What Are the Steps in Crime Scene Investigation?

Investigating a crime scene is one of the most important parts of any criminal investigation. If done right, it can actually be the key to solving a crime. Crime Scene Investigators, or CSIs, use special methods and equipment for investigating a crime scene. These methods include using certain type of equipment, special investigation methods, and most importantly, preserving the integrity of a crime scene so that nothing gets moved or disturbed. Investigating how a crime occurred can offer a lot of insight into why the crime occurred at all. Since evidence gathered at a crime scene is what puts a criminal in jail, crime scenes are very important.

The first and most important step in any crime scene investigation is to secure the scene. It sounds easier than it really is. The scene includes possible witnesses, victims and suspects. Securing the scene includes keeping unauthorized personnel from cruising through the scene. The most common contamination results from police, paramedics, victims and witnesses.

Once the scene has been secured an interview of victims, witnesses and suspects will provide an overview of what to expect once inside the crime scene. The first responding officer will provide a lot of information on what was found upon arrival, what has been touched, moved or removed.

The next step is to "walk through" the scene to get an idea of the nature of the crime, how it was committed, point of entry and point of exit. The purpose of the walk through is to determine what needs to be more closely examined and what evidence may be present.

Once the safest route for traveling through the scene has been determined, it is time to photograph the scene. Photographs begin with the general to the specific. A picture of the parking area may be the starting point, with shots of exterior walk ways leading to the scene following. All entry points to the scene need be photographed concentrating on the suspected point of entry. The exterior shots should present a travelogue of how access to this scene was had. Once the exterior shots have been completed the interior shots begin. Once again we start with the general before we concern ourselves with the specific. Room entryways, layouts, points of access, contents and furnishing provide a panorama of the interior and will tell part of the story to the jury of what took place and in what order it happened.

Once the general pictures have been taken, pictures of evidentiary items are next. All photos should be taken ninety degrees to the surface of the object being photographed. All evidence should be photographed in place as found first and later with evidentiary markers and if necessary with something to assist in determining the size of the object such as a ruler, pen, coin etc. A photographic log is kept identifying each picture and the sequence in which it was taken.

Once all photos have been taken it is time to measure and sketch. Every evidentiary item must be geographically located, measured and sketched in a field drawing. The drawing can be further refined later.

The final steps involve the handling and packaging of all evidence. Each piece comes into evidence at a specific time. That time begins the chain of custody of that piece of evidence. Police are responsible for accounting for each piece of evidence that comes into their possession, for every minute it is in their possession.

The evidence will find its way to the laboratory or the evidence room where further entries are made to maintain the chain of custody.

Cлова к тексту 1:

1. to preserve the integrity [ɪnˊtegrɪtɪ] - сохранить целостность

2. an insight [ˊɪnsaɪt] - понимание

3. to secure [sɪˊkjuə] - обеспечивать сохранность

4. an overview [ˏəuvəˊvju:] - общее представление

5. an arrival [əˊraɪvəl] - прибытие

6. a walk through - обход

7. a route [ru:t] - маршрут

8. exterior [eksˊtɪərɪə] - внешняя, наружная сторона

9. a travelogue [ˊtrævəlɔg] - подборка снимков обхода с комментариями

10. interior [ɪnˊtɪərɪə] - внешняя сторона

11. a layout [ˊleɪaut] - расположение

12. a photographic log - подборка фотографий

13. a sequence [ˊsi:kwəns] - последовательность

14. a chain of custody - система охраны вещественных доказательств при их передаче

15. an evidence room - место хранения вещественных доказательств

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