Initiate Preliminary Survey

1. Initiate Preliminary Survey • Organizational stage to plan search: • Conducted by team leader • Initial cautious walk through of the scene • Identify extent of the search area - may require expanding initial perimeter • Consider methods and procedures needed to process scene Crime Scene Admin and Management

2. Initiate Preliminary Survey • Determine additional manpower, equipment, and specialist needs • Identify and protect transient evidence • Make extensive notes to document physical and environmental conditions Crime Scene Admin and Management

3. Evaluate Physical Evidence • Evaluation begins upon arrival at the scene • Becomes more detailed in preliminary survey stage • Concentrate on the most transient evidence first and work toward least transient • Ensure you have appropriate packaging material for evidence to be collected Crime Scene Admin and Management

4. Narrative Description • Narrative is a running general description of the condition of the crime scene • Present an overall general to specific description of crime scene • Note items that catch your attention • Methods of narrative can be: • Audio • Written • Video Crime Scene Admin and Management

5. Depict Scene Photographically • Record what eyes/brain forget • Detail recorded quickly/accurately • Best way to demonstrate scene to a jury • Shows location of evidence Crime Scene Admin and Management

6. Depict Scene Photographically • Begin immediately • Use Photo Log for documentation • Photograph all evidence prior to collection Crime Scene Admin and Management

7. Depict Scene Photographically • Photograph the scene completely to include: • Points of entry/exit • Overall, medium, close-up • Surrounding area/neighborhood • Victims, crowds, vehicles • Photographs supplement sketches and notes • Cannot take too many photos Crime Scene Admin and Management

8. Consider Aerial Photography Crime Scene Admin and Management

9. Photographing the Scene • Overall • Show the location of the scene • Street signs, etc. • Medium • Place the evidence into a location within the scene • Show the relation to the surrounding area • Close-up • Close view of each item of evidence (fill the frame) • Take with and without a scale • NEVER REMOVE EVIDENCE UNTIL IT HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED Crime Scene Admin and Management

10. Evidence must be… Photographed in its original location or area Crime Scene Admin and Management

11. Crime Scene Admin and Management

12. Crime Scene Admin and Management

13. Crime Scene Admin and Management

14. Sketching the Scene • Show general layout or floor plan • Help jury understand the scene • Depict exact location of evidence • Supplement photographs • Item numbers on sketch must coordinate with the item numbers on the evidence log Crime Scene Admin and Management

15. Sketching the Scene • Provides measurements of scene/location of evidence • Enables construction of a “to scale” diagram • Always retain original sketch • Enables reconstruction of the crime scene and places each item of evidence in original location Crime Scene Admin and Management

16. Evidence must be indicated on a sketch or diagram Crime Scene Admin and Management

17. Conduct Detailed Search • Base search method on evaluation of scene • Conduct search from general to specific • Cautious then vigorous • Obvious then hidden • Remember to collect known samples • Use specialized search patterns when necessary • Strip, grid, spiral, quadrant, small search teams Crime Scene Admin and Management

18. Conduct Detailed Search • Search entrances and exits • Wear proper protective equipment to avoid contamination or damaging the evidence • Slow and methodic – DO NOT RUSH Crime Scene Admin and Management

19. Record and Collect Physical Evidence • Photograph and mark evidence on the sketch • Complete evidence log • Have one person as evidence custodian, if possible • Seal the evidence packaging at the scene Crime Scene Admin and Management

20. Record and Collect Physical Evidence • Check all logs and evidence for accuracy • Have at least two people: • Observe evidence in place before collection • Observe evidence being collected • Mark evidence directly or • Mark evidence containers for identification Crime Scene Admin and Management

21. Record and Collect Physical Evidence • Four basic premises to consider: • The best search options are usually the most difficult and time-consuming • You cannot over-document the physical evidence collected • Start your search out CAUTIOUSLY and finish VIGOROUSLY Crime Scene Admin and Management

22. Latent Print Log Crime Scene Admin and Management

23. Safety Considerations • Personal safety must always be a consideration • Consider chemical and biological hazards • Booby traps • Terrorists, drug dealers Crime Scene Admin and Management

24. Ensure all personnel has personal protective equipment Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious View crime scene as source of contamination Safety Considerations Crime Scene Admin and Management

25. Safety Considerations • Never place hands where you cannot see • Do not eat, drink, or smoke at crime scenes • Use face masks and eye protection when dealing with body fluids • Never recap hypodermic needles Crime Scene Admin and Management

26. Locard’s Principle • Anywhere you go you leave something behind and take something away with you • Good for evidence collection • Find evidence of the subject or victim • Bad for contamination • Contaminate the crime scene • Residue, hair and fiber, footprints etc. Crime Scene Admin and Management

27. Contamination Control Techniques • Wear clean clothing • Double glove and change gloves often • DO NOT go from one crime scene to another in the same clothing • Use shoe covers and remove when you leave the scene Crime Scene Admin and Management

28. Contamination Control Techniques • Explosive residue contamination • Do not wear same clothes worn at another post blast scene or residue search • Separate evidence from multiple scenes • Do not wear firearm while collecting residue samples Crime Scene Admin and Management

29. Evidence must be packaged and sealed in an appropriate container for the type of evidence collected and the type of examination required Crime Scene Admin and Management

30. Proper Packaging • Paper • Use for biological materials • Can destroy latent prints • Plastic • Can cause biological materials to deteriorate • Heat Seal Bags • Works well for most evidence • No need to use evidence tape • Cartons • Large items • Biohazard Material • Clearly mark biohazard • Bomb/Arson Evidence • Paint cans, glass jars Crime Scene Admin and Management

31. Evidence must be packaged and labeled according to your department policy Crime Scene Admin and Management

32. Packaging/Labeling Evidence • Directly mark evidence when possible • Initials and date • Be careful not to destroy latent prints, DNA • Mark packaging with administrative info • Case number - Date • Item number - Description of evidence • Location evidence was found • Name/initials of 2 officers who recovered evidence • Seal evidence on site • Sign across evidence tape Crime Scene Admin and Management

33. At a scene, evidence should be appropriately listed on an Evidence Recovery Log Crime Scene Admin and Management

34. Evidence Log • Contains same information as evidence packaging • Description of evidence • Where it was found • Who found it (two names) • Evidence item number • Information on packaging must match that on evidence log Crime Scene Admin and Management

35. Chain of Custody • 1st signature is person who collected evidence • Each person thereafter signs if taking evidence into custody regardless time held • Must be diligently maintained • Remains with the evidence • Easiest way for the defense to suppress evidence • NO EVIDENCE – NO CASE!! Crime Scene Admin and Management

36. Chain of Custody Form Crime Scene Admin and Management

37. Critical review of all aspects of the search Discuss search jointly with all personnel for completeness Double check documentation to detect inadvertent errors or omissions Conduct Final Survey Crime Scene Admin and Management

38. Conduct Final Survey • Take exit photographs • Photograph search warrant and FD-597 in place • Ensure • all evidence is accounted for before departing and the scene is secure • you have all your equipment prior to departing • that nothing has been overlooked Crime Scene Admin and Management

39. Conduct Final Survey • Before leaving the scene, make sure you collected everything you could to help solve the case • Ensure you have utilized all appropriate resources and specialists • You only have one chance to do it right! Crime Scene Admin and Management

40. Release the Crime Scene • Release only after final survey is complete • Complete the administrative worksheet • Time/date of release • To/by whom scene was released • Release the scene only when all personnel are satisfied that the scene was searched correctly and completely • Team leader releases the scene Crime Scene Admin and Management

41. Questions?? Crime Scene Admin and Management