CRIMINAL JUSTICE FORENSICS

You are the lead investigator of a small agency, which means your forensic lab is limited. You are called to a report of a decomposed body. Your scene is a decaying body lying in the shrub along a busy freeway.

What are your steps in securing the scene and evidence?

What steps will you take to correctly process this scene? Include and specifically address the following:

How to thoroughly record a crime scene including searching the scene

Packaging physical evidence

Maintaining proper chain of custody

In your opinion, will this case be easy to solve? Why or why not?

This Assignment above is already complete your next assignment is to:

Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. You Must Provide Feedback on what they have written.

“Each response should be a minimum of 200 words and should include your thoughts associated with their posted information.

Additionally, you are to contribute to the discussion by adding support or constructive alternatives to your classmates’ posts. “

First Student Response from Frank Rameriz

When you are enroute or arrive to the scene you begin to take measures to control of scene. There must be measures taken to secure the area and ensure it is not disturbed. This can be accomplished by taping, coning off the area and closing the nearest lane of traffic. Also, keeping the area staffed to ensure no further disturbances to the body. You must also determine the extent to which scene has thus far been protected by other reporting parties. You must also ensure adequate scene security this can be accomplished by obtaining and recording all who has been at scene and have knowledge about the area’s its original condition. You must take extensive notes while keeping out unauthorized personnel.

To correctly process this scene you must conduct a preliminary survey to determine what evidence is likely to be present. Concentrate on the most likely temporary evidence and work to the least. Focus on the easily accessible areas in open view first, then move on to areas which are more out-of-view / or hidden. Consider whether the evidence appears to have been moved inadvertently or staged.

To properly record a crime scene you must consider preparing a diagram, sketch, photo of scene. Photograph all items before they are touched or collected, make sure they are properly logged where they are retrieved. Make sure you package all items separately. Make sure all pertinent information is written on each evidence container and initialed by collector. Seal all evidence at scene and do not excessively handle after recovery.

In order to maintain a solid chain of custody you must document the initial time and date of release of the scene. Also to whom it was released and by whom. Ensure a correct inventory has been constructed. “Once the scene is released, they cannot correct errors or omissions, because there is no guarantee that the scene has not been tampered with, or that changes have not occurred in the interim” (Gaensslen, R.E., & Larsen, K. 2013). Once you leave the scene it may be necessary to maintain it for a period after. You may have to dedicate an officer to the scene for control because reentry may require a warrant.

This case would not be difficult to solve, if you realize it that most likely you will need to venture away from this scene to gather further evidence. In some cases enough evidence can be found on the body or in immediate area. Most instances the evidence takes you to other locations where follow up information will break the case wide open.

References:

Gaensslen, R.E., & Larsen, K. (2013). Introductory forensic science. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Second Student Response from Giselle Murrell

Since the body is decomposed then the threat at the scene is already at a minimum. The next thing I will do is set up a perimeter of barriers since it is a public area and no search warrants are needed. Setting up the barriers will preserve as much as possible since the body already started to decompose and since it is a busy freeway I don’t have to worry about too much foot traffic. Note the initial condition of the scene to avoid forgetting any pertinent information, like the time of day, weather conditions, unusual features, odors, or sounds (Gaensslen & Larson, 2013).

Survey the scene and formulate a hypothesis of what happened at the scene. To figure out how much searching, documentation and collection activity I have to do. After figuring out the hypothesis this will guide the how the search will go either collecting what is left at the crime scene like blood, body fluid residue, fingerprints, footprints, or automobile tire impressions. Anything in that area like cigarette butts, clothing and drinks.

Then start taking the photos, sketches and notes of the area where the body was found and make sure that all the possible angles are taken. Next, then make sure that all the evidence that are collected are preserved and labeled for the lab analysis. The evidence must be labeled with a detailed description and they must properly store, like zip lock bags and containers like screw-cap vial or a sealed paint can.

After collecting the evidence they will then be stored for an undisclosed amount of time in frozen areas at the lab or law enforcement agency until and when it evidence is found and if it makes it to court then the evidence can be traced from its seizure and introduced into a courtroom. If the state cannot adequately account for who had care, custody, and control of an item between seizure and courtroom, that item may be deemed inadmissible, which is why documentation and sealing of the evidence is so important (Gaensslen & Larsen, 2013).

In my opinion this case will not be easy to solve because, one it happened on the busy freeway and maybe there are no witness and then the body already started to decompose and the crime scene is not fresh and if the weather was bad then tire prints and footprints can be destroyed and many evidence can be washed away or melt away.

References:

Gaensslen, R. E. & Larson, A. K. (2013). Introductory Forensic Science. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.