Crime Scene Basics

Forensic Science
T. Trimpe 2006 http://sciencespot.net

Crime Scene Vocabulary
CRIME SCENE: Any physical location in which a crime has occurred or is
suspected of having occurred.
PRIMARY CRIME SCENE: The original location of a crime or
accident.
SECONDARY CRIME SCENE: An alternate location where
additional evidence may be found.
SUSPECT: Person thought to be capable of committing a crime.
ACCOMPLICE: Person associated with someone suspected of committing a

crime.
ALIBI: Statement of where a suspect was at the time of a crime.
Source: http://www3.sc.maricopa.edu/ajs/crime_scene_technician.htm
Types of Evidence
Testimonial evidence includes oral or written statements given to police as well as
court testimony by people who witnessed an event.
Physical evidence refers to any material items that would be present at the crime
scene, on the victims, or found in a suspect’s possession.
Trace evidence refers to physical evidence that is found in small but measurable
amounts, such as strands of hair, fibers, or skin cells.
What will evidence collected at a scene do for the investigation?

• May prove that a crime has been committed
• Establish key elements of a crime
• Link a suspect with a crime scene or a victim
• Establish the identity of a victim or suspect
• Corroborate verbal witness testimony
• Exonerate the innocent.
• Give detectives leads to work with in the case
Source: http://www3.sc.maricopa.edu/ajs/crime_scene_technician.htm
Crime Scene Personnel
POLICE OFFICERS are typically the first to arrive at a crime scene. They are
responsible for securing the scene so no evidence is destroyed and detaining
persons of interest in the crime.
The CSI UNIT documents the crime scene in detail and collects any physical
evidence.
The DISTRICT ATTORNEY is often present to help determine if any search

warrants are required to proceed and obtains those warrants from a judge.
The MEDICAL EXAMINER (if a homicide) may or may not be present to

determine a preliminary cause of death.
SPECIALISTS (forensic entomologists, anthropologists, or psychologists) may be

called in if the evidence requires expert analysis.
DETECTIVES interview witnesses and consult with the CSI unit. They
investigate the crime by following leads provided by witnesses and physical
evidence.
Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/csi.htm
Crime Scene Protocol
Step 1: Interview
The first step in investigating a crime scene is to interview the first officer at the scene or the
victim to determine what allegedly happened, what crime took place, and how was the crime
committed. This information may not be factual information but it will give the investigators
a place to start.
Step 2: Examine
The second step in the investigation of a crime scene, which will help identify possible
evidence, identify the point of entry and point of exit, and outline the general layout of the
crime scene.
Step 3: Document
The third step in the protocol involves creating a pictorial record of the scene as well as a
rough sketch to demonstrate the layout of the crime scene and to identify the exact position of
the deceased victim or other evidence within the crime scene.
Step 4: Process
This is the last step in the protocol. The crime scene technician will process the crime scene
for evidence, both physical and testimonial evidence. It is the crime scene technicians
responsibility to identify, evaluate and collect physical evidence from the crime scene for
further analysis by a crime laboratory.
Adapted from http://www.feinc.net/cs-proc.htm

Forensic Science disciplines at the
Investigating the Evidence Illinois State Police Crime Labs
Drug Chemistry – Determines the presence of controlled substances and the identification
of marijuana
Trace Chemistry - Identification and comparison of materials from fires, explosions,
paints, and glass.
Microscopy – Microscopic identification and comparison of evidence, such as hairs, fibers,
woods, soils, building materials, insulation and other materials.
Biology/DNA – Analysis of body fluids and dried stains such as blood, semen, and saliva.
Toxicology – Tests body fluids and tissues to determine the presence of drugs and poisons.
Latent Prints - Identification and comparison of fingerprints or other hidden impressions
from sources like feet, shoes, ears, lips or the tread on vehicle tires.
Ballistics (Firearms) – Study of bullets and ammunition through the comparison of fired
bullets, cartridges, guns, and gunpowder patterns on people and objects.
Toolmarks – Examines marks left by tools on objects at a crime scene or on a victim, such
as a hammer used to break a door or a screwdriver used to pick a lock.
Questioned Documents - Examination of documents to compare handwriting, ink, paper,
writing instruments, printers, and other characteristics that would help to identify its origin.
Source: http://www.isp.state.il.us/forensics/
What evidence would you collect?
Mock Crime Scene: http://www.masss.gov

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What are the different types of evidence discussed?

What are the steps in processing a crime scene?

Forensic Science

T. Trimpe 2006 http://sciencespot.net

SUSPECT: Person thought to be capable of committing a crime.

ACCOMPLICE: Person associated with someone suspected of committing a

What will evidence collected at a scene do for the investigation?

The DISTRICT ATTORNEY is often present to help determine if any search

The MEDICAL EXAMINER (if a homicide) may or may not be present to

SPECIALISTS (forensic entomologists, anthropologists, or psychologists) may be

Adapted from http://www.feinc.net/cs-proc.htm

Mock Crime Scene: http://www.masss.gov

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