SUBJECT – FORENSIC SCIENCE AND LAW

TOPIC – ‘Crime Scene Investigation’

SUBMITTED TO:
Assistant Professor Dr. Vara Lakshmi

Submitted by:
DEVVRAT GARHWAL
2016032
8th SEMESTER

DAMODARM SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

VISAKHAPATNAM
 Acknowledgement

The success and final outcome of this project required a lot of guidance and
assistance and I am extremely privileged to have got this all along the
completion of my project. All that I have done is only due to such supervision
and assistance and I would not forget to thank all who helped me with this
project.

I respect and thank Dr. Vara Lakshmi for providing me an opportunity to do

the project work and giving us all support and guidance which made me
complete the project duly. I am extremely thankful for providing such a nice
support and guidance.
Content

Sr. No. Topic Page No.

1. Introduction 1-2
2. Historical Background 2-3
3. Principals of Crime Scene Investigation 3-5
4. Determining Value Evidence 5-6
5. Object 6-7
6. Procedure for Crime Scene Investigation 8-9
7. Crime Scene Investigators 9
8. How a Crime Scene Investigation is Conducted 10-12
9. Bibliography 13
Introduction:
A crime scene is any location that may be associated with a committed crime. physical evidence

A body washes up on a lonely stretch of beach. A fire in a methamphetamine lab devastates an

apartment building. A car accident claims the life of a driver during her trip home. These are all
potential crime scenes.

By conducting a systematic examination of these areas, crime scene investigators uncover the
physical evidence to help identify what happened and who was involved. This process must be
conducted carefully and thoroughly to ensure that crucial evidence is collected and fragile evidence is
not destroyed in the process.

At a scene, the case investigator and crime scene personnel work together to: define and secure areas
that may contain evidence; examine and document the scene; collect physical evidence; and preserve,
package and submit the evidence to the laboratory for analysis. With these key pieces of evidence, the
investigator can attempt to reconstruct the elements of the crime.

The more thorough the crime scene team is at conducting its job, the more likely it is to accurately
determine the facts of the case. The quality of the evidence and the manner in which it is handled will
also impact the ability of the attorneys to argue the facts of the case and ultimately the jurors’ ability to
come to conclusions regarding guilt or innocence.

 Historical Background

The word forensic comes from the Latin term forensis, meaning "of or before the forum". The history
of the term originates from Roman times, during which a criminal charge meant presenting the case
before a group of public individuals in the forum. Both the person accused of the crime and the accuser
would give speeches based on their sides of the story. The case would be decided in favor of the
individual with the best argument and delivery. This origin is the source of the two modern usages of the
word forensic – as a form of legal evidence; and as a category of public presentation.

In ancient India, some suspects were made to fill their mouths with dried rice and spit it back out.
Similarly, in ancient China , those accused of a crime would have rice powder placed in their mouths. In
ancient middle-eastern cultures, the accused were made to lick hot metal rods briefly. It is thought that
these tests had some validity since a guilty person would produce less saliva and thus have a drier
mouth; the accused would be considered guilty if rice was sticking to their mouths in abundance or if
their tongues were severely burned due to lack of shielding from saliva.

18th century, criminal investigation became a more evidence-based, rational procedure − the use of
torture to force confessions was curtailed, and belief in witchcraft and other powers of the occult largely
ceased to influence the court's decisions. Two examples of English forensic science in individual legal
proceedings demonstrate the increasing use of logic and procedure in criminal investigations at the time.

 Principals of Crime Scene Investigation

The key principle underlying crime scene investigation is a concept that has become known as Locard’s
Exchange Principle. It states that whenever someone enters or exits an environment, something
physical is added to and removed from the scene. This principle is generally summed up by stating:
“Every contact leaves a trace.”

The logic behind this principle allows investigators to link suspects to victims, to physical objects, and
to scenes. Any evidence that can link a person to the scene is referred to as associative evidence. This
may include items such as fingerprints, blood and bodily fluids, weapons, hair, fibers and the like. This
type of evidence answers the question “Who did this?”
While associative evidence links people to the place of the crime, reconstructive evidence allows
investigators to gain an understanding of the actions that took place at the scene. A broken window, a
blood spatter pattern, bullet paths and shoe prints can all reveal what actually happened. This type of
evidence answers the question, “How did it happen?”

To help establish the linkage of people and things to a scene, the investigator may also collect known
substances, called control samples. These can be items such as fibers from carpeting at the scene, glass
fragments, soil, vegetation and other trace evidence. If these are found on the suspect’s clothing, in their
vehicle or at their residence, it could provide circumstantial evidence linking the person to the scene.

For example, police are called to a residential neighborhood where a home invasion and burglary has
just occurred. Investigators collect glass fragments from a shattered cabinet door with a distinct
pattern etched into the glass. A tip leads investigators to a local man with a known history of burglary.
Examination of the suspect’s clothing yields glass fragments with the same distinct pattern as the
smashed cabinet doors.

Eliminating people who could not be the perpetrator is also important. Control samples of fingerprints
and DNA are often collected from any person(s) who have access to the scene who are not considered
suspects.
 Determining the Value of Evidence

a) It is unique - If an item is found that helps narrow the possibilities of who might be considered a
suspect, or the manner in which a crime was committed, this evidence would be of use. Is an
impression from a vehicle tire found in the dirt at the scene? The tread impression can be
compared to others to determine the type of tire that was on the car. Is a shoe print left in the
soil? The tread may help to identify the size and type of shoes it came from and the wear pattern
could be used to match it to a specific pair. 

b) It has a low probability of occurring by chance - Considering the mathematical probabilities

will help to determine the odds that a piece of physical evidence found at the scene could
appear merely by coincidence. If DNA evidence found at the scene matches a suspect, the
chances are exceedingly low that another person could have left this sample. But even evidence
that has a much higher probability for instance, a common type of shoeprint that is left in the soil
is still valuable. When combined with other high probability evidence, these can help narrow the
list of possible parties and build a compelling case.

c) It is inconsistent - If an item is found that is out of place or inconsistent with the setting, or is
out of character for the victim for instance if the victim was a non-smoker but a cigarette butt is
found at the scene this could be an important bit of evidence.

d) It is a physical match - If trace evidence is found on the suspect or in his possession that
matches something at the scene, this makes this item valuable as evidence. For instance, broken
plastic parts or a broken fingernail that can be matched by fracture marks can demonstrate that
two pieces were once a part of the same item.

 Object
Collecting physical evidence from a scene can help an investigator recreate the crime scene and
establish the sequence of events. Physical evidence can also corroborate statements made by the victim,
suspects and witnesses.

In practice, a wide range of scenes are secured, documented and investigated including the scenes of:

 Burglaries

 Violent Crimes

 Suicides

 Fires

 Auto Thefts

 Auto Accidents

The type of case being investigated dictates the type of evidence that an investigator will attempt to
locate and collect. However, as the facts of the case slowly get pieced together, this may change the
theory of what occurred. Investigators may discover that several crimes have been committed instead of
just one, or they may discover multiple scenes that require investigation.

In some cases, an investigator may not be able to examine the primary crime scene because it is
unknown; for instance, if a body is found buried in a field far away from where the death actually took
place. The area where the body is discovered is referred to as a secondary crime scene.
  Procedure for Crime Scene Investigation

o Types of Evidence Found in a Crime Scene

A wide variety of physical evidence can be collected at a scene that is deemed valuable
(“probative”) for collection and investigation:
 Biological Evidence (e.g., blood, body fluids, hair and other tissues)
 Latent Print Evidence (e.g., fingerprints, palm prints, foot prints)
 Footwear and Tire Track Evidence
 Trace Evidence (e.g., fibers, soil, vegetation, glass fragments)
 Digital Evidence (e.g., cell phone records, Internet logs, email messages)
 Tool and Tool Mark Evidence
 Drug Evidence
 Firearm Evidence

For Example:

The type of evidence collected will vary with the type of crime. In the case of a burglary, for
example, it would be common to perform tasks in the order listed below. This will help ensure that
evidence isn’t inadvertently damaged or destroyed:

1. Photograph and document the scene

2. Collect trace materials (especially from probable points of entry)
3. Collect low-level DNA evidence by swabbing areas of likely contact
4. Collect other items that may contain biological evidence
5. Locate and collect latent fingerprints

 Crime Scene Investigators

The number and type of professional(s) responsible for investigating a scene and collecting
evidence largely depends on the type of crime and the resources of the law enforcement agency.
Larger agencies often have dedicated, highly trained crime scene specialists, while smaller agencies
may require that first responders or detectives process the scene in addition to their other duties.
 In many instances, a case will be investigated by a detective who is responsible for interviewing
persons of interest and victims, pursuing leads and piecing together the information that is developed
from the materials collected at the scene. The detective works in tandem with a team of crime scene
personnel who search the scene and collect the evidence. The crime scene investigation team may
consist of crime scene photographers and evidence collection personnel specializing in gathering
specific evidence such as latent prints, DNA, trace evidence and the like.

 How a Crime Scene Investigation is Conducted

The circumstances that investigators encounter at the scene will largely dictate the approach used to
process the scene. A homicide will likely require different treatment and processing than a burglary.
However, to ensure a thorough process, the seven steps outlined below are often followed. These steps
can be conducted in a different order, combined or even skipped altogether to meet the needs of the
situation.

1. Establish the scene dimensions and identify potential safety and health hazards  - Investigators
initially locate the “focal point” of the scene, the main area of disturbance. This could be a
ransacked bedroom, the area where an attack occurred, or the room in which a victim was found.
Radiating out from that point, investigators establish an area that is sizeable enough to likely contain all
relevant physical evidence that may be present. It is easier for investigators to condense the size of a
scene at a later point than to discover that sensitive evidence outside the scene has been damaged or
destroyed by other responders, media or onlookers. In addition, potential paths of perpetrator entry/exit
are identified. Safety is of paramount importance during the initial approach to the scene. Weapons,
biohazards, chemical hazards and even intentional traps could be waiting for responders. If medical, fire
or coroners will be on scene, they will need to be advised regarding evidentiary issues as well.
2. Establish security - According to Locard’s Exchange Principle, every person who enters or exits
the scene will add or subtract material from the crime scene, so it’s crucial to quickly secure the area. To
control access, the scene may be cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape, cones or by other means. In
addition, a common entryway is often established that all crime scene personnel will use to enter and
exit the scene and all people entering or leaving the scene are documented once the boundaries have
been established. Additional areas for consultation and evidence storage may also be established if
necessary.

3. Plan, communicate and coordinate - Before collecting evidence, investigators must first develop
a theory regarding the type of offense that occurred. Knowing the type of crime will help
investigators anticipate the evidence that could be present. This may require gathering information from
witnesses or persons of interest. Based on this information, the crime scene team will develop an
evidence-collection strategy taking into consideration weather conditions, time of day and other factors.
Additional forensic resources may also be requested to handle special situations.

4. Conduct a primary survey/walkthrough - An initial survey of the scene is then conducted to

prioritize evidence collection. During this walkthrough, the lead investigator will identify potentially
valuable evidence, take notes and capture initial photographs of the scene and the evidence. The crime
scene is documented to record conditions such as whether lights were on or off, the position of shades
and doors, position of movable furniture, any smells present, the temperature of the scene, etc. To
facilitate this process, crime scene specialists may create an evidence-free pathway leading to the
primary area of interest by conducting a thorough sweep for evidence in that area.

5. Document and process the scene - With a plan in place, the crime scene team conducts a thorough,
coordinated investigation of the scene, collecting all probative evidence. This entails detailed
documentation with digital and video cameras or, if available, a 3-D scanner. For some situations,
sketches and diagrams are also created. During the evidence-collection process, it is crucial that
the crime scene investigator follow proper procedures for collecting, packaging and preserving the
evidence, especially if it is of a biological nature. Biological evidence can be destroyed or damaged
by weather conditions, individuals can inadvertently contaminate it, or it can be overlooked entirely if
alternate light sources are not used to inspect the scene.

6. Conduct a secondary survey/review - To ensure that the scene has been thoroughly searched, a
second survey of the area is conducted as a quality control step.

7. Record and preserve evidence - To make certain that all evidence is accounted for, an inventory log
is created. The descriptions recorded into the log must match the photo of the evidence taken at the
scene and the description included in the crime scene report. For instance, if a gun is collected, the serial
number of the firearm in the evidence log must match the serial number shown in the photo that was
taken at the scene. This paper trail establishes the chain of custody that will follow the evidence
throughout the lifecycle of the case.
Bibliography

 B.S.Nabar’s ‘Forensic Science in Crime Investigation’

(Asia Law House, 3rd Edition)

 Adams, T; Krutsinger, J. Crime Scene Investigation; Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, NJ.
2000
 Ritter, N. DNS Solves Property Crimes (But Are We Ready for That). NIJ Journal. 

Webliography

 https://www. http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/csi/index.htm
 https://www. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/law-enforcement/investigations/crime-scene
 https://www. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_science