Scientific Approaches Used During The Investigation - Research Paper Example

Scientific Approaches Used During The Investigation Introduction Undoubtedly, homicide crime scene is the most important crime scene that police officers/investigators can be called upon to react to. Due to the nature of the crime (death as a result of violence or any unnatural cause), answers to “what happened?” may only be determined after an intensive investigation and examination of the crime scene and after medical and professional assessment of the available evidence collected by the criminal investigator (González & Torres, 2011). These evidences may be collected from the crime scene, recorded statements from the suspects, eye witnesses or autopsy results. Homicide investigation is a highly specialized and professional undertaking that requires continuous education and training with adequate experience. Nevertheless, it is not an exclusive purview of the detective. An effective and successful homicide investigation depends on the initial actions taken by the patrol officers to respond to any crime. According to Levitt (2010), the basic principles involved in the initiation of a successful homicide investigation are: 1. Quick response to homicide crime scene by patrolling officers. This is very important in protecting evidentiary materials before they are lost, destroyed or altered. 2. Everything and anything is considered as evidence. Whether the evidence is testimonial or physical, it should be noted, preserved and provided to the detectives. The goodness of preserving homicide crime scene and carrying out intelligent examination at the crime scene cannot be overemphasized. If, for instance, a murder case backfires to proceed or the officer is mistreated in court, the paramount reason may be an insufficient examination of the homicide scene or a total failure to implement basic crime procedures. Homicide crime scene Usually, homicide investigations begin at the site where the body is initially found (primary scene). Primary scene symbolizes the significance of this site and the immediate concern of the police officials to such forensically crucial area in death detections (Palmiotto, 2012). In ‘Practical Homicide Investigations,’ there may be more than two crime scenes apart from where the body was initially found. Such extra crimes may include: - Where the dead body was moved from - Where the exact assault leading to death occurred - Where the trace or physical evidence linked to the crime was discovered (this includes body parts). - A vehicle transporting the dead body to and where it was eventually found. At the primary crime scene It is worth noting that any item may and can constitute physical evidence; thus it is an important caution is observed. Nothing should be moved or touched from the scene before the investigators arrive. However, if need arises such that something at the scene has to be moved or secured immediately, a detective handling the evidence should record and document the location, condition, appearance and any other feature that may be affecting the investigation. This officer should be sure to provide enough information to the homicide detectives without any distortion of information. In all homicide cases, crime scene is a proof that the crime was committed. It contains all the elements of corpus delicti and gives a lot of physical evidence that connects the suspect or suspects to the crime (McKeever, 2013). Therefore, if one can take control of the primary scene, automatically that person has controlled the investigation. Homicide investigation begins at the primary scene Both the National Research Council and Board on Life Sciences (2010) have the same idea and concur with the fact that homicide investigation begins at the prime scene because: - The police or detectives are normally called to the scene by anybody who discovers the body or an eye witness or the victim if he was not killed. - In most homicide cases, the crime scene yields enough evidence and may be used for further inquiries. How to protect the crime scene The scene must be safeguarded and fully protected from unauthorized or unnecessary people so that all the physical evidence are not lost, altered, moved, contaminated or destroyed. Other police detectives, including the supervisory personnel, without genuine reason for being at the crime scene, are regarded as invalid or unauthorized persons. Perhaps there is no other homicide investigation aspect that is more open or exposed to error than protection and preservation of crime scene. Any official action taken at the scene of the crime will either bring a successful investigation or negatively affect the whole investigation thus leading to loss of evidence. It is, therefore, important for the first official arriving at the scene to protect the site to enhance effective investigation (Levitt, 2010). More often, the first officer to arrive at the scene is the patrol police. He is responsible for carrying out a preliminary investigation which begins shortly when he arrives at the scene. The work of responding officer in homicide cases is to arrive at the crime scene, observe what the investigators may require for investigation process and protect the scene to ensure that no evidence is tampered with. Protection of the scene of the crime may be as simple as closing the door of the room where the body was found or may be as complicated as roping off several block scenes. Indeed, there is no definite formula or method to establish the boundaries of the crime scenes. As the information is availed at the scene, several other locations may be protected so as to facilitate effective retrieval of crucial physical evidence. Many times, the best places to obtain physical or trace evidence are nearest where the tragic act occurred. This is why the detectives put more emphasis on protection of the crime scene. Eric Garner In one homicide incident, Eric Garner provides a good illustration of how investigation can be done. In July 2014, Eric Garner met his death in Tompkinsville; neighbor of Staten Island of New York City. Police officers put him in an apparent chokehold for almost nineteen seconds, a method that had been proscribed by the New York City Police Department (NYPD before. Initially, Justin Damico, an officer, approached Eric having suspected him of selling “loosies- which is single cigarettes from packs with no tax stamps. After confessing to the police that he was tired being stressed and harassed by the officers, and he was not marketing the cigarettes, police went ahead to arrest and detain him. Daniel Pantaleo, an officer who was present at the scene, put Garner’s arms around his neck and applied a chokehold. This event was recoded in a video that went viral all over the world. While Garner lied with his face down on the sidewalk, he was heavily guarded by four officers. In a recorded video, Garner was heard pleading for mercies saying, “I cannot breathe.” This sound came eleven times before he suffocated and died. He was later pronounced dead when he was rushed to the hospital. Immediately after the incident, medical professionals in the city carried out an autopsy and came out with a report. They concluded that Garner was killed by neck compression, probably from an apparent chokehold and chest compression. Some of the factors that led to his death were heart disease, bronchial asthma, hypertensive cardiovascular and obesity disease. As a result of such a death, four medical practitioners who had responded to the scene were interdicted. With such saddening story, it is evident that the evidence could have been distorted, lost or altered if recorded video was not there. The body was moved from the scene of the crime, making the physical and trace evidence affected. This is the reason why the officers were sacked from their duties. Even though evidence was recorded, it was more than what was done to Garner. Conclusion Having all said and done, detective investigators and patrol officers face crime of utmost gravity. Homicides involve several possible intentions and techniques as well as different types of physical and trace evidence. The guidelines provided for handling homicides shows how imperative it is to take scene crimes secured. Although crimes are uncouth and unethical, it is easy to investigate when enough evidence are available. Interfering with evidence is an obstacle to effective investigation. References González, J., & Torres, J. (2011). News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the American Media. NY: Verso Books. Levitt, L. (2010). NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force. St. Martin's Press. McKeever, S. A. (2013). The Galindez Case. NY: AuthorHouse. National Research Council, Board on Life Sciences,. (2010). Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBI's Investigation of the 2001 Anthrax Letters. New York: National Academies Press. Palmiotto, M. J. (2012). Criminal Investigation, Fourth Edition. CRC Press. Read More