CRIMINAL

INVESTIGATION
By: Darlito Bernard G. Delizo
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
NATURE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Latin INVESTIGATUS (pp of INVESTIGARE)

- to trace or track.
Criminal - implies anyone who committed an
offense or act punishable by law. In its broadest
sense, implies any crime or heinous wickedness.
Legally, it is an act of commission or omission
punishable by law commanding or forbidding it.
However, in the ensuing discussion, the broadest
sense of criminal will be taken.
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
NATURE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Latin INVESTIGATUS (pp OF INVESTIGARE)

- to trace or track.
Criminal - implies anyone who committed an
offense or act punishable by law. In its broadest
sense, implies any crime or heinous wickedness.
Legally, it is an act of commission or omission
punishable by law commanding or forbidding it.
However, in the ensuing discussion, the broadest
sense of criminal will be taken.
Criminal investigation - process of carefully
examining or researching what transpired in a criminal
act.
Theories of Policing
Early Period

organized all able-bodied men

against wild animals
later, against marauding
Later Period
people organized governments and states
policing focused on overnight guarding
nightwatchers reduced stealing
laws were legislated
police were organized for law enforcement

However, some culprits remained undetected.

Thus birth of criminal investigation
Historical Background of
Criminal Investigation
Industrial revolution
Influx of people in the cities (London)
No government organized police
Thief catchers
1. Hirelings - mercenary
2. Social climbers means of moving
up on social ladder.
MILESTONE IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION
1720s, England - JONATHAN WILD -
EMPLOYING A THIEF TO CATCH A THIEF.
1750s, England - HENRY FIELDING - wrote Tom
Jones, thief catchers at Bow Street Corners.
SIR JOHN FIELDING - younger brother of Henry,
Bow Street Runners - pioneered paid
informants, printing wanted notices, employing
criminal raids, and bearing firearms and
handcuffs.
1800, London - PATRICK COLQUHOUN,
proposed the creating of uniformed force to
police the city
1829, London SIR ROBERT PEEL founded
London Metropolitan Police, the SCOTLAND
YARD, introduced techniques of surveillance
like detectives concealing themselves, and
secretly photographing and recording
conversations.
1835, USA - TEXAS RANGERS - forerunner of
FBI
1835 - HENRY GODDARD , bow street runner,
first to solve a murder with aid of ballistics
1839, BIRTHYEAR OF PHOTOGRAPHY -
WILLIAM HENRY FOX TALBOT
JACQUES MANDE DAGUERRE gave a public
demonstration in Paris of his discovery -the
DAGUERREOTYPE, a product of photographic
process he developed in collaboration with
NICEPHORE NIEPCE.
1851, Boston, Massachusetts, USA - MULTI-
SUSPECT LINE-UP
1852, USA - CHARLES DICKENS, through
BLEAK HOUSE, introduced the term
DETECTIVE
1852, USA - ALLAN PINKERTON - Americas
most famous private investigator. founder of
American Criminal Investigation system,
handwriting examination, plan to centralize
criminal identification records.
1856, USA - KATE WAYNE - first woman
detective by the Pinkerton agency.
1859, USA - Appellate courts
recognized/accepted photographs as
admissible evidence
1865, USA - US SECRET SERVICE
founded to investigate counterfeiting
activity in post-civil war America.
1866, Liberty, Missouri, USA - The JESSE
JAMES GANG made the first bank hold-
up which marked the beginning of the
gangs 15-year hold-up and robbery spree.
1877, England - HOWARD VINCENT headed the
newly organized Criminal Investigation
Department in Scotland Yard.
1882, France - ALPHONSE BERTILLON,
introduced Anthropometry or
ANTHROPOMETRICAL SIGNALMENT,
recognized as founder of Criminal Identification.
1884, Chicago, USA - established the first
American Criminal Identification Bureau.
1887, England - DR. ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
popularized scientific criminal investigation by
creating the fictional detective SHERLOCK
HOLMES
1892, England - FRANCIS GALTON,
recognized the uniqueness and
potentiality/significance of fingerprint in
criminal identification.
1924, USA - The Federal Bureau of
Investigation was established
J. Edgar Hoover (1924) - FBIs newly
named director raised the qualifications
of agent personnel and reduced the
number of agents nationwide.
1948, Aberdeen, England - TEAM
POLICING a team of police officers is
assigned to patrol and investigate all
criminal matters within their area
1954, USA - DR. PAUL KIRK, one of the
best known American criminalist.
1961, USA - Mapp vs. Ohio (376 vs. 584) -
DOCTRINE OF POISONOUS TREE.
1964, Jan 1 - The RULES OF COURT took
effect
Criminal Investigation: Art
or Science?
A. As an ART it is governed by:
Intuition
Felicity or inspiration
Chance or luck

B. Hence, success is:

Dependent on the circumstances of the case
Techniques vary
Criminal Investigation: Art
or Science?
A. As a science, it is governed by:
Scientific knowledge
Scientific principles
Scientific methodologies
B. Also a science because:
Systematic inquiry/process
Governed by laws
The Process: Basic
Principle
A. Criminal Investigation as a Process
- identifying, collecting, preserving, and evaluating
data or raw facts to produce valuable information for
the purpose of bringing a criminal offender to
justice.
B. The 5 Functions of Criminal Investigation
a. recognition/identification
b. collection
c. preservation
d. evaluation
e. presentation
Legal Aspect of Criminal
Investigation
RULE OF LAW heart of investigative process
A. The Concept of Due Process:
substantive due process - whether a statute is fair and
reasonable
procedural due process - essential elements of fairness under
the law.
In short, IT HEARS BEFORE IT CONDEMNS.
B. The Criminal Law - that branch of municipal or substantive law
that defines crimes, treats of their nature, and provides for their
punishment.
Purposes of Criminal Law:
To identify public wrongs,
To exercise social control,
To deter antisocial conducts, and
To administer punishments.
C. Legal Provisions Significant to the
Development of CI in the Philippine

1973, Philippine Constitution - Art. III, Sec. 20 rights

of an accused
not be compelled to be witness against himself
remain silent
to have a counsel
right to be informed of his rights
no force, violence, threat, intimidation, nor any means
be used

1987, Philippine Constitution (Article II, Sec. 12 (1))

Enlargement of the rights of accused
independent counsel of preference
Desirable Traits of a
Criminal Investigator
Criminal Investigator pertains to a person who
is charged with the duty of carrying on the
objectives/aims of criminal investigation, i.e.:
to identify and locate the guilty party, the
offended party, witnesses, and other facts or
information that leads to the solution of the
criminal cases;
to trace, locate, and then apprehend the
guilty party; and
to provide evidence of the suspects guilt.
Desirable Traits of a
Criminal Investigator
A. According to Cirilo M. Tradio:
Intelligence
Honesty (integrity)
Patience (perseverance)
Must be understanding with the people
around him (psychologist)
Keen observer
Desirable Traits of a
Criminal Investigator
B. According to Michael Lyman
1. Motivation
2. Intuition
3. Stability
4. Judgment
5. Street knowledge
6. Teamwork
7. Persistence
8. Reliability
9. Intelligence
10. Dedication
11. Integrity
Desirable Traits of a
Criminal Investigator
C. According to Paul Weston
1. Alertness
2. Integrity
3. Logical mind
4. Power of self-control
5. Playing a part
6. Sound common sense
7. Good judgment
8. Perseverance or hardwork
9. General Knowledge of police science
POLICE SCIENCE- is a scientific study of the
causes and effects of human actions and
relations.

Starting Points of Investigation (The 6 Cardinal

Points)
1. What questions
2. Who questions
3. Where questions
4. When questions
5. Why questions
6. How Questions
CHAPTER 2 - THE CRIME
AND THE INVESTIGATION
Distinction of Crime, Investigator, and
Investigation

Crime - act or omission punishable by a public

law commanding or forbidding it.
Investigator- one who gathers, documents,
and evaluates facts about the crime
Investigation - the process through which
these (gathering, documenting, evaluating)
are accomplished.
Reasons for Investigating
Crimes
To give justice to the victims, and to deter others from
committing crimes

Specifically, crimes are investigated to:

1. establish, in fact, a crime was committed;
2. identify and apprehend the suspect;
3. recover stolen properties;
4. preserve knowledge/information about a case;
5. provide accurate details about a case;
6. aid other investigations and other agencies concerned;
7. coordinate investigation activities within the organization;
8. serve as reference by competent authorities;
9. serve as an evidence for court presentation;
10. present the best possible case to the prosecution; and
11. identify, collect, examine and process physical evidence.
Two Theories to Protect
Citizens from Criminal
Attacks
A. Crime Prevention first line of defense
1. police patrol
2. police community relation
B. Criminal Investigation second line of
defense
1. incapacitation of the offender
2. deterrence to others
Nature and Roles of
Investigator
A. Nature of an Investigator:
Finding clues, evidence, or proofs
connecting the suspect, the victims, and
witnesses to the crime
B. Role of the Criminal Investigator:
Assisting in the proving of the guilt of
the accused or suspect
Investigative Theories and
Methods
Types of Investigations:
1. Personal background
2. Suspected violations of criminal law
3. Infractions of civil law
4. Vice: drug and organized crime activity
Modes of Investigation:
1. REACTIVE RESPONSES - addresses crimes that
have already occurred, such as murder, robbery
and burglary - investigators respond to collect
evidence and interview witnesses, and identify
and arrest a suspected perpetrator.
2. PROACTIVE RESPONSE - anticipates criminal
activity, as with many vice and organized crime
investigations, conducted before the commission
and the suspect is identified before he/she
commits
3. PREVENTIVE RESPONSE - arresting the criminal
and by aggressive prosecution.
CHAPTER 3 - PHASES OF
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
How Police Learned About a Crime?
POLICE

Victim/Witness/ Patrol Police Self-

Complainant Activities Initiatives (intel)

CRIME
Aims and Objectives
1. primary purpose - establishment of facts and the
removing of doubts that a crime has in fact been
committed
2. aims to:
prevent crime;
apprehend criminals; and
recover stolen properties.

3. In achieving these aims, three basic elements

are involved:
searching the crime scene;
collecting and preserving evidence; and
locating and interviewing witnesses.
STAGES OF CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION
The Preliminary Investigation focuses at
the crime scene
securing the crime scene;
considering the possible arrest of the suspect;
locating and questioning witnesses and
victims;
documenting the crime scene; and
identifying and collecting evidence.
Responsibility First
Responder
Actions:
1. Establish that a crime has in fact been committed.
2. Protecting the crime scene
3. Assist injured persons if there are any
4. Apprehend/arrest perpetrators if they are still
present
5. Obtaining facts describing the criminal incident
6. Determine the direction of flight of the culprits.
7. Radio call the police dispatcher
8. Taking field notes
9. Photographing and sketching
10. Crime scene search.
The Crime Scene:
- place or location where the crime was alleged to
have been committed or it pertains to the
specific location of the commission of the crime.
- entire crime scene is an evidence
STAGES OF CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
A. PRESERVATION OF THE CRIMES SCENE.
B. PROCESSING OF THE CRIME SCENE.
C. PRESERVATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
observance of the chain of custody.

CRIME SCENE BOUNDARY - this is necessary to

determine.
Apprehension Process:
A crime is reported, discovered or detected.
The police responds.
A search for the perpetrator is conducted.
Suspects are identified and checked out.
Pieces of evidence are collected to support a
charge.
The primary suspects are finally arrested.
CRIMINALS BAD LUCK
- unconscious or subliminal act aiming at self-
betrayal a.k.a. "VEBRECHERPECH" clue which
may a result of the perpetrators
Faulty acts
Carelessness
Negligence
Vanity - belief in their own cleverness or
excessive pride

CAUTION - Other items found at the

crime scene may be misleading clues as
part of the plan of the perpetrators.
The In-depth (Follow-up)
Investigation
1. going back to the crime scene if necessary;
2. conducting surveillance as to the reported
whereabouts of the suspect or where the
stolen properties are kept;
3. locating other witnesses;
4. following-up results of medico-legal
examinations and/or technical or laboratory
examinations of physical evidence;
5. coordinating with other law enforcement
agencies or police stations; and
6. analyzing the crime through physical or
mental reconstruction.
ACTIONS NECESSARY IN
CONTINUING
INVESTIGATION
1. Continue basic investigative leads to the identification and apprehension of
perpetrators
2. Focusing the investigation
3. Reconstruct the crime to a rational (reasonable) theory through:
DEDUCTIVE REASONING - general to particular; assuming a theory and
attempting to support by collected evidence
INDUCTIVE REASONING - drawing of general conclusion from particular facts;
collected information is analyzed to develop a theory
Reconstruction
- effort made to determine the appearance of
the place and the objects as to what actually
occurred and the circumstances of the
crime.

Kinds of Reconstruction:
Physical Reconstruction
Mental Reconstruction.
4. Analyze legal significance of information
and evidence - whether it will pass the test
of admissibility.
Relevant - when it has a tendency in reason
to establish the probability or improbability of
a fact in issue or having any value as
tending to prove any fact.
Material - it is directed to prove a fact in issue
Competent - not excluded by law in a
particular case
EVIDENCE - the means sanctioned by the Rules of
Courts of ascertaining in a judicial proceeding the
truth respecting a matter of fact.

FACT - the truth or effect of evidence.

-Investigator must know what evidence is required to
establish the guilt of the accused or to counter the evidence.
-State has the burden of proving the guilt of the accused
-Investigator is responsible for bringing an investigation to
successful conclusion

REASONABLE DOUBT - state of the case, which, after the

entire comparison and consideration of all the evidence,
leaves the mind of the Court in that condition that they feel an
abiding, conviction, to a moral certainty of the truth of the
charge.
- this should be successfully hurdled by the investigator.
The Final (Concluding)
Investigation
Either closed and ready for prosecution or remains unsolved.
Assistance of investigator to the prosecutor:
preparation of records of the case
review the suspect's arrest to ascertain its legality
review suspect's statements and admission as to their
legality
review the manner in which relevant evidence were
secured
review and compile notes, reports and documents that
may be used during the trial
NOTE: An investigator should have understanding of what constitutes
legal arrest, searches and seizures and admissibility of evidence, which
is fundamental to a successful career as a criminal investigator.
Identifying the Criminal
by confession and/or admission;
by eyewitness testimony;
by circumstantial evidence;
by tracing or associative evidence; and
by elicited information.
SCOPE:
Suspect identification
Identification of actual perpetrator
Identification of dead body and other victims
 Two (2) kinds of criminals identified by
witnesses
Known fugitives
Unknown criminals
FACTORS AFFECTING IDENTIFICATION:
the ability of the eyewitnesses to observe and remember;
the prevailing conditions of visibility and observations; and
the lapse of time.

Two (2) types of suspect identification:

POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION legally acceptable and
beyond question
TRACING IDENTIFICATION - use of all other
information indicative of the personal identity
Identification of the Criminal by
HIMSELF
Confession - declaration of an accused expressly
acknowledging his guilt of the offense charged (statutory
definition) or it is an express acknowledgment by the
accused in a criminal case of the truth of his guilt as to the
crime charged, or of some essential part thereof.

Admission - only an acknowledgment of a fact or

circumstance from which guilt may be inferred. It
implicates but does not directly incriminate.
Types of Confession
1. Judicial Confession or confession in open court.
2. Non-judicial Confession or extra-judicial confession -
inadmissible unless corroborated by proof of corpus delicti.
3. Involuntary - forced confession; inadmissible
4. Voluntary
Identification of Criminals
(suspects) by Eyewitnesses
Testimony
Portrait Parle (verbal description)
Rogues Gallery (use of photographic files) files of
criminals pictures/photographs.
General Photograph Method - variety of facial types
that may not necessarily/directly represent the face of
the criminal
Cartography (Artists Assistance) - with the help of a
skilled cartographer.
ID-KIT - a chart containing representations of various
types of human features
Police Lineup (Showups) - process of letting/allowing
a witness to select the primary suspect from a group of
chosen persons (suspects and innocent persons).
Identification of Criminal By
Circumstantial Evidence
When may circumstantial evidence be sufficient to produce conviction?
1. when there are more than one circumstances.
2. When the facts from which the inferences derived and proven.
3. When the combination of all the circumstances is such as to produce a
conviction beyond reasonable doubt.

What must be inferred to prove identity by circumstantial

evidence?
1. Motive - a desire for revenge or personal gain
2. Opportunity - physical possibility that the suspect could have
committed the crime.
a. the suspect could have been in the vicinity of the crime;
b. knowledge of the criminal objectives; and
c. absence of alibi.
Identification of Criminal By
Associative and/or Tracing Evidence
Associative evidence are the pieces of physical
evidence which may identify the criminal by means
of clues, personal properties, or the characteristics
patterns of procedure deduced from the arrangement
of objects at the crime scene.
Specifically, associative evidence are those which
link the suspect to the crime scene or offense.
Tracing evidence on the other hand, are those
articles which assist the investigator in locating the
suspect.
IDENTIFICATION OF DEAD BODY AND
OTHER VICTIMS

Methods of Identification:
By comparison
By Exclusion.

Types of Identification of persons:

Ordinary Method
Scientific Method

POINTS OF IDENTIFICATION APPLICABLE TO

LIVING PERSONS ONLY
1. Characteristics which may easily be changed
2. Characteristics that may not be easily changed
POINTS OF I.D. APPLICABLE TO BOTH
LIVING AND DEAD BEFORE ONSET OF
DECOMPOSITION

Occupational Injuries living

marks permanent results
Race Moles
Stature Scar
Tattoo marks Tribal marks
Weight Sexual organ
Deformities Blood
Birth marks examination
Undercover Assignments
COVER - any device utilized by person, organization to insure that one who do
not have the right to know must not be aware of the real purpose of the
mission.
COVER STORY - a biographical data through fictional which will portray the
personality of the agent he assumed; or any scenario to cover up the
operations.
COVER SUPPORT - an agent assigned in target areas with the primary mission
of supporting the cover story.
UNDERCOVER ASSIGNMENT - an investigative technique in which his official
identity, a.k.a. undercover operation.

Uses of
Four Types of Hazards to Cover
Undercover
Cover: 1. static or dormant
Assignment
1. Natural cover opposition
1. to get first hand
2. Artificial 2. unhostile active
information
3. Cover within a opposition
2. supplement
cover 3. hostile active
other investigative
4. Multiple cover opposition
techniques.
 Chapter 4 - TOOLS OF
INVESTIGATION
Information Interrogation Instrumentation
and/or Interview
INFORMATION
- Most important
Objectives of Information
1. develops leads
2. establishes prima facie evidence
3. establishes corpus delicti
4. establishes identification of persons

Sources: Ways of Obtaining

a. Open Sources 1. Overt
b. Closed Sources 2. Covert

Specific Sources: Availability - greatly

1. crime scene affects the outcome of the
2. persons investigation.
3. Documents
Interview and Interrogation
Interview Interrogation
Interview - casual planning - important planning -
questioning of critical
persons who controlling surroundings - critical
important
possess
knowledge/facts Privacy/semi-privacy - absolute
desirable privacy -
Interrogation - essential
systematic and establishing rapport - important
forceful important
questioning of a asking good questions - important
person who is important
reluctant careful listening - essential/must
essential/must
proper documentation - important
important SIMILARITIES
 DIFFERENCES

Interview Interrogation
purpose - to obtain to test information
information already obtained
pre-interview legal required/mandatory
requirements and warning
of rights - minimal
relationship between adversarial/hostile
interviewer and subject -
likely/cooperative
guilt - uncertain/no guilt suggested/likely
planning/preparation - extensive
moderate
private or semi-private absolute privacy -
environment - desirable essential
Subject - victim, complainant, mostly - suspects
witness/es, suspect/s,etc.
Qualifications of An
Interviewer/Interrogator:
Interview Format -
rapport
follows the police
forceful personality
standard
breadth of interest
1. initial interview,
salesman, an actor,
and psychologist 2. follow-up
3. final interview
Stages in Interview Rules to be Observed:
1. Preparation 1. one question at a time
2. Approach 2. avoiding implied answer
3. Warming-up 3. simplicity of questions
4. Questioning 4. saving faces
5. should not be
answerable by yes or no
6. positive attitude
Techniques/Methods
Interview of Victims
may be similar to interviewing witnesses and other
individuals.
investigator must be sensitive to the needs of the victim

Interview of Witnesses
- Similar, however, the interviewer must be alert on
attempt of the subject to alter the facts

General Requirements to Qualify a Witness must:

1. have actually seen the commission of the crime;
2. have personal knowledge regarding the matter under investigation;
3. be free from prejudices; and
4. have the capability to perceived
Categories of Witnesses
Subjects Personality:
Children - tendency to fantasize things.
Boys - most are alert and his perception
Girls - ability to observe even those intrinsically boring things.
Young Persons - usually pre-occupied.
Middle-aged Persons - ideal witnesses.
Older Persons - physically impaired

Types and Attitudes of Subjects:

Know-nothing type - needs extensive warm-up
Disinterested type - let him feel important to the issue.
Drunken type - flattery may be applicable.
Suspicious type - remove his anxiety/fear.
Talkative - shift his talkativeness
Honest - ideal and needs little care and guidance.
Deceitful - permit him to lie until enmeshed with inconsistencies;
Timid - employ friendly approach
Boasting, Egoistic or Egocentric - patience and flattery.
Refusal to Talk - most difficult
Evaluation of the Interviewee:
Physical mannerism
Frankness
Emotional
Content of Statement

Purposes/Objectives of Interrogation
1. obtain valuable fact;
2. eliminate the innocent;
3. identify the guilty; and
4. obtain confession.
 Objectives of Interrogation

Obtain a
Confession
Value Difficulty
Increases Increases
Identify the guilty

Eliminate the innocent

Obtain valuable facts

Attitudes of the Interrogator:
1. dominate the interview
2. no distracting mannerisms
3. appropriate language
4. Appropriate dress
5. preliminary conduct
6. limited presence of other persons

Suggested behaviors of the interrogator :

1. retain a pleasant mood
2. control your temper
3. radiate confidence
4. never divulge the case
5. avoid a clash of personalities
6. suspect every answer
7. never be little the subject
 Techniques in Interrogation:

1. Emotional Appeal 5. Creating or Increasing the

2. Sympathetic Feeling of Anxiety
3. Friendliness a. exaggerating fear
a. helpful advisor b. greater or lesser guilt
b. sympathetic brother c. the line-up
c. extenuation d. reverse line-up
d. shifting the blame e. bluff on a split-pair
4. Mutt and Jeff 6. Stern Method - strict judicious
a. angel and evil act.
b. good and bad a. pretense of a physical evidence
c. sweet and sour b. jolting
c. indifference
d. questioning as a formality
e. affording and opportunity to lie
Documenting Interrogation/Interview
Methods of reproducing an interview or interrogation:
mental note: advantage - uninterrupted flow of
information; disadvantage - leads to inaccuracy.
written note - must be sketchy
stenographic note
sound recording - simplest and most practical
sound and motion pictures - most ideal

General Types of Recording:

1. overt transcript - recording is known by the subject
2. surreptitious transcript - without the knowledge of
the subject
Instrumentation
Theories and Concepts - Use to connect the
crime and victim with the crime and crime
scene
Forensic science - part of science applied to
answering legal questions.

Criminalistics - branch of forensic science that deals

with the study of physical evidence related to a crime.

pathology questioned documents

toxicology forensic ballistics
physical anthropology tool marks comparison
odontology serology, etc.
psychiatry
Chapter 5 - THE CRIME SCENE
Types of Crime Scene: Indoor & Outdoor
Steps to be Followed Upon Arrival at
the Scene:
1. Record the date, arrival time and
GOLDEN RULE :
weather condition.
" NEVER TOUCH,
2. If a person is injured on the scene,
MOVE OR ALTER
arrange for medical attention,
ANYTHING
identification and removal.
FOUND AT THE
3. If the scene is not fully protected,
SCENE, UNLESS
ensure its protection
PROPERLY
4. Determine and record the names of
PHOTOGRAPHED,
persons at the scene who may be
SKETCHED OR
witnesses and separate them.
RECORDED."
5. Conduct preliminary questioning
6. Note the names of all persons
officially present.
ACTIONS @ THE CRIME SCENE
SOCO/CSI EQUIPMENT
 Composition of the SOCO/CSI
Team:

Team Leader
Assistant Team Leader
Photographer and Photographic Log
Recorder
Sketcher/Measurer
Evidence Recorder/Custodian
Evidence Recovery Personnel
Driver/Security
 Composition of the SOCO/CSI Team:

Team Leader

Photographer
Assistant Team Leader
Composition of the SOCO/CSI Team:

Driver
Sketcher/Measurer

Security

Evidence Recorder/Custodian
Evidence Recovery Personnel
Crime Scene Search:
A. POINTERS IN SEARCHING:
Each crime is different
General survey of the scene is always made
It may be advisable to make a search beyond the area
Notes and measurements must supplement sketches and photographs
In rooms, buildings, and small outdoor areas, a systematic search of
evidence is initiated.
 Crime Scene Search:
You Should:
1. Give particular attention to fragile evidence
2. Treat ALL as evidence until proven otherwise.
3. Ensure that the item or area where latent fingerprints
may be present is closely examined and that action
is taken to develop the prints.
4. Carefully protect any impression of evidentiary
value in surfaces conducive to making casts or
molds.
5. Note stains, spots, and pools of liquid.
6. Note any peculiar odor emitting from the scene.
WHAT EVIDENCE TO SEARCH?
CORPUS DELICTI
Method of operation of the perpetrator
Identity of the guilty party

METHODS OF SEARCH:
A. STRIP SEARCH METHOD
B. DOUBLE STRIP SEARCH OR GRID
METHOD
C. SPIRAL METHOD
D. ZONE SEARCH METHOD
E. WHEEL SEARCH METHOD
SKETCH - simplest and most effective way of showing
actual measurements and of identifying significant items of
evidence and their location at the scene.
Pointers to Consider in Sketching/Rules for Sketching:
To establish admissibility, the investigator must have had personal observation.
Sketches are not substitute for notes or photos.
Write down and control all measurements.
Do not rely on others to give them.
Measurements should be in harmony (meters or feet)
Fill in details on your rough sketch at the scene.
Keep the rough sketch.
Draw the final sketch to scale.
Indicate/draw the North direction with an arrow.
Indicate the place in the sketch as well as the person who drew it.
Use the KEY - capital letters of the alphabet for listing down more or less normal parts or
accessories of the place, and numbers for items of evidence.
Indicate the position, location and relationship of objects.
Use standard symbols in the sketch.
Show which way doors swing, direction of stairways with an arrow.
Do not draw things which are clearly irrelevant to the case.
Never rely on memory
The scale must be drawn on the sketch. If a camera has been used, mark its position on the
sketch.
General Kinds of Sketch: SPECIFIC KINDS OF SKETCH:
ROUGH SKETCH A. SKETCH OF LOCALITY
FINISHED SKETCH B. SKETCH OF GROUNDS
C. SKETCH OF DETAILS

TYPES OF SKETCH:
1. Floor plan or "bird's-eye view"
2. Elevation drawing
3. Exploded view or cross projection
4. Perspective drawings

METHODS OR SYSTEMS OF LOCATING

POINTS (OBJECTS) ON SKETCH:
A. RECTANGULAR COORDINATE METHOD
B. STRAIGHT-LINE METHOD
C. TRIANGULATION
ELEMENTS OF SKETCHING:
Measurements - must be accurate
Compass Direction - standard arrow to designate the North
must be indicated to facilitate proper orientation.
Essential items - sketch must include important items of
investigation.
Scale of Proportion - actual scale must be stated in the
sketch.
Legend - the explanation of any symbol used to identify
objects must be stated.
Tile - includes case identification, identification of the
victim, scenes portrayed, location, date and hour when it
was made, and the name of the sketcher.
SAMPLE OF CS SKETCHES
CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHY

PURPOSES OF PHOTOGRAPHS:
representation of the objects at the scene.
evidence in court

Requirements to Ensure Admissibility of

Photographs:
1. The objects presented should be material and
relevant.
2. The photographs should not unduly incite
prejudice or sympathy.
3. The photograph should be free from distortion.
Kinds of Photographs Essential Photographic
Taken at the Scene: Data:
Over-all Photographs 1. Name of offense
clockwise; at least four 2. identity the photographer
general view 3. camera position with the
Photographs of the scene
Deceased 4. date and hour
Photographs of Articles of 5. light and weather condition
Evidence 6. type and make of camera,
Special Techniques - film and special equipment
ultra-violet and infra-red, used
photomicrography, 7. Focal length of the lens
radiography; etc 8. developing, printing and
Photograph of the any special laboratory
techniques
Environs
9. complete chain of custody
Photograph of the Body of the photographic film
After Removal used.
Guidelines for taking photographs of a crime
scene it should:
be taken as soon as possible, before note
taking, sketching or a search for evidence
begins.
illustrate the original, uncontaminated condition
of the crime scene.
be taken of the crime scene only, without
spectators or police personnel.
adequately present the crime scene initially, the
photographs must from an organized
sequences and show all relevant locations and
objects.
progress from general to specific.