Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is one of the duties of an officer when securing eyewitness information?
What is one of the duties of an officer when securing eyewitness information?
What is one of the responsibilities of an officer when protecting the crime scene?
What is one of the responsibilities of an officer when protecting the crime scene?
What should an officer do to protect the integrity of evidence until trial?
What should an officer do to protect the integrity of evidence until trial?
What should an officer record in field notes and sketches?
What should an officer record in field notes and sketches?
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Which type of search method is effective for outside searches and utilizes stakes and lines to set up lanes?
Which type of search method is effective for outside searches and utilizes stakes and lines to set up lanes?
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What type of search method provides two views of the same area and is useful for outdoor searches?
What type of search method provides two views of the same area and is useful for outdoor searches?
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When is the circular (spiral or concentric) search method useful?
When is the circular (spiral or concentric) search method useful?
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Which search method involves examining specific and small areas with defined borders, using any effective technique?
Which search method involves examining specific and small areas with defined borders, using any effective technique?
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What type of search method is effective for scenes with regular patterns or defined borders, allowing different types of searches in different sectors?
What type of search method is effective for scenes with regular patterns or defined borders, allowing different types of searches in different sectors?
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What is the primary consideration for implementing a crime scene search?
What is the primary consideration for implementing a crime scene search?
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What is the purpose of the grid search method?
What is the purpose of the grid search method?
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When is the point-to-point search method not recommended?
When is the point-to-point search method not recommended?
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What is the main consideration for selecting appropriate search methods?
What is the main consideration for selecting appropriate search methods?
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Which search method is useful for scenes with regular patterns or defined borders?
Which search method is useful for scenes with regular patterns or defined borders?
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What type of search method is effective for examining specific and small areas with defined borders?
What type of search method is effective for examining specific and small areas with defined borders?
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What is the primary purpose of the strip search method?
What is the primary purpose of the strip search method?
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When does rigor mortis begin after death?
When does rigor mortis begin after death?
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What can help determine the time of death based on environmental factors?
What can help determine the time of death based on environmental factors?
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What does putrefaction refer to in the context of crime scene investigation?
What does putrefaction refer to in the context of crime scene investigation?
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What does cadaveric spasm indicate if the hand is clutching a weapon?
What does cadaveric spasm indicate if the hand is clutching a weapon?
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What should officers determine upon arrival at a crime scene?
What should officers determine upon arrival at a crime scene?
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What is involved in procedures for identifying victims in the case of serious injury or death?
What is involved in procedures for identifying victims in the case of serious injury or death?
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Who may be called to the crime scene as special units?
Who may be called to the crime scene as special units?
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What information should be made known to other officers at a crime scene?
What information should be made known to other officers at a crime scene?
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Who is granted legal authority to protect the crime scene and establish perimeters?
Who is granted legal authority to protect the crime scene and establish perimeters?
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What is involved in procedures for securing the crime scene?
What is involved in procedures for securing the crime scene?
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What are the objectives of conducting a crime scene search?
What are the objectives of conducting a crime scene search?
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What is a potential problem in conducting a crime scene search?
What is a potential problem in conducting a crime scene search?
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What are the three major vantage points for taking photographs of a crime scene?
What are the three major vantage points for taking photographs of a crime scene?
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What is the primary purpose of crime scene sketches?
What is the primary purpose of crime scene sketches?
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When should additional investigative and technical personnel be called to a crime scene?
When should additional investigative and technical personnel be called to a crime scene?
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What are the specific documentation requirements for certain cases such as sexual assault, child abuse, and family violence?
What are the specific documentation requirements for certain cases such as sexual assault, child abuse, and family violence?
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What methods of measurement are included in proper crime scene documentation procedures?
What methods of measurement are included in proper crime scene documentation procedures?
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What are the basic steps of a crime scene search?
What are the basic steps of a crime scene search?
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What is the purpose of crime scene sketches?
What is the purpose of crime scene sketches?
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What should be done when one person cannot effectively search the crime scene?
What should be done when one person cannot effectively search the crime scene?
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What are the specific documentation requirements for sexual assault, child abuse, and family violence cases?
What are the specific documentation requirements for sexual assault, child abuse, and family violence cases?
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What is the primary purpose of photographing a crime scene?
What is the primary purpose of photographing a crime scene?
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What is the primary purpose of establishing chain of custody during a crime scene search?
What is the primary purpose of establishing chain of custody during a crime scene search?
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What is the primary consideration for calling additional investigative and technical personnel to a crime scene?
What is the primary consideration for calling additional investigative and technical personnel to a crime scene?
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Study Notes
Crime Scene Investigation Procedures
- Rigor mortis begins at the neck and lower jaw and spreads downwards, starting 5 to 6 hours after death, affecting the whole body within about 18 hours, and disappearing within thirty-six hours.
- Body temperature, influenced by air temperature and clothing, can help determine the time of death.
- Putrefaction, the decomposition of body tissues, is influenced by environmental temperature and can aid in approximating time of death.
- Cadaveric spasm, immediate stiffening in small muscles of the face and/or hands, can strongly indicate suicide if the hand is clutching a weapon.
- Upon arrival at a crime scene, officers should determine the presence of suspects, weapons involved, and request backup if necessary.
- Procedures for identifying victims in the case of serious injury or death involve obtaining identification and information about next of kin.
- Special units that may be called to the scene include EMS, Medical Examiner/J.P., bomb squad, fire department, military, narcotics investigators, and other law enforcement agencies.
- Information about suspects, clothing, vehicles, weapons, and direction of travel should be made known to other officers.
- Legal authority to protect the crime scene and establish perimeters is granted to peace officers and medical examiners.
- Procedures for securing the crime scene include establishing entry and exit points, inner and outer perimeters, and protecting the scene from contamination and evidence removal.
- The objectives of conducting a crime scene search include establishing that a crime has been committed, placing the suspect at the scene, eliminating persons through DNA testing, and supporting witness testimony with physical evidence.
- Potential problems in conducting a crime scene search include evaluating physical characteristics of the area to be searched, such as size, landscape, and indoor vs. outdoor settings.
Crime Scene Search and Documentation Procedures
- Implementation procedures for crime scene searches include determining the starting point based on priorities, establishing a headquarters, conducting a briefing, assigning areas of responsibility, and maintaining communication with all searchers.
- The basic steps of a crime scene search typically involve approaching the scene, securing and protecting it, conducting a preliminary survey, documenting evidence, and collecting evidence while establishing chain of custody.
- Additional investigative and technical personnel should be called when one person cannot search the area, there is an impractical amount of damage or evidence, or expertise beyond those present is needed.
- Evidence may be used in criminal actions based on specific legal criteria, and procedures for photographing a crime scene include preparation, maintaining a log of photos, and taking photographs from three major vantage points: overall, mid-range, and close-up.
- Specific documentation requirements exist for sexual assault, child abuse, and family violence cases, and there is mandatory training for these documentation procedures.
- Crime scene sketches serve to provide a permanent record of conditions not easily recorded by photography, help reconstruct the crime scene, and corroborate witness testimony.
- Proper procedures for crime scene documentation include methods of measurement such as triangulation and documenting the location and spatial relationships between pieces of evidence and the surroundings.
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Description
Test your knowledge of crime scene investigation procedures with this quiz. Explore the intricacies of rigor mortis, body temperature analysis, and cadaveric spasm, as well as the steps for securing a crime scene, conducting a search, and documenting evidence. Sharpen your understanding of important protocols and legal criteria for using evidence in criminal actions.
