Crime Scene Administration

and Management

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Evidence Response Team

Instructional Goal
To provide the participant with an
understanding of the fundamentals of crime
scene management as it pertains to the
collection and preservation of physical
evidence.

Instructional Objectives
The participant will be able to...
Explain the steps for crime scene preparation
Identify the purpose and operational structure
of a Crime Scene Unit
Describe the basic six team positions of a
crime scene unit

Instructional Objectives
Identify the stages involved in evaluating a
crime scene
List basic equipment required to process a
crime scene
Describe basic safety considerations
Describe methods of controlling crime
scene contamination

Importance of Physical
Evidence
Admissibility in court
It doesnt matter if you know who did it, if you
cant convince a jury

Q: Why is there a need to collect

evidence correctly?
A:

Three Types of Evidence

Confessions
Witnesses
Physical Evidence

Potential Problems with

Evidence
Confessions
The voluntary nature of the confession
will be questioned
Defense will claim it was coerced
Miranda issues

Potential Problems with

Evidence
Witnesses
Credibility
Imperfect recollection
Conflicting statements

Potential Problems with

Evidence
Physical Evidence
Was it collected properly?
Was it handled properly?
Was it processed properly?
You can control the first two

Two General Types of Physical

Evidence
Class Evidence
That evidence which can be matched to a class
of individuals consistent with exemplars
from victim or subject
Hairs and fibers, trace

Individual or Identifying Evidence

That evidence that can be matched to a specific
individual
Fingerprints, DNA

Legality of a Search
There is no crime scene exception to the 4th
Amendment
Once a scene is secure, exigent circumstances
no longer exist
Get a warrant
Get consent

Advanced Preparation

Advanced Preparation
Accumulate packaging and collection of
materials necessary for typical crime scene.
Prepare format for the paperwork needed to
document the crime scene search

Advanced Preparation
Ensure specialists are aware of the proper
collection and documentation of evidence
likely to be encountered.
Before arrival, discuss the crime scene search
with involved personnel.
Before arrival, designate a person-in-charge
and make preliminary personnel assignments.

Advanced Preparation

Clothing
Communication
Lighting assistance
Shelter

Food and liquids

Medical assistance
Scene security
Equipment & Supplies

Personnel Responsibilities

Team Leader

Administrative log
Narrative description
Preliminary survey
Scene security
Final decision making

Photographer
Takes the appropriate
photographs
Responsible for preparing
photographic log
Dictate to designated scribe

Sketch Preparer
Draw the sketch
Depict spatial relationships

Documentation of items
collected on sketch
Match item #s

Evidence Recorder
Prepare the evidence log
documents
Function as the Evidence
Custodian

Evidence Collectors
Balance of team members
Conduct search
Collect and package evidence
Make sure all items collected are photographed,
located on sketch, and logged

Specialists
Consider what specialists might be
necessary to assist with the processing of
the crime scene
Specialists include pathologists,
anthropologists, entomologists, botanists,
geologists, fingerprint specialists, bomb
technicians, engineers etc...

Important Considerations
Prolonged searches
Establish personnel requirements - shifts
Multiple shifts that overlap

Communications
Ancillary services (e.g. medical examiner, DA,
etc.)
Organize a command post for major cases

Important Considerations
Multi-jurisdictional events
Establish liaison with other jurisdictions
Develop memoranda of understanding
Pool available resources
Designate media / press coordination

11 Steps of Crime Scene Search

11 Step Process
Approach the scene
Secure and protect
Initiate a preliminary
survey
Evaluate the physical
evidence
Prepare a narrative
description

Photograph the scene

Prepare a sketch
Conduct a detailed search
Record and collect the
physical evidence
Conduct a final survey
Release the crime scene

Approach Scene
Be alert for all forms of physical evidence
Make pertinent notes concerning
observations
Be in the frame of mind to take control
Consider personal safety
Consider all resources needed for
processing the scene

Secure and Protect Scene

Take aggressive control upon arrival
Determine the extent of the scene protection
upon arrival
Check for adequate scene security
Obtain all information possible regarding
the original condition of the crime scene
Appoint one individual as person-in-charge

Secure and Protect Scene

Person-in-charge has final decision and
resolution making authority
Take extensive notes - do not rely on your
memory (or others)
Record all entries and exits from the scene
Name
Department
Reason for entering

Keep unauthorized personnel out

Initiate Preliminary Survey

Organizational stage to plan search:
Initial cautious walk through of the scene
Identify the extent of the search area - may
require expanding initial perimeter
Organize the methods and procedures
needed to process the scene
Determine manpower and equipment needs
Make personnel assignments

Preliminary Survey
Identify and protect all transient physical
evidence
Develop a general theory of the crime
Make extensive notes to document physical
and environmental conditions, assignments,
and movements of personnel

Evaluate Physical Evidence

Evaluation begins upon arrival at the scene
Becomes more detailed in preliminary
survey stage
Concentrate on the most transient evidence
first and work towards least transient
Insure you have appropriate packaging
material for evidence to be collected

Narrative Description
Narrative is a running general description
of the condition of the crime scene
Present an overall general to specific
description of crime scene
Note items that catch your attention
Methods of narrative can be:

Audio

Written

Video

Crime Scene Photography

Purpose:
Record Original Scene & Conditions
Document Appearance of Evidence
Capture Permanent Record
Admissibility Issues:
Photo must be relevant
Non-prejudicial
Distortion-free
Accurate representation

Scene Photography
Photograph the scene as soon as possible
Use Photo Log for documentation
Utilize various views of the scene
Overall
Medium
Close-up (with and without scale)

Photograph all evidence prior to collection

Scene Photography
Photograph the scene completely to include:
Points of entry/exit
Surrounding area/neighborhood

Take photographs at eye level

Photographs supplement sketches and notes
- they do not stand alone
FILM IS CHEAP! Use it!

Homicide Photography

Use Color Film

Body w/ 5 Angles
Close-up of Obvious Wounds
Weapons
Trace Evidence
Signs of Prior Activity
Evidence of Struggle
Witness Perspective Shots
Autopsy

Scene Photography
DOs and DONTs

Do take your time

Doing more is better than less

Dont Reposition Evidence

Dont destroy in the process

Diagram/Sketch
Permanent record of items, establishes
distance/size and their spatial relationships
Rough sketch may be drawn at scene never to scale.
Retain in file

Final sketch in office/lab

Can be to scale
May utilize personnel with drafting or
computer skills

Diagram/Sketch
Administrative Information to include:
Location
Date
Case number/name
Preparers name
Scale
North arrow
Key

Diagram/Sketch
Should Depict

Features
Buildings
Furniture
Plants
Items of evidence
Numbers or letters
Measurements
In adjacent table

Record and Collect Physical

Evidence
Locate evidence
Record evidence
Collect evidence
Package evidence

Locate Physical Evidence

In open areas, consider using specialized
search patterns:
Line
Grid
Spiral

Be sure to address areas above and below

normal eye level

Strip or Line Search

Lanes must be established
Overlap to ensure full coverage
Lane width should be
manageable
Multiple personnel on line within
a lane, require extra discipline

Spiral
Start at center and spiral
out
May have advantages if
working alone
Difficult to manage

Grid
A
1
2
3

Locate /Collect
Physical Evidence
Consider specialized forensic techniques

Latent fingerprits
Hairs and fibers
Trace evidence
Blood and bodily fluids
Toolmarks
Impressions

Latent Fingerprints
Latent fingerprints are a marvelous tool
for solving crimes, but they have
limitations:
Liftability
Identifiability
Matchabiliy

Latent Fingerprints
Liftability
The fact that one can locate and develop a
latent fingerprint at the scene does not mean
that print can be lifted
Surface characteristics

Photograph before lifting!

Latent Fingerprints
Identifiability
The fact that one can locate and see a latent
fingerprint does not mean that it contains
identifiable finger ridge detail

Latent Fingerprints
Matchability
The fact that one can locate, develop and
lift a good latent fingerprint does not mean
that it can be matched to a subject or victim
Cant lways submit a partial print to AFIS and
get a match
Must first develop a suspect through other
investigative means
Then attempt to match latent to his/her prints

Trace/Hairs & Fibers

Edmund Locards Transference
Theory:
When any two objects come in
contact there is always a transfer of
material from each object on to the
other

Two Types of Transfer:

Direct Transfer
Victim to Suspect
Suspect to Victim

Indirect Transfer
Suspect to suspects car to victim

Blood Evidence
Bloodstain pattern analysis
Establishes what happened

Blood collection and analysis

Blood typing and DNA
Establishes who was bleeding

Record and Collect Physical

Evidence
Photograph all items before collection
Record in the Photography Log
Use scale, when necessary
Mark evidence locations in diagram/sketch
Complete the Evidence Log

Record and Collect Physical

Evidence
Have at least two persons:
Observe the evidence in place before collection
Observe the evidence being collected
Select the proper packaging material
Mark the evidence directly or
Mark the evidence containers for identification

Record and Collect Physical

Evidence
If feasible

Have one person as Evidence Custodian

Seal the evidence containers at the scene
Obtain control samples, where needed
Check all logs and evidence for accuracy

Evidence Packaging
General Rules
For latent fingerprints:
Porous material goes in paper packaging
Non-porous material goes in plastic
Secure so it doesnt move

Blood and bodily fluid evidence:

Porous packaging
NEVER in plastic!

Dry before packaging

Record and Collect Physical

Evidence
Four basic premises to consider:
The best search options are usually the most
difficult and time-consuming
You cannot over-document the physical evidence
collected
There is only ONE CHANCE TO DO IT RIGHT!
Start your search out CAUTIOUSLY and finish
VIGOROUSLY

Conduct Final Survey

Critical review of all aspects of the search
Discuss the search jointly with all personnel
for completeness
Double check documentation to detect
inadvertent errors or omissions
Take exit photographs
Ensure all evidence is accounted for and the
scene is secure before departing

Conduct Final Survey

Insure you have all of your equipment prior
to departing
Make sure that nothing has been overlooked
Before you leave the scene, make sure you
have collected everything you could to help
solve the case
Only one chance to do it right!

Release the Crime Scene

Release only after final survey is complete
Document the
Time/Date of release
To/By whom scene was released

Insure appropriate receipts and inventory have

been provided as necessary
Once you have released scene, reentry may
require getting a warrant

Release the Crime Scene

Before you release the scene.
Insure you have utilized all appropriate
resources such as bloodstain pattern analyst,
bomb technicians, forensic anthropologist,
behavioral scientist, etc. to review the
scene.

Safety Considerations
Ensure personnel have personal protective
equipment
Treat all blood and body fluids as infectious
View crime scene as source of
contamination
Never place hands where you cant see
Do not eat, drink, or smoke at crime scene

Safety Considerations
Ensure crime scene personnel have
protection from environmental elements
Beware of blood borne pathogens
Place sharps in appropriate containers

Beware of secondary devices in bombing

cases

Crime Scene Contamination

Control Techniques
Dont touch face with contaminated gloves
Double glove and change gloves frequently
Use shoe covers and remove when you
leave crime scene
Avoid using same personnel to search crime
scene and subjects car or home
If you decide to use same personnel, ensure
their clothing and shoes are changed

Crime Scene Contamination

Control Techniques
Collect all trash generated by crime scene
team
Do not wear jewelry at crime scene
Do not smoke at scene
Use face masks and eye protection when
dealing with body fluids