Investigating a Crime

Learning Goal – I will be able to

describe the requirements
associated with bringing an
accused person to justice..

CLU3M
Collecting Physical Evidence
 To
Whenprotect
a crime
thehascrimebeen
scene, the officers must accurately
establish
committed,twotheboundaries:
first job of
1. the police
The is the
centre: to collect
area inallwhich
the the offence was actually
evidence that they can find
committed

2. The perimeter:
The careful collection,
the areas surrounding the centre, where the
examination,
offender may andhavestorage of
been present or may have left evidence
physical evidence are a vital
part of any criminal
investigation.
Crime scenes are preserved for 3
reasons:

1. To allow for a thorough

search of the crime scene.
2. To seize and collect
physical evidence.
3. To ensure that the physical
evidence is admissible in
court.
Contamination: the loss,
destruction, or alteration of
physical evidence
Forensic Science

 Forensic science is the use of biochemical

and other techniques to analyze evidence
 It involves many different disciplines
including alcohol, anthropology, chemistry,
document identification and forgery,
entomology, fingerprints, firearms, trace
evidence, odontology, biology and pathology
Forensic Science
 A piece of evidence found at
the scene of a crime will often
be analyzed by several different
methods to get the most
information from it.
 I.e., a shoe may be examined
for bloodstains (studied by
biology, DNA analysis), trace
evidence (broken glass or
similar type of dirt found on
suspects shoe and crime
scene), gunshot residue (may
be on suspect's clothes or
hands as well) etc.
Impressions

 Patterns or marks
Impressions found
have 2 characteristics:
1.
on surfaces
Class and causedthe
characteristics: bygeneral attributes of the object i.e.
various
type objects
of tire (Pirellisuch as radial)
15 inch
figures, shoes, tires, blunt
2. Individual characteristics: specific and unique of an object
objects, etc…
i.e. tread wear on a specific tire
Fingerprints
 The
There
unique
are 2 patterned
types ofmark
prints:
1. left behind
Visible after a fingertip
fingerprint: can be observed by the naked eye i.e.
touches
coated in anblood
objector grease

2. ItLatent
is unique to an individual
fingerprint: formed by natural oils and perspiration on
and
the never change
fingertip. Not visible to the naked eye.
Three methods are used to develop
latent prints:

1. Graphite powder: used

on non-absorbent
surfaces i.e. metal
plastic
2. Iodine fuming: used on
surfaces such as
paper and cloth
3. Laser beam: used to
illuminate the print
DNA Testing
 DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) - is
the individual blueprint of a human
being at a genetic level
 This is the newest of forensic
science methods, as it was only
developed in the 1980s.
 It is a very reliable way of linking an
accused person to a crime..
 can be found in the form of blood,
seminal fluid, saliva, or skin.
 Once a person's DNA has been
identified as the same as that found
at a crime scene, there is a tiny
chance that that person was not
present, as only an identical twin
would have exactly the same DNA.
Forensic Ballistics

 the science of analyzing firearm

usage in crimes.
 Forensic ballistics involves
analysis of bullets and bullet
impacts to determine the type
of firearm used.
 firearm and tool mark
examinations also involve
analyzing firearm, ammunition,
and tool mark evidence in order
to establish whether a certain
firearm or tool was used in the
commission of a crime.
The Crime Scene Continued

 Thereare strict procedures on the seizure,

handling, and storage of evidence:
1. no evidence is left unattended;
2. the case officer must secure evidence in the police
property locker;
3. transferring evidence is the responsibility of the case
officer;
4. no evidence can be removed from property locker
without appropriate authority and signature. This is to
maintain the chain of custody of the evidence.