Introduction to Crime Scenes

Summary

The video script delves into the critical role of crime scene investigators (CSIs) in solving crimes. It highlights the importance of preserving crime scenes, which can vary from indoors to outdoors, and the meticulous process of collecting physical evidence. The script underscores the need for CSIs to wear protective gear to avoid contamination, the use of common approach paths with stepping plates to protect evidence, and the documentation of the scene through photography and note-taking. It also addresses the impact of environmental factors on evidence collection and the unique challenges posed by different types of crime scenes, emphasizing the investigator's responsibility in documenting and processing these scenes for a thorough investigation.

Takeaways

• 🔎 **Crime Scene Evidence**: The environment where a crime occurs is rich with physical evidence that can link the crime to the perpetrator.
• 👮‍♂️ **Crime Scene Protection**: The first responder, usually a police officer, should secure the scene without disturbing it to preserve evidence.
• 👥 **CSI Protective Gear**: Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs) must wear full protective clothing to avoid contamination of the scene.
• 🚸 **Common Approach Path**: CSIs use a designated path to the focal point of the crime scene to avoid contaminating evidence.
• 📸 **Documentation**: CSIs document the crime scene through photography, note-taking, and evidence collection.
• 🌤️ **Environmental Factors**: Environmental conditions like weather can affect how evidence is collected and preserved.
• 🏠 **Indoor Crime Scene Considerations**: CSIs must balance respect for personal environments with the need for thorough examination in indoor scenes.
• 🚗 **Vehicle Crime Scenes**: Vehicles are processed like any crime scene, with attention to points of entry and potential evidence within.
• 🔬 **Trace Evidence Analysis**: In serious crimes, vehicles may be stripped to look for trace forensic evidence.
• 📝 **Systematic Approach**: Despite the variety of crime scenes, CSIs follow basic principles such as cordons, approach paths, and systematic evidence recovery.

Q & A

What is the significance of a crime scene in a criminal investigation?

A crime scene is significant as it can contain physical evidence that links the crime to the criminal, assisting the police in their investigation.

Where can crime scenes typically be located?

Crime scenes can be located anywhere, including indoors, outdoors, business premises, domestic dwellings, or vehicles.

What is the role of a crime scene investigator (CSI) in processing a crime?

A CSI's role is key in processing a crime and obtaining evidence by accurately documenting and processing the crime scene.

What protective clothing is required for a CSI before entering a crime scene?

A full crime scene suit, which includes boot covers, gloves, a hood, and a mouth guard, is required to protect the CSI and prevent contamination of the crime scene.

Why should a police officer not disturb the crime scene upon arrival?

A police officer should not disturb the crime scene to avoid contaminating the evidence and should set up a cordon to protect it.

What is the common approach path used by a CSI when entering a crime scene?

The common approach path is a designated path from the edge of the cordon to the focal point of the crime scene, often using stepping plates to preserve evidence.

How does a CSI document a crime scene?

A CSI documents a crime scene by taking photographs, noting exhibits, and making notes, continuing the documentation as evidence is collected.

What environmental factors can compromise evidence at an outdoor crime scene?

Environmental factors such as rain, snow, and strong wind can compromise evidence, potentially requiring faster evidence collection or temporary structures for protection.

How can the time of day impact the processing of a crime scene?

The time of day can influence the processing of a crime scene, with some scenes being preserved for natural light or using temporary, high-powered lighting rigs for nighttime processing.

What considerations must a CSI have when dealing with an indoor crime scene involving a victim?

A CSI must be empathetic and have good communication skills, balancing respect for the person's environment with the need for a thorough scientific examination.

How are vehicle crime scenes processed, and what steps might be taken in more serious crimes?

Vehicle crime scenes are processed like any other crime scene, with a focus on the point of entry in less serious crimes. In more serious crimes, the car may be stripped to look for evidence, including lifting carpets and taping upholstery for trace forensic evidence.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Crime Scene Investigation Basics

The paragraph introduces the concept of a crime scene and its significance in criminal investigations. It emphasizes the importance of crime scene investigators (CSIs) and their role in processing the scene and collecting evidence. The text outlines the need for CSIs to wear protective clothing to avoid contamination and describes the initial steps taken at a crime scene, including the establishment of a cordon by police officers and the use of a common approach path with stepping plates to preserve evidence. The paragraph also touches on the various environmental and situational factors that CSIs must consider when documenting and collecting evidence, such as weather conditions and the time of day.

Keywords

💡Crime Scene

A crime scene is the location where a crime has occurred. It is crucial for investigation as it can contain physical evidence linking the crime to the perpetrator. In the video, it is emphasized that crime scenes can vary greatly, from indoors to outdoors, and each scene is unique, necessitating a systematic approach to evidence collection.

💡Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)

A Crime Scene Investigator, or CSI, is a professional responsible for processing crime scenes to collect and document evidence. Their role is highlighted in the video as vital for linking crimes to criminals and aiding police investigations. The script underscores the importance of their skills and procedures in preserving the integrity of the crime scene.

💡Protective Clothing

Protective clothing, often referred to as a 'bunny suit' in the script, includes boot covers, gloves, a hood, and a mouth guard. It is worn by CSIs to prevent contamination of the crime scene and to protect themselves. This is a critical aspect of maintaining the integrity of the evidence, as highlighted in the video.

💡Cordon

A cordon is a boundary set up by the police to secure the crime scene and prevent unauthorized access. The video explains that a police officer usually sets up this cordon upon first arriving at the scene, which is essential for preserving the evidence until the CSI team arrives.

💡Common Approach Path

The common approach path is a designated route that CSIs take from the cordon to the focal point of the crime scene. The script mentions the use of stepping plates along this path to minimize disturbance of potential evidence, illustrating a methodical approach to crime scene processing.

💡Documenting

Documenting in the context of a crime scene involves taking photographs, making notes, and recording observations. The video stresses the continuous nature of this process, which begins when the CSI arrives and continues as evidence is collected, ensuring a thorough record of the scene.

💡Environmental Factors

Environmental factors such as rain, snow, and wind can affect the preservation of evidence at a crime scene. The video points out that these factors may require expedited evidence collection or the use of temporary structures to protect the evidence, emphasizing the dynamic nature of crime scene investigation.

💡Public Area

A crime scene near a public area requires additional measures to protect the scene from view. The video mentions the need for shielding the scene from the media or passers-by, which can be a challenge for CSIs, especially in high-profile cases.

💡Vehicle Crime

Vehicle crime is a specific type of crime scene mentioned in the video. It is processed similarly to other scenes, but with a focus on points of entry in less serious crimes, or a more thorough examination, including lifting carpets and analyzing upholstery, in more serious cases. This keyword illustrates the adaptability required by CSIs in different scenarios.

💡Trace Evidence

Trace evidence refers to small, often microscopic, pieces of physical evidence left at a crime scene. The video implies that CSIs look for such evidence, which can be crucial in linking a crime to a suspect. This includes fibers, hair, or other minute details that are not immediately visible.

💡Systemic Recovery

Systemic recovery of evidence is a methodical and orderly process of collecting evidence from a crime scene. The video emphasizes the importance of this approach to ensure that no evidence is overlooked or compromised, which is a fundamental principle in crime scene investigation.

Highlights

Crime scenes can contain physical evidence linking the crime to the criminal.

Crime scenes are diverse and can occur anywhere, both indoors and outdoors.

The role of the crime scene investigator (CSI) is crucial in processing a crime and obtaining evidence.

CSIs must wear protective clothing to avoid contaminating the crime scene.

Police officers should set up a cordon to protect the crime scene before a CSI arrives.

CSIs use a common approach path to minimize disturbance of the crime scene.

Documenting the crime scene includes taking photographs, noting exhibits, and making observations.

Environmental factors like weather can affect the collection of evidence at outdoor crime scenes.

Crime scenes near public areas may require additional protection from the media and passers-by.

The time of day can influence how a crime scene is processed, with considerations for natural light.

Indoor crime scenes present unique challenges, requiring empathy and communication skills.

CSIs must balance respect for personal property with the need for thorough scientific examination.

In vehicle crime scenes, CSIs focus on entry points and may strip the vehicle to search for evidence.

Crime scenes follow basic principles such as cordons, common approach paths, and systematic evidence collection.

The CSI's role is central to documenting the crime scene and collecting physical evidence.

Transcripts

From the second a crime is committed

traces of the crime are left in the environment.

The location where a crime took place can be full of physical evidence

which can link the crime to the criminal

and ultimately assist the police in their investigation.

This location is known as the crime scene.

Crime scenes can be anywhere, indoors, outdoors,

a business premises, domestic dwellings or vehicles

and no two are ever the same.

The work of the crime scene investigator, or CSI,

is a key part of processing a crime and obtaining evidence.

For this reason alone

the skills they need

and the procedures they follow are of vital importance.

Before a CSI even enters a crime scene

they need a full set of appropriate protective clothing.

The full crime scene suit,

sometimes called a bunny suit,

consists of boot covers, gloves, a hood and a mouth guard.

This clothing will protect the CSI

and ensure they do not contaminate the crime scene.

Crime scenes often occur outside

and a police officer is usually the first person at the scene.

However, the police officer should not disturb the crime scene

and should instead set up a cordon

to protect the evidence contained within.

When the crime scene investigator

enters the crime scene

they will use the common approach path.

This is a path from the edge of the cordon

to the focal point of the crime scene

and in most cases

stepping plates will be used along this path

to preserve the evidence.

When available these stepping plates should be used at all times.

A CSI’s job

is to both accurately document and process the crime scene.

Documenting the scene involves taking photographs of the crime scene,

of exhibits

and taking notes.

Documenting the crime scene will continue

as they start to collect the evidence.

As the crime scene is processed

the CSI has to be very conscious of environmental factors

which may compromise the evidence.

This is especially important in outside crime scenes

as factors such as rain,

snow and strong wind

can mean the need to collect the evidence faster than normal

or erect temporary structures to protect the evidence.

The crime scene may also need to be protected

if it is near a public area

where the media or passers-by can see it.

Time of day can also play a major role in how a crime scene is processed.

In some instances it may be advisable

to preserve the scene until natural light is available.

However in many cases temporary,

high powered lighting rigs

and powerful torches

can be used to process the scene.

Indoor crime scenes have their own set of issues

whether it’s a business property or a domestic dwelling.

In indoor crime scene such as burglary,

the CSI may have to speak to a victim of crime.

In such cases they should be empathetic

and have good communication skills.

They must also be considerate of person environments

and balance the respect for someone’s property

with the need for a thorough scientific examination.

In more serious crimes

it may be more necessary

for the CSI to remove objects and furnishings from the property.

Another common crime scene is vehicle crime.

These are processed like any other crime scene.

However in less serious crime such as car theft

the CSI will focus their efforts on the point of entry

such as a broken window.

In more serious crimes

the car can be stripped to look for evidence

this would include lifting the carpets,

taping the upholstery

and analysing the lifts for trace forensic evidence.

As you can see,

crime scenes are very varied

and take place in a wide range of locations.

However they do have a number of basic principles

in common

including cordons,

common approach paths

and the systemic recovery and collection of evidence.

The crime scene investigator has a key role in documenting the crime scene

and collecting the physical evidence

left during a crime.