The crime scene is one that is a vital part of the criminal investigations process which has contributions from many areas of this component. In this case study there will be points expressed on the crime scene search, principles, crime scene photography, sketching the crime scene, fingerprint evidence, trace evidence, and biological evidence. Investigators have the responsibility to comprehend these segments in order to effectively manage and maintain a crime scene.
The crime scene investigation consists of elements of criminal law, criminal procedure, and constitutional evidence. The search part of the crime scene involves a related focus which is in legal requirements. It is crucial to incorporate the Fourth Amendment in the crime scene search process which implicates the search and seizure warrant rule. Many investigators and officers are unaware of the absence of generally recognized exceptions to the search and seizure warrant rule, law enforcement officers must obtain a warrant to search a crime scene where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists. (Geberth, 2003). The procedures behind crime scene searches consist of isolating, securing, search, and document the scene, as well as obtaining physical evidence which is the physical objects linked to the order of a crime such as hairs, paint chips, fibers, and bullets. Records which are basically keeping accumulated general descriptive data of the crime scene, and witnesses. In isolating and securing the crime scene an investigator should put up tape in order to prevent bystanders from crossing it, and to define the perimeter. Police personal should also be there and accounted for, in order to keep individuals from crossing into the crime scene. If someone needs to inter the crime scene, it should be documented into a log. All of this should be recorded in its original condition by a team. The first officer should protect the crime scene and get medical attention to any individual there that need it as well as arrest any perpetrator in the area. With respect the search aspect of the crime scene, a lead investigator will either oversee the search, or conduct the search his or herself in a detailed way, doing all possible to accomplish their mission.
Documentation consists of the investigators thoroughly taking notes, and using photographs in relation to the crime scene. After this the investigator will make a sketch of the scene showing where items at the crime scene were positioned in order to be used for the courtroom presentation. While documenting the crime scene, there are four different search patterns that need to be considered. The spiral search pattern is the first, which has two versions consisting of the OUT and IN. With the OUT the investigator would start in the center, and then work outward. With the IN they would start at the perimeter and work inward. As the investigator proceeds with this method, he or she is documenting the procedure. The second on is the line search which involves a team that analyze and document the crime scene. The grid search is done in two line searches done in a 90 degree pattern by a team. Lastly, the zone search divides the crime scene into parts where each team member will have a part, switching out to make sure of all coverage of the crime scene.
In regard to the crime scene photography there exist a conventional camera and a digital one. Digital photography is not that different from conventional photography. The same way conventional cameras used light to create images, digital cameras is the same way. What set digital cameras apart is its ability to store images on a disk or CD-ROM. Some digital cameras are also capable of storing memory in their internal memory drive. This would prove to be beneficial to a crime scene investigation because of the assurance with the film storage. Another factor of the photography process is the film speed which is the way of measuring sensitivity to light. This means the faster the film, the more sensitive the film is to light (Ogle, 2011). The measuring systems for film speed are the ISO (International Organization for Standardization, and the DIN (German Institute for Standardization).
Biological evidence involves body fluids such as blood, sperm, saliva, urine. Skin tissue and hair are other components that are better investigated through the DNA process. The DNA is established on the understanding that two individuals do not have the exact same DNA except the DNA of identical twins. The type of crime mainly addressed in the biological process is sexual assault, because of the factors of pubic hair combings, blood sample, vaginal or penile swabs or under garments in detecting DNA.