ARBA MINCH UNIVERSTY COLLEGE OF

NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONALSCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY PROGRAM OF
FORENSIC CHEMISTY AND TOXICOLOGY
TITLE: LITERATURE REVIEW ON CRIME
SCENE INVESTIGATION CRITERIA IN
FORENSIC ETHIOPIA

GROUP MEMBERS ID
1. GETACHEW YESGAT NSR/ 1102/13

2. KASSAYE YITAYIH NSR/1383/13

3. BIRHANU KASSAHUN NSR/596/13

4. ESAYAS BAYE NSR/905/13

5. SOLIANA AFEWORK NSR/2172/13

6. ATSDEWEYIN AYENEWU NSR/191/13

Crime is part to any human societies. A crime scene is defined as any locations of interest for
searching relevant evidence (called traces) of the investigated event[5]. Crime scene
investigation is a scientific process that involves documenting (including measuring and taking
photographs), collecting and packing tangible evidence, and recreating the scene[2]. Crime scene
investigation (CSI) encompasses carrying out all legitimate procedures and methods to
reconstruct this past. CSI stated that the principles of forensic science as a scientific and
diagnostic endeavor that requires scientific expertise[11]. In addition, it helps illuminate the
investigation in all its aspects by collecting evidence that proves the occurrence of the crime and
how it occurred[10]. The process of examining a crime scene is crucial to solving any crime. It is
where reason, law, and science all converge. Examining a crime scene is a time-consuming
operation that benefits greatly from photographs, videos, and other records of the site's state and
evidence placement[1].

CSI is essentially a management and scientific process that begins after the first information
report has been recorded and the first officer’s arrival at the scene, followed by the subsequent
proceedings such as securing and protecting the crime scene, fulfilling basic legal requirements,
recording the crime scene, and identifying, distinguishing, collecting, labeling, and packaging
physical evidence. Other important procedures for CSI include preserving, interpreting, and
reconstructing all relevant physical evidence at a crime scene. CSI persists until it is transferred
appropriately to the forensic laboratory for further analysis and examination[6,7,8,9]. forensic
investigation completely depends upon the forensic evidence such as firearms, fingerprints,
blood, saliva, and semen. To preserve,collect, and examine the physical evidence related to a
criminal case are named forensic investigation[6].

The successful prosecution of a case relies heavily on the location and state of physical evidence
at the time of its collection. The initial steps taken at a crime scene, particularly by the first
responder, are crucial in securing and preserving the integrity of the evidence. It is essential to
thoroughly examine access points and exits, and to obtain information about any changes or
disturbances from individuals who visited the area before the arrival of law enforcement[4]. The
expertise, knowledge, and competence of the crime scene investigator are also pivotal in
determining the sufficiency of evidence gathered. Adherence to established procedures and
guidelines, meticulous documentation, and the skill of the investigator are all essential in
safeguarding the integrity of crime scene evidence, ultimately enhancing the prospects of a
successful investigation and prosecution [3].
1 Sharma, B. R, Scientific Criminal Investigation,2nd ed. LexisNexis - 2018.

2 Nabar, B. S, Forensic Science - In criminal Investigation, 3rd ed. Asia Law House - 2015

3 Morreall, J. (2010). Comic vices and comic virtues. Humor, 23(1), 1-26.

4 Al-Dhaqm, A., Abd Razak, S., Othman, S. H., Ali, A., Ghaleb, F. A., Rosman, A. S., &
MarniN. (2020).

5 Houck M, Crispino F, McAdam T (2018) The Science of Crime Scenes, Second

Edition. Elsevier 2018:423–433 (https://www.science direct.com/book/
9780128498781/the-science-of-crime-scenes, accessed 20 July 2023 )

6 Joseph CM (2022) forensic biology: a passport for biological evidence. In:

Singh J, Sharma NR (eds) Crime Scene Management within Forensic Sci

ence. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6683-4

7 Saferstein R (1998). In: Englewood Clifs NJ (ed) Criminalistics: An Introduction

to Forensic Science, 6th Edition. Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, Prentice-Hall,

Washington, D.C

8 Lee HC, Pagliaro EM (2013) Forensic evidence and crime scene investigation. J

Forensic Invest. 1(2):5

9 Jim F (2010) ‘Crime scene management and forensic investigation’, Forensic

science: a very short introduction, 1st edn, Very Short Introductions

Oxford, 2010; online edition. Oxford Academic

10 Rod G, Darryl P (2016) Introduction to criminal investigation: processes, prac

tices and thinking. Justice Institute of British Columbia, New Westminster, BC

11 Roux C, Bucht R, Crispino F, De Forest P, Lennard C, Margot P, Miranda MD,

NicDaeid N, Ribaux O, Ross A, Willis S (2022) The Sydney declaration
– Revisiting the essence of forensic science through its fundamental
principles. Forensic Sci Int. 332:111182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.
2022.1111822