Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation

Overview

All too often, the weakest link in the chain of criminal justice is the crime scene investigation. Improper collection of evidence blocks the finding of truth. Now in its second edition, Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation presents practical, proven methods to be used at any crime scene to ensure that evidence is admissible and persuasive.

Accompanied by more than 300 color photographs, topics discussed include:

• Understanding the nature of physical evidence, including fingerprint, biological, trace, hair and fiber, and other forms of evidence
• Actions of the responding officer, from documenting and securing the initial information to providing emergency care
• Assessing the scene, including search considerations and dealing with chemical and bioterror hazards
• Crime scene photography, sketching, mapping, and notes and reports
• Light technology and preserving fingerprint and impression evidence
• Shooting scene documentation and reconstruction
• Bloodstain pattern analysis and the body as a crime scene
• Special scene considerations, including fire, buried bodies, and entomological evidence
• The role of crime scene analysis and reconstruction, with step-by-step procedures

Two appendices provide additional information on crime scene equipment and risk management, and each chapter is enhanced by a succinct summary, suggested readings, and a series of questions to test assimilation of the material. Using this book in your investigations will help you find out what happened and who is responsible.

Features

• Examines all forms of physical evidence, including fingerprint, biological, trace, hair and fiber, and bloodstain
• Outlines the responsibilities of the first officer on the scene
• Discusses proper scene preservation through photographs, sketching, mapping, and notes and reports
• Provides specific instruction on crime scene reconstruction
• Includes more than 300 color photos and provides review questions at the end of each chapter
• A complete range of ancillaries, including PowerPoint® lecture slides and test bank available with qualified course adoption

Reviews

"I am convinced it is essential that all officers and investigative personnel have a solid understanding of professionally accepted crime scene protocols in order that their agency can take full advantage of today's sophisticated laboratory techniques and technologies. This book can play a significant role in helping responsible, concerned individuals realize that objective."
—Eugene R. Cromartie, Deputy Executive Director/Chief of Staff, International Association of Chiefs of Police Major General (Ret.), United States Army Criminal Investigation Command

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Police Goals and Objectives
• Evidence Defined
• The Interpretive Value of Evidence
• Good Crime Scene Examinations and Scene Integrity Issues
• Investigative Ethics
• Understanding the Nature of Physical Evidence
• Class and Individual Characteristics
• Fingerprint Evidence
• Serology and Biological Evidence
• Trace Evidence
• Hairs and Fibers
• Glass
• Paints and Polymers
• Soils
• Gunshot Residues (GSRs)
• Firearm and Ballistic Evidence
• Tool Mark Evidence
• Impression Evidence
• General Chemical Evidence
• Document Evidence
• Computer Forensics
• Forensic Pathology
• Actions of the Initial Responding Officer
• Specific Objectives of the Initial Response
• Documenting Initial Information
• Officer Safety
• Emergency Care
• Secure and Control the Crime Scene
• Release the Scene to Appropriate Authorities
• Processing Methodology
• Basic Activities of Scene Processing
• A Processing Model
• The Adapted USACIDC Processing Model
• Assessing the Scene
• Debriefing the Responding Officers
• Scene Scope and Boundary Assessment
• Scene Integrity and Contamination Control
• Managing Access
• Defining Team Composition
• Crime Scene Search Considerations
• Search Patterns
• Circle or Spiral Search
• Strip and Line Search
• Grid Search
• Zone Search
• Point-to-Point Search
• Personal Protective Measures and Hazard Identification
• Biohazard Risks
• Structural Hazards in Fire and Explosion Scenes
• Chemical and Inhalation Hazards in Fire and Explosion Scenes
• Inhalation, Chemical, or Fire Hazards from Scene Processing Techniques
• Chemical and Bioterror Hazards
• Considerations for Mass Crime Scene and Mass Casualty Situations
• Pre-Event Considerations of Crime Scene Supervisors
• Practical On-Scene Considerations for the Mass Scene
• Managing the Media
• Crime Scene Photography
• What Makes Good Photographs
• Recurring Problems in Crime Scene Photography
• Identification Problems
• Orientation Problems
• Confusion Problems
• Incomplete Documentation
• Types and Purpose of Crime Scene Photographs
• Overall Photographs
• Corner or Side—You Decide
• Evidence-Establishing Photographs
• What’s in a Name: Evidence-Establishing vs. Mid-Range Photos
• Evidence Close-Up and Forensic Quality Photographs
• The Road Mapping Method of Photographic Documentation
• A Basic Methodology to Crime Scene Photography
• Camera Control Issues
• Video Photography
• Crime Scene Sketching and Mapping
• Essential Sketch Elements
• Variations of View in Sketches
• Methods for Crime Scene Mapping
• Technology in Support of Crime Scene Mapping
• Narrative Descriptions: Crime Scene Notes and Reports
• Investigative Notes
• Crime Scene Reports
• Basic Skills for Scene Processing Ross M. Gardner With Contributions by Don Coffey, Jeremy John, and Tom Adair
• Applying Light Technology
• Shortwave Ultraviolet Light (180 to 254 nm) and Reflected Ultraviolet ImagingSystems (RUVIS)
• Longwave Ultraviolet Light (365 to 415 nm)
• Near-UV and Violet/Blue Light (415 to 485 nm)
• Crime Scene Search with Blue Light (485 to 530 nm)
• Orange-Red (570 to 700 nm)
• Infrared (700 to 2,000 nm)
• Heat Energy and Thermal Imaging (12,000 nm)
• Choosing an Alternative Light Source
• Recovering Fingerprints
• The Science of Fingerprints
• Classification vs. Identification
• AFIS Fingerprint Systems
• Collecting Fingerprint Evidence
• Surface Characteristics
• Porous Surfaces
• Nonporous Smooth Surfaces
• Nonporous Rough Surfaces
• Special Surfaces or Conditions
• On-Scene Fingerprinting Techniques
• Cyanoacrylate Fuming (Superglue Fuming)
• Basic Brush-and-Powder Techniques
• Small-Particle Reagent
• Adding Machine Paper Technique for Human Skin
• Crystal Violet Solution for Adhesive Tape
• Fingerprints in Fire Scenes
• Casting Impression Evidence
• Rubber Casting Compounds
• Electrostatic Dust Lifting Devices
• Dental Stone Casting Techniques
• Snow Prints
• Gelatin and Other Adhesive Lifters
• Shooting Scene Documentation and Reconstruction Ross M. Gardner and Michael Maloney
• Internal Ballistics
• Terminal Ballistics
• External Ballistics
• Bullet Defect Verification through Chemical Evaluation
• Defining the Bullet Impact Angle Based on Defect Shape
• Describing Zones of Possibility
• Applying Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in the Crime Scene
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
• Theory and Underlying Principles of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
• The Principle of Stain Shape and Vector Correlation
• The Physically Altered Bloodstain Principle
• Methodology of BPA
• Infrared Photography
• The Body as a Crime Scene Ross M. Gardner and Michael Maloney
• Examination of the Corpse In Situ
• Examination of the Corpse at the Morgue
• Examination of a Live Individual
• Understanding Basic Mechanisms of Injuries
• Special Scene Considerations
• Fire Scenes
• Fire Patterns
• Problems Associated with Fire Scenes
• Fire Scene Methodology
• Landfill Recoveries
• Problems Associated with Landfill Recoveries
• Landfill Recovery Methodology
• Buried and Scattered Remains
• Buried Bodies
• Scattered Remains
• Entomological Evidence Associated with Bodies
• The Role of Crime Scene Analysis and Reconstruction
• A History of the Concept of Crime Scene Reconstruction
• The Underlying Principles of Crime Scene Reconstruction
• Crime Scene Reconstruction Methodology
• Scientific Method Used to Resolve a Specific Investigative Question
• Event Analysis: Reconstructing Entire Events
• Summary
• Suggested Reading
• Chapter Questions
• Notes

• Appendix A: Crime Scene Equipment
• Appendix B: Risk Management
• Index

Author

Ross Martin Gardner worked in law enforcement for nearly 29 years. The vast majority of that period was spent with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, performing duties as a special agent and command sergeant major. In 1999, SA Gardner retired from the military to take a position as a chief of police in a small suburban Atlanta police department. He served in that position until 2003, when he quit public service to become a full-time consultant and instructor. Ross is currently the vice president of Bevel, Gardner and Associates, a forensic education and consulting group.