what does examining the crime scene as a lawyer

The purpose of crime scene investigation

is to help establish what happened (crime scene reconstruction) and to identify the responsible person. This is done by carefully documenting the conditions at a crime scene and recognizing all relevant physical evidence.

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What is the first examination of a crime scene?

All a lawyer, or anyone else excluding the assigned crime techs and detectives, entering a crime scene, with or without an order, will do is contaminate the scene. So only very connected attorneys, those who pay off with campaign contributions a lot, will ever get such a judge with functioning brain cells to issue such an order.

How do you assess a crime scene for evidence?

Crime Scene Examination. Description. Crime scene investigators document the crime scene. They take photographs and physical measurements of the scene, identify and collect forensic evidence, and maintain the proper chain of custody of that evidence. Crime scene investigators collect evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, tire tracks, blood and ...

What happens at a Crime Scene Investigation?

Jul 12, 2017 · Approach a crime scene investigation as if it will be your only opportunity to preserve and recover evidence. Combine a scientific assessment of physical evidence with case information and witness statements as you assess the scene. The steps presented on these Web pages are a guide to recommended practices for crime scene investigation.

What constitutes a crime scene?

Yes, lawyers do sometimes go to the crime scene in order to get a feel for the place and to see for themselves whether various accounts of what took place make sense. This can be very useful during cross-examination to test the memory or veracityof a witness. However lawyers do not go to crime scenes in order to collect evidence.

What is a bird's eye view of a crime scene?

A bird's eye view sketch of a crime scene enables the investigator to take in the entire scene in one glance, something that is often not possible with a photograph. A crime scene sketch may be simple, and use stick-men drawings to designate locations and measurements, or it can be more detailed.

What are the steps used to assess a crime scene?

The steps employed to adequately assess any crime scene are, quite basically, to interview, examine, photograph, sketch and process a crime scene . Processing a crime scene requires great attention to detail and nuance. In order to preserve evidence, proper steps must be taken in chronological order.

What happens after a crime scene is photographed?

After the entire scene has been photographed, the gathering of evidence can begin. The crime scene investigator will typically begin his or her search for evidence at the point of entry of the perpetrator, if it can be found. Broken windows, torn screens and broken door locks are obvious points of entry and egress.

Why do investigators use sketches?

Sketches enable investigators to easily recall a crime scene, and places the entire crime scene into perspective , and along with photographs, can provide a much clearer idea of the overall investigation, as well as to pinpoint individual pieces of evidence through a house, for example.

What to do if witnesses are not available?

If witnesses are not available when the crime scene investigator arrives, they should seek out the first officer or detective on the scene and attempt to ascertain what is believed to have occurred: a murder, a suicide, or an accident. Following that, the crime scene must be examined and perimeters determined, if they have not already.

What is the first step in crime scene investigation?

Like many jobs and tasks, planning is one of the first steps toward developing a thorough interpretation or action steps needed to reach any goal. In the process of crime scene investigation, this approach is not only common sense, but also vital. To properly analyze and interpret any crime scene, certain basic steps must be followed in order to create a sense of beginning and a sensible conclusion to the examination. The steps employed to adequately assess any crime scene are, quite basically, to interview, examine, photograph, sketch and process a crime scene.

What is the first examination of a crime scene?

The first examination of the crime scene should be visual, with the crime scene investigator using his or her best judgment to try to spot potential evidence or areas where evidence may be, as well as to buttress the beliefs of the type of crime scene it is. For example, the first officer to arrive at a crime scene may believe it is the scene ...

Why is it important to identify the person responsible for a crime?

Crime is a byproduct of society that nearly every culture and country must contend with. In the United States, it is important to accurately identify the individual (s) responsible for crimes in order to see justice served. Accurately determining the facts involving a crime not only helps to discover who is responsible for it, but it also helps victims and/or their families get the answers and the sense of security that they need. Solving a crime and prosecuting a suspect is complicated and requires diligence on the part of law enforcement officials when it comes to the investigation of the crime. Crime scene investigation involves locating, collecting, and interpreting evidence found at the scene of a crime. To do this, forensic experts or forensic science specialists are necessary. Forensic science utilizes scientific methods or techniques to interpret evidence during investigations. Often, a special unit of forensic technicians enters a crime scene to properly perform the collection, documentation, and preservation of evidence such as blood, fingerprints, etc. The gathered evidence is then examined and analyzed to help determine exactly what happened at the time of the crime. Forensics has numerous subdivisions, such as digital forensics, and covers various fields of science, including anthropology, toxicology, and medicine. Below a criminal defense attorney from Aizman Law Firm will provide resources on forensic investigations.

What is crime scene photography?

Crime scene photography is discussed as a crucial part of documenting a crime scene. Information regarding photographing the crime scene appears on page nine of the document. The Crime Scene: On this page, review what happens at a crime scene and when photographs are taken as part of the documentation process.

What are the requirements to become a forensic scientist?

Basic requirements to become a forensic scientist include education, skills, and curiosity. Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) Academic Requirements: Review what the academic requirements are to become a crime scene investigator. High school, college, and post-college requirements are listed.

What is forensic science?

Forensic science utilizes scientific methods or techniques to interpret evidence during investigations. Often, a special unit of forensic technicians enters a crime scene to properly perform the collection, documentation, and preservation of evidence such as blood, fingerprints, etc. The gathered evidence is then examined ...

What grade should I read forensic science?

These books are for kids up to the eighth or 12th grade but may contain useful information for anyone interested in forensics.

What is the process of solving a crime?

Solving a crime and prosecuting a suspect is complicated and requires diligence on the part of law enforcement officials when it comes to the investigation of the crime. Crime scene investigation involves locating, collecting, and interpreting evidence found at the scene of a crime.

Who wrote the book "The forensics of the forensics of the forensics of the forensics

The book was written by assistant professor of criminal justice Elizabeth A. Erickson, who is a professor at SUNY Canton. Bibliography of Forensic-Related Books: This list of forensic-related books includes books on trace evidence and crime scenes, DNA, forensic anthropology, pathology, toxicology, and more.

Why is it important to investigate a crime scene?

Because of so many possibilities, it is important for the crime scene investigator to attempt to determine if the primary crime scene is a localized and contained area, or if there are other crimes scenes involved. A homicide investigation always starts at the location of the primary crime scene. Police or other law enforcement personnel are almost ...

What is crime scene investigation?

Introduction. Crime scene investigation is, by its most basic definition, the method of protecting, processing and reconstruction of a crime. It doesn't matter where the crime took place or if there are more than one crime scenes involved. A crime scene can envelop more than one location, as in the case where a victim has been killed in one ...

What is the role of flexibility in crime scene investigation?

As such, flexibility, in the extent that a crime scene investigator is able to adapt such analysis to the discovery of new evidence or possibilities, is as much a part of processing a crime scene as the physical evidence in plain view.

What is teamwork in crime scene?

Many different agencies might be involved in the response to a crime scene, as well as the collection of evidence. Teamwork also ensures that bias does not come into play during the collection or documentation of evidence and that justice for the victim is served. There are many different elements involved in a criminal investigation, ...

What are the elements of a criminal investigation?

There are many different elements involved in a criminal investigation, such as a uniformed police officer, detectives, crime lab technicians, photographers, coroner and other forensic specialists. Because of this, no one person who responds to the scene is more important than any other.

Why are cases thrown out of court?

Many cases have been thrown out of court because improper procedure was involved, or officers or detectives arriving first on the scene did not take extreme care to ensure a "sanitary" scene. Common sense seems like a given, but is a necessary part of approaching and analyzing a crime scene.

Why is it important to work together at the scene of a crime?

As is obvious, it is important for crime scene investigators, uniformed police officers, detectives and any other forensic experts called to the scene of a crime to work together to unravel the truth behind a crime.

What is considered physical evidence?

Although there are common items which are frequently collected as evidence (fingerprints, shoeprints, or bloodstains), literally any object can be physical evidence. Anything which can be used to connect a victim to a suspect or a suspect to a victim or crime scene is relevant physical evidence.

What is the purpose of crime scene investigation?

The purpose of crime scene investigation is to help establish what happened (crime scene reconstruction) and to identify the responsible person. This is done by carefully documenting the conditions at a crime scene and recognizing all relevant physical evidence. The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical ...

Why is it important to recognize and properly collect physical evidence?

The ability to recognize and properly collect physical evidence is oftentimes critical to both solving and prosecuting violent crimes. It is no exaggeration to say that in the majority of cases, the law enforcement officer who protects and searches a crime scene plays a critical role in determining whether physical evidence will be used in solving ...

What is the evidence of a burglar?

Sometimes the only remaining evidence is microscopic evidence consisting of hairs, fibers, or other small traces the assailant unknowingly leaves behind or takes with him.

Is there a substitute for careful and thoughtful approach?

There is no substitute for a careful and thoughtful approach. An investigator must not leap to an immediate conclusion as to what happened based upon limited information but must generate several different theories of the crime, keeping the ones that are not eliminated by incoming information at the scene.

Why do investigators create a radius?

It behooves the investigator to create a relatively large radius, due to the fact that it is much easier to later condense the crime scene than enlarge it.

What is the yellow crime scene tape used for?

In order to control access, the scene is generally cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape or other methods, such as rope or cones. Further, an entrance is established for all personnel to use when entering and exiting the scene.

What do crime scene investigators need to know before collecting evidence?

Prior to the collection of evidence, the crime scene investigators must develop a theory concerning what exactly transpired at the scene. Once the team has a working knowledge of what type of crime occurred, the investigators will be more prepared to anticipate what kind of evidence may be present.

How many steps do investigators use in a crime scene investigation?

Despite, however, the various tactics and circumstances, individual investigators generally utilize the following nine universal steps in order to conduct a fruitful and efficient crime scene investigation.

What is preliminary crime scene survey?

A preliminary crime scene survey is performed in an effort to prioritize the collection of evidence. While conducting the scene walkthrough, the lead investigator will identify and take photos of important evidence. Investigators will also document certain aspects of the crime scene, so that the scene conditions are properly captured.

Why do investigators conduct final survey?

Each team member participates in the final survey to ensure that no inadvertent errors are found in the documentation , and that the paper trail is thorough, accurate and complete.

What is the focal point of a crime?

This could be a ransacked living room, a traffic intersection where a collision occurred or a remote part of nature where a murder took place. Once the focal point has been ascertained, the investigator creates a radius of the area, in which all the immediate, relevant physical evidence may be present.