Essential Response Procedures in Crime Scene Investigation

There are necessary steps that investigators have to adhere to when responding to a crime scene. Investigators must approach crime scenes as though they only have one opportunity to preserve and recover physical evidence. According to Jobela (2019), all crime scenes are unique, thus requiring step-by-step procedures to approach the different scenarios. In this case, the home invasion, there are necessary steps that I would undertake on arrival at the scene, including addressing safety issues, scene preservation, evidence collection, and documenting the crime scene.

After arriving at the crime scene, the first step would be to address safety issues. All crime scenes are unique; hence one cannot predict what they will encounter. Therefore, it is necessary to protect oneself while securing the crime scene by wearing gloves on arrival. This is an essential safety tactic when handling evidence samples. It is also vital to assess the scene for potential risks and hazards, including gas, drugs, and pathogens. Safety is critical even when the scene is quiet and ordinary (Jobela, 2019). While the juvenile has been taken to the hospital, it is necessary to assess the other victims to determine if they require medical attention. Lack of safety precautions can expose a responder to dangers, and adhering to the measures ensures minimal contamination of evidence.

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         Investigators should also preserve the crime scene. It is necessary to keep bystanders away from the crime scene using yellow tape to limit the contamination of evidence. It is also necessary to contact the hospital to ensure the preserve victim’s clothing. The scene should only be accessible to essential personnel, including skilled technicians who will handle the evidence. During this period, all personnel will not use amenities within the scene, including telephones, toilets, or trash bins. The scene should be left as is, including the running computer and the drugs on the front seat, since any alteration can impact the crime scene. Details in the home should be left as they were; thus, the personnel will not be allowed to change anything, including the doors or windows, thermostats, or even smoke within the crime scene. It is vital to preserving evidence because it assists in solving close cases and helps in exonerating the innocent. According to Jobela (2019), preserving biological evidence in scenes is essential since DNA helps provide the best evidence upon case review. When evidence is not correctly preserved, like the drugs in the car, the evidence may get lost or contaminated. Analysts note that when evidence is not preserved correctly and stored well before undergoing testing or forensic analysis, it may end up being destroyed or deteriorated hence devaluing its use as a source of information. During this phase of crime response, the investigator in charge has to understand that even skilled medical and enforcement personnel can inadvertently compromise vital evidence in case they are not cautious.

The third step to undertake is evidence collection. While technicians are responsible for collecting and logging evidence, first responders play a central role in the investigation. An investigator can be sent to the hospital to get the juvenile’s account of the events while they are still fresh. This can take place with the consent of the parents. The investigators can also interview all the witnesses while taking pictures of the scene and the victims, including their clothing because they tend to play a pivotal role during a jury trial. The suspect, who has already been caught, should be transported to the police station. The running computer and the drugs will be left for collection by the technician. The car’s contents will also be photographed and collected; afterward, the car will be towed to the police station as evidence. According to Jobela (2019), evidence is central to building arguments when pursuing a criminal case. Therefore, during the investigation, personnel must follow necessary procedures in evidence collection and properly preserve the evidence since it is vital in establishing facts in a criminal case. Analysts explain that personnel should not modify or taint evidence during evidence collection. Poor evidence collection can lead to evidence becoming inadmissible in court.

The fourth step to be undertaken is crime scene documentation. The first responder also plays an essential role in this step as they can initiate a crime scene log documenting the lighting, temperature, open windows, doors, different data, and odors relating to the crime scene. For instance, the logs can include, in particular, the time the crime was reported, the time the medical personnel arrived and left, and the time the suspect was apprehended (Jobela, 2019). The logs can include the case number, name of the victim, where the crime occurred, information relating to the suspect, and the date and time of the incident. Detailed documentation of the crime scene is particularly vital because it helps the specialist to accurately recall events and identify evidence in a court of law. When evidence documentation takes place poorly, it hinders backing up claims hence losing arguments in court.

References

Jobela, N. K. (2019). The significance of efficient murder crime scene processing. Pretoria: Unisa.