Crime Scene Investigation Roles

1
Crime Scene Investigation Roles

• 1.0 Describe responsibilities of various
  personnel involved in crime scene investigations.
  Examples police, detectives, laboratory
  specialists, medical examiners. I,D,M 1.1
  Explaining how to search, sketch, and record data
  from a crime scene.

2
Whos at the Scene?

• Police officers
• CSI unit
• District attorney
• Medical examiner
• Specialists
• Detectives

3
Police Officers

• Usually 1st on the scene
• Make the arrest, if possible
• Call ambulance if needed
• Secure the scene --- WHY?

4
CSI Unit

• Documents the crime scene in detail
• Collects physical evidence

5
Medical Examiner

• May or may not be present to determine a
  preliminary cause of death

6
Specialists

• May be called in if evidence requires expert
  analysis
• Entomologists
• Forensic scientists
• Forensic psychologists

7
Detectives

• Interview witnesses and consult with the CSI unit
• Investigate the crime by following leads provided
  by witnesses and physical evidence

8
CSI Units Procedure

1. Make sure scene is secure.
2. Initial walk-through
3. Get an overall feel for the crime scene
4. Find out if anything has been moved
5. Generate initial theories based on visual
   examination
6. TOUCH NOTHING!

9
CSI Units Procedure (cont.)

• Document the scene
• Photographs
• Draw sketches of the scene
• Video walk-through
• STILL TOUCH NOTHING!
• Collect all potential evidence
• Tag it, log it, and package it so it remains
  intact during transport to the lab
• May or may not do actual analysis in the lab

10
Crime Scene vs. Crime Lab

• Scene Crime Scene Investigation
• Lab Forensic Science
• Lab passes lab results to the lead detective.
• NOT ALL CSIs ARE FORENSICS SCIENTISTS!