Trace and Biological Evidence - Essay Example

Trace and Biological Evidence Introduction Discuss the responsibilities of the first responding officer at the crime scene Crime scenes response is the most important and crucial aspect to master for the police to have adequate control of their work (Christine & Hess, 2012). This is because crime scenes are complex and can vary from a small single room to a couple of acres. The most reliable person at the crime’s scene is the first officer to have arrived at the place (Christine & Hess, 2012).

The first responding officer can make collection of evidence successful or render it extremely difficult for the involved parties. This is critically important because any mistakes or omissions made by the first responding officer may break down the entire criminal prosecution. Besides, effective and precise criminal prosecution starts when the first officer arrives at the crime scene. The fist responding police officer ought to arrive at the crime scene cautiously so that he or she may shun to contaminating any important evidence still fresh and visible at the venue.

In addition, he or she has the mandate of taking life saving measures of any injured victim (Christine & Hess, 2012). For instance, he should ensure that the safety of every person present is guaranteed. This encompasses ensuring order at the scene besides arresting any an uncooperative suspect for further questioning their centre (Christine & Hess, 2012). However, in either case the first responding officer must make mental or written notes regarding the venue’s conditions for the entire exercise to be complete.

Secondly, the first police officer at the venue ought to ensure the important work of crime scene is complete by finding the entry and exit of suspects as well as victims (Christine & Hess, 2012). In turn, he or she should redirect the emergency personnel and journalist to use a different pathway where least evidence will be disturbed, hence preserve numerous proves that are time-based. This is via taking extra careful precautions because at this point it is easy to destroy the precarious and vital evidence (Christine & Hess, 2012).

The presence of relatives, victims and the officer can easily affect the state of physical evidence at the scene, hence jeopardizing the entire criminal prosecution process (Christine & Hess, 2012). For instance, family may attempt to make a suicide look like a casual game or alter evidence with the intention of avoiding a fellow family member from going to jail (Christine & Hess, 2012). Thirdly, the officer has the task of identifying witnesses and safeguarding them from the crime’s scene (Christine & Hess, 2012).

This is via secluding them whereby they will give witness of what they saw and led to the predicament at hand (Christine & Hess, 2012). In addition, the officer sets the ball rolling by informing all the necessary departments depending on the crime and the state. Hence, contacting an estimation of extra workforce needed at the scene for effective collection of evidence, which in this case encompasses varied specialists who may have the expertise of extracting more evidence like fingerprints (Christine & Hess, 2012). 2.) Describe the basics of processing a crime scene including the proper documentation and collection of collecting physical evidence.

Effective crime scene processing includes the following various basic activities in and out of the venue. They are assessing, observing, documenting, searching and processing evidence both at the scene and in its absence (through laboratory testing) (Parish & Ramirez, 2011). The assessing of crime scene is usually a continuous process. It is fundamental for the officers to check the zone extensively and adjust the plan with the intention of attaining adequate information (parish & Ramirez 2011).

This is through crime’s specialist first questioning first responding officer at the scene or victims to attain the theory of the case (parish & Ramirez 2011). Consequently, assisting technicians to have a firm base intended to set other procedures intended to reveal what exactly happened to commence. Secondly, the personnel involved ought to conduct meticulous observation process of the entire venue. This process entails evaluating and mentally picturing the condition of the scene and items found at the place (parish & Ramirez 2011).

In this process, crime investigators must act cautiously not to tamper with the evidence. It is advisable they undertake this process from a single point and avoiding moving around the scene that may contaminate valuable physical evidence (parish & Ramirez 2011). This process is vital in order to ascertain if the theory in the first process is valid. The third step is documenting the entire crime; theory and evidence collected so far (parish & Ramirez 2011). This is a highly vital component part of processing a crime scene (parish & Ramirez 2011).

However, the process entails various activities like photographing, sketching, personal observations, and videotaping the evidence at the scene (parish & Ramirez 2011). It is vital for the photographs and sketches to capture the scene in its original context (parish & Ramirez 2011). Hence, entailing documenting of varied objects characterizing the scene for future evaluation in order to determine the evident relationship that was evident during the crime (parish & Ramirez 2011). Mostly, this entails technicians to show quantity, item, color, type, size and condition of the scene while documenting the entire venue.

Searching encompasses examining crime’s scene and moving items within the venue to observe varied surfaces (Gardner, 2011). However due to the risks of contaminating evidence, it is important that all the documentation should be complete before embarking on meticulous search. The technician uses powders and chemicals to develop and enhance the visible items of the evidence (Gardner, 2011). These substances are useful in developing latent prints (Gardner, 2011). Work Cited Gardner M. R. (2011).

Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, Florida: CRC Press. Hess, M. K. & Othman M.H.Christine, (2012). Criminal Investigation: New York. Cengage Learning publications. Parish, L. C. & Ramirez, R. C. (2011). Crime Scene Processing and Investigation Workbook, Florida: CRC Press.