Fsci CH 02

Chapter 2 Crime Scene
Investigation and Evidence Collection

By the end of this chapter you will be able to:
summarize Locards exchange principle

identify four examples of trace evidence
distinguish between direct and circumstantial evidence
identify the type of professionals who are present at a crime
scene
summarize the three steps of a crime scene investigation
explain the importance of securing the crime scene
identify the methods by which a crime scene is documented
demonstrate proper technique in collecting and packaging
trace evidence
describe how evidence from a crime scene is analyzed
All Rights Reserved South-Western / Cengage Learning 2009
Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2
Principle of Exchange
Dr. Edmond Locard, director of the worlds first
forensic lab (1910, Lyon, France), established
the idea of the exchange principle; namely that:
1. When a person comes in contact with an
object or another person, a cross-transfer of
physical material can occur.
2. Study of the material can determine the nature
and duration of the transfer.
2
Types of Evidence
Statements of a witness in court would be
direct evidence.
Indirect or circumstantial evidence, such as
a fingerprint (physical evidence) or blood or

hairs (biological evidence), would imply
something, and is called trace evidence.
3
Types of Evidence
Evidence taken from a crime scene. Direct or

circumstantial evidence? Physical or biological
evidence? Class or individual evidence? Explain
why this would be or would not be trace
evidence.
The Crime Scene

Investigation Team
Who is at the crime scene?
Police and possibly a district attorney.
Crime scene investigators.
Medical examiners.
Detectives.
Specialists.
The Seven Ss of Crime Scene

Investigation
Secure the scene.
Separate the witnesses.
Scan the scene.
See to it that the crime scene examiners
receive overall and close up photos with
and without measuring rulers.
5. Sketch the scene.
6. Search for evidence.
7. Secure the collected evidence.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Packaging the evidence
Crease a clean paper and place the evidence in

the X position (as shown above).
2. Fold in the left and right sides, and then fold in
the top and bottom.
3. Put the bindle into a plastic or paper evidence
bag affixing a seal over the opening.
4. Write your name on the seal.
1.
Chain of Custody
1.
2.
3.
In order to present credible evidence in court, a chain

of custody log is essential.
A person bags the evidence, marks it for identification,
seals it, and signs it across the sealed edge (above, left).
It is signed over to a technician in a lab for analysis who
opens it, but not on the sealed edge.
After analysis, the technician puts it back in the evidence
bag, seals it in another bag, and signs the evidence log
(above, right).
Analyze the Evidence

The facts of the case are determined
when the forensic lab processes all the

collected evidence.
The lab then sends the results to the lead
detective who aims to see how it all fits

into the crime scenario.
9
Analyze the Evidence

The lab results can:
Show how reliable are any witness
accounts.
Establish the identity of suspects or
victims.
Show suspects to be innocent or link
them with a scene or victim.
10
Crime Scene Reconstruction

Crime scene reconstruction involves:
11
forming a hypothesis
of the sequence of events
from before the crime was committed
through its commission.
Staged Crime Scenes

When the lab results do not match up with the
testimony of witnesses, it can mean the crime
was staged; common examples include:
Staging a fireto cover bankruptcy.
Staging a suicideto cover a murder.
Staging a burglaryto collect insurance

money.
12
Staged Crime Scenes

To help determine whether a crime scene
was staged, consider:
Whether the type of wound found on the
victim matches the weapon employed.

Whether the wound could have been easily
self-inflicted.
The mood and actions of the victim before
the event.
The mood and actions of a suspect before
the event.
13
. . . . . . . . . . Summary . . . . . . . .
Locards exchange principle: contact between
people and objects can transfer material that can

determine the nature and duration of the transfer.
Evidence can be direct or indirect (physical or
biological traces).
A crime scene investigation team consists of
police, detectives, crime scene investigators,
medical investigators, and specialists.
The investigation consists of recognizing,
documenting, and collecting evidence.
14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summary
First responding officers identify the extent of the
crime scene, secure it, and segregate witnesses.

Crime scene investigators document the crime
scene.
Evidence must be collected, packaged, and
labeled.
The evidence then is analyzed and interpreted to
fit the crime scenario.
15

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Chapter 2 Crime Scene

Investigation and Evidence Collection

summarize Locards exchange principle

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Statements of a witness in court would be

a fingerprint (physical evidence) or blood or

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Evidence taken from a crime scene. Direct or

The Crime Scene

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

The Seven Ss of Crime Scene

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Packaging the evidence

Crease a clean paper and place the evidence in

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

In order to present credible evidence in court, a chain

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Analyze the Evidence

when the forensic lab processes all the

detective who aims to see how it all fits

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Analyze the Evidence

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Staged Crime Scenes

Staging a burglaryto collect insurance

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

Staged Crime Scenes

victim matches the weapon employed.

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

people and objects can transfer material that can

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

crime scene, secure it, and segregate witnesses.

Forensic Science: Fundamentals & Investigations, Chapter 2

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