Techniques Of Crime Scene Investigation

2 Pages 608 Words

Chapter Three of “Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation,” provides some very detailed information of the importance of crime scene investigators and their duties.

Although there are many officers that police departments use today including patrol officers and detectives, when a serious crime occurs police agencies usually use specialist, such as crime scene investigators, fingerprint specialist, or forensic scientist. This does not eliminate the patrol or uniformed officers though because they are use for less serious/important crimes. This process of calling in specialist is not to make any other officer feel that they can’t do the job, but when dealing with homicides, rapes, assaults, and robberies, specialists with more training and experience are needed for pertinent reasons and finding evidence. Because defense attorneys, today, can argue whether or not the evidence was collected correctly or tampered with, it is important to have someone experienced there to get the job done correctly. Although specialist can also make mistakes, it is believed there will be less mistakes made if officers who are extensively trained are called in to process the crime scene.

Crime scene investigators are reliable for reconstructing the crime, sequencing the events, determining how the crime was committed/operated, provide motive, notice what, if anything was stolen, find everything the criminal has done, and recovering all physical evidence. The crime scene investigator has similar responsibilities as the first officer to arrive on the scene. When approaching the scene, investigators should be alert for discarded evidence, expect the worst, and upon entering be prepared to take notes as to possible approach/escape routes. Once the investigator has done the important things upon arrival they are to secure and protect that scene while they are there. This may include taking control, ensuring security of the scene, obtaining i...