by Phillip Cashion

Created on: March 03, 2009

Crime Scene Investigations

The first officer to arrive at a crime scene and the primary investigator has many responsibilities as set by the Technical Working Group on Crime Scene Investigation in January of 2000. This group was formed to set the precedent on rules of crime scene investigation by the U. S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Janet Reno.

One of the statements by the Attorney General that made the point of the importance of correct crime scene investigation was the following statement:

"Actions taken at the outset of an investigation at a crime scene can play a pivotal role in the resolution of a case. Careful, thorough investigation is key to ensure that potential physical evidence is not tainted or destroyed or potential witnesses overlooked." (Janet Reno, 2000)

The summary of the precedents is the purpose of the essay as shown in the next few paragraphs.

The First Officer on Scene

The first officer on the scene has the responsibilities to log the dispatch information that will include the location, time, date, call type, and persons involved. He/ she should be alert for any person or vehicle leaving the area at the time of initial arrival. Upon arrival the officer should always approach the area with extreme caution, noting the persons and vehicles in the area and continuously looking for possible multiple crime scenes and should attempt to gain complete control of the scene, witnesses, and identify all parties at the scene. The witnesses and victims should be separated as soon as possible and all others should be removed from the scene.

Initial observations should be made to assess the scene for officer safety by use of the three primary senses (sight, sounds, and odors). This is to ensure that no injury should come to the primary responder on scene. The officer must always conclude that the crime is ongoing until otherwise determined by complete scene assessment. If medical assistance is needed for the victim, the officer must assure the safety of the medical responders and attempt to protect all evidence at the scene. The medical responders must be noted in report and can not be allowed to clean the area of their response or remove any item from the area. The officer must call for back-up support, patrol supervisor, and investigators.

It is also the first officer's responsibility to set borders of the scene and to set up physical boundaries for preservation of the scene from outside influences. He/ she should also document any person

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>