Crime Scene: Definition & Components - PowerPoint Presentation

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Crime Scene: Definition & Components

Crimescene

: The

JonBenet Ramsey Case

T

he murder of

JonBenet

Ramsey, a six-year-old Colorado beauty pageant queen.

JonBenet

was initially reported missing from her home by her parents the day after Christmas in 1996.

An initial police search of her residence turned up few clues, with the exception of a ransom letter. However, the father found

JonBenet's

body later that day in an area of the basement. The basement was immediately secured as a crime scene, along with the rest of the Ramsey home. Despite an extensive investigation, which included processing of the crime scene,

JonBenet's

murder remains unsolved.

What is a Crime Scene?

In simple terms, a crime scene is the immediate and surrounding area where a crime has been committed. In the opening example, the Ramsey home and basement were crime scenes. A crime scene is likely to provide clues to help solve the crime that was committed.

Crime scenes can either be primary or secondary. A primary crime scene is the scene where the actual criminal activity took place. For example, in a murder investigation, the primary crime scene would be the scene where the murder occurred and the person's life was taken.

However, there might be additional crime scenes involved as well. For example, the perpetrator may have relocated the body following the murder. Let's say the body was removed and placed in a wooded outdoor area. This would then become the secondary crime scene, as it will also likely yield clues that can assist in solving the crime.

In some cases, only the secondary crime scene can be investigated because the primary crime scene remains unknown. In these instances, it is important for investigators to carefully sift through the clues available at the secondary scene, because in addition to trying to solve the crime, they are also attempting to find clues that will help them locate and identify the primary crime scene.

Securing a Crime Scene

In order to collect valid, non-contaminated evidence, it is essential that the crime scene is secured in order to maintain the integrity of the evidence found there. If crime scene evidence is not secured, the likelihood of successfully prosecuting an offender in court decreases.

Securing the crime scene begins as soon as the first officer gets to the location. In a best case scenario, the first arriving officer should carefully approach the location and do an inspection of the visible area. However, if the perpetrator is still at the scene, this officer may have to make an arrest before securing the scene. In both scenarios, it's crucial for the officer to try not to touch or move items in the immediate area.

If the area is disturbed by emergency responders, all of this should be documented in detailed notes. Additional notes should be taken on any peculiar smells that are present, the temperature, the suspect and his condition if known, and anything else the officer deems important.

After taking these initial notes, the crime scene should be physically secured to only allow those with authority to enter. It is usually a good idea to secure a larger area around the crime scene, since this increases the chances of preserving evidence that may be present outside of the immediate area.

Who Can Enter a Crime Scene?

A crime scene is a restricted area that can only be entered by authorized personnel such as:

- medical first responders who are called to the scene, including firefighters and paramedics

- law enforcement officers dispatched to the scene

- crime scene investigators who are called to collect evidence and photograph the scene

- in case of a homicide investigation, the coroner

It is important that only essential personnel be permitted to enter the crime scene area, and only those directly involved in the investigation. Family members and friends should not be permitted to enter the area until the investigation is concluded.

Assignment Read the following then answer the questions that follow

Bob was suspected of embezzling millions of dollars from the company he worked for. He was under investigation and the company fired him. Unfortunately, his wife filed for divorce and took their two small children. A custody dispute ensued and his older child was evaluated by a psychologist. Something Bob's child said during the evaluation led the psychologist to believe that Bob may have murdered someone, and law enforcement was contacted to investigate. Bob's basement has now been dug up and human remains found. An investigation will have to be conducted to determine who the remains belong to and how the person died. Bob has been having a horrible month…

Awwww

poor Bob!!!

Questions

Where is the primary crime scene in Bob’s case?

Is there a secondary crime scene? If so where?

In Bob’s case which of the three below do you think would play a key role in the case?

Research the following fields of forensic science and create a chart explaining what they consist of, what role they play in an investigation, and what type of qualifications they need (education, experience, etc.)

- Forensic Anthropology

- Forensic Odontology

Forensic Psychology

Forensic Accounting

- Medical Examiners or Coroners

- Firearms or ballistics experts

- Biologists

- Chemists or toxicologists

1. Forensic

Anthropology: Name six questions that can be answered by bones.

2.

Ballistics:

How are striations (internal ballistics) created?

3.

How

can someone’s clothing show that they have fired a gun? Info on Gunshot Residue

4.

Entomology

: What types of insects invade a decaying body?

5.

How

can a forensic entomologist tell the time of death

?

6.

Hairs

and Fibers: What are five things that can be determined by a single hair?

7.

Fingerprints: Who was the first person to classify fingerprints?

8. What are the seven basic fingerprint patterns?

9. Why is superglue sometimes used to find prints

?

10. What four components are needed to superglue fume fingerprints

?

11

.

Forensic Odontology: What is done in bite-mark analysis?

12

. Pathology

: Name ten things done in an autopsy.

13

.

Describe the six stages of decay that a body undergoes after death.