Maintenance of the Integrity of Crime Scene Evidence - Essay Example

Evidence and Integrity xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Maintenance of the Integrity of Crime Scene Evidence xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lecturer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date Submitted Name Course Course instructor Date submitted All incidents of crime leave scene traces that are valuable in an investigation process. The strategic actions taken during the outset of a crime investigation are pivotal in a case resolution process. Thorough and careful investigation is vital in ensuring that the potential evidence at the crime scene is not destroyed or tainted. This should be in line with the main aim of an investigation that is to effectively interpret the collected facts through the reconstruction of the events that will lead to the unraveling of the incident. The mode of prevention and training in the handling of crime scene evidence varies and is dependant on the jurisdiction. The methodologies employed in the collection of evidence are decisive and the detectives are to ensure the maintenance of the fundamental principles of evidence collection. This paper is aimed at discussing the effective crime scene processes that are employed to ensure that the integrity of the evidence collected is maintained to avoid the risks of contamination (Eliopulos, 1993). The traces left at the scene are often transient and fragile making the preservation mode to be reliable in order to maintain their integrity. This depends on the initial actions at the incident scene which hare to be attained by the observance of the guiding principles. The collection of the evidence requires the urgency to act professionally throughout the investigation process. In the discussion, the crime scene will be used to refer to the place where the incident under investigation occurred/ or where the records of an activity under investigation are contained (Hawthorne, 1999). To begin with, physical evidence could be microscopic items to massive objects which are generated as being part of the crime under investigation and which are normally recovered from the crime scene or other locations that are related to the crime. These are parts of information that are used to back up the other sources of information to eliminate limited reliability. When effectively recognized, collected and handled, physical evidence provides reliable and objective proof concerning the incident that is under investigation. If not properly maintained, the value of the carefully recovered and collected physical evidence could however be lost in the chain of custody. The chain of custody in most cases is identified to be the weak link in the criminal investigation process. This involves the careful and chronological documentation of collected evidence to be able to establish its perceived connection with the alleged crime. Every step undertaken in the investigation process is to be clearly demonstrated to ensure continuity and traceability of the evidence right from the incident scene and to the courtyard (Saferstein, 1998). Upon arrival at the crime scene, it is vital for the investigating officer to conduct a scene assessment. This will be able to give the team an idea of the incident type and the level of investigation including the strategies to be utilized. The assessment of the scene will be able to identify and assign roles and responsibilities, share relevant preliminary information and develop effective investigative plans. The officer is advised to utilize the photographic and written modes of documentation as this will be able to provide a record that is permanent. The level of risk of contamination to the crime scene will depend on the type of crime scene, the number of people who have access to the crime scene and the methodologies utilized in the collection of evidence. It will be appropriate for the investigator to freeze the crime scene in order to minimize the number of persons accessing it thus reducing the contamination risks (Fisher, 1993). During this process, the Access log is to be used to keep record of the identities of the persons that gained access to the scene. Injured persons are to be recorded in the casualty log and noted in the exhibit log of the exhibits that have to be moved. The first member of the investigation is to identify the command center that is to be used for the administrative purposes, identification of the potential witnesses and in the gathering of information on the possible suspects. This is to be progressed till the scene is handed over to the overall scene manager. The utilization of the scientific forensic services in the scene investigation process is vital in the recognition, identification and recovery of the physical evidence. This proceeds with the analysis and laboratory evaluation and storage of the identified evidence before presenting it the court officials and other parties of interest to the accurate information. The interested parties including the court officials should have the relevant understanding involved in the forensic process. The photographing of the scene is to be done from varying angles. Greater details of the scene are to be taken by use of close photographing. This is to be followed by rough sketches at the crime scene in order to have an accurate depiction of the scene which will include the location and dimension of articles that are to be used as physical evidence (Geberth, 1996). The felony scene investigation should aim at recording of the true nature of the scene as they first encountered it by collecting all the evidence that is potentially relevant to the crime under investigation. The compiling of the evidence is to follow the five rules of compiling which include Authenticity, admissibility, completeness, reliability and believability. The response policy and the procedural documentation of an incident are to clearly reflect the evidentiary requirements. The forensic evidence is to be properly labeled and packaged using a variety of methods according to the types of evidence that has been collected (Svenson, 1993). It is vital to note that while the some evidence materials like hair and other fibers can be packaged in plastic bags other evidence materials like semen and blood are to be dried for them to be effectively packaged. The labeling of the packages should go hand in hand with the indication of the time, date and position where the evidence was acquired from. The evidence integrity and authenticity will highly depend on the detailed record of the item’s history. The history of the item will include the details of the person who acquired or identified it and the tests or examinations that were performed on it prior to it being introduced in the court room. The effective mode to ensure that the evidence maintains its integrity will be through the establishment and maintenance of the labeling and packaging guidelines that are to be used in the process (DeForest, 1983). In order to maintain the continuity of possession and its proof, the officers who are passing the information or evidence from one person to the other must be in compliance with clarity in the naming of the evidence and signing of the handing over official notebook. The handling of any evidence material is to be done by the appropriate persons. Latex gloves are to be worn by the persons at all times when handling the evidence to limit its contamination. The handling of illicit substances is also to be limited to retain its original packaging. In the cases of handling of documents like letters and notes, the officer investigating is to make sure that he/she avoids exerting pressure and the application of any indentations. Water is not to be used to extinguish flames as this may lead to the contamination of the evidence. It is vital for a final survey of the crime scene to be done in order for the investigators to share information and identify any other information that they might have left out (Fisher, 1999). In addition, the chain of custody is to be maintained to have the evidence accepted in the court process. The standards for this require for the accountability of any person who had or came in contact with the evidence. A log identity for the collected evidence is to be created from the onset of the investigation to the time the evidence is made available for the laboratory tests. It is also vital for the investigators to be aware of the possible factors that may cause contamination including the equipments that are being used in the collection of the evidence. Cross scene contamination in this case could be avoided by the establishment of a documentation zone. This is a safe zone where the crime scene equipment is to be cleaned, eradicated and discarded (Silverstein, 2001). Transportation of the evidence material should be done carefully as some may be sensitive to the absolute temperature and other temperature fluctuations. The transportation process should ensure the adoption of precautions and maintain security of the evidence materials. Other areas of potential contaminations that have not been dealt with at length in the essay include the laboratory analysis zones and the table counter where many other evidences have been put over the years. The evidence contamination is thus to be avoided at all costs as it has been a law enforcement concern. The proper handling of evidence from the onset to the documentation procedures will have a great effect on the creating value in maintaining the integrity of the investigation process in crime (Rini, 1998). References DeForest, P. R. (1983). Forensic Science: An Introduction to Criminalistics. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc. Eliopulos, L. (1993). Death Investigator’s Handbook: A Guide to Crime Scene Processing, Forensic Evaluations and Investigative Techniques. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. Fisher, B. (1993). Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, 5th Edition. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press Inc. Fisher, N. a. (1999). Crime Science, Methods of Forensic Detection. Kentuckey: The University Press of Kentucky. Geberth, V. J. (1996). Practical Homicide Investigation Checklist and Field Guide. New York: CRC Press. Hawthorne, M. (1999). First Unit Responder: A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers, . Boca Raton, Florida 33431: CRC Press, Inc. Rini, G. A. (1998). Crime Scene Search and Physical Evidence Management: Student Training Manual. Elkhorn, Nebraska: The American Institute for Police Science. Saferstein, R. (1998). Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 6th Edition. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Silverstein, R. (2001.). Criminalistics, Seventh Edition. NewYork: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Svenson, A. W. (1993). Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation. New York, New York 10017: Elsevier Science Publishing Company, Inc. Read More