Crime Scene Search

1
Crime Scene Search

• Police Department
• University of Texas at Dallas
• Ofc. Steve Finney

2
Crime Scene Search Objectives

• Planned, Coordinated, Legal search to locate
  physical evidence or witnesses to the crime
• Protection of evidence and from contamination
• Establish elements of a crime
• Where crime committed
• Who committed crime
• How crime committed
• Why committed
• When committed

3
Evidence Discovery

• Do Not touch, move or handle items until
• Photographed
• Sketched
• Described in notes
• Ready to be collection, marked and preserved

4
Investigation

• What type of crime scene Homicide, Robbery,
  Sexual Assault, Suicide, Kidnapping, etc.
• Preliminary Provide 1st Aid, ID Interview
  Witnesses, ID and Arrest suspect
• Protect Crime Scene Secure perimeter
• Observe Exterior, Point of Entry, Interior
• Photograph Sketch scene Long, Mid, Close
• Evidence Collect, Mark Inventory

5
Basic Steps

• Approach scene
• Secure Protect
• Preliminary Survey
• Narrative Description
• Photograph Scene
• Sketch Scene
• Evaluation of latent fingerprints
• Evaluation of Physical Evidence
• Detailed Search
• Collection, Recording, Marking Preservation of
  evidence
• Final scene survey of conditions of the scene

6
Procedures of Search

• Reconstruct based on 1st officers info
• Organize a plan of action
• Assign one person in charge
• Task out assignments no assumptions
• Utilize a systematic checklist
• Written reports from each assigned officer

7
Search Methods

• Consider size and type of area, personnel and
  equipment (indoor2, outdoorgt2)
• Determine a starting point of the search
• Nothing is to be excluded
• Proceed with caution and coordinated movements
• Types
• Strip or Grid single or double form
• Circular may begin from inside or outside
• Quadrant/Sector useful with defined borders
  (rooms, bookshelves etc)

8
Scene SketchRough drawing representing the the
scene

• Rough Sketch vs. Final Sketch At scene vs.
  Station
• Provides permanent record of conditions
• Reconstructs scene
• Records exact location spatial relations
• Refreshes memory
• Correlates witnesses testimony
• Eliminates unnecessary details
• Can be enlarged for Court
• Supplements photographs
• Provides true distance relationships to scale

9
Sketching

• Use direction and compass symbol (North)
• Use equal measurements
• Use Projection Sketch (top-down view)
• Use scale of proportion
• Use legend or key
• Title the sketch Case No., Date, Time,
  Location, Scale, Sketcher, Legend

10
Scene Photographs

• Provides visual record of scene and factors
• Present logical story in visual form
• Take photos before scene is disturbed
• Numerous photos should be taken recorded in log
• Use measurement scales
• Use photo log to record chronology
• Portray great detail
• Long range, Mid Range, Close-up vantage points
• Overview general scene, 10-20 separate area, 5
  or less detailed