Investigation responses

1. The types of evidence most commonly found at a crime scene is blood, cigarettes, clothings, boxes, Documents in papers fibers such as ropes a fingerprints that are visible, finger nails, footprints, Glass objects, and saliva. Also human and animal hairs and footprints. Equipments used to process physical evidence is cameras with a memory card, crayon or marker to mark evidence envelope all sizes to collect evidence, fingerprint kit, flashlight, labels all sizes to label the evidence. More equipment used is a mirror a Magnifier, measuring tape, notebook, paper, ruler, sketching supplies, tags and templates. Tweezers to pick up evidence without contamination. The purpose is not to contaminate none of the evidence found. Obtaining information at crime scene is an important element in determining what happened how it happened and why it happened. The purpose of obtaining evidence is to eventually identify the suspect and make an arrest and also present all the evidence in court. Presumptive tests can also help reduce the quantity of evidence that is submitted to the lab to include only the most important items. This helps to expedite processing at the laboratory. 

2. Orthmann et al. (2017) shares that the four types of evidence are demonstrative, physical, documentary, or testimonial. A form of physical evidence that could be found in a criminal investigation can be trace evidence, which are the small items like hair or fibers (Orthmann et al., 2017). Physical evidence is another form of evidence that could be found that can help establish facts of a case, it could be touched, tasted, smelled, and a form of a solid, liquid, or semisolid (Orthmann et al., 2017). Another form of evidence is corpus delicti evidence that can be used to support the elements of a crime (Orthmann et al., 2017). This can be an example of a broken door to support the fact that a burglary has taken place. Orthmann et al. (2017) shares that probative evidence is evidence that could prove guilt or innocence such as an alibi or different blood types found at the crime scene.When evidence is discovered, it must be collected, recorded, and identified by a criminal investigator (Orthmann et al., 2017). It must be legally seized to ensure that the evidence could be admissible in court for prosecution (Orthmann et al., 2017). During the initial discovery, investigators must be aware of the initial crime and go about finding evidence that suggests a pattern that fits the act of the crime (Orthmann et al., 2017). Following this step is marking, identifying, and collecting evidence, which requires the most care (Orthmann et al., 2017). Criminal investigators record the item in an evidence log, marking it with a letter or number, photographed, and sketched prior to moving it (Orthmann et al., 2017). They should also record the date and time found, where it was found, and by who. Packing and preserving the evidence in a durable container is critical in maintaining the integrity of the evidence. Different types of evidence have different forms of storing such as containers that prevent condensation in plastic containers. Legal ways to transport evidence is through the means of personal delivery, insured parcel post, FedEx, UPS, and air express (Orthmann et al., 2017). In the report, it should cover the found evidence, the location of where it was found, establish the chain of custody, and explain any changes during the handling of the evidence for the evidence to be admissible in court (Orthmann et al., 2017). After the evidence is used, evidence can be returned to the owner, destroyed, retained for training, or even auctioned (Orthmann et al., 2017).

3. There are so many different kinds of evidence investigators find during an investigation.  There is physical evidence, direct and indirect evidence, circumstantial evidence, trace evidence, relevant evidence, competent evidence, etc. The most common found evidence in a crime scene is physical evidence. Physical evidence is things that you can touch, smell, and see. Objects that are visible to the investigator. Physical evidence may be on the crime scene, it can be a few miles away from the crime scene, it can even be found on a victim or suspect. The two categories of Physical evidence are direct and indirect evidence. Direct evidence can be factual proof that does not need further evidence to find the suspect guilty. Indirect evidence can  incriminate a suspect but does not mean the suspect is guilty.  First step of processing physical evidence is to use the right equipment to collect evidence. Next step is to secure the crime scene with the evidence, making sure there is no contamination. Then the investigators will place an evidence marker, record the item on the evidence log, identify the item, take pictures of the evidence and then collect it. Collecting the evidence and preserving it is very important. The investigator needs to know which evidence needs to be put in what container and how to seal it for transportation. Lastly, the evidence collected has to be protected, properly stored and managed.   Once the physical evidence has been collected, and secured, it gets delivered to the forensics team. The forensics scientist will analyze the physical evidence to see if there is anything connecting the possible suspect to the crime scene. The Physical evidence can be a blood sample, DNA sample, a shoe,etc. The forensic team will examine any physical or chemical properties from the evidence. 

4. During a criminal investigation, many different types of evidence can be found. The most common ones are fingerprints, DNA, blood, certain scents that involve the use of scent pads and tracking dogs, hairs, impressions like those from a shoe or a tire, injuries like bite marks, tools used to commit the crime like firearms or a crowbar. Different soils, drugs, documents that may identify people at the scene, skeletal remains, and glass. Handling different evidence is a very vital part of criminal investigation and it's very important that the chain of custody stays intact without any unaccounted for time. Upon the discovery of evidence at the scene, it must be marked, logged, photographed, and then collected. No items should be mixed, everything should go in separate bags to avoid any cross-contamination. It is also important to be very careful when handling the evidence to put it in bags. Ways to do this for example are using tweezers to pick up evidence in an effort to avoid cross-contamination. Once the evidence has been collected into a bag and logged there is the task of delivering the evidence which again the chain of custody is key for. The evidence will be tested and eventually sent to be used in court. Once in court, the chain of custody comes into play as well as notes about the evidence. Like where the evidence was found, if the evidence could be accounted for at all times to ensure it couldn't have been tampered with. Once the evidence has been used in court it is either returned to the owner, auctioned, or destroyed. 

5. The most common types of evidence found in criminal investigations are testimonials, documentary, demonstrative or physical evidence. Testimonial hearsay consists of testimony provided by a witness that has been obtained through structured questioning. Testimonial hearsay is inadmissible if the witness is unable to testify. Documentary evidence consists of written materials, photographs, audio recordings, and videos. Demonstrative evidence consists of mockups and scales models of objects that allow members of the jury to visualize what may or may not be available to the court. Physical evidence consists of any substance or material obtained from the scene of a crime and can be direct (trace evidence) or indirect evidence (circumstantial evidence). (Orthmann & Hess, 2012, p. 125) The steps necessary in processing physical evidence correctly from its discovery to final disposition would be to maintain the integrity of the evidence and follow the chain of custody. The crime scene investigator has the task of marking, identifying, and collecting evidence.