LECTURE 4: CSI // CHAPTER 2

Question 1

What is a Crime Scene?

Answer 1

• Anywhere that evidence may be located that will help explain the events that occurred
   Property
   People – victim/ offender/ could be material on them
   Space
   Vehicles

Question 2

Define the variable nature of a crime scene & why CSI is important

Answer 2

• every scene is different
• no set rulebook for how to investigate
  (the only consistency in crime scene investigation is inconsistency)
• it is the first part of the process that leads to conviction or exoneration
• if not done correctly from the beginning it lays a bad foundation for the rest of the investigation
• what happens at the scene effects everything thereafter

Question 3

Define the objectives of CSI

Answer 3

• to determine if a crime has been committed (if there is no conceivable offence there is no crime scene)
• to discover and document all relevant facts
• to identify and eliminate suspects as a result of collected physical and testimonial evidence
• to locate and apprehend offender
• to maintain a proper CoC
• to testify as a witness to the collected evidence

Question 4

Define and discuss the role, value and utility of physical evidence

Answer 4

1. Can prove the crime has been committed or establish key elements of the crime
2. It can establish the ID of persons associated with the crime
3. It can place the suspect in contact with the victim or with the crime scene
4. It can exonerate the innocent
5. It can corroborate the victims testimony
6. A suspect confronted with physical evidence is more likely to make admissions/confess
7. Court has become reliant on it
8. Juries expect it- the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence
9. Negative evidence (no physical evidence where expected) may provide useful information (false reports)

Question 5

List the ways in which evidence may be preserved and how chain of custody is
maintained

Answer 5

Collection and preservation of evidence

• evidence should be handled as little as possible
• items packaged individually
• known/ control samples needed for comparative analysis
• paper is preferred packaging
• sealable airtight containers for chemical evidence and accelerants
• avoid contamination

Chain of custody (CoC)

• court requires proof that evidence collected from scene and submitted to court are the same
• who had contact with evidence
• when they were in contact
• what were the circumstances of them having it
• what changes were made to it

Question 6

Datum:

Answer 6

a fixed reference pointbject

Question 7

Artifact:

Answer 7

human-made or modified portable object

Question 8

Feature:

Answer 8

non-portable artifact, fire pit, house, garden

Question 9

Organic/ environmental remains:

Answer 9

natural remnants that nonetheless indicate human activity, animal bones, plants

Question 10

Provenance:

Answer 10

origin or derivation of an item in 3-dimensional space

Question 11

Task of first officer

Answer 11

• Secure the scene and prevent destruction or alteration of the critical and sometimes fragile context of a crime scene
  1. Detain any potential suspects
  2. Render medical assistance to those in need
  3. Do not destroy, alter, or add any evidence at the scene
  4. Prevent others, even superior, from doing the same

Question 12

Chain of custody

Answer 12

• Most important piece of paper generated at a crime scene

- Documents the movements of evidence from the time it Is obtained to the time it is presented in court

Question 13

nitrile gloves

Answer 13

provide protection from acids, alkaline solutions, hydraulic fluid photographic solutions, fuels, aromatics and some solvents - also cut resistant

Question 14

neoprene gloves

Answer 14

offer protection from acids, solvents alkalies, bases, and most refrigerants

Question 15

latex or natural rubber gloves

Answer 15

are resistant to mild acids, caustic materials, genocides - will degrade if exposed to gasoline, kerosene and prolonged exposure to excessive heat or direct sunlight

Question 16

polyvinyl chloride

Answer 16

is resistant to alkalies oils and low concentrations of nitric and chromic acid

Question 17

Cordon

Answer 17

• a line or circle of police, soldiers, or guards preventing access to or from an area or building.

Question 18

Corpus Deliciti

Answer 18

• The facts of a crime

• a crime must be proved to have occurred before a person can be convicted of committing that crime

Question 19

Modus Operandi

Answer 19

• Information on the criminal behaviour

Question 20

Quality Control (QC)

Answer 20

• Monitoring processes with the aim of detecting nonconforming product.

Question 21

Quality Assurance (QA)

Answer 21

• Aimed at prevention of nonconformance