Review timeline components

Review crime scene search methods

Notes – Arriving on the scene

EQ: What steps must be taken to ensure the integrity of a crime scene?

Activity: Evaluating the crime scene

AGENDA9/9/14(A ) & 9/10 /14 (B )

1814 – Mathieu Orfila Considered the father of forensic toxicology.

Established forensic toxicology as a legitimate scientific field when he published his work on the detection of poisons and their effects on animals.

1840 – Madame Lafarge Chemical tests after the death of her husband were

inconclusive, but during the trial, Orfila has the body exhumed, and finds traces of arsenic in the man's organs. Madame Lafarge is sentenced to the penitentiary. The case is likely the first time forensics is used in a court case.

TIMELINE REVIEW

1879 – Alphonse BertillonDeveloped an elaborate system of measurements

to identify humans called Anthropometry. This was the first system developed for personal identification

1887 – Arthur Conan DoyleAuthor of the Sherlock Holmes series of books.

This was the first time forensic science was brought to the public and helped create a demand for the police to use more science in their investigations.

TIMELINE REVIEW

1892 – Francis GaltonConducted the first definitive study on using

fingerprints as a method of human identification. His book Finger Prints described the basic principles of fingerprinting – still used today.

1893 – Hans GrossPublished the first book on how police can use

science to help in criminal investigations, Criminal Investigation. It showed how many different scientific fields could be used to aid the police. He is called the first true criminologist.

1901 – Karl Landsteiner Discovered that blood can be grouped into different categories (now

known as A, B, and O blood types). This was the first time that blood was recognized as being able to identify an individual.

1904 – Edmond Locard The father of forensic science.

Took the ideas written by Gross and actually incorporated then into a workable crime laboratory.

Eventually became founder and director of the Institute of Criminalistics at the University of Lyons.

Known also for Locard’s Principle: Every contact leaves a trace.

1910 – Albert Osborn

Published the book Questioned Documents that explained the scientific analysis of suspected documents. The methods developed by Osborn are still used today in examining counterfeiting, alteration, etc. of written documents.

1915 – Leone Lattes

His work was based on the blood typing work of Landsteiner. He developed a way to type dried blood stains.

1923 – Frye vs. United States The Frye Standard – If forensic evidence is to be accepted in a court

of law, it must be presented by an expert witness and have “general acceptance” in the particular field of study.

1924 – First Crime Lab in the U.S. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) was the first department

to set up a crime lab here in the U.S.

Created by August Vollmer who went on to develop the school of criminology at UC Berkeley.

1925 – Calvin Goddard

First to develop a way to use the microscope in examining firearm evidence.

Extremely influential in the field of ballistics and firearm comparisons.

1970 – Roland Menzel

pioneered the use of lasers to locate latent fingerprints.

1985 – Alec Jefferies

Developed the first DNA profiling test.

The first to apply DNA to solve a crime in identifying the murderer of two young girls in England.

Also used as a way to rule out other suspects.

1993 – Daubert vs. Merrell Dow

The rule of “general acceptance” was determined to be no longer acceptable in the admissibility of evidence.

The Daubert Ruling: gave stronger standards for admissibility of evidence in Federal court cases.

Take 7 minutes.

Fill in main ideas/summary for notes on history.

TAKE 5

How the search is carried out depends on the location, the size of the area, and the complexity of the crime scene.

After an initial walk-through, a systematic search of the scene should be conducted.

CRIME SCENE SEARCH METHODS

This is the most thorough search technique. Similar to a strip search but also done in opposite directions.

Typically takes longer to complete, but is very thorough.

GRID SEARCH

Commonly used when looking for an object that is suspected to be a specific distance from another.

for example: shell casing from a gun or an object thrown by hand from a specific location, but thrown in an unknown direction.

Also good for a single investigator at an outdoor scene.

SPIRAL SEARCH

Commonly used when searching a large area looking for a large object.

Missing persons cases

Several Explorers will stand in one long line and all walk the same direction.

Stakes and string can also be used to create “lanes” for which each Explorer would be responsible

STRIP SEARCH

Can be applied to both small and large crime scenes.

Often used in smaller areas such as rooms, hallways, apartments, etc.

QUADRANT OR ZONE SEARCH

LOOK UP!!

BE CONSISTENT.

PICK ONE AND STICK TO IT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN PICKING A SEARCH METHOD IS TO….

Paste these notes into your journals on page 9.

Page 10 – Set up Cornell note style

Topic: Arriving on the Scene

EQ: What steps must be taken to ensure the integrity of a crime scene?

ARRIVING ON THE SCENE

The first officer on the scene is crucial to the successful investigation.

Most important task: Prevent destruction of physical evidence! Always assume there is physical evidence on the scene.

Begin detailed, meticulous notes throughout the entire investigation.

APPROACHING THE SCENE

TIMES!!!!

The time you got the call, the time you arrived, etc.

Keep chronological order and be specific.

Possible entrance/exit points.

THINGS TO NOTE

Quickly assess the situation

Is the suspect still on scene?

Proceed with extreme caution.Make every move calm and deliberate

Always expect the worst.

Where could possible evidence be located.

Do your best to not alter the scene in any way.

Is there a victim?

ENTERING THE SCENE

First priority over preserving the evidence is to save lives.

Check for pulses if victim appears dead or unconscious.

Summon the coroner if necessary.

AIDING THE VICTIM

If the victim is already dead, or the victim is not on scene (such as in a robbery or a secondary location), priority #1 is to secure the scene.

Determine boundaries and set up barriers.

Remove ALL persons not directly involved in the investigation.

SECURING THE SCENE

Touch nothing!

Collect and package evidence appropriately.

MOST OF ALL