Week 4 - Lecture notes 4 PDF

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Summary

Notes from the fourth week of lectures on the importance of documentation and recording of a crime scene...

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Week 4 – CSI Visual Examination, Contemporaneous Notes & Documentation  Recording should be carried out in a methodical manner to ensure all areas are captured thoroughly Why do we need documentation?  Document our role, actions and decision – Assignment 1  Inform others  Basis for interpretation and opinion  Transparency and disclosure  Court Who is documentation for?  The officer in the case  Scientists and colleagues  Crown prosecution service and defence  The judge  Court  Any subsequent enquiry  You Types of documentation for CSI  Contemporaneous notes – made at the time  Witness statement  Scene examination report – Triangulation measurements to be included, number every page (including the front sheet) 1 of 6 for example  Imaging – photography and videography  Logs – exhibits, transits  Records – CSM book – a record is something which has been noted  Plans, sketches and diagrams – week 12 – large amount of marks on this, week 7 is a practice  Notes  Photography  Videography  Sketching  All documentation begins as soon as the CSI attends the scene and undertakes visual examination Visual Examination  Most important phase and lasts throughout the scene examination  Begins at an early stage in the process and it is vital at this point to consider strategy concerning access, personnel, equipment and resources  All decisions need to be justified with sound evidence-based reasons and documented accurately adhering to the mandatory requirements of contemporaneous notes  PolSA – Police search advisor 0 specialist search role, often arriving after completion of forensic work, remove fixtures/fittings, sift through undergrowth, other destructive tasks, equipment with forensic knowledge, CSIs often assist  All decisions need to be justified with sound evidence-based reasons and documented accurately adhering to the mandatory requirements of contemporaneous notes – A1 – back decisions up with research for A1  Assignment 1 – what does the CSM need to consider, people, resources, equipment

Contemporaneous notes – Recap  Just deal with fact  At the end of entry, put name, date, time, signature and draw a line right across the page  No blank spaces, always put a line through and sign it  No ‘Elbows’  E – Erasures  L – Leaves torn out  B – Blank spaces  O – Overwriting  W – Writing between the lines  Numerical number after letterform number written  Cross through zeros Scene Information – A!  Document the forensic strategy agreed and by whom  Document the actions to take place  Preservation of life?  Preservation considerations – lighting/weather protection  Risk assessments  Anti-contamination measures required  Search strategy  Priorities for exhibit retrieval Exhibits – A2  Unique exhibit number generated at the scene  Exhibit description  Seal numbers  Who seized the exhibit? Where? What time?  Measurements – triangulation  Exhibit label completed with all above information  How exhibits have been packaged  Where the exhibits have been stored and how  Continuity of exhibit to be noted Information  Review what you have done, you should not change it afterwards  Check you have recorded everything required  Check the seal numbers  Ensure everything is signed and dated – EVERYTHING  Dissemination and de-brief  Appropriate storage and record made of location Examination Details  Observations  Descriptions  Measurements  Considerations  Actions  Sequential exhibits Before Recovery

 What is it? Precise description  Brand  Quantity  Material  Colour  Condition After recovery  Date/time of recovery – precise  Who it was recovered by?  How it was recovered  Where it was stored  What is it on?  Inside/outside  Top/bottom  Where is it? Precise location  Measurements  Triangulation  Metric How to locate exhibits  Triangulated measurements – locate the exhibit from 2 fixed points  Metric units only – mm, cm, m  Cross reference to marker in photographers MO  The method you believe by which the crime has taken place based on factual and physical evidence  Cannot include hearsay  Examples: 

Suspect (s) unknown gained entry via the side of the house which was insecure and proceeded to the rear. Rear ground floor lounge patio door forced with an unknown implement. Suspect (s) have searched throughout house and exited via the front door.

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Victim was walking home from work when an unknown female has approached her and asked for the time. As the victim has looked at her watch the suspect has allegedly pulled the victim’s handbag from her shoulder and run away.

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Witness has seen smoke issuing from an upper window in his neighbour’s house. As he has gone to get his phone to call the fire brigade, he has heard a bang. When he has returned, he has seen the roof alight....