Week 6 Scene Processing Lecture PDF

Summary

This lecture covers scene processing for crime scenes. It examines the process from initial response to evidence recovery, outlining scene parameters, assessment, and risk factors. The importance of communication and planning throughout the process is emphasized.

Full Transcript

CSFI Week 6 Lecture Scene Processing Part 1 Dr Deborah Ryder [email protected] SESSION AIMS To consider the underlying processes required for effective scene examination To review aspects of scene preservation To determine risks associated with scene examination SCENE EXAMIN...

CSFI Week 6 Lecture Scene Processing Part 1 Dr Deborah Ryder [email protected] SESSION AIMS To consider the underlying processes required for effective scene examination To review aspects of scene preservation To determine risks associated with scene examination SCENE EXAMINATION - COMMUNICATION SCENE PROCESSING First Scene Exam & Document & Assessment RA & CM response Parameters Search Recover Preserve life and Scene Assessment Scene recording limb Start of planning Forensic examination and First indications of what examination (strategy) associated searches may have happened Identify scene parameters Risk assessment and Scene security and Documentation and Contamination matrix protection recovery Dynamic processes SCENE EXAMINATION “A series of systematic and methodical steps designed to identify and recover physical evidence to determine the series of events that occurred when a crime has been committed” (Williams, 2015,. p300) SCENE PROCESSING Series of processes – no matter the scene type The more serious, the longer and more complex the examination is For the purpose of today we will mainly be considering volume crime, unless specified Systematic, Logical, Methodical, thorough – WELL PLANNED In a major crime we would draw up a strategy during the planning stage Observation, communication, problem solving Avoid bias, be impartial, do not make assumptions Work with observable fact AVOID CONTAMINATION, MAXIMISE FORENSIC RECOVERY Record everything HOW DOES THE PROCESS START? Who requests the CSI? Do they attend EVERY Request? HOW DOES THE PROCESS START? Who requests the CSI? Incident reports Call to Police reporting a possible crime/suspicious incident Call taker/control room may request CSI – CSI may attend before Police Officer Police officer may attend first and request CSI CSI may assess the request and apply attendance criteria Prioritisation There maybe many scenes that require attending, for example one CSI may go to a number of burglaries in one shift (Smith & Bond, 2015) Attendance criteria may be in place (force dependent) Prioritise according to seriousness of offence; vulnerability of evidence and/or victim; geographically; availability of a key holder/where scenes cannot be preserved (i.e businesses) ATTENDANCE CRITERIA Simplified example Different forces and different areas within forces will have differing criteria Will be based on local policing and force policing strategies These strategies change frequently CSI expected to know, and meet the attendance targets In addition to attendance targets, there will be recovery targets For example; CSI must attend 100% dwelling burglaries CSI must recover footwear marks at 95% of dwelling burglaries Smith & Bond, 2015, p.79 REFLECT What are your thoughts on prioritisation and attendance criteria? Pros? Cons? UPON ARRIVAL Communication Identifying key evidence Injured party/person/aggrieved person/victim areas Reporting person – occupier/employee Scene Notes Observation Damage Identifying key evidence areas Signs of search Items out of place Planning – Take time to do this – “Time Spent thinking about the process is well spent” (Pepper, 2010, p.18) Examination process Evidence recovery order Identifying key evidence Types Equipment Contamination strategy “Failing to plan is planning to fail” (Trueman & Moran, 2017) Risk assessment New information STOP THE PLANNING CYCLE Assess Plan DO Review New Information This could be the initial information you receive when you are asked to attend a scene It could also be anything from THE PLANNING CYCLE any source during the course of your examination WHERE MIGHT NEW INFORMATION COME FROM? New information STOP THE PLANNING CYCLE WHY SHOULD WE STOP? New information STOP THE PLANNING CYCLE Assess WHAT ARE WE ASSESSING? New information WHAT SORT OF PLANS ARE WE MAKING? STOP THE PLANNING CYCLE Assess Scene Examination Plan Plan New information STOP THE PLANNING CYCLE Scene Examination Plan Assess Evidence Recovery Plan Plan DO THE PLANNING CYCLE WHAT DO YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A SCENE EXAMINATION PLAN AND AN EVIDENCE RECOVERY PLAN ARE? New information STOP THE PLANNING CYCLE Scene Examination Plan Assess Evidence Recovery Plan Plan Whatever your plans consist of DO ALWAYS REVIEW PLANNING CYCLE “Throughout the scene examination reassessment may be necessary as further information becomes available or circumstances change.” ENFSI, 2012 In volume crime this will often be because you find further potential evidence as you work through the scene In major crime this will come from, scene examination but also as information is received form ongoing real-time enquiries TAKE A BREAK! Please complete this mid-point module survey – your feedback is very important to us! COMMUNICATION Identifying key evidence areas Upon arrival Identify yourself, explain your presence: - At volume scene: this will likely be to reporting person, - At major scene: the Scene guard Ask questions: - May be generic - Or specific based on observations or information gathered Don’t forget to communicate with the OIC as you may be told something that the victim did not tell the officer COMMUNICATION ‘Unusual’ answers may help build anM.O of the offender Questions at the scene of a burglary Where and how do you think entry has been gained? (Point of entry) How do you think they exited the premises? (point of exit) What has been taken? What has been touched/moved/taken? Is there anything here that does not belong here? REMEMBER – OBSERVABLE FACT – ASSUME NOTHING – BELIEVE NO ONE – CHECK EVERYTHING Why might you be misinformed during the questions? OBSERVATION Not everything is obvious Areas offenders Point of are Identifying key evidence areas entry/exit known/thought to have been Vulnerable evidence Corroborative Identifying key evidence types evidence Identification Latent evidence evidence CONSEQUENCES OF LACK OF PRESERVATION BY CSI RECAP from Week 3 If the CSI does not undertake appropriate preservation measures they will almost certainly contaminate/destroy evidence Let us look at some examples CONTAMINATION/LOSS EVIDENCE CONTAMINATION/LOSS EVIDENCE RISKS AND HAZARDS Do you think crime scenes are hazardous? Who might be at risk? Who is responsible for mitigating risk? RISK ASSESSMENT EVERYBODY To identify hazards so that action can be taken to eliminate, reduce or control them before accidents occur that cause injury or damage RESPONSIBLE RISKS WHAT RISKS AND HAZARDS DO YOU THINK ARE ENCOUNTERED AT SCENES? RISKS QUESTIONS? REFERENCES/FURTHER READING Baber, C,. Butler, M. (2012). Expertise in Crime Scene Examination: Comparing Search Strategies of Expert and Novice Crime Scene Examiners in Simulated Crime Scenes. Human Factors. 54(3): 413-424 ENFSI. (2012). Scenes of Crime examination best practice manual (ENSFI SoC BPM v1_0.doc) http://library.college.police.uk/docs/appref/ENFSI-BPM-v1_0.pdf Jackson, RW,. Jackson, JM,. (2017). Forensic Science. Pearson https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/portsmouth-ebooks/reader.action?docID=5185828 pp19-26 Pepper, I. (2010). Crime Scene investigation: methods and practice (2nd ed.). Open University Press. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/portsmouth-ebooks/reader.action?docID=771422# pp17-19 Smith, L,. Bond, J. (2015). Criminal Justice and forensic science. Palgrave https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/portsmouth-ebooks/detail.action?docID=4763537 pp89-92 Trueman, K,. Moran, C. (2017). The role of the Crime scene investigator. In Sutton, R,. Trueman, K,. Moran, C. (eds.) Crime scene management: Scene specific methods. 2nd ed.) Wiley. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/portsmouth-ebooks/reader.action?docID=4696771# Williams, A. (2015). Forensic Criminology. Routledge. https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/portsmouth-ebooks/reader.action?docID=1826705#

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