FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Standard Methods of Recording Investigative Data

a) Photographs;
b) Sketching crime scenes;
c) Written notes (what you have seen or observed);
d) Developing and lifting fingerprints found at the crime scene:
e) Gathering physical evidence;
f) Plaster cast;
g) Tape recording of sounds;
h) Video tape recording of objects; and
i) Written statements of subjects(s) and witnesses
Scientific Examination of Real Evidence
a) The Crime Scene Search
Processing and Securing a Crime Scene – Processing a crime scene includes the application of diligent and careful methods by an
investigator/policeman to recognize, identify, preserve and collect facts and items of evidentiary value that may assist in
reconstructing that which actually occurred. The crime scene is the area surrounding the place where the crime occurred. the
processing of the area at the scene includes all direct traces of the crime. and this is determined by the type of crime committed and
the place where the act occurred.
Protecting the Crime Scene and the Evidence – Successful crime scene processing, depends upon the policeman’s or investigator’s
skill in recognizing and collecting facts and items of value as evidence, and upon his ability to protect, preserve, and later, to present
these in a logical manner. This requires making careful and detailed notes and sketches; using correct procedures in taking
photographs of the scene; taking written statements and transcribing verbal statements of witnesses, suspects and marking and
preservation of collected physical objects of evidentiary nature.
b) Laboratory examination of objects and substances located usually at the crime scene Objects and substances needing examination
in some cases are carried, intentionally or unintentionally, by suspects from the crime scene.

Investigator’s Notebook.
a) Purpose: Considering the mass of details and the number of cases which in some instances an investigator is handling, it is very
possible that he might forget some details. Many of the details associated with the investigation, while not essential to the report,
might become points of interest to the court when the case is brought to trial. Experienced investigators employ a handbook to
record the relevant details of the case. During trial, the court allows investigators to consult their notes to refresh their memory.
b) Recording Notes: The data of the investigation should be recorded in a complete, accurate and legible fashion so that in the event
another investigator is required to assume the responsibility for the investigation, be can make intelligent use of the notebook.
PROCEDURE AT THE CRIME SCENE

Upon Arrival at the Crime Scene

a. Record time/date of arrival at the crime scene, location of the scene, condition of the weather, condition and type of lighting direction
of wind and visibility
b. Secure the crime scene by installing the crime scene tape or rope (police line)
c. Before touching or moving any object at the crime scene determine first the status of the victim, whether he is still alive or already
dead.
d. If the victim is alive the investigator should exert effort to gather information from the victim himself regarding the circumstances of
the crime, while a member of the team or someone must call an ambulance from the nearest hospital. After the victim is remove and
brought to the hospital for medical attention, measure, sketch, and photograph.
e. Only a coronal or a medical examiner shall remove the dead body unless unusual circumstances justify its immediate removal.
f. Designate a member of the team or summon other policemen or responsible persons to stand watch and secure the scene, and
permit only those authorized person to enter the same.
g. Identify and retain for questioning the person who firsT notified the police, and other possible witnesses.
h. Determine the assailant through inquiry or observed him if his identity is immediately apparent. Arrest him if he still in the vicinity.
i. Separate the witnesses in order to get independent statements.

Recording - As a rule, do not touch, alter or remove anything at the crime scene until the evidence has been processed through notes,
sketches and photographs, with proper measurements.

Searching for Evidence

a) A general survey of the scene is always made, however, to the location of obvious traces of action, the probable entry and exit
points used by the offender(s) and the size and shape of the area involved.
b) The investigator examines each item encountered on the floor, walls, and ceiling to locate anything that may be of evidentiary value.
You should:
i. Give particular attention to fragile evidence that may be destroyed or contaminated if it is not collected when discovered.
ii. If any doubt exists as to the value of an item, treat it as evidence until proven otherwise.
iii. Ensure that the item or area where latent fingerprints may be present is closely examined and that action taken to
develop the prints.
iv. Carefully protect any impression of evidentiary value in surfaces conducive to making casts or molds. If possible,
photograph the impression and make a cast or mold.
v. Note stains, spots and pools of liquid within the scene and treat them as evidence.
vi. Treat as evidence all other items, such as hairs, fiber, and earth particles, foreign to the area in which they are fund – for
example, matter found under the victim’s fingerprints.
vii. Proceed systematically and uninterruptedly to the conclusion of the processing of the scene. The search for evidence is
initially completed when, after a thorough examination of the scene, the rough sketch, necessary photograph and
investigative note have been completed and the investigator has returned to the point from which the search began.
Further search may be necessary after the evidence and the statements obtained have been evaluated.
c) In large outdoor areas, it is advisable to divide the area into strips about four (4) feet wide. The policeman may first search the strip
on his left he faces the scene then the adjoining strips.
d) It may be advisable to make a search beyond the area considered to be immediate scene of the incident or crime. For example,
evidence may indicate that a weapon or tool used in the crime was discarded or hidden by the offender somewhere within a square-
mile area near the scene.
e) After completing the search of the scene, the investigator examined the object or person actually attacked by the offender.
Methods of Crime Scene Search
A. Strip Search Method In this method, the area is blocked out in the form of a rectangle. The three (3) searchers A, B, and C proceed
slowly at the same place along paths parallel to one side of the rectangle. When a piece of evidence is found, the finder announces
his discovery and the search must stop until the evidence has been cared for. A photographer is called, if necessary. The evidence
 FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

is collected and tagged and the search proceeds at a given signal. At the end of the rectangle, the searchers turn and proceed along
new lanes.
B. The double strip or grid method of search is a modification of the Strip Search Method. Here, the rectangle is traversed first parallel
to the base then parallel to a side.
C. Spiral Search Method - In this method, the three searchers follow each other along the path of a spiral, beginning on the outside and
spiraling in toward the center.
D. Zone Search Method - In this method of search, the area is considered to be approximately circular. The searchers gather at the
center and proceed outward along radii or spokes. The procedure should be repeated several times depending on the size of the
circle and number of searchers. One shortcoming of this method is the great increase in the area to be observed as the searcher
departs from the center.
Collecting Evidence. This is accomplished after the search is completed, the rough sketch finished and photographs taken. Fragile evidence
should be collected as they are found. All firearms (FAs) found to have tampered serial numbers (SNs) shall be automatically subjected to
macro etching at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory (PNP-CL). A corresponding report to the Firearms and Explosive Office (FEO)
must be made for verification purposes. In the collection, the investigator should touch the evidence only when necessary.

Removal of Evidence. The investigator places his initials, the date and the time of discovery on each item of evidence and the time discovery
on each item of evidence for proper identification. Items that could not be marked should be placed in a suitable container and sealed.
Tagging or Evidence. Any physical evidence obtained must be tagged before its submission to the evidence custodian.
Evaluation of Evidence. Each item of evidence must be evaluated in relation to all other evidence, individually and collectively.
Preservation of Evidence. It is the investigator’s responsibility to ensure that every precaution is exercised to preserve physical evidence in the
state in which it was recovered/obtained until it is released to the evidence custodian.
Releasing the Scene. The scene is not releases until all processing has been completed. The release should be affected at the earliest
practicable time, particularly when an activity has been closed or its operations curtailed.

Sketching Crime Scenes.

Pointers to Consider:
a) To establish admissibility, the investigator must have had personal observation o the data in question. In other words, the sketch
must be sponsored or verified.
b) REMINDER: Sketches are not a substitute for notes or photos; they are but a supplement to them.
c) Types of sketches: Floor plan or “bird’s-eye view”; Evaluation drawing; Exploded view; and Perspective drawings.
d) Write down all measurements.
e) Fill in all the detail on your rough sketch at the scene. Final sketch may be prepared at the office.
f) Keep the rough sketch even when you have completed the final sketch.
g) Indicate ht North direction with an arrow.
h) Draw the final sketch to scale.
i) Indicate the PLACE in the sketch as well as the person who drew it. Use the KEY – capital letters of the alphabet for listing down
more or less normal part sof accessories of the place, and numbers for items of evidence
j) Indicate the position, location and relationship of objects.
k) Methods or systems of locating points (objects) on sketch
 Rectangular coordinates. (Measurements at right angels from each of two walls)
 Coordinates constructed on transecting base line. Choose relatively fixed points for your baseline.
 Triangulation. (Measurements made from each of two fixed objects to the pint you want to plot or locate so as to form an
imaginary triangle. Sketch will show as many imaginary triangles as there as object plotted).
l) Two (2) investigators should check critical measurements, such as skid marks.
m) Measurements should be harmony; or in centimeters, inches, yards, meters, mixed in one sketch.
n) Use standard symbols in the sketch.
o) Show which way doors swing,
p) Show with arrow the direction of stairways.
q) Recheck the sketch for clarity, accuracy, scale, and title key.
GENERAL TYPE OF SKETCH

Rough Sketch- made at the crime scene, no scale, proportion ignored and everything is approximate
Finished Sketch- for courtroom presentation, scale and proportion are strictly observed.

Kinds of Sketch
1. Sketch of locality-gives a picture of the crime scene in relation to its environs including neighboring buildings, roads, etc.
2. Sketch of grounds- includes the crime scene and its nearest environment, ex a house w/ a garden
3. Sketch of details -describes the immediate crime scene only

SCENE OF CRIME OPERATION (SOCO)

Composition of SOCO Team
The SOCO team is composed of but not limited to the following depending on the nature of the case:
1. Team Leader
2. Assistant team leader
3. Photographer and photographic log recorder
4. Sketcher and Evidence Recorder
5. Evidence Recorder
6. Evidence Recovery Personnel
7. Driver/Security

Equipment
1. Basic Equipment - Crime Scene tape or Rope (Police Line), Measuring device e.g. ruler and measuring tape, Recording materials
e.g. chalk, sketcher and paper pad, Camera with film, Video camera or tape recorder, Evidence collection kit, Flashlight
2. Evidence Containers - String tags-large and small, Evidence tape or masking tape, Roll of manila paper for wrapping, Plastic gallon,
½ pint bottles/vials-plastic and glass, ¼ pint bottles/vials-plastic glass, Absorbent cottons, Rolls of fingerprint tape, Plastic bags-
different sizes, Paper bags-different sizes
3. Tools - Pair of scissors, Knife-heavy duty and folding knife, Adjustable wrench, Pliers, Wire cutter, Complete screw driver set, Saw,
Hammer, Ax of hatchet, Shovel, Fingerprint magnifier, Nylon brush, Magnet, Spatula, Box of plaster of Paris for casting or lifting foot
marks, Goggles, Sifting screen, Funnels of different sizes, Ladder, Hand lens of magnifier, Weighting scale, Vernier caliper and
micrometer, Scalpels
 FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

4. Evidence Gathering Equipment - Rubber glove and cotton, Box or filter, White cotton sheet, Cotton balls and swabs, Fingerprint car,
data card and ink cards, Photo data card, Black and white latent print lifting cards, Rolls of lifting card, Complete magna brush kit,
Complete dusting kit, Heavy duty rubber lifters, Camera whit no wide angel, normal and macro lens, Arson kit, Casting and molding
kit, Electric engraver
5. Miscellaneous - Rubber bands, Pencil, ball pens, pentel pen-different color, Chalks, Permanent flat marker, Eraser, Stapler with
extra staple, Assorted paper clip and binders, Notebooks, paper pads, sketch pads and drawing pads, Drawing compass, Clippers,
Magnetic directional compass, Carbon papers and coupon bonds.

SCIENTIFIC AIDS TO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

The scientific tools a criminal investigator can use are:
a. Fingerprinting (Dactyloscopy)
b. Photography
c. Forensic Chemistry
d. Medico-legal
e. Forensic Ballistics
f. Questioned documents examination
g. Polygraphy
h. DNA Analysis

DNA: THE LATEST SCIENTIFIC TOOL

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (de–ak–si–ri–bo–n(y)u–kle–ik) - is a chemical substance found in all cells of living
organism whose composition have been passed on from parents to offsprings. It is called as the genetic or
hereditary material. A person’s DNA is the SAME in every cell. It is contained in blood, semen, skin cells, tissue,
organs, muscle, brain cells, bone, teeth, hair, saliva etc.

Chemically, it is an acid and is composed of three sub-units, namely

1. the phosphate group
2. a deoxyribose sugar, and
3. one of the four bases – Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C) and Guanine (G)

BIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AMENABLE FOR DNA ANALYSIS  Sexual assault cases like RAPE
 blood and bloodstains  Murder
 semen and seminal stains  Homicide
 hair with follicle/root  Robbery
 saliva and buccal cells  Hit and run
 tissues and skin cells  Extortion
 organs  Paternity cases
 bone marrow and bones  Identification of remains in mass disaster
 teeth
LINE UP OF CASES WHERE DNA ANALYSIS MAYBE USEFUL
IDENTIFYING DNA EVIDENCE

EVIDENC Possible location of Source of DNA stamp or licked area saliva

E DNA on the evidence envelope

baseball handle, end sweat, skin, blood, tissue tape or inside/outside skin, sweat
bat or ligature surface
similar
weapon bottle, can, sides, mouthpiece saliva, sweat
or glass
hat, inside sweat, hair, dandruff
bandanna, used inside/outside semen, vaginal or rectal
or mask condom surface cells

eyeglasses nose or ear pieces, sweat, skin blanket, surface area sweat, hair, semen, urine,
lens pillow, saliva
sheet
facial surface area mucus, blood, sweat,
tissue, semen, earwax “through outside surface blood,tissue
cotton and
swab through
bullet
dirty surface area blood, sweat, semen
laundry bite mark person’s skin or saliva
clothing
toothpick tips saliva
fingernail, scrapings blood, sweat, tissue
used cigarette butt saliva partial
cigarette fingernail

COLLECTION OF DNA EVIDENCE

 FUNDAMENTALS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

EVIDENCE CONDITION LOCATION COLLECTION MODE

URINE Liquid Person Direct deposit in container. Keep refrigerated.

SALIVA Liquid Scene Use syringe transfer into test tube. Keep refrigerated.

TISSUE, Fresh Scene Place in container. Keep refrigerated.

ORGAN Dried Scene Place in container.
BONE

HAIR With tissue Scene Collect hair with tissue in container. Keep refrigerated.
With blood Scene Separate hair from blood. Air dry. Collect in paper packet.
Intact hair Scene Pick up sample with clean forceps. Place in paper packet.
Fragments Scene Tape lift. Package in container.
Control Person Pulled (at least 20).

BLOOD Liquid Person Collect in EDTA tubes.

Liquid Scene a. Use syringe, collect into EDTA tube.
b. Transfer onto cotton cloth. Air dry.

BLOOD Clot Scene a. Collect clot in test tube.

b. Transfer onto cotton cloth. Air dry.

BLOOD Wet Clothing Air dry at room temperature. Package in paper bag.
Wet Object Air dry at room temperature. Package in paper bag.
Wet Water Collect sample with syringe. Place sample in plastic container.
Freeze sample.

DRIED BLOOD Crust Person, Scene, Object Scrape crust into paper packet. Collect control blank.
Stain Weapon Collect item directly.

STAGES OF DNA ANALYSIS

 EXTRACTION – to obtain the DNA material from the specimen. Two commonly used methods are Chelex, DNA IQ (rapid methods)
and organic extraction.

 QUANTITATION - to determine the amount of DNA material extracted from the sample. NBI make use of the QUANTIBLOT kit
which is human specific and highly sensitive up to picogram level.

 DNA AMPLIFICATION by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)– to make many copies of specific DNA fragment. PCR is a synthesis
reaction that is repeated for a number of cycles and results in exponential accumulation of the specific DNA fragment. The thermal
cycler is the machine that does this PCR and is compared to a Xerox machine.

Admissibility of DNA evidence under Philippine Law

Under our laws, evidence is admissible when it is relevant to the fact in issue and is not excluded by the Rules (Rule 128, sec. 2, Rules
of Court). Under this test, evidence is relevant when it has such a relation to the fact in issue as to induce belief in its existence or non-
existence. Evidence, to be relevant, need not conclusively prove the ultimate fact in issue, but only have any tendency to make the evidence of
any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the point in issue more probable or less probable than it would be without the evidence.
DNA evidence would be invaluable as corroborative evidence without statistical backup if the accused has been identified by other proof. It
would be proper to inform the court that two DNA samples match or do not match. In the case of a match, this makes it probable that the DNA
in the sample come from the same person suspected as a perpetrator. It would be corroborative even without the statistical back up needed in
the Frye test or under the Federal Rules of Evidence. In case of a non-match, this may lead to the acquittal of a suspect . The probability under
this form of presentation would be in an amount that is not precisely known. This is because the only criterion we are using is that of relevancy.