• a vicinity where a crime has been committed -

provide a potential forensic evidence/s -

investigator solve crime that was committed
• treasure house of traces comprising of all
objects and materials which is instrumental in
discovering the facts of case
• link between criminal, crime and victim and
helps in evaluating the pattern of events and
in reconstruction of crime
 CRIME SCENE

• physical layout and will provide a depiction of

events for court to consider in its deliberations
 FORMS OF CRIME SCENE
• primary - where the actual criminal activity
took place
• subsequently relocated dead body and placed
in some other area - secondary
• secondary crime scene can be investigated
because primary crime scene remains
unknown
• investigators to carefully examine through
clues available at secondary scene
 FORMS OF CRIME SCENE
• clues that will help them locate and identify
primary crime scene
• classification implies designation of sequence
of locations
• means identification, recognition, collection of
all crime related physical evidences by crime
scene investigators, in order to determine type
of incident to be investigated, level of
investigation to be conducted
• most important technique in forensic crime
investigation is observation which requires a
conscious effort
• investigator while observing crime scene must
gather all available information rather than
interpreting
• more information better will be interpretation
• while observing it is important to note down as
much as information possible.
• investigator must collect probable evidences
which is then analyzed at a crime laboratory
• different types of investigations are needed
for different cases and investigators use
different techniques to solve crimes
• detection, crime scene processing, search
methods, search and collection of evidence
are integral parts forensic crime investigation
 DETECTION OF CRIME SCENE
• crime detection and investigation used to
depend mostly on witnesses, hearsay or
forced confessions
• commences when an information is given to
police or discovery of crime by police
• is a starting point for processing crime scene
∙ is systematic and orderly process that involves
procedures and a processing methodology
∙ comprises of an examination and evaluation of
scene by forensic investigators to collect
physical evidences and documenting scene’s in
as pristine a condition as possible
• is a team effort - investigator must work with
team to collect all clues from crime scene
• team must use a systematic and through
approach
• is accomplished by assessing, observing,
documenting, searching, collecting, and
analyzing
i. Assessing: Assessing enables to decide on a
proper course of action to be taken at crime
scene Assessment commences processing task
and states what procedures will be employed
ii.Observing: Observation is basic aspect of
crime scene processing with must be done
meticulously and systematically Investigations
are conducted solely by power of observation
• iii. Documenting: Documentation
demonstrate structure of crime scene and
how evidence relates to crime Documentation
must capture content and context of scene in
pristine before any significant scene alteration
• iv. Searching: Searching crime depends
upon type of crime committed, physical
layout of scene and incorporation of search
methods
• v. Collecting: On completion of
observation, documentation and noting of
original location of evidence the collection of
evidences begins Physical evidence collection
basically depends upon form which
necessarily be packed accordingly
• vi. Analysis: evidence collected from crime
scene is analyzed in laboratory to establish
what each one defines in and of itself and
what various interrelated pieces may define
about events that occurred during the crime
• crime scene analysis demands that
investigator consider interpretive value of the
evidence
• ultimate outcome of a through and systematic
search at crime scene during forensic crime
investigation is to discover evidences
• There are several methods but basically
search methods are adopted according to size
and location of particular crime scene
• most common search methods include strip-
or-line method, zone or sector method, spiral
search or circle method and grid method
• application of search method depends upon
indoor crime scenes and outdoor crime scenes
 Strip or Line Method

• crime scene is divided into strips

• search begins at beginning of first lane, goes
to end and then begins at end of second lane
 Zone or Sector Search Method

• In this method total area is divided into equal

squares and each square is numbered
• Each searcher is allowed a specific square
 Spiral or Circle search Method

• search started from focal point of crime scene

and carried out in spiral manner
• circle search begins at center of an area and
spreads out in ever widening concentric circles
- width varies with terrain and search objects
 Grid Method

• similar to a strip search but also done in

opposite direction until entire area has been
covered
 SEARCH AND COLLECTION OF
EVIDENCE
• search and collection of evidence are
backbone of criminal investigation and
constitute a vital task of law enforcement
• search is to develop associative evidence
which could link a suspect to crime and to
answer questions crucial to investigation
• collection of evidence will be typically be
determined by circumstances surrounding
crime
 SEARCH AND COLLECTION OF
EVIDENCE
• physical evidence may be visible and easily
identified while invisible evidence can be
detected using advanced technologies
 SEARCH AND COLLECTION OF
EVIDENCE
• all collected need to be properly packed and
sealed and labelled
• specific procedure and techniques for
evidence collection and storage must be
followed
 SEARCH AND COLLECTION OF
EVIDENCE
• officials collecting evidence and subsequently
transferring it to laboratory must maintain
chain of custody
• chain of custody refers to logical sequence
that records sequence of custody, control,
transfer, analysis and disposition of evidence
in legal cases
 SEARCH AND COLLECTION OF
EVIDENCE
• collection techniques, preservation,
packaging, transportation, storage and
creation of inventory list are all part of process
used in establishing chain of custody
• Chain of custody reveals which items of
evidence have been handled during the
investigation of a case by investigator
 SEARCH AND COLLECTION OF
EVIDENCE
∙ Every chain of custody is accompanied by an
evidence log which contain all pertinent
information such as:
⮚ Case number
⮚ Item inventory number
⮚ Description of evidence
⮚ Name of the Suspect – if
⮚ Name of Victim
⮚ Date and Crime Recovery
⮚ Signature of person recovering evidence
⮚ Signature of any witness present during collection
 CRIME SCENE MANAGEMENT
∙ specifies with regard to forensic investigation
for the reason that evidence that originates at
the crime scene are recovered which will
provide a deception of events for the court to
consider in its deliberations
• include crime scene security, crime scene
survey and evidence management
 Crime Scene Security
∙ one of most important basic elements of
crime scene management is securing integrity
of crime and to preserve crime scene with
minimal contamination and disturbance of
forensic evidence.
• need to secure crime scene would enable
investigator to proceed to carry out strategic
investigation
 Crime Scene Security
• strategic investigation begins by removing
everyone from crime scene and placing a
physical barrier around outside edges of
crime scene

• defining edges of crime scene by placing

police tape termed as ‘crime scene perimeter’
 Crime Scene Security
∙ crime scene perimeter defines size of crime
scene and it’s upon decision of investigator
how big crime scene needs to be
• size of crime scene is usually defined by area
where criminal acts have taken place
• It is easy to create and define crime scene
perimeter in case of buildings with doorways
• while it becomes more complicated in outdoor
venues or large indoor public venues
 Crime Scene Security
• once crime scene perimeter has been decided
and barricaded it must be ensured that no
authorized person cross perimeter
• crime scene security is defined as security
system that will ensure that no authorized
person/s enters crime scene and causes
contamination
 Crime Scene Security
• to prevent crime scene from being
contaminated a crime security official is to be
assigned who would regulate access and exit
at the crime scene
• A document known as a “crime scene security
log” need to be maintained by assigned
security official to establish entry and exit
Crime Scene Security Log
 Crime Scene Security
• every authorized person has to sign document
while entry and also while exit
• any unauthorized person who enters or
attempts to enter a crime scene shall be asked
to leave and if refuses, person can be arrested,
removed from crime scene and charged for
obstructing official
 Crime Scene Survey
• once crime scene investigator arrives at crime
and scene security has been evaluated,
preliminary crime scene survey or walk
through should be carried out to orient crime
scene investigator to scene and physical
evidence at scene
• will enable the investigator to evaluate crime
scene and aid in formulating plan and process
to be carried
 Crime Scene Survey
• after survey investigator set up a path to enter
and exit the scene
• investigator has to capture photographs for
preliminary documentation and make
appropriate notes of scene
• enables the investigator to determine whether
any additional forensic expert or equipment
are needed to process scene
 Crime Scene Survey
• investigator conducting crime scene survey or
walk through should ensure that everything is
processed, all details are noted and preserving
scene from possible contamination
 Evidence Management
• crime scene is often a nexus of those events
and therefore, it requires a systematic
approach to ensure that evidence gathered
will be acceptable in court
• Trace elements and the objects within physical
environment of crime scene is critically
significant to investigative process
• hence all evidence needs to managed
accurately
 Evidence Management
∙ is about administration and control of
evidence related to an incident which can be
used to prove circumstances of incident, and
so that proof can be tested by independent
parties with credence that evidence provided
is evidence collected related to incident
∙ necessity to manage evidence at crime scene
is to protect from contamination of evidence
and loss of continuity
 Evidence Management
• any unwanted alteration of evidence that
could affect integrity of original exhibit or
crime scene - contamination.
• any evidence collected must maintain
continuity to prove integrity of that evidence
• evidence to be accepted by court must be
presented to demonstrate chain of continuity
which reveals that exhibit presented in court is
same which is collected from crime scene
 CRIME SCENE
DOCUMENTATION
• once crime scene has been evaluated by a
scene survey, then crime scene’s site must be
documented
• documentation of crime scene is an integral
part of forensic investigation
• purpose of documentation is to permanently
record state of crime scene and its physical
evidence
 CRIME SCENE
DOCUMENTATION
• documenting crime scene involves note-
taking, photography, videography, sketching or
videotape
 NOTE TAKING
• Documenting crime scene begins note taking
• most important part processing crime scene
 NOTE TAKING

• brief records of what is seen and heard

• begins movement investigator reports crime
scene
• accurate, clear, complete, factual, legible,
specific, well organized and arrange in
chronological order - investigator’s personal
reference
 Admissibility of Notes in Court
• judicial system visualize scene and events
recorded
• help discrete a suspect or defence witness’s
testimony
• strengthens testimony and support evidence
already given by a prosecution witness
• defend against false allegations by suspect or
defense witnesses
 Photography: Photos don’t lie,
right?

• forensic photography referred crime scene

photography
• allows recording original appearance crime
scene, physical evidence, other related areas
accurately ,permanently using either film or
digital media
 Photography

• provide a permanent visual record for courts

depicting what was seen and collected by the
investigator
• indicate location, nature of the crime, physical
evidence and represent the crime scene
 Photography
• Crime scene photography differs from other
variations of photography - very specific
purpose for capturing each image

• revolutionized whole concept of capturing or

storing of images is different from traditional
one
 Photography
• digital photograph is substantially different
from conventional photographs
• fact that digital photographs are more easily
altered than film-based photographs
• standard authentication depends what
purpose digital photograph being admitted
evidence
• digital photographs admissible evidence
Indian Courts – Amendment – 2000 ITA
 Photography
• great assistance preparation presentation case
• present some most effective evidence court
• used crime scene investigation measurement
and analysis purposes
• Crime scene photography highly technical
profession
• UV rays & Infrared Radiation with
photography have opened up enormous
possibilities in criminal investigation
https://
www.manfrottoschoolofxcellen
om/2017/08/forensics-
fundamentals-part-two/
 Types of Investigative
Photography
• Surveillance photography,
• Aerial photography,
• Night photography,
• Laboratory photography,
• Mug shots
• Lineup photographs
 Admissibility of Photography in
Court
• more explanatory in nature or a better of
depicting something and highly effective visual
aids that corroborate facts presented
• accurately represent crime scene and
evidence in court
• provides visual documentation of crime scene
and locations of evidence within scene
• present a logical "story" revealed by scene in
visual form
 Videography

• presents valuable and some of most effective

evidence possible in court showing an
overview of crime scene to be considered in
case showing layout of crime scene and
location of evidence
 Videography
• must begin with brief introduction presented
by an investigator which should include date,
time, location, type of crime scene and
evidence that will be viewed in videotape
• used every stage in CJS - cover throughout
scene using wide angle and close up views to
show layout of scene, location of evidence,
and relevance of evidence within crime scene
 Videography
• enables to refresh memory of those who were
involved in processing crime scene
• to strengthen rule of law by digitally recording
and preserving evidence
• Supreme Court of India has directed Centre to
employ videography in probe, particularly for
crime investigations
 Admissibility of Videography in
Court
• bring a crime scene to life and offers some
distinct advantages over photographs, -
showing distance including audio capability
• powerful medium through which firsthand
information about an event can be collected
and in a given situation may prove to be a
crucial piece of evidence
 Admissibility of Videography in
Court
• enables to capture all evidence, including that
in periphery of view, which might seem rather
inconsequential at time
• surge in digital video technology has advanced
in such a way that occurrences can be viewed
from various angles giving court more
evidence to work with
 Sketching

• form of documentation at a crime scene

 Sketching
• effective and simplest way represent a crime
scene IO - depiction event composed to scale
using assistance of arena sketch and
measurements
• enables to accurately depict physical facts,
relate sequence events in scene, establish
exact location and relationship of objects with
each other and evidence of scene,
 Sketching
• creation of scene, forms a permanent record
of scene enabling admissible in court
• scale must be determined for all sketches -
select which standard units of measurement
• when determining scale is fitting scene to
sketch paper
• sketch, in conjunction with photographs, will
present clear, complete and accurate view
crime scene
 THE TYPES OF CRIME SCENE
SKETCHES
• Rough sketch
• Finished sketch
• Perspective sketch
• Projection sketch
• Schematic sketch
• A rough sketch is an outline of a scene and
location of objects and evidence within this
outline
• Finished sketch drawn graph or Plain paper,
using permanent ink at station using a ruler or
a particular drafting tool
• contain all necessary information for
producing a scale drawing of crime scene
• perspective sketch depicts objects of evidence
as they would appear to eye with reference to
relative distance and depth
• in projective sketch all places and objects are
drawn in one plane, as seen from above.
• sketch is used to illustrate interrelationships
between objects in different planes, such as
bullet holes and blood stains
• schematic sketch used to represent an orderly
combination of events that has occurred -
tracing path of a fired bullet through glass,
flesh, or walls; tracing path skidding vehicle
• computer assisted sketches can be drawn by
using forensic software programs which create
diagrams with great precision and attention to
detail, attributing greater credibility to the
drawing in court
Admissibility of Sketches in Court
• experts & personally witnessed by investigator
enables to accurately portray a crime scene
• scaling is a blueprint crime scene - enabling
judicial official/s and witnesses and other
people to visualize crime scenes
• record exact location and spatial relationship
between pieces of evidence
• refresh investigatory memory , corroborate
testimony of witnesses
 Digital Imaging of Crime
Scene
• provides a crime scene investigator for
capturing, analyzing, and storing records of
the crime scene and its physical evidence
enables instant access to images, easy
integration into existing electronic
technologies
• due to easy image manipulation by digital
imaging its admissibility in court is a question
• Technological progress allows forensic
investigator to integrate the latest innovations
into their work routine to make crime scene
reconstruction.
• Hypothesis is formulated that gives sequence
of events from before the commission of
crime till the commission of crime including
how the crime could have been committed
∙ Reconstruction is complex procedure involving the
interlinking and evaluating of physical evidences,
stain patterns evidence on the crime scene,
laboratory results, information obtained from
different sources, other evidences and relationship
between suspect and the victim
∙ Reconstruction of crime scene is a team effort which
involves putting together many different pieces of a
puzzle.
• is based on ability to make observations at
scene, the scientific ability to examine physical
evidence, and the use of logical approaches to
theory formulations
• Computer aided reconstruction software can
also be used to reconstruct the crime scene
IMPORTANCE OF CRIME SCENE
RECONSTRUCTION:
•useful to determine actual course of a crime by
limiting possibilities that resulted in crime scene
or physical evidence as encountered
•for maintaining integrity of a crime scene
•analysis may be helpful for certain aspects of a
criminal investigation
STAGES IN RECONSTRUCTION:
•Data collection
•Conjecture
•Hypothesis formulation
•Testing
•Theory formation:
Bathroom crime scene, Nutshell Collection (Miniature 3D Crime
Scene Reconstructions), 1940s-1950s
Photograph Courtesy of Corinne May Botz
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore, Maryland
https://kuula.co/share/7c0Cl/collection/7l8nx?
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