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CHAPTER III
BASIC ELEMENTS OF INVESTIGATING CRIME
SCENE
The Crime Scene

 This is the place where the crime is committed and physical evidence are evident therein.

CRIME SCENE is said to be the “TREASURE ISLAND”

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CRIME SCENE SIMULATION

SUGGESTED PROCEDURES OF CRIME RESPONSE

1. The Means of Reporting – Refers to the method of reporting the crime whether it reached
the station through phone call, personal appearance or other means.
2. The Time of Report – the exact time of the report to include minute must be recorded.
3. The Receiver of Report – The identity of the one who received the report in the station
must be properly noted.
4. The Time of Dispatch – The time when the Desk Officer dispatches the investigation/s is
also recorded, together with the names of the investigator, with the means of transportation,
either by mobile car, taxi or other means.
5. The Time of Arrival – The time of arrival of the investigating team at the crime scene
should be noted. The situation in the area should also be noted whether it is windy, rainy,
sunny or any other description of the climate in the immediate area.

INITIAL STEPS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

1. Cordon the crime scene.

2. Identify and retain the person who first notified the police for questioning.
3. Determine the suspect by direct inquiry or observation.
4. Detain all people present at the crime scene.
5. Safeguard the area by issuing appropriate orders.
6. Permit only authorized persons to enter the area.
7. Separate the witnesses in order to obtain independent statement.
8. Do not touch or move any object found in the scene.
9. Summon assistance from responsible persons if necessary.
10. The team leader assigns the duties of the searches if assistants are present.

THE GOLDEN RULE IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

“Do not touch, alter, move, or transfer any object at the crime scene unless it is properly
marked, measured, sketched and/ or photographed.” The purpose of this rule is to avoid the
mutilation, alteration and contamination (MAC) of the physical evidences found at the crime
scene.

THE CRIME SCENE PROCESSING;

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Before the crime scene be conducted, the investigator shall establish command post for the
team to conduct briefing and evidence be in place for proper inventory were chain of custody
begin.

ASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES OF RESPONDING OFFICERS

1. OFFICER IN-CHARGE/ TEAM LEADER – the one who directs the processing of the
crime scene.
2. ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER – the one who implements or executes the order/s’
coming from his/her superiors.
3. PHOTOGRAPHER – Takes photograph of all pieces of evidence that are relevant to the
crime committed.

Procedure in photographing the crime scene

1. General View or long range, taking an over-all view of the scene of the crime. It shows
direction and location of the crime scene.
2. Medium View or Mid-range is the taking of photograph of the scene of the crime by
dividing it into section. This view will best view the nature of the crime.
3. Close-up View/ Range, Is the taking of individual photograph of the evidence at the
scene of the crime. It is design to show the details of the crime.

Sequential Photographs of the Crime Scene;

1. Views of the exterior of the building/ vehicle in relation to other buildings/ vehicles,

roads/ streets, etc.

2. Point of entry and exit outside and inside.

3. Interiors of the crime scene/ room.

4. Condition of the crime scene.

5. Area from which valuable articles were removed.

6. Articles left at the scene.

7. Trace evidence, such as hairs, fibers, footprints and cigarettes butt.

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8. Tool marks and impression of shoes or the tracks.

9. Fingerprints as well as articles on which these prints may be found.

4. SKETCHER – Make sketches of the immediate, background and inside the scene of the
crime.

5. MASTER NOTE TAKER – the one who writes down in short hand all observation at
the crime scene such as; weather condition, time of dispatch and time of arrival at the
crime scene and other relevant data that’s should be taken down note.
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6. EVIDENCE MAN – The one in charge in the collection preservation, tagging of the
articles of evidence found at the crime scene.

7. MEASURER – Makes all relevant measurements of the scene such as; the distance of
the body of the victim to the firearm used; in motor vehicle collision, the distances of the
two vehicles to the points of references.
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SOME MATERIALS NEEDED IN RESPONDING TO THE SCENE

1. Searching Materials – Examples: flashlights, magnifier, etc.

2. Sketching Materials – Examples: chalk, graphing paper, sketching pad, clipboard,
paperboard, pencil/ballpen, etc.
3. Measuring Materials – Examples: compass, tape measure, ruler, etc.
4. Recording Material – Examples: tape recorder, video recorder, etc.
5. Collecting Materials – Examples: such as cutting fliers, knife, screw device, dropper,
forceps, fingerprinting equipment, etc.
6. Preserving Materials – Examples: bottles, envelopes, test tubes, evidence tags/ label,
etc.

The Crime Scene Search, these include a diligent and careful method by the investigator to
recognize, identify and preserve crime scene to include physical evidence.
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THE MECHANICS OF SEARCHING THE CRIME SCENE

1. Strip Method – The searchers (A, B, AND C) proceed slowly at the same pace along the
path parallel to one side of the rectangle. At the end of the rectangle, the searchers turn
and proceed back along new lanes but parallel to the first movement.
2. Double Strip or Grid Method – is somewhat similar to Strip Method, the rectangle is
traversed first parallel to the bas and then parallel to the side.
3. Spiral Method – the investigator may proceed inward Spiral method – one or two
investigators (from the outside) and or Outward Spiral Method – one searcher (from the
center).
4. Wheel Method – this type of searching the crime scene is applicable to areas which are
somewhat circular in size or area. The searchers shall assemble at the center of the crime,
then simultaneously searching the crime scene outward.
5. Zone or Sector Method – the area to be searched is divided into quadrants and each
searcher or a group of searchers is assigned to the quadrant.

As search is in progress, the investigator shall identify pieces of evidence by putting a tag and for
collection purposes.

1. Collecting Evidence – this is accomplished after the search is completed, the rough &
finished sketch and photographs is required.
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Things to consider in collecting of evidences;

1. Gloves must wear by the investigator
2. Fragile evidence should be collected as they are found.
3. The firearm should be lifted using string or handkerchief in its trigger guard to avoid
destruction of possible latent print in the firearm. All firearm (Fas) found to have
tampered serial number (SNs) shall be automatically subjected to macro etching at the
Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory (PNP-CL). A corresponding report to
the Firearm and Explosive Office (FEO) must be made for verification purposes. In
the collection, the investigator should touch the evidence only when necessary
4. Liquid Evidence such as blood, mucous, urine and other body fluid can be collected
using dropper and stored in a scale container to maintain the same physical nature as
found in the crime scene. However, clotted blood and other hardened evidences can
be collected by scraping with the use of any available instrument. Samples are very
important for laboratory testing.

2. Marking Evidences – as evidence is collected, it is individually marked with the initials

of the investigator. The marking tool depends upon the nature of the evidence. If it is a
hard object such as metals, the initial are scratched or engraved by the use of sharp-
pointed steel, which called stylus.

Methods of Marking Specific Evidence

 Revolvers must marked separately on the BARREL, FRAME, BUTT,
CYLINDER, and STOCK. Tape should also be put around the bore and frame of
the gun with signature of the investigator.
 Pistols must be marked on the BARREL, FRAME, BUTT, MAGAZINE, and
STOCK. Tape must also be put around the gun with signature to avoid changing
the parts of the gun that may affect the result of laboratory examination.
 Rifles should be marked on the BARREL, FRAME, MAGAZINE, BOLT OR
SLIDE. All magazine and accessories shall also be marked.
 Revolver Cylinder – aside from the mark on the cylinder, the chamber facing the
firing pin must be marked as soon as it is opened for examination. A drawing
must depict the chamber facing the firing pin, the respective position of the fired
empty shells, misfired or dud cartridges.
 The direction of the rotation of the cylinder must also be sketched and noted. Colt
revolvers have a clockwise direction of rotation of the cylinder. Smith and
Wesson revolvers have a counter clockwise direction of cylinder rotation.

Fired Empty Shells, Misfired Cartridges

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Strictly regulations say they must be marked inside the mouth of fired empty
shells. It is nearly impossible to mark them inside the mouth, especially .22 caliber shells.
But they could be marked on the side of the body of the shells, not on the base.
It should be admitted that there is really the big difference of what is being
practiced in reality and theoretically written in books. The lesson is, for as long as the
evidence can be properly marked and kept as evidence.
 BULLETS/SLUGS/ BALLS – A bullet or slug can be marked on the ogive or
nose as well as in the base. The initials of the investigators and/ or date should be
marked on those parts so that the riflings (land and grooves) found in the bullet or
slug will not be disturbed because they are very important for laboratory
examination.

 Shotgun balls when collected in the crime scene should also be put into
container with tag that indicates where it was found with some relevant
measurements aside from what is sketched.
 Every collected evidence is marked through the initial of the investigator. If they
are of the same class or type such as Cal 45 caliber fired empty shells, they are
marked consecutively such as: MJB 1, MJB 2, MJB 3 and so forth and so on ,
depending on the initials of the investigator.

3. Removal of evidence – the investigator places his initials, the date and time of
discovery on each item of evidence and the time discovery on each items of evidence for
proper identification. Items that could not be marked should be placed in a suitable
container and sealed.
4. Tagging Evidence – any physical evidence obtained must be tagged before its
submission to the evidence custodian.
Evidence which by their nature could not be marked on each surface such as
blood, hairs, fibers, are placed in the plastic container where that container is then
marked, we call such practice as tagging the physical evidence with the use of
card where the initials of investigator, date and time of collection, specific case
and other information can be written.
5. Evaluation of Evidence – each item of evidence must be evaluated in relation to all the
evidences, individually and collectively.
6. Preservation of Evidence – it is the investigator’s responsibility to ensure that every
precaution is exercised to preserved physical evidence in the state which it was covered/
obtained until it is released to the evidence custodian.
7. Releasing the Scene – the scene in not released until all processing has been completed.
The released should be affected at the practicable time, particularly when an activity has
been closed or its operations curtailed.
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The following principles should be observed in handling all types of evidence:

1. The evidence should reach the laboratory as much as possible in same condition as when
it is found.
2. The quantity of specimen should be adequate. Even with the best equipment available,
good results cannot be obtained from insufficient specimens.
3. Submit a known or standard specimen for comparison purpose.
4. Keep each specimen separate from other so there will be no intermingling or missing of
known and unknown material. Wrap and seal in individual; packages when necessary.
5. Mark or label each piece of evidence for positive identification as the evidence taken
from a particular location in connection with the crime under investigation.
6. The chain of custody of evidence must be maintained. Account for evidence from the
time it is collected until it is produced in court. Any break in this chain of custody may
make the material inadmissible as evidence in court.

Chain of custody refers to the number of persons who handled and possessed the pieces of
evidence the moment that they were collected, marked and tagged, up to the time of the final
disposition of the care.

The basic rule is to limit the chain of custody to avoid tampering, substitution or loss. If
the evidence needs laboratory examination, the investigator must submit direct to the laboratory
without delegating it to the other persons.

The submission is accompanied by a written request and to be officially receipted by the

receiving officer of the laboratory. The receipt must have legible identification of the receiver,
together with his signature, time and date of receipt. If the evidence requires no laboratory
examination, it must be submitted to the Evidence Custodian duty receipted.

Theory is the imaginative contemplation of reality, direct intellectual apprehension,

insight orb body of generalization and principles developed in association with the practice in a
certain field of activity. Theories serve as bases of the investigator to come up with a lead
relevant to the investigation.

Field inquiry
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Is the general questioning of all persons at, near or around the crime scene for purposes
of gathering information about the crime.

Before criminal investigation be true, it should include its elements such as recognition,
collection, preservation, evaluation and presentation (RCPEP) in the court.

 Recognition involves the effort of identifying data, including physical things that
may provide relevant information regarding the criminal case being investigated.
That is why recognition is otherwise known as identification stage of
investigation.
 Collection, which refers to the act of gathering those identified data or facts, or
physical things that are significant to the case under investigation. Collection
maybe done by scarping the bloodstain found at the crime scene, interviewing the
neighbor who saw the burglary, or examination of drug dealer’s bankbook.
 Preservation. It is a function that is almost simultaneously performed during the
collection stage. It includes act of keeping the collected evidences in their true and
original for, preventing contamination or destruction of its substantive value.
Preservation does not only involve the process of packaging physical evidences in
order that they can be safely transmitted to the evidence custodian or to the crime
laboratory. It covers the process of maintaining the objectivity of facts or
information that has been gathered from the testimony of witnesses, victims or
other persons involved in the criminal case.
 Evaluation is the process of determining the probative value of the evidence.
Probative value refers to the strength of the evidence or its worth/weight in
successfully establishing a proof that a crime has in fact been committed and that
the suspects/ accused is the one who is responsible for it.
 Presentation is the function that is primarily manifested inside the courtroom. The
investigator, with the help of the prosecutor, must be able to present facts and
information in a very simple and convenient manner in order to convince the
court and other parties involved in the criminal case about the validity and
truthfulness of the evidences they are trying to prove or establish.

What are the uses and purposes of the 5Ws and H?

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1. Aid the investigator in searching the crime scene or other places which maybe
sources of evidence.
2. Guide the investigator in formulating questions in interviewing complainant,
witnesses and other interested parties or in the process interrogating a suspect.
3. Assists the investigator and the desk officer in marking brief statements of facts in
the logbook/police blotter and in reports.
4. Help the investigator in preparing the MODUS OPERSNDI report – How the
crime perpetrated?
5. Assist the investigator in furnishing a concise criminal investigation report.

WHO QUESTIONS: These are questions used to inquire on the identity of the victims or
offended party, name of suspect, accomplices, accessories and witnesses of the crime.

1. Who reported the crime? Who discovered the crime?

2. Who saw how the crime was perpetrated?
3. Who is the victim? Who had any misunderstanding with him?
4. Who is the offender/ perpetrator/culprit? Who are the companions, associates, or
accomplices of the perpetrator?

WHAT QUESTIONS: The purpose of these types of questions is to find out what happened or
what took place before, during and immediately after the commission of the offense.

1. What happened?
2. What specific actions did the suspect/ victim/ witness do?
3. What is the nature of the crime?
4. What was/were the weapon/s or tool/s used by the culprit?
5. What are the evidences discovered at the crime scene?

WHERE QUESTIONS: These are questions that localize the place of the incident- the city or
town, the district or barangay, the street or road, the number of the house or building. Where
questions are necessary in specifically pinpointing the particular location of the crime scene.

1. Where was the crime discovered?

2. Where did the offense take place?
3. Where are the victims, witnesses or culprits?
4. Where do the victims/witnesses/culprits live?
5. Where was the suspect seen or apprehended?
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6. Where are the weapons or tools used in committing the crime?

7. Where did the investigator secure or obtain the evidences?

WHEN QUESTIONS: These are question needed to determine and fix the time, day, month and
year when the crime was committed. When questions should be specified and as accurate as
possible.

1. When was the crime committed?

2. When was it discovered?
3. When was the police notified?
4. When was the victim last seen?
5. When was the suspect arrested?

WHY QUESTIONS: These are questions that endeavor to ascertain the motives, causes,
antecedents, previous, incidents, related facts, background occurrences that might help explain
the commission of the offenses.

1. Why did the offender do it?

2. Why did he kill his victim?
3. Why didn’t he just let the victim go?
4. Why didn’t the suspect surrender?

HOW QUESTIONS: These are design to help the investigator determine how the crime was
committed, the means/ tools are employed, the crime was discovered, the culprit enters the
building/room. How question are very significant in preparing the modus operandi file or report.

1. How did the suspect get near to his victim?

2. How did he perform the crime?
3. How did the criminal get all the necessary information?
4. How did the criminal get away from the crime scene?
5. How was the crime scene search conducted?

Starting points of the Criminal Investigation

1. State the problem- the problem would be; to identify, locate and arrest the perpetrator
of the crime and attempt to recover all stolen property in a thorough legal manner
designed to ensure the greatest probability of justice.
2. Form hypothesis- to construct an explanation for an occurrence by knowing the ff;
a. Motive – that which causes a person to act in a certain manner
b. Knowledge/ opportunity – given chance to commit crime
c. Means/ Instrumentally – the things used to commit crime
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3. Observed and Experiment – serves as a check for the hypothesis that is incorrect or
correct.
4. Interpret Data- interpret result of final observations and experimentation
5. Draw conclusion
a. Has the stated problem been answered?
b. Does evidence support hypothesis?
c. Has each stage of investigate method been conducted in a legal manner
d. Does data interpretation support a recommendation for prosecution?