Securing and evaluation of a murder scene is well explained by forensic science. According to Fraser (2006) forensic science is defined as practical application of a wide range of sciences to provide answers for questions of concern to a legal system. Usually the forensic science is related to a civil action or crime. To secure and evaluate a crime scene can be traced back into the Roman times when a criminal charge was all about presenting the case in the forum in front of a group of public individuals. Speeches were given by both the accuser and the individual accused of the crime. The individual who gives the best argument in an organized delivery determines the final result of the case. Europe medical practitioners in university and army settings started to collect information regarding the causes and manner of death during the 16th century (Gardner, 2007). According to Strauch, et al. (2006) a French army surgeon, Pare consistently examined the effects of violent death, such as murder, on internal organs. Logic and procedure has been in use as seen from the early examples. John Toms, in Lancaster 1784, was tried and convicted as he murdered Edward Culshaw using a pistol. Edward's dead body was examined and a pistol ward that was found in the head wound corresponded with a torn newspaper in Tom's pocket (Fraser, 2006).
Crime scenes, for example the murder scenes, are usually difficult and chaotic to secure. An accurate investigation must be employed and the crime scene properly secured. While using forensic evidence in solving a crime, the first step is crime scene investigation. During this stage of criminal investigation, all items found at the scene are observed, gathered and analyzed so that to determine the manner in which the crime was committed (MacLean, Powley & Dahlstrom, 2005). So as to accomplish the task, crime scene investigators are supposed to follow the procedures that constitute: securing the murder scene; managing the scene; surveying the scene; scene documentation; searching and examining the murder scene; collection of evidence; and Reconstruction and release of the crime scene (De Forest & Crim, 2005).
This is to ensure that evidence is preserved and protected (Eunice, 2009). The first person to arrive at the murder scene should make sure that barriers and crime scene tapes are put to secure the crime scene. Some should act as security personnel to keep out those individuals who do not belong at the scene. The crime scene is properly secured by following particular guidelines.
1. The boundaries of the murder scene should be established by determining an inner perimeter, the specific point where the murder took place, and an outer perimeter, for instance, entrance windows or door. These boundaries can be established beyond the original scope of the murder scene while bearing in mind that the size of boundaries can be reduced if necessary but not easily expanded. There will possibly an extended perimeter, where a culprit may have thrown a murder weapon while fleeing the murder scene.
2. The perimeters with murder scene should be marked by setting up physical barriers, such as cones, ropes, crime scene tape, security personnel, available vehicles, and other necessary equipment. Existing boundaries like walls, doors, and gates can also be used to mark perimeters.
3. Once the boundaries have been marked, entry and exist points should be documented for all people coming into as well as leaving the murder scene. This is very necessary in controlling the flow of persons and animals leaving and entering the murder scene to ensure integrity of the scene.
4. Unnecessary individuals should be removed from the scene so that any available witnesses can easily be gathered.
5. The presence of any evidence should be determined. In case there is any evidence, measures should be effectuated to preserve and protect it so that it cannot be compromised or lost.
6. The conditions if the area, where murder has taken place, should be recorded. The following are usually written down: whether conditions, time, number of people, and description of the area upon your arrival.
7. After completing all documentation, the crime scene should be released. All evidences should be secured, and all sketches and photographs taken should be removed. The release should take place only when every individual agrees that there have been adequate search over the scene.
According to Eunice (2009) management of a crime scene centers on crime scene investigations and evidence collection, preservation of evidence, packaging of evidence, transportation, and physical evidence documentation. At any crime scene, there are many individuals walking around carrying various tasks. It is very necessary for the investigator in charge to manage the logistics of the murder scene, the available personnel, the information to be propagated to the involved people and the type of technology being employed. This communication level is significant since what happens in the course of the murder scene investigation phase cab break or make a case.
It is an important phase of crime scene investigation that includes a police officer as well as an investigator. This phase involves; having a look at the entire scene and then forming early theories concerning what may have taken place in due course of the crime. Investigators are not supposed to make any snap conclusions when they carry out this task since the hypotheses are open to change based once forensic examinations are pursued (Eunice, 2009).
Organized stepwise approach scene documentation is very crucial for proper processing of a murder scene. Properly documented crime scene is very important because it can enhance reconstruction of the scene, and the results can be used for presentation in the court room. Documentation of crime scenes is done by four methods: taken photos; written notes which are finally used to construct a final report; sketches; and videos (Wolson, 2006). Reports and notes are done chronologically and should not include analysis, opinions, and conclusions, but facts only. An evidence recovery technician or crime scene investigator should document what they observe and not what they think. Therefore the final report is supposed to provide a descriptive story regarding the scene. Each and every step during documentation is important since it acts as a permanent record of the scene after the location has been squared away and the evidence has already been forwarded to forensic examiners (Wolson, 2006). There should be consistency between these four methods.
Investigators perform the search depending on what was observed in course of the crime scene's earlier survey. In the course of crime scene investigation, evidence will be gathered in some established order. Investigators should carefully observe the ground or floor surrounding the body. Items such as marks and stains should be looked for since they have got evidential value. Since every crime scene has got three dimensions, it is also important to look up. Only one investigator is allowed at a time to approach the body so as to avoid biasness. The positioning of the body should never be moved or altered while close visual examinations of both the body and the immediate surroundings is done (Burnett, Orentes & Pierson, 2007).
The intensity or scope of the search will depend on the situation and conditions present, for instance it will be difficult to do a detailed examination of the murder scene when lighting is not adequate. If examination of the scene is done without considering whether factors like light are adequate then this will lead into destruction of latent or trace evidence as well as overlooking of the available evidence. It is not possible to report all possibilities of the crime scene if an improper search takes place. In addition to lighting, other factors that can determine the intensity of search are experience, judgment and training of the forensic investigator. Once the forensic investigators are through with examination of the scene and the body has been removed, they should take the remaining time to consistently check the rest of the house, vehicle, location or business and carefully note the evidential items (Gardner, 2007).
According to Gardner (2007) a crime scene is a place where crime evidence may be found. This is not necessarily a place where the crime was done. Crime scenes can either be primary, secondary, and tertiary. For example, the corrections officers may employ a warrant to search the home a suspect. There is a possibility that the crime evidence may be found at the home of the suspect even though the crime was not committed at the location. A suspect can also kidnap a victim at one location, referred to as a primary crime scene, and transport the victim in car which is a secondary crime scene, to distant location where he or she commits the murder as well as disposing of the body. All locations with the potential for crime evidence recovery must be treated in the same way. At the crime scene, the lead investigator will elect one individual to collect and preserve the available evidence so that it does not become contaminated or get lost (Gardner, 2007). The following instructions are necessary during the collection of evidence:
1. It is very important that the pieces of evidence should be handled with care, packaged separately and then marked by the forensic investigator of the crime scene. The investigation as well as conviction of a culprit is reliant on the capability of the prosecutor to produce a dependable evidence to support the case in the court.
2. Once evidence is detected, it is photographed and re-photographed using a photographic marker. For an item of evidence to be documented fully, an overall, close-up and mid-range photograph should be taken and a scale is always used. The item of evidence's location is recorded as its distance from fixed points for example walls. In case the item of evidence is located outside the building, the measurements are taken from available permanent features. After documentation the item of evidence can either be processed on the scene or gathered and processed later at a laboratory.
3. The item of evidence is admitted in a court of law, but only if the documentation is done properly and it can be identified by every individual that has handled it. The chain of custody starts with the individual who first gathered the physical evidence. At the court, those who handled the item of evidence must be proved, and anyone who handled the item must admit that it was the same item they had handled. Most agencies identify every individual who handled the item of evidence by use of a property receipt that kept together with the item of evidence. Therefore, it will be better if few people had handled the item of evidence.
4. Once the item of evidence has been gathered it should be preserved in the right manner. The collection of items is done in boxes or paper bags. So as to avoid cross contamination, the items should be packaged separately. This is very important especially when the items are to be processed for fingerprints or DNA. If the clothes are bloody, they are wrapped in a paper before putting them in a bag.
5. If guns are involved, they should be unloaded. Bullets and cartridge cases should be gathered in separate bags, and the gun should be put in a gun box. If knives are involved, they should be collected in a knife box to avoid accidents.
6. Once gathered, all packages are sealed with an evidence tape and this tape must be signed. When the item is opened, the package should be sealed again and the tape re-signed. A property receipt is filed out, including type of investigation, time and date of collection, case number, the identification number of the item, location evidence was gathered, description of the evidence, and name of culprit and victim. This property receipt is attached to the package of evidence and must be initialed by any individual who handles the evidence.
According to Raymond (2005) crime scene reconstruction is defined as the employment of scientific methods such as deductive reasoning, physical evidence, and their interrelationships to obtain explicit knowledge regarding the sequence of events that enclose the commission of the crime. In the reconstruction stage of the crime scene investigation, a number of theories concerning the crime are developed or dismissed depending on the evidence that was discovered and collected. The accuracy and reliability of the theories is determined when the forensic scientists examine the evidence (Raymond, 2005). Once processing of the crime scene has been done, it can be released.
But before release, a final walk is made through the scene for purposes of a fresh look (Petricevic & Elliot, 2005). There is a possibility that an investigator might see what he or she missed during the last visit. An investigator may also find the tools of investigation he might have left behind. After the release, the investigator should get together with county or district attorneys, and other detectives who may have processed the case. This group of individuals work together as a team in reviewing what had been covered in the course of murder scene investigation. Once every member is satisfied, the murder scene is formally released. The name of the person releasing the murder scene as well as date and time is recorded in the checklist. The investigator should document the date and time the murder scene is released as well as the name and contacts of the person to whom the scene is released (Gardner, 2007).
Crime scene investigation refers to the meeting point of issues such as logic, science, and law. The process of dealing with a crime scene is extremely long and exhausting. Moreover, it comprises of relevant compilation of the situations in the scene and the recording of any evidence that could possibly eliminate what occurred and point the person who did that act. Research shows that there is no typical crime scene, no typical body of evidence and no typical investigative approach. In normal cases, a criminal scene investigator may collect blood spatter from a windowpane. This is done through not letting any of the body parts brush the glass just in case there are any possible fingerprints there, carry hair off a victim`s jacket by using tweezers in order to avoid causing disturbance to the clothing adequate to remove any of the available powder in the folds of the sleeves. A hammer may also be used to break through a wall that may be the point of origin for a terrible smell.
Nevertheless, the foremost goal is the conviction of the perpetrators of the crime. So as, the CSI removes off the bloodstains without causing more prints, carrying high several hairs without distracting any remains of evidence and crashes through a windowpane, they are considering all of the significant steps to preserve the evidence in its current form. According to research, blood spatter at the crime scene is extremely significant especially in reestablishing what and how incidences took place by determining the area of the origin of the blood evidence or the movement direction. Another importance of the blood spatter is that it can assist in determining whether an individual was at the area of the incidence the time of occurrence of the incidence. In order to have a successful crime scene investigation using blood spatter, there is a classification system of spatter patterns which focuses on the velocity of the object that causes the effect on the source of blood and quantity of the blood leading to blood pattern or spatter.
According to studies, low velocity is a certain blood spatter that occurs as a result of an influence to the source blood at the speed of five feet per second. In addition, such blood spatter is usually about four millimeters in diameter. On the other hand, a medium velocity usually occurs due to the effect of the blood source normally at the rate of five to twenty five feet per second. Stains resulting from such blood spatter are in most cases ranging from one to three millimeters in diameter although it may be larger or smaller. The high velocity is blood spatter that occurs due to influence the source of the blood more than a hundred feet per second ad is usually less than one millimeter in diameter, but it can be smaller or larger. Furthermore, in case blood hits a surface at a given angle other than ninety degrees, the direction of the path will be seen, interpretations made and measured as required. Thus, through this, the investigator will have permission to reconstruct what and how something happened.
Research shows that the evidence of blood spatter is associated with a crime thus; it can help in providing information that may assist in solving the case at hand. Therefore, it is necessary to document accurately, collect, and preserve this evidence. However, investigators should ensure that the process of handling the blood evidence is proper as a way of avoiding weakening or destroying a potential source of information in the case. This is because blood spatter that is collected and preserved properly can develop a powerful connection between a person and a criminal incidence. Some research shows that blood spatter or lack of blood evidence may be applied to contradict the statement made by a witness. The evidence of blood spatter may to some extent help in showing the investigator the direction to which he or she needs to head to in order to solve the issue. Such evidence could be given to the judge or the jury after many years from the time of the criminal act if only it is collected, documented, and kept properly. The ability to remove an individual as a potential suspect in a crime scene is the most powerful application of blood evidence.
According to studies, in order to process blood evidence effectively, there must be proper communication as the key element in the whole process of finding a crime scene with blood spatter. For instance, there must be clear and free communication between a crime`s responding officer, the detectives of the case, the investigator of the crime, and the analyst of the evidence. The most vital is the effective communication between the investigating officer of the crime and the scientist. This is because a crime scene investigator has to know and beware of the crime lab`s capabilities, the approaches of blood collection and the preservation method preferred by the crime lab. In addition, the crime scene investigator has to know relevant investigative information to the forensic scientist. He or she is also supposed to know the reference samples needed by the crime lab concerning the crime at hand. It is noted however, that, as technology changes or advances, the information may also change periodically.
Furthermore, policies within the crime lab may also change, change in lab personnel, or even there may be change in lab administrations. Moreover, the forensic scientists` preferences may also differ from one lab to another lab. This implies that the best approach of obtaining blood evidence for one forensic analyst may not be preferred by another forensic scientist. Therefore, to ensure better results are achieved as required by the case, the crime investigator has to meet frequently with his or her crime lab`s forensic scientist. This helps a lot in determining the most considerable way for collecting and preserving blood spatter as an evidence of the committed crime. This thus ensures that the evidence is collected efficiently and effectively.
Today, the technological state of blood evidence analysis has highly advanced than in the way it was in the previous years. According to studies, considerable crime labs in the previous years used to depend mainly on the ABO blood grouping system in order to characterize bloodstains. This hence implied that the blood could have resulted from four to forty nine percent of the entire population. Nevertheless, from the beginning of the 1990s, several crime labs began applying DNA as blood analysis method to characterize bloodstains. Currently, because of advancement in technology, the blood source can now be reduced to an individual out of various and different people. This thus requires that the crime scene investigator is well aware of the type of approach. The investigator must also know the approaches of bloodstain analysis that are available from his or her crime lab, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and private lab for effective results concerning a certain crime.
In overall, blood spatter as a crime evidence is usually more informative in cases where a suspect and a victim are in contact or close proximity. For instance, in case a suspect shoots a victim, there could be mixing of blood between the offender and the victim. However, blood exchange will less likely occur in incidences where the suspect shoots a victim from a distance. In most cases, crime investigators sometimes tend to collect blood blindly without taking much consideration concerning the facts they are trying to develop. An example of such cases includes a crime scene that involves a corpse of a shooting person found alone in his home. In such cases, some investigators will only collect various blood samples from around the body. Research thus shows that such blood samples may not be of any help since it will only show that there was bleeding of blood by the victim during the incidence. This information is already proved by the availability of the body; nevertheless, one sample of pooled blood next to the body can be collected in order to help in confirming the results received from the victim’s reference blood sample.
It is thus advisable for the crime investigators to make an extra effort in collecting the evidence that is going to offer the most considerable information in developing the facts about the scene. The crime investigator should have the idea that it is better to have enough or more samples of the evidence than inadequate evidence collected. This is because the more information and evidence collected the better and effective results. More concentration should be put on obtaining representative samples of the peripheral blood stains. These could include the bloodstains that are not near the body of the victim and the main location of the incidence. Sometimes, the investigator should obtain blood spatter patterns that seem to be different from the majority of the blood spatter patterns.
Through this bloodstain samples, effective and efficient investigative information could be obtained. Therefore, for better results, the crime investigator should also ensure that they search for blood tails that may be leading away from the scene of the crime. This is because those blood tails could be from a suspect who encountered some wounds during the occurrence of the incidence. In case a suspect has been found in a case, he or she should undergo serious examination for wounds where such wounds should be documented and photographed. This is because such photographs would be used later as additional and significant evidence in case the offender`s blood and the genetic markers are found in incriminating areas. In most cases, blood analysis is a comparison analysis of the blood of the victim and the blood of the suspect found at the scene of the crime. These blood samples could then be analyzed for the genetic markers that are not the same in the victim and the suspect.
In cases where the crime investigator obtains blood from an autopsy, one of each vacutainer should be obtained from the victim. This is done in order to ensure that the necessary forensic testing is performed successfully. Currently, blood visualization promoting chemicals are being reestablished with the crime investigators. In such investigation, a certain chemical called luminal is applied to bloodstains. However, investigators are advised to use such a method as the last option during the process of blood detection. This is because the application of this method has a substantial number of setbacks that may not provide effective and efficient results as required by the crime investigators. For instance, luminal chemical is rated for providing wrong reactions and may lead to the loss of various genetic markers.
According to studies, investigators should take enough time and use a methodical approach in obtaining and preserving evidence from the crime scene for usage before the judge. Nevertheless, the investigator could quicken the process only if there is suspicion of the destruction of the evidence or even compromised. In such circumstances, the evidence should be preserved or documented and collected in the fastest ways possible. The scope and value of any evidence that may exist should be determined first before the crime investigator visits the area of the crime scene. Information found in such areas includes the statement of witness, suspect’s statement, victim statement, detective’s information, and information from the responding officer. The main reason for collecting the information is to ensure that there is no destruction of any significant or valuable evidence inclusive of shoeprints or trace evidence.
The investigator should be open-minded all the time during the process of collecting information concerning a crime scene with blood spatter. After obtaining adequate information concerning the case, he or she is supposed to create a mental or written plan in order to carry on with the process of documentation, collection, and preservation of evidence. The crime investigator is also required to provide relevant facts to the lab analyst. This thus permits the analyst to make better decisions concerning the best method to the analysis and data that can be noted from the blood spatter evidence.
After documenting the crime scene thoroughly and noting the area of the evidence, the collection process may start. This process may start with the most fragile or easily lost evidence. In addition, considerations of movable objects are also done and then continue with the process along the trail or in some other crucial areas. Blood spatter evidence is not supposed to be exposed to excessive heat of humidity. In most cases, the bloodstains are supposed to be refrigerated until it can be taken to the crime lab.
In conclusion, crime investigation includes recording of conditions at the scene and the obtaining of any observable evidence that could possibly eliminate what occurred and point the person who did that act. Research shows that there is no typical crime scene, no typical body of evidence and no typical investigative approach. In normal cases, a criminal scene investigator may collect blood spatter from a windowpane. In order to achieve better results in crime investigation concerning blood spatter as evidence, there must be proper communication as the key element in the whole process. For instance, there must be clear and free communication between a crime`s responding officer and the detectives of the case among other relevant sources concerned with the crime committed. Just as, discussed above, blood spatter as crime evidence is in most cases extremely detailed in areas where a suspect and a victim are in contact or close proximity. For instance, in case a suspect shoots another person their blood could mix up hence causing blood confusion between the victim and the suspect. Through this bloodstain samples, effective and efficient investigative information could be obtained. Therefore, for better results, the crime investigator should also ensure that they search for blood tails that may be leading away from the scene of the crime. The crime investigator should have the idea that it is crucial to have adequate or more samples of the evidence than inadequate evidence collected. This is because the more information and evidence collected the better and effective results. Therefore, with such information at hand, a crime investigator may be in a better position of finding a crime scene with blood spatter as required by the court.
Securing and evaluation of a murder scene is well explained by forensic science as a practical application of a wide range of sciences to provide answers for questions of concern to a legal system. Usually the forensic science is related to a civil action or crime. Crime scenes are usually difficult and chaotic to secure, such that for an accurate investigation to take place, the scene must be properly secured. A crime scene is a place where crime evidence may be found. This is not necessarily a place where the crime was done. Crime scenes can either be primary, secondary, and tertiary. For example, the corrections officers may employ a warrant to search the home a suspect.
There is a possibility that the crime evidence may be found at the home of the suspect even though the crime was not committed at the location. A suspect can also kidnap a victim at one location, referred to as a primary crime scene, and transport the victim in car which is a secondary crime scene, to distant location where he or she commits the murder as well as disposing of the body. So as to accomplish the task of crime investigation, crime scene investigators follow a set of procedures including: securing the murder scene; managing the scene; surveying the scene; scene documentation; searching and examining the murder scene; collection of evidence; and Reconstruction and release of the crime scene.
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