The guidelines for behavior appropriate at a crime scene are essential to follow for a first officer arriving at the location. Given the necessity to preserve and evaluate the evidence present and ensure the efficiency of forensic activities, the crime scene investigator (CSI) responsible for the primary examination of the area should strictly follow relevant recommendations. As such, there are multiple considerations to regard when handling various types of crime scenes, from burglary to homicide (Fisher & Fisher, 2012). The actions of a leading officer can drastically impact the future success of the investigation, securing positive outcomes or negatively affecting the search for the perpetrator. In this work, the essential duties of a first responding officer on the crime scene will be discussed and identified in the context of documentation and collection of physical evidence.
Ascertaining the situation and providing the support needed to the people affected is the earliest objective of the first officer attending (FOA). If injured individuals are present, the FOA is tasked with the initial assessment of the situation, providing first medical aid to the victims and securing their stability until the arrival of clinical professionals (Gardner & Krouskup, 2018). Furthermore, if any witnesses or potential suspects are observed near the location, the responding investigator may conduct initial interviews, collect spoken evidence, or even detain a suspicious person if the circumstances allow for it.
Another imperative duty of the inspector is connected to the preservation of the initial state of the location, ensuring that relevant evidence stays as intact as possible. According to these requirements, an officer has to explore the entrances and exits, making them unavailable to the public, as well as placing a barrier to prevent object tampering (Warrington, 2008). In addition to protecting necessary items from civil intrusion, it is also demanding to consider the elemental damage, for instance, rain or wind, that can destroy the physical material. Finally, to successfully contain all of the evidence, the responding officer must secure the availability of protective clothing for the personnel at the site.
The third obligation of a CSI concerns the process of locating the objects pertinent to the investigation. In order to assist other personnel and efficiently manage the processing of physical data, a responding officer must examine the area in search of relevant evidence. The CSI is tasked with labeling the articles found by placing markers and identifiers that will aid in further examination and collection (Gardner & Krouskup, 2018). After that, another necessary duty to be fulfilled is the photographing of the crime scene, which allows the inspector to preserve the original state of the location (Hess et al., 2016). Given the environmental effects that may impact the evidence even when thorough preservation practices are enacted, it is crucial to create digital photos that will later assist the investigators.
After the related materials have been located, marked, and photographed, the FOA can begin collecting the evidence according to the identifiers. This fifth step is crucial for the future success of the investigation and must be conducted thoroughly and carefully, with regard to the physical nature of the object (Legal Information Institute, n.d.). For example, when dealing with sources that are fragile or susceptible to environmental damage, these articles are to be contained first. In comparison with previous tasks, evidence collection demands the input of a crime investigating team in order to alleviate the difficulties of handling delicate materials. However, all of the aforementioned duties are closely correlated with the intent to preserve the initial state of the area as perfectly as possible, guarding the environment of the location from outside intrusions.
Processing the crime scene is a complicated process encompassing several elements, the basics of which should be carefully guarded by the inspector. First of all, the responding officer must recognize the evidence relevant to the crime, ensuring that all necessary materials are identified (Hess et al., 2016). The second step includes the documentation of the area affected, which consists of producing written reports, photographs, and sketches that represent the initial location in detail. Finally, after the previous stages have been successfully completed, evidence collection might be attempted (Fisher & Fisher, 2012). This act necessitates deciding which methods of object retrieval will be implemented and which equipment will be required.
Another responsibility to be discussed as an obligation of the first responding officer is the registration of the events occurring at the crime scene. Any additional influences, situational or environmental, should be thoroughly represented in the CSI’s records for future consultation (Houck et al., 2017). In a subsequent exploration of the scene’s details, it is necessary to be aware of the actions conducted by the individuals present and note outside effects that might contribute to the understanding of the crime.
To conclude, the primary duties of a first responding officer on the crime scene were thoroughly discussed in this paper. It is evident that the CSI is tasked with multiple responsibilities that affect the general outcomes of the incident examined, requiring incredible attention to detail and precise adherence to the guidelines of a criminal investigation. The six obligations highlight the methods implemented by the first officer attending, responsible for the protection and appropriate collection of relevant materials.
References
Legal Information Institute. (n.d.). Evidence. Cornell Law School. Web.
Fisher, B. A. J., & Fisher, D. R. (2012). Techniques of crime scene investigation (8th ed.). CRC Press.
Gardner, R. M., & Krouskup, D. (2018). Practical crime scene processing and investigation, third edition. CRC Press.
Hess, K. M., Orthmann, C. H., & Cho, H. L. (2016). Criminal investigation. Cengage Learning.
Houck, M. M., Crispino, F., & McAdam, T. (2017). The science of crime scenes. Academic Press.