Crime Scene Power Point Project

Richau Forensic Science 2021

Project One

Create and document a crime scene

Purpose: To give students an experience of reporting on a crime scene

Objective: Students will

1. Fabricate a crime scene in their house or other suitable location

2. Create a PowerPoint documentation of their crime scene

3. Present their report to the class

Standards: Chapter Two Standards

Description: The student will imagine that a homicide has occurred within their home (or wherever they choose) and that they are the officer or detective assigned to investigate the crime. They will document the investigation by the standards listed below in a Power Point and present their findings to the class.

Two minds exist during this assignment. On the one hand, the student will know the need to create the scenario that led to the crime. They will know how the evidence was used and have the backstory fleshed out. However, when building their presentation, they will play the investigator who has no knowledge of the players or motives in the drama. They cannot add anything to their presentation beyond what would be observable the fictional investigator examining things for the first time.

The Report: A minimum of 10 slides will be created reporting how the scene was secured and documented and how evidence was collected for analysis of evidence as well as a theory for a possible suspect and motive. Lessons will be provided by the teacher on these elements as the project proceeds.

Multiple slides will likely be necessary to accommodate the required information neatly.

Section One: Title Page

Name of the officer (the student) responsible for the investigation

Date, location, and time of the investigation

Other officers on the scene (acknowledgements to all who participated in the project)

Section Two: Description of the crime scene

A list of any people found at the scene

Documentation of how the crime scene was secured

Three photos of the scene taken from different angles

Section Three: Description of the victim (if homicide)

A minimum of one closeup photograph of the victim or

last known location, with written description. body and wounds.

Section Four: A bird’s-eye map including address, compass with north properly indicated (not the top of the slide), locations of evidence, scale, and

case information

Section Five-Seven Presentation of evidence (a minimum of three items will be found)

Photograph of item

Description of item

Department item was assigned to for analysis

Section Eight: : Suspect Description

At least one piece of evidence may indicate characteristics of the suspect’s identity. If there was a struggle, the suspect’s hair might be found in the victim’s fingernails. Footprints would indicate shoe size and the suspect’s height.

If such a slide is included, it must be linked with the evidence for it to count.

Section Nine Bystander Statements:

Civilians will have been found at the scene. At least one statement needs to be taken. Include names and contact information.

SectionTen Hypothesis of the crime

A hypothesis of what happened with possible motive using the circumstances. Support from found evidence should be used

to explain the hypothesis.

Remember: this report only documents found at the initial CSI and should not including any information learned after the initial report.

Restrictions: Violation will result in an automatic zero and a call home

NO REAL GUNS may be used in this exercise. If a student’s parents are gun owners, the student cannot use them as a weapon for the crime. Stand-ins such as water pistols, BB guns, printout photos, etc. may be used but not actual firearms.

NO SEXUAL ASSAULTS: While a lover’s quarrel or a boyfriend/girlfriend’s rival killed because of cheating are par for the course, rape or similar assaults will not be a part of the crime.

SOCIAL DISTANCING and other COVID-related guidelines should be respected if relatives act as props when photographing the crime. We encourage that friends not to be invited to participate to limit contact with the student’s family.

Guidelines regarding the use of artificial blood

While it should be given that no actual blood be used in this exercise, artificial blood is permitted as it has been a part of theatre for ages. However, some care must be considered in how it incorporated given that it will have to be cleaned up.

Paint, lipstick, ketchup, etc. all make for excellent substitutes, but no one wants parents to be upset over ruined furniture.

Therefore, it is recommended that blood be applied to either paper, poster board, or tissue paper before being included in the crime scene.

Due date: The assignment will be due three weeks from its assignment and in-class time will be given to work on the presentation.