Introduction
Crime scene investigation is a method of processing, protecting, and reconstructing a crime scene. Sometimes the place where the wrongdoing occurred may involve more than one location. The misconduct can envelop many areas; for instance, a victim may be found dead in a particular place, but the killing happened in a different place.
A crime scene can be underwater, buried six feet under, in a vehicle, or in a tree. The locations of the incident are a source of physical evidence, although the interpretation does not stop at the apparent clues. This paper explains how felony site investigations are conducted and the importance and discrepancies associated with this process.
Parties Involved
The procedure requires professionals who have been trained for this kind of work. Certified crime scene investigators, analysts, and reconstructionists are involved to ensure a thorough investigation. The investigators consider the site’s philosophical approach, whether that of a detective, a police officer, or a technician (Bhat et al., 201). The procedure involves collecting samples indicating that the wrongful act occurred.
The illustrations may include biological, trace, latent print, digital, footwear or tire, tool mark, drug, or firearm evidence. The research method depends on the team’s circumstances at the crime scene (Eck and Kim 620). Nevertheless, there are steps that detectives should follow to obtain accurate reports as required by law.
The Process of Crime Scene Investigation
The crime scene investigation process involves establishing the dimensions of the parts and identifying potential health hazards and safety concerns. Investigators locate the focal point, also known as the disturbance area. For instance, it may be a looted bedroom or the place where the attack occurred. Sometimes it is where the victim is found dead or injured, depending on the severity of the occurrence.
At that stage, the detectives assess the likelihood of finding relevant physical evidence that may be present. They condense the size of the section before other onlookers, responders, or media destroy the sensitive evidence. It helps them quickly refer to the indication if required (Viero et al. 309). They also identify the probable entry or exit of the perpetrator. It is paramount to observe safety during the initial approach to the location, as hazardous chemicals, weapons, and other intentional traps may be present to catch the respondents.
The crime scene should be guarded to ensure security is well established because every individual who enters the site adds or subtracts material that could be used as evidence. It is advisable to secure the area immediately before the signals have been tampered with. For instance, cones or yellow scene tapes can control access to the place (Eck and Kim 620). Police officers can be deployed to ensure that no one exits or enters the location without proper documentation identifying their position regarding the investigation. Creating additional storage facilities for substances collected from the scene may be necessary.
The investigators must plan, coordinate, and communicate before collecting material from the crime scene. The team conducting the research must develop a theory about the type of offense demonstrated, as this will help them anticipate the evidence they will find. The process may involve gathering information from eyewitnesses or persons indirectly affected. Based on the information provided, the group investigating the misconduct forms a strategy considering several factors, including the time of day and weather conditions (Viero et al. 311). There is a need to add forensic resources to handle particular situations.
The investigators conduct a primary survey by walking through the site. It is done to prioritize evidence collection, whereby the detectives identify potentially valuable evidence. At this level, the team takes notes and captures photos of the evidence found and the area itself.
The purpose of documenting the crime scene is to record conditions that involve the position of furniture inside a room, the status of doors and shades, and any odors (Eck and Kim 620). They also check whether the lights are on or off and the place’s temperature, among other things. This process is facilitated by specialists who create evidence-free guidance that leads to a thorough sweep of the site regarding the marks.
The team conducting a thorough investigation should document and process the crime scene. This entails collecting all probable evidence, recording video cameras, and, if possible, using a 3-D scanner to obtain a clear image (Mayne et al. 469). Sometimes, it may involve drawing sketches or diagrams to aid the entire process. It is vital to note that proper procedures must be followed during the evidence collection step, including packaging and protecting the evidence, especially if it is biological in nature. Organic suggestions can easily be destroyed by respondents without knowledge, weather conditions, or ignored, especially if the site is dark or the investigators have poor light sources as they inspect the area.
A secondary survey is undertaken to ensure that a thorough search has been carried out. This is done as a step of quality control, assuring the officers that the investigation is precise and that there is a likelihood of obtaining an accurate report. The evidence is then recorded and preserved since any indicator must be accounted for (Bhat et al. 203).
All descriptions written down must match the other evidence collected from the ground. For instance, the photos taken must match the physical evidence collected. In cases of a gun, the serial number must rhyme with the picture taken during the crime scene investigation (Bhat et al. 200). The documentation procedure assists in establishing a custody chain that follows the signals throughout the case’s lifecycle.
Importance of Crime Scene Investigation
The importance of crime scene investigation lies in recognizing and obtaining physical indications that lead to reliable information during the investigation process. Detectives who visit the site should approach it, considering it could be the only opportunity to recover and preserve tangible clues and evidence. It is vital to document where an offense occurred by taking photos, for instance, because some places are public and not permanent (Viero et al. 310). This allows for accurate results because every possible evidence is collected and recorded before weather, time, or individuals tamper or destroy it.
Discrepancies
However, the process of crime scene investigation may have some discrepancies. These include failure to seal the box with evidence, lack of labeling of the materials collected from the site, and poor documentation of the collected samples. Officers involved may also fail to maintain a chain of custody, providing insufficient substances that lead to inaccurate reports (Eck and Kim 620). Other unavoidable conditions that are affected by weather conditions, including rain, dust, wind, or even the sun, may destroy pieces of evidence that might guide the entire process.
The investigative team may make some mistakes while investigating a crime. One should secure the offense site to avoid loss of evidence. It is crucial to properly seal the area because this ensures that the materials or bodies present on the site will be found intact without damage.
Individuals not involved in the misconduct are also kept from accessing the scene, which prevents them from being mistaken during the entire process. The procedure requires the officers to issue a Miranda warning to the suspects so that no statements can be used against them as they remain in custody (Bhat et al. 200). When suspects are interrogated, they have the right to appoint a lawyer to speak on their behalf. The forces allow the respondents of the crime to be arrested reasonably. An excessive force can result in a favorable bargain, although it cannot claim dismissal of the charges. Furthermore, a person may file a case for violating constitutional rights.
Conclusion
A collaboration of different groups involving detectives, uniformed police, and other forensic professionals works together to help unravel the truth behind a crime. Teamwork is crucial since it ensures that no evidence is lost or left uncovered, and they view the details from every possible angle. Crime scene research is not about individuals but focuses on experts and witnesses working together to serve Justice. The process is designed to fit the public relatively by ensuring that only criminals are judged and innocent people can enjoy freedom. It is an opportunity for the investigators to focus their determined skills and effort on finding the guilty and seeking impartiality for the victim or their family in case the person loses their life.
Works Cited
Bhat, Wasim Ahmad, Ali AlZahrani, and Mohamad Ahtisham Wani. “Can Computer Forensic Tools Be Trusted in Digital Investigations?” Science & Justice, vol. 61, no. 2, 2021, pp. 198-203.
Eck, John E., and D. Kim Rossmo. “The New Detective: Rethinking Criminal Investigations.” Criminology & Public Policy, vol. 18, no. 3, 2019, pp. 601-622.
Mayne, Richard, and Helen Green. “Virtual Reality For Teaching And Learning in Crime Scene Investigation.” Science & Justice, vol. 60, no. 5, 2020, pp.466-472.
Viero, A., et al. “Crime Scene And Body Alterations Caused By Arthropods: Implications in Death Investigation.” International Journal of Legal Medicine, vol. 133, no. 1, 2019, pp. 307-316.