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What is the primary objective of a criminal investigation?
What is the role of the Medical Examiner in a death investigation?
What is the purpose of marking a body position at a crime scene?
Who is responsible for removing and disposing of the body at a homicide scene?
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What is the purpose of a preliminary investigation?
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What is the purpose of identifying the questions to ask when investigating a death scene?
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What determines the cause of death in a homicide investigation?
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What type of homicide pattern involves a love-based motive and often targets an estranged spouse or lover?
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What is the purpose of the Gunshot Primer Residue (GSR) Test?
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What are the two chemical elements found in Gunshot Primer Residue?
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What is the most common pattern of homicide?
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What is the significance of a positive Gunshot Primer Residue (GSR) Test result?
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What type of homicide involves a financial gain motive?
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What determines who was responsible for causing death?
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What is the purpose of a control group in the Gunshot Primer Residue (GSR) Test?
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What is the significance of a negative Gunshot Primer Residue (GSR) Test result?
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What is the primary concern when investigating a suicide by firearms?
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What is the primary goal when responding to a death scene?
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What should an officer do when encountering a death scene that is unclear or suspicious?
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What is the primary role of the medical examiner in a death investigation?
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What type of death scene may involve a ruling of accidental death, which can have significant financial implications for the family of the deceased?
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What term is used to describe a death that resembles a suicide but is actually an accidental death during sexual self-gratification?
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What is the primary responsibility of the patrol officer at a homicide scene?
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What should an officer do upon arriving at a death scene?
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What is the purpose of noting all conditions, events, and remarks at a death scene?
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What is the primary concern when handling a suicide note?
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Where do suicides tend to select for attack when using a knife?
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What is a characteristic of a suicide with a firearm?
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What is indicative of an assailant trying to discover a vital spot?
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What is a characteristic of a female suicide?
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What is an example of psychopathic self-mutilation?
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What is a way to determine whether a shooting was a suicide or not?
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What is a characteristic of a suicide with multiple methods?
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What is an example of a suicide with a knife?
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What is a characteristic of a suicide with a gun?
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What is an example of a combination of methods?
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What does a negative result in a GSR test indicate?
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Under what circumstances should a GSR test be performed on a suspect?
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What is used to collect GSR evidence from the hands of a suspect?
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What is the purpose of the control swabs in GSR testing?
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What is the advantage of using SEM/EDX in GSR testing?
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What is the definition of suicide?
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What is the main challenge in investigating a death?
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What is one of the best indicators in determining whether a case is one of suicide?
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What is the significance of the type of injury in determining whether a case is one of suicide?
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What is the importance of experience and fund of information in investigating a death?
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Why is it important to search adjoining areas if the weapon is not found near the body?
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What is one reason why relatives might conceal a weapon?
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What might be a motive for suicide in certain occupations?
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What is an important aspect to investigate during a death inquiry?
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What might indicate a person's intention to commit suicide?
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What should the investigator focus on during interviews with the victim's acquaintances?
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Why is it important to look for a diary or un-mailed letters?
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What is a typical communication indicating a person's intention to commit suicide?
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What might a victim do to conceal a weapon?
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What is a possible reason for a weapon not being found at the scene?
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What percentage of young suicide victims typically leave notes?
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What is the primary reason why girls are more likely to attempt suicide but less likely to succeed?
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Why is it important to handle a suicide note with care?
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What should an investigator do when finding a suicide note?
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Why are some suicides difficult to determine?
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What is the estimated number of young people who attempt suicide in a typical year?
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What should be done with a suicide note that is found in a sealed envelope?
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Why is it important to obtain an additional handwriting sample for comparison?
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What is the primary concern when investigating a suicide by firearms?
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What is the general index of investigative suspicion in suicide cases?
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What is the primary purpose of paying attention to notes, past attempts, and mental condition in a suicide investigation?
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What is the significance of finding traces of antimony, barium, and primer mixture in a gunshot residue kit?
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What is the purpose of referring to the handout on page 6 in a carbon monoxide suicide investigation?
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What is the primary consideration when handling a suicide note?
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What is the significance of finding red blotches on the skin in a carbon monoxide suicide investigation?
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What is the primary purpose of checking for traces of powder burns in a gunshot investigation?
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What is the significance of finding a rope or cord in an auto-erotic death scene?
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What is the primary purpose of maintaining control and security of a suicide note?
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What is the significance of finding evidence of prior auto-erotic activity in a death scene?
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What is the primary purpose of examining a suicide note for handwriting analysis and fingerprints?
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Study Notes
Death Investigations
- Death scenes can be classified into three categories: homicide, suicide, and accident/natural causes
- During an investigation, it is essential to identify the type of death scene and approach it accordingly
- If there is any doubt, treat the scene as a homicide and process accordingly
Investigative Questions
- Are there signs of a struggle?
- Overturned furniture
- Broken items
- Are there indications that the deceased attempted to defend themselves?
- Defense wounds (hands, arms)
- Are there indications that the deceased killed themselves?
- Suicide note
Types of Death Scenes
- Homicide:
- Murder/manslaughter
- Self-defense
- Accidental killing
- Suicide:
- Intentional killing of oneself
- Accident/Natural Causes:
- Disease
- Medical problems
- Accidents (e.g., fire, auto accident, drug overdose)
Problems in Death Investigations
- Removal of the body from the scene:
- Alters the scene
- Potential loss of evidence
- Embalming:
- Destroys evidentiary value of substances in the body
- Burial:
- Must obtain exhumation order
- Passage of time may destroy or reduce the value of body evidence
Patrol Officer's Responsibilities at a Homicide Scene
- Proceed safely and promptly
- Render assistance
- Effect the arrest
- Maintain the crime scene
- Inform/notify specialized units
- Note all conditions, events, and remarks
- Arrange for evidence collection
- Interview and interrogate
- Report the incident fully and accurately
Marking the Body at a Crime Scene
- Photography
- Sketching
- Markers or cones
- Silhouette chalking
- Responsibility for the body: Medical Examiner has total authority over body disposition
Homicide Investigation Questions
- What was the cause of death?
- What were the means that caused the death?
- Was the homicide excusable or justifiable?
- Who was responsible for causing the death?
Homicide Patterns
- Anger killing
- Triangle killing
- Revenge/jealousy killing
- Killing for profit
- Random killing
- Murder-suicide
- Sex and sadism
Gunshot Primer Residue (GSR) Test
- Tests for the presence of gunshot residue on a suspect's hands
- Collects evidence samples using a 5% solution of nitric acid
- Tests for antimony and barium particles
Suicide Investigations
- Definition: The killing of oneself
- Types of injuries:
- Wounds on the front of the body
- Choice of methods (e.g., gun, knife, poison)
- Combination of methods
- Extent of wounds
- Difficulty of self-infliction
- Awkward positions
- Incapacitating sequence
- Presence of weapon
- Concealment of weapon
- Motive and intent
Importance of Protecting the Victim's Hands
-
In suicide investigations, it is essential to protect the victim's hands to preserve evidence### Investigating Suicides
-
The primary focus of the investigation should be on discovering any domestic, business, or financial troubles that may have contributed to the suicide.
-
Marital harmony, pregnancy, and love are not significant factors in determining motives for suicide.
Historical Context
- Between 70,000 and 80,000 young people (ages 15-24) attempt suicide annually, with around 5,000 succeeding.
- Fewer than 30% of young suicides leave notes, and more girls attempt suicide, but more boys succeed.
- The increase in young suicides is attributed to an inability to communicate and feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Handling Suicide Notes
- The suicide note should be picked up with a pair of tongs and placed in a transparent envelope to avoid contact with fingers.
- The note should be photographed and transmitted to a laboratory or qualified agency, along with handwriting samples of the deceased, for comparison.
- Precautions should be taken to avoid contaminating the note with fingerprints.
- If the handwriting does not match the deceased, the note should be processed for fingerprints.
Accidental Deaths
- Fatal accidents that are not witnessed may involve injuries that suggest suicide.
- In cases where eyewitnesses are absent or unreliable, it is crucial to investigate thoroughly to avoid misclassification.
Types of Suicides
- Motor Vehicle Suicide: often hard to determine without a note or background information.
- Jump Suicide: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and building line.
- Overdose Suicide: mostly women and young girls, pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and containers.
- Firearms Suicides: more common among men, pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and gunshot residue.
- Carbon Monoxide Suicide: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and the vehicle.
- Poison Suicides: rare, pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and skin tone.
- Incised (Cut) Wound Suicides: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, and object used.
- Hanging Suicides: pay attention to notes, past attempts, mental condition, ropes, and security of premises.
Auto-Erotic Deaths
- Definition: deaths associated with solo sexual activity.
- May resemble a suicide, but often involves males, and family members may alter the scene out of shame or embarrassment.
- Methods include neck compression, airway obstruction, chest compression, and oxygen exclusion.
- Common evidence includes bondage, sexually stimulating paraphernalia, mirrors, and evidence of fantasy.
Procedure for Handling Suicide Notes
- The originating agency with jurisdictional control will maintain control and security of the note.
- Important handling procedures include:
- Not handling the note with bare hands.
- Not folding, spindling, or mutilating the note.
- Examining the note for handwriting analysis, fingerprints, stains, and origination.
- Treating the note as though it were a loaded weapon.
- Using a cover sheet if mailed to prevent indented handwriting from being obliterated or added.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
This lesson plan covers the primary objectives of a criminal investigation, including the procedures for conducting an investigation and the main objectives and steps of a preliminary investigation. The focus is on death investigations.