Fundamentals of Special Crime Investigation and Legal Medicine PDF

**WEEK 2-3:** **Fundamentals of Special Crime Investigation and Legal Medicine** **INTRODUCTION** **FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION** The chapter will introduce the historical background of criminal investigation. This chapter will also orient the basic concepts and principles of cr...

**WEEK 2-3:** **Fundamentals of Special Crime Investigation and Legal Medicine** **INTRODUCTION** **FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION** The chapter will introduce the historical background of criminal investigation. This chapter will also orient the basic concepts and principles of criminal investigation, its goal and objectives, qualities of a good investigator, tools of investigation and the six cardinal points of investigation. **Investigation** Etymology shows that the term investigation came from the Latin word "vestigare" which means: 1\. to track or trace or probe 2\. to observe or study closely 3\. to inquire into something systematically 4\. to search for truthful information Ultimately, it was derived from the word vestigium (footprint). In simplest connotation, investigate means to take a look and see what happened. In a more detailed definition, investigate means to carry out a meticulous examination or inquiry, usually in official manner, to discover something or somebody. Thus, an investigation is a patient, step-by-step inquiry, or observation, a careful examination, a recording of evidence or a legal inquiry. **The Golden hour in Criminal Investigation** -This refers to the first 72 hours of a murder or kidnapping/ abduction investigation ( PNP, 2011 ). It is the most crucial time for the investigator to collect vital evidence and information. Standard methods of recording investigative data 1\. Photographs 2\. Sketching 3\. Written notes (what you have seen or observed) 4\. Developing of fingerprints found at the crime scene 5\. Gathering physical evidence 6\. Plaster cast 7\. Tape recording of sound 8\. Video tape recording 9\. Written statement of the victims and witnesses **SPECIALIZED CRIME INVESTIGATION WITH LEGAL MEDICINE** **Specialized Crime Investigation** - Special Crime Investigation deals with the study of major crimes based on the application of special investigative technique. - The study concentrates more on physical evidence, its collection, handling, identification and preservation in coordination with the crime laboratory. Special Crime Investigation involves a close relationship between the prober in the field and the crime laboratory technician. Theywork together as a team, reacting to and extending one another's theories and findings both working patiently and thoroughly to solve a crime from their investigative discoveries. - The present criminal justice system in our country, the court relies more on physical evidence rather than extra-judicial confession. **Legal Medicine** - It is a branch of medicine which deals with the application of medical knowledge to the purposes of law and in the administration of justice. - The branch of medicine that deals with the application of medical knowledge to legal problems and legal proceedings. - Legal medicine is also called **forensic medicine.**  **The Role of Medico-Legal Officers** The medico-legal aspects of death are responsible for conducting death investigations and certifying the cause and manner of unnatural and unexplained deaths. Unnatural and unexplained deaths include homicides, suicides, unintentional injuries, drug-related deaths, and other deaths that are sudden or unexpected. **Responsibilities of Special Crime Investigators** **1.** Determine if the crime has been committed **2.** Verify jurisdiction **3.** Discover all facts and collect physical evidence **4.** Recover stolen property **5.** Identify perpetrator **6.** Locate and apprehend perpetrator **7.** Aid in the prosecution of the perpetrator **8.** Testify effectively in court (Soriano, O.G. 2008) **Phases of Special Crime Investigation** The phases of special crime investigation can be divided into: ** ** 1. **Preliminary Investigation** Preliminary investigation is also known **as Initial Investigation**, which is focused in identifying the perpetrator/s. It is the initial inquiry into a reported crime and is generally conducted by a uniformed patrol officer. The patrol officer must prepare the first written report of the crime, which is generally called as **complaint or incident report**    The setting is usually at the crime scene is the most critical phase in majority of criminal investigations. A brief review of typical steps of a preliminary investigation is warranted: O Attend to any existing emergencies, such as injured person or fleeing suspect. O Secure the scene. O Measure, photograph, videotape and sketch the scene. O Search for evidence. O Identify, collect, examine and process physical evidence. O Question victims, witnesses and suspects. O Record all statements and observations in notes or onto tape is vital (Hess & Wrobleski, 2006). 2. **Follow-up Investigation or In-Depth Investigation** Follow-up investigation is assigned to trained police detectives and usually involves processing physical evidence, interviewing witnesses, interrogating suspects, conducting record searches, surveillance operations, and following other investigatory practices. Follow-up investigation is also known **as Following Investigation or In-Depth investigation.** It is focused eventually in tracing, locating and eventually arresting the suspect. ** ** 3. **Concluding Investigation** Concluding investigation is also called as **Final Investigation.** Focused in evaluating and presenting evidence to prove the guilt of the accused. **WEEK 4-5:** **Principles, Techniques, Methods and Legal Requirements of the Scene of Crime Operations** **Crime Scene Sketch** - **A crime scene sketch depicts the overall layout of a location and the relationship of evidentiary items to the surroundings. It can show the path a suspect or victim took and the distances involved. It can be used when questioning suspects and witnesses.** - **The crime scene sketch is a simple line drawing that indicates the position of the body in relation to fixed and significant object in the scene.** - **The sketch is the simplest and the most effective way of showing actual measurements and of identifying significant items of evidence in their location at the scene. Sketching is supplementary to photography.** **Important reasons of sketch or diagram:** **1. To refresh the memory of the investigator ** **2. To reflect the exact location of objects and their relationship to other objects** **3. To assist the prosecutor and the judge in understanding conditions of the crime scene** **4. To supplement photographs** **5. To assist in questioning of witnesses and suspects.** **KINDS OF SKETCH** **1. Rough sketch -made in the crime scene, thus informal.** **2. Finished sketch - made in the police station or investigator's office and carefully drawn and labeled.** **KINDS OF POLICE SKETCHING** **1. Sketch in locality -This type of sketch gives a picture of the crime scene and its environs, including neighboring building and roads leading to the location of the house.** **2. Sketch of the ground -This sketch gives picture at scene with its nearest physical surroundings, such as a house with garden, floors in a house.** **3. Sketch of details -This sketch describes the immediate scene only. Like the room which the crime was committed.** **4. Cross projection - In this method, floors, walls and ceilings are pictured.** **ELEMENTS OF SKETCHING Measurements** **1. Compass Directions -- a standard arrow to designate the North must indicated to facilitate proper orientation.** **2. Essential Items -- sketch must include important items of investigation.** **3. Scale or Proportion -- it must be accurate** **4. Legend -- the explanation of any symbols used to identify objects must be stated. But excessive lettering in the sketch generally results in a crowded sketch and obscures the essentials items.** **5. Title  -- this includes case identification, identification of the victim, scene portrayed, location, date and how made and name of sketcher.** **DIFFERENT CRIME SCENE SKETCH MEASUREMENT/METHOD** **1. Rectangular Coordinate Method** **2. Baseline/Station Line** **3. Triangulation/Trilateration Method** **4. Azimuth/Polar Coordinate** **Rectangular Coordinate Method** **The coordinate method employs the practice of measuring an object from two fixed points of reference. Once such procedure is the baseline technique in which a line is drawn between two points.** **Baseline/Station Line** **Measurement are obtained by securing a steel tape measure on the floor, ground or roadway extended through the scene** **Triangulation/ Trilateration Method** **The triangulation method is a bird's eye view of the scene utilizing fixed objects from which to measure. This is particularly useful for sketching outdoor crime scenes where there are no easily identifiable points of reference.** **Azimuth/Polar Coordinates** **This method requires two people one to hold each end of a tape measure. This type of measuring convention is best suited for large open areas where there might not be any fixed reference points.** **CRIME SCENE SEARCH** **The investigating officer should look the scene over for several angles, to grasp the whole scene and then formulate a plan for searching the scene. A proper approach prevents fouling any evidence and trooping through the area haphazardly may trample.** **Detailed Search** **The search for physical evidence is done during using the accepted methods of search depending upon the actual location to be searched.** **Different Crime Scene Search** **Method Strip Method/Line Search Method** **Start along one side of the crime scene and walk in straight line across the area to be searched then return to the original side you started from and again walk across the search area but slightly above the previous line of search.** **Double Strip Search Method** **The double strip search is a modification of the strip search method. Here the rectangle is traversed first parallel to the base then parallel to the side.**  **Zone or Sector Method** **This method divides the scene into equal zone. One searcher is normally assigned to each sector with responsibility for all that occur in the scene.** **Wheel Method** **The searchers gather at the center of the scene and move out in these spool -- like directions. The obvious drawbacks in this method are the possibility of ruining evidence when gathering at the center and every increasing distance between the searchers as the investigators move onward.**  **Spiral Method** **Usually begins from the outer perimeter of the scene, moving inward in a constricting circular fashion.**