processing of the crime scene, the crime scene-investigator photographs the departed with the proof lying around him/her and then takes the body to the morgue of the crime lab (Horswell, 2004). At times, the investigator may also be required to testify in a law court regarding their findings and the methods of processing that he/she used at the scene (Criminaljusticeusa.com, 2011). Ruslander (2007) explains how working around the crime scene in the entire 360 degrees of the perimeter, the crime scene investigator starts by photographing the scene from the outside before moving inside the crime scene. He/she should ensure that he/she take photographs of the whole exterior of the scene and from all possible angles. He/she should not only photograph what lies directly across from the scene, but also in opposite directions up and down the street. The crime scene investigator’s action of documenting the conditions of the crime scene can entail noting down such transient details as street names and numbers, artificial and natural lighting (on/off), weather, furniture moved by medical teams, drapes (open/closed), among others. Some physical evidence like gunshot residue or shoeprints is fragile and it can be lost or destroyed easily if the crime scene investigator does not collect it right away. Moreover the range of the investigation broadens to arguments’ consideration that may be generated in this case (self defense/suicide) as well as document conditions that would refute or support these arguments (Crime Scene Investigator Network, n.d). Ruslander (2007) explains that in case the situation warrants aerial photographs, the investigator should take them. He/she should also conduct the good practice of keeping a photo log of every picture that he/she takes, which would comprise the make as well as model of the camera, lens and flash he/she is using, the film’s nature and speed, and the quantity of exposures on the roll. Additionally, the log would take in the pointing direction of the camera, shutter speed, the f-stop as well as whether or not he/she used the flash. Moreover, in order to supplement the still photography and to give the potential viewers a sense of being at the crime scene, the investigator should take video photography (Domnauer, 2007). Upon completing the photography of the overall exterior crime scene, the crime scene investigator should move in and search for any evidence that he/she can photograph, which includes things like damage to windows, doors or shrubbery, and footwear or tire impressions. In other words, the attention of the crime scene investigator should at this point turn towards identifying items that possess evidentiary value. He/she should ensure that he/she document their location and obtain accurate measurements, even if approximate particularly in the case with time and distance. He/she should photograph these items independently using scales. The investigator should also photograph any property that is situated outside that seems to have come from inside, as well as any signs of ballistic evidence, serological evidence or damage. Again, the photography of all of these items must be overall, midrange, close-up as well as close-up with scales. The investigator must ensure that all lettered or numbered markers that he/she use are placed in such a way that their orientation is on the same axis. This is in order to ensure that all the numbers or letters used are in view within a single photograph (Ruslander, 2007). Another thing that the crime scene investigator should do after completing scene photography is completing a diagram. The diagram should be a rough, hand drawn piece that takes in the location of any photographed items of evidence as well as measurements of the scene and evidence that he/she obtains. He/she can use rectangular, triangulation or baseline measurements, either individually or in combination. After completing taking photographs, making diagrams and taking scene measurements, he/she should collect the evidence and preserve it for later assessment and processing. he/she should package all items that he/she deem crucial as evidence very carefully and properly for transport to the crime scene laboratory where, under controlled conditions, they undergo assessment and processing, which could include dusting for latent fingerprints, close examination for trace evidence and swabbing for DNA. It is important to note that while some items are collectable for transportation, others are not owing to either their size or location. Crime scene investigators should process such pieces of evidence right on the scene (Garrett, 2003). The investigator may be need to put on personal protective equipment such as splash protection, SCBA breathing apparatus, respirators, tyvek jumpsuits, hardhats, rubber gloves, head and shoe covers, safety shoes among others. He/she should never get into a crime scene without these personal protective equipment since there exists many hazards (hissen and obvious) that demand the investigator to remain alert in order to ensure that he/she is working in a safe environment as well as to ensure that he/she does not alter, lose, destroy, or contaminate physical evidence (Fish, Miller & Braswell, 2010).  It is also imperative for a crime scene investigator to be in a position to identify what should be there at a crime scene but is not – for example, the victim's wallet and vehicle. He/she should also identify objects that seem to be out of place – for instance, ski mask, which the assailant may have left. It is also essential for a crime scene investigator to determine the full extent of a crime scene – a crime scene is not just the immediate region where an assailant carried out his activities or where a body is located but it can also encompass escape and access routes or even a vehicle (Crime Scene Investigator Network, n.d). Conclusion Apparently, the role of crime scene investigator is very invaluable in the process of justice and in the final determination of the facts – the investigator’s role provides the primary means of establishing the connection between the suspect and the crime scene or the suspect and a victim. He/she carries out two of the four steps in the admissibility of physical evidence for consideration by the court of law. These steps are recognition and collection as discussed in this paper. Consequently there is dire need for a crime scene investigator to be highly trained. He/she should employ a systematic and thorough methodology towards the recording as well as processing of a crime scene in order to see to it that the outcome of his investigation has become positive. As mentioned earlier, he/she should also remain unbiased and objective (professionally neutral) while conducting crime searches and should aim at building a true and perfect representation of the scene of crime – his/her obligation should be to the truth rather than to the defense or the prosecutor. References Crime Scene Investigator Network, (N.d). Crime Scene Response Guidelines: Overview. Retrieved from http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/respon1.html Criminaljusticeusa.com, (2011). Crime Scene Investigation. Retrieved from http://www.criminaljusticeusa.com/crime-scene-investigation.html Domnauer, T. (2007). Crime Scene Investigation. Columbus, OH: Carson-Dellosa Publishing. Fish, J. T., Miller, L. S. & Braswell, M. C. (2010). Crime Scene Investigation. Amsterdam: Elsevier. Garrett, R. J. (2003). A Primer on the Tools of Crime Scene Analysis. Journal of Forensic Identification, 53, (6). Horswell, J. (2004): The practice of crime scene investigation. London: CRC press, pp83-120. Ruslander, H.W. R. ( 2007). The Role of the Crime Scene Investigator. Retrieved from http://www.criminalistics.us/Role%20of%20CS%20investigator.html Read More