Crime Scene Tips
Shield Your Crime Scene
As crime scene officers we have the responsibility of protecting the crime scene and its integrity, here are some products you can use to help protect your crime scene.
Crime Scene Tips
Improved Latent Print Processing
Combining traditional iodine fuming techniques with digital subtraction in Photoshop provides an effective tool to develop and enhance latent images on visually difficult or distracting backgrounds.
Crime Scene Tips
With Latent Prints, the Age of the Evidence Can Be a Factor
When you’re working with latent prints, the age of the evidence can also be a factor in processing. If you’re not sure of the age of the evidence, you can follow the PINS processing technique.
Crime Scene Tips
ALS vs. Lasers for Illuminating Trace Evidence
Optimum sweeping of a crime scene with an ALS requires an experienced operator or some evidence may be missed. With a laser however, any semi-skilled operator can don the goggles and perform the same level of CSI study as a seasoned expert.
Crime Scene Tips
Don't Forget to Photograph Impression Evidence
Before you do anything with impression evidence, you need to photograph it. If something goes wrong during the processing and you forgot to take photographs, then you’ll be left with nothing.
Crime Scene Tips
Know When to Call in the Experts
In order to take advantage of the latest advances in technology and science, a crime scene officer needn't acquire the same level of knowledge as the experts, but must have enough knowledge to recognize what the experts can accomplish with the right evidence.
Crime Scene Tips
Look For Hidden Hazards When Collecting Evidence from Confined Spaces
Investigations and evidence collection can take one into unusual settings including inside confined spaces. Many locations may appear relatively benign but can hold hidden hazards with potentially fatal consequences for any who enter unprepared.
Crime Scene Tips
Lifting Prints from Wet Surfaces
Fingerprints will remain intact on wet surfaces. You have two options for developing and lifting latent fingerprints from them.
Crime Scene Tips
Put on Gloves, Use Gloves, Change Gloves
I can’t say enough about avoiding cross contamination. Put on gloves, use gloves, change gloves. Do that every time you touch a piece of evidence.
Crime Scene Tips
The First Responding Officer Makes or Breaks a Crime Scene
Arguably, the most important person at a crime scene is the first officer to arrive. The manner in which he initially handles a crime scene can dictate how things go in the overall investigation.
Crime Scene Tips
Know Your Crime Lab
An understanding of what your lab is capable of can make you smarter about how you process a crime scene. Keep up with the technology your lab has and determine how that changes your job.
Crime Scene Tips
Before You Enter a Crime Scene, Check for Tracks
Before you step under the tape, stop and study the tracks going into and out of the crime scene. Compare tracks to the tread pattern of those at the scene, and take care not to damage any tracks on your way in.
Crime Scene Tips
Releasing a Crime Scene
Once the scene is processed, it can be released. Before release, do a final walk through with a fresh look. You might see something you missed. Document the date and time of release as well as the name, address, and phone of the person the scene was released to.
Crime Scene Tips
Documenting a Vehicle Death Scene
If a body is found in a vehicle, document as much as possible about the location, the vehicle, and it's condition. Be specific as to the location of the body. Is it in the front seat, back seat, driver’s side, passenger side, floor, trunk, etc?
Crime Scene Tips
Documenting a Water Death Scene
When dealing with a body found in or near the water, the first thing to do is record information about the location. What is the water type? Document everything about the location of the scene and the body within it.
Crime Scene Tips
Chain of Custody of a Body Begins with the Death Scene Documentation
When working on a death scene, keep track of how and when the coroner was notified of the death. When the body is ready to be moved, continue to jot in your checklist, everything that happens. These notes begin the documentation of the chain of custody of the body.
Crime Scene Tips
Casting Materials can be Used to Obtain Fingerprint Evidence
Hard to lift prints, such as those on rough surfaces, human skin, blood, and curved surfaces can be accomplished by using magnetic powder and casting silicone.
Crime Scene Tips
Use a Checklist to Document a Crime Scene
Using a checklist to document a crime scene is your reminder to look at everything; insurance that even if you get distracted, you will go back; and a record that you looked for each type of evidence even if none was present.
Crime Scene Tips
Fingerprint Brushes can Contaminate DNA Evidence
Fingerprint brushes can become easily contaminated. New brushes should be used for each crime scene, and the brush used in a homicide case should become part of the evidence.
