The Crime Scene - Notes

LaPine Forensic Science 24-25

Bellringer - 9/18

Answer the following question on a

sticky note and put it on the board. Do
not write your name on your sticky note!
1) What could we do to make this unit better for
you than last unit?
Learning Targets - Introduction Video

1) I will learn Locard’s Exchange Principle

2) So I can understand the importance of The
Crime Scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgzdhUAJrBA
CSI

The goal of crime scene investigation is to

recognize, document, and collect evidence at the
scene of a crime. Solving the crime will depend on
piecing together the evidence to form a picture of
what happened at the crime scene
Locard’s Exchange Principle

Dr. Edmund Locard, director of the world's first forensic

laboratory in Lyon, France, strongly believed that every
criminal can be connected to a crime by small particles
carried from the scene.
Locard’s Exchange Principle

His principle states:

i. Whenever 2 objects come in contact with one another, a
cross-transfer of physical evidence can occur.
ii. The intensity, duration, and nature of the materials in
contact determine the extent of the transfer.
Learning Targets

1) I will learn the different types of evidence

2) So I can understand the variety of things that
may be found at a crime scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkOZOhG0oTQ
Evidence

Evidence can be classified into two types:

Direct evidence - firsthand observations (eyewitness account,
videos, confessions)
Circumstantial evidence - indirect evidence that can be used
to imply a fact but does not directly prove it.
Types of Circumstantial Evidence

A) Physical evidence - Synthetic fibers, weapons, bullets,

paint chips, documents, imprints, prints, etc
B) Biological evidence - Body, body parts, body fluids, hair,
leaves, plant parts, animal parts, feathers, wood, etc
Types of Circumstantial Evidence

A) Trace evidence - Small but measurable amounts of

physical or biological material found at a crime scene.
Examples: Strand of hair, fingerprints, DNA, drop of
blood, pollen, gunshot residue
More circumstantial evidence there is, the greater weight it
carries
Class Vs Individual Evidence

Class evidence: Narrows evidence to a group of persons or

things
Blood type!
Individual evidence: Narrows evidence down to a single
person or thing
Fingerprints, handwriting, etc
Class Vs Individual Evidence

Class evidence may become more individualized. For

example: blue jeans.
We may be able to narrow them down by brand, material,
size, color, etc. If worn, they might have rips or stains to
help individualize them.
Importance of Evidence
-Can prove a crime has been committed and set the scene for the investigation.
-Can back up witness testimony or prove it false

-Can link a suspect with a victim or with a crime scene

-Can determine the identity of people associated with a crime

-Allows investigators to reconstruct a crime

Example: Blood spatter may show where suspect and victim were in relation to
one another and indicate what happened in what order
Work Session

Laci Peterson Case Study Canvas

Assignment - Due Today

When you finish, work on The Crime Scene Unit

Vocabulary - Due Friday
Closer - 9/18

Bellringer Check #2
The instructor will dismiss rows to line up in front
of the desk with your bellringers. They will be
checked for a grade and you will receive feedback!
Bellringer - 9/23

Memory Illusion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfSFoCVl-P
0&t=25s
Learning Targets

1) I will learn the importance of securing the crime

scene and separating witnesses
Crime Scene Investigation Team
A group of professional investigators, each trained in
a variety of special disciplines:
1) First officer on the scene
2) Backup Police or a District Attorney (Prosecutor)
3) Medics (If necessary)
4) Investigator / Detectives
5) Medical Examiner
6) Photographer
7) Lab Experts
All must wear protective gear to prevent contamination
Seven S’s - Securing the Scene

The first responding police officer must make sure

the scene is secure by making sure all individuals
in the area are safe and preserving evidence
Seven S’s - Securing the Scene
An officer should…
1) Obtain medical assistance for anyone involved
2) Arrest suspects
3) Isolate the area
a) Exclude unauthorized personnel
b) Put up tape, ropes, or barricades (Keep a security
log)
c) Prevent the loss of evidence
4) Request additional needs for investigation
Seven S’s - Separating the Witnesses

Witnesses must not be allowed to talk to one

another. This prevents them from working
together to create a story (Collusion)
Seven S’s - Separating the Witnesses

When questioning witnesses, questions like these are asked:

1) When did the crime occur?
2) Who called in the crime?
3) Who is the victim?
4) Can the perpetrator be identified?
5) What did you see happen?
6) Where were you when you observed the crime?
Innocence Project

Created in 1992, the goal was to reexamine post-conviction

cases
When evaluating eyewitness testimony, investigators must
differentiate between fact and opinion.
NOT BECAUSE OPINION IS UNIMPORTANT
What did the witness actually see?
Innocence Project
“Someone was running away from the scene” - Fact
“I think that i saw the criminal running that way” - Opinion
Witnesses need to be carefully examined to describe what
they saw, not what they thought happened
Eyewitness misidentification is the single greatest cause of
wrongful conviction, playing a role in nearly 75% of
convictions overturned through DNA testing
Work Session

Innocence Project Case Study

Closer - 9/23

Bellringer Check #2
The instructor will dismiss rows to line up in front
of the desk with your bellringers. They will be
checked for a grade and you will receive feedback!
Bellringer - 9/25

Make Bellringer Sheet #3

Write and answer these questions
1) What is the first thing an officer or
investigator should do at a crime scene?
2) Why is it important to separate witnesses?
Learning Targets

1) I will learn how to visually assess and sketch a

crime scene
2) So I can understand how experts begin to
assess a crime scene
Seven S’s - Scan the Scene

Forensic Examiners scan the scene to see where

photos should be taken. The primary and
secondary crime scenes must be determined!
Seven S’s - Scan the Scene

The primary crime scene is where a crime actually

occurred.
A secondary crime scene is in some way related to
the crime but is not where the actual crime took
place.
Seven S’s - See the Scene

A crime scene examiner looks at the scene. The

Photography Unit takes photos of the overall area
and close up photos with and without a measuring
ruler (Called a photomacrographic scale)
Seven S’s - Sketching the Scene - Sketching Video

An accurate rough sketch of the crime scene dawn

to scale must be made!
Seven S’s - Sketching the Scene
1. North should be labeled and a scale of distance
should be included
2. All important objects should be measured from two
immovable landmarks
3. Any other objects in the vicinity of the crime should
be included in the sketch
4. Also include: Date, time, location, case number, and
names (Sketched by ___________)
A final (digital) copy will be made for use in court
Work Session

Sketching The Crime Scene Practice

Follow *all* the steps and complete this
sketch. Then add information section –––→
When finished:
1) Show it to an instructor!
2) Innocence Project Case Study
Closer - 9/25
Sticky Note Ticket-Out-The-Door
Write your NAME on your sticky note. Answer
BOTH of these questions and put it on the board.
1) What all is included in the “information” section
of a crime scene sketch?
2) Choose a number between 1 and 50
Bellringer - 10/02

Write and answer these questions

1) Why do we mark North on crime scene
sketches?
2) What parts of a crime scene do investigators
sketch?
Learning Targets

1) I will learn how to search for, collect, and

secure evidence at a crime scene
2) I will practice sketching a crime scene on lined
paper
Seven S’s - Search for Evidence

A spiral grid, linear, or quadrant pattern should be

walked and location of evidence marked,
photographed, and sketched
Seven S’s - Search for Evidence

A flashlight or black light may be used to help find

trace evidence.
Work Session

Sketch Crime Scene (Graph Paper) - Due Today

Forensic Files #1 and #2 (Canvas) - Due Friday
Innocence Project Slides (Canvas) - Due Friday,
Presented next week
Closer - 10/2

1) What expectations did you have about sketching

a crime scene?
2) Were your expectations right or wrong?
Bellringer - 10/04
Brain Magic - The Perspective Illusion | Brain Games (youtube.com)
Learning Targets

1) I will learn how to search for, collect, and

secure evidence at a crime scene
2) I will practice sketching a crime scene on lined
paper
Seven S’s - Securing and Collecting the Evidence

The
Work Session

Sketch Practice - Due Last Class

Sketch Crime Scene (Graph Paper) - Due Today
Forensic Files #1 and #2 (Canvas) - Due Today
Innocence Project Slides (Canvas) - Due Today,
Presented next week
Closer - 10/4

1) What expectations did you have about sketching

a crime scene?
2) Were your expectations right or wrong?
Bellringer - 10/18

Write and answer the following questions on your

Bellringer Sheet
1) What expectations do you have about
Reconstructing a Crime Scene?
2) What does Reconstruction mean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zQvTaMxBXg
Learning Targets

1) I will learn how to reconstruct a crime scene

from evidence
2) So I can understand what crime scene
reconstruction looks like in real life
Crime Scene Reconstruction

Crime scene reconstruction allows the detectives

to form a hypothesis of the sequence of events
from before the crime was committed through its
commission.
Crime Scene Reconstruction

Evidence does not lie, but it can be staged (This is

UNCOMMON)!
Staged crime scenes, such as a murder set up to
look like a suicide, cause many problems because
the evidence does not match testimony.
Determine whether a crime scene is staged…
1) Initially treat all death investigators as homicides
2) Do the type of wounds on the victim match the weapon?
3) Could the wounds by easily self-inflicted?
4) Establish a profile of the victim through interviews
5) Evaluate the behavior of the victim before the event
6) Evaluate the behavior of any suspects before the event
7) Corroborate statements with evidential facts
8) Reconstruct the event
Legal Considerations at the Crime Scene
1) Any removal of evidence from a crime scene must be in accordance
with the Fourth amendment
a) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue,
but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing
the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
2) Obtain a search warrant when time and circumstances permit. Do
not investigate a scene or remove evidence without a warrant
Legal Considerations at the Crime Scene
1) The Supreme Court has defined circumstances under which a crime
scene can be searched without a warrant. A warrantless search can
be conducted:
a) Under emergency circumstances (danger to life or limb)
b) If there is immediate danger of the loss or destruction of
evidence
c) If there is probable cause
d) With the consent of the involved parties
Complete your notes - Fill in the “Memorize” section
The Seven S’s of the Crime Scene
1) Secure the Scene
2) Separate the Witnesses
3) Scan the Scene
4) See the Scene
5) Sketch the Scene
6) Search for Evidence
7) Secure and Collect Evidence
Locard’s Principle:
-Whenever 2 objects come in contact with one another, a cross-transfer
of physical evidence can occur
Technique Critique Video - Forensic Examination
Skip the following sections:

-The Wire

-Loaded Weapon

-The Other Guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTz66Jq0Dg
Work Session

Watch and Complete Forensic Files #3 on Canvas

News at 11 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKgq-SDPTog
&list=PLkvrtQynYevLrx0ocOiQiqyXoRq_ZlZ6-&ind
ex=166
Spartan News -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6sxkh5N-IA
Closer - 10/18

Bellringer sheet - True or False:

1) Crime scene reconstruction allows detectives to find exactly what
happened at a crime scene
2) Crime scene reconstruction is mostly concerned with confirming a
crime scene to be real (not fake)
3) Crime scene reconstruction is always used to analyze crime scenes
Bellringer - 10/22 and 10/23

1) Forensic Files #3 due today

Learning Targets

1) I will review vocabulary from Unit 2 -

The Crime Scene
2) So I can recall definitions during our test
Mini Lesson - Bingo

FIVE IN A ROW? SAY BINGO!

Work Session

Complete your Unit 2 Study Guide

Closer - 10/22 and 10/23

Write and Answer the following questions on your Bellringer

sheet
1) Where is my Study Guide?
2) How will I prepare for our test next class?
Bellringer - 10/24 and 10/25

Review your study guides and prepare to take your

“Unit 2 - The Crime Scene” test!
Learning Targets

1) I will take the Unit 2 - Crime Scene Test

Mini lesson → Work Session

Let’s review test-taking

procedure and expectations!
Closer - 10/22 and 10/23

Bellringer Check #3
1) Show the instructor your Bellringer Sheet #3 when
instructed

Octopus vs Underwater Maze