MODULE 3.

CRIME SCENE PROCESSING AND INVESTIGATION

Lesson 1. Procedure in criminal investigation

As a general rule, all crime scene investigation must be done by the police station who has the
territorial jurisdiction of the crime incident unless otherwise specified by higher authorities to be investigated
by some other unit or agencies must be recorded in the official police blotter. Territorial jurisdiction means
that the crime incident happen within the area or place that a certain police station hold or cover. Police
Station moreover refers to the office of local police that has a jurisdiction within the area and exercise
control over the community and persons movement by enforcing the laws necessary for the maintenance of
peace and order.

Crime scene refers to the place where the crime took place and where physical evidence can be found
while crime incident refers to the occurrence of a certain a crime.

Illustration: A committed murder( crime incident) in the house( crime scene) of B.

After such procedure, the investigating team will take full control of the crime scene which includes the
conduct of crime scene search, generating sketches as well as the taking of photograph, lifting of
fingerprints, marking and tagging as well as the collection of physical evidence and the like. Investigating
team refers to the group of police personnel charge with the investigation and processing of the crime
scene which includes but not limited to the search, collection, marking, tagging, preservation and transfer of
evidence.

Further, investigating team is composed of the following:

1. The team leader,

2. Assistant Team leader
3. Investigator,
4. Photographer,
5. Evidence custodian; and
6. Artist/sketcher
7. Master note taker
8. Security
9. Driver

Equipment in Crime scene responding

1. Searching tools
2. Sketching measurement
3. Preserving materials

Entry Control Log

 The scene often requires multi-level containment, with several perimeters. Entry control logs can
certainly be used at any perimeter, but they become a hindrance to operations. The inner perimeter ( the
true crime scene) requires an entry control log. The entry control log keeps to track of who entered the
scene, when and why, when they left. It serves to validate scene integrity.

Time in Name/Unit Reasons at scene Time out

1750 PCpl Pedro- investigator Scene examination 1823

Initial Steps during crime scene processing

The following must be observed by the first responder to a crime scene:

1. Record the date, arrival time and whether condition.

2. If an injured person is in the scene, arrange for medical attentions, identification and
removal. The scene should not be disturbed only the extent necessary to have medical aid
rendered to the injured or to have a doctor examined a deceased victim. Each alteration
should be accurately recorded.
3. If the offender is at the scene, apprehend him.
4. If the scene is not fully protected, ensure its protection by using other policemen or other
responsible person to keep witnesses, suspects, and victim/s who are present from
disturbing the scene.
5. Determine and record the names of those persons at the scene who may be witnesses,
and separate them. These persons shall be removed from the immediate area of the
scene as soon as practicable.
6. Conduct preliminary questioning of witnesses, suspects, and victims to determine in
general the extent of the incident or crime.

Upon the take-over of the investigating team, they ensure that the investigative procedures are
followed such as:

1. Record the date and time of arrival as well as all other important details in the crime scene;
2. Photograph and video of the crime scene;
3. Arrest of suspects if their identity is apparent;and
4. Separate possible witness to get their individual accounts.

Lesson 2. Crime scene processing

It is true that the investigating team must give priority to the human life, nevertheless, they must
exhaust whatever means to secure and preserve the crime scene for it contains all the necessary steps in
order to collect all available evidence and maintain the integrity of the crime scene by remembering “MAC”
rule which simply stand for:
 1. Mutilate- meaning do not remove anything from the crime scene
2. Alter- do not change anything in the crime scene; and
3. Contaminate- do not add anything to the crime scene.

Transient evidence are those evidence which when not collected at appropriate time may diminish or lost
its value such as urine, blood, semen, etc. on the other hand, fragile evidence are those evidence which
may be broken if collected inattentively.

Steps in processing the crime scene or conducting crime scene investigation

1.Initial Notification

As the initial responder, the investigator must document the information that is presented to him/her.

a. Who contacted them?

b. What were they told of?
c. How did that individual come to know the information?

Upon notification that crime transpired, first responder must perform the following:

P- proceed to the scene promptly

R- render assistance to the injured party;

E- effect arrest of the criminal;

L- locate and identify witnesses;

I-Interview complainant, victim, witnesses;

M-maintain the integrity of crime scene and protect evidences;

I-interrogates suspects if necessary;

N-note conditions, events, remarks;

A-arrange for collection of evidences;

R- report the entire incident fully and accurately; and

Y- yield responsibility to follow-up investigator of superior

2.Coordination, Assessment and Team Call out

Assess the situation, is this my “jurisdiction”? how complex is the scene? What are needed? Who
are needed here?

3.Conduct initial observations

 Conduct an initial scan of the scene, specifically look for the central theme items, victims, fragile
evidence.

4.Deal with the deceased

Check apparent deceased victim for sign of life.

5.Searching and marking of evidences

6.Photographing of evidences

7. Measuring the distance of all evidences

8.Document overall observations

9.Sketch the scene

9. Collect the evidence

10. Release the body

12. Conduct a second Check

13.Conduct a third check

Check beyond the scene

14. Conduct an on- site debriefing

15.Release the scene

16. Process and package all evidence

17. Conduct a Formal debriefing

PNP Operational Procedures Manual (2010)

Duties of FR or First Responder

1. The first police officers to arrive at the crime scene are the FRs who are
dispatched by the local police station/ unit concerned after receipt of incident/
flash/alarm report.
2. Immediatety, the FR shall conduct preliminary evaluation of the crime scene. This
evaluation should include the scope of the incident, emergency services required,
scene safety concerns, administration of life saving measures, and establishments
of security and control of the scene;
 3. The FR is mandated to save and preserve life by giving the necessary first aid
measures to the injured and medical evacuation as necessary.
4. The FR shall take dying declaration of severly injured person
5. If and when there is a suspect present in the area, the first responder shall arrest,
detain and remove the suspect from the area;
6. The FR, upon the arrival of Investigation-on-case (OIC) shall turn-over the crime
scene to the duty investigator/ OIC after the former has brief the investigator of the
situation.

Investigating team on case duties:

1. Upon arrival at the crime scene, the OIC shall request for a briefing from
the FR and make a quick assessment of crime
2. At this stage, the OIC shall assume full responsibility over the crime scene
and shall conduct a thorough assessment of the scene and inquiry into
incident.
3. Based on the assessment, if the OIC determine that a SOCO team is
required, he shall report the matter to his COP and request for a SOCO.
4. The OIC may by himself/herself if the situation so demand, conduct a CSI
if, there is no Provincial crime laboratory in the province.
5. The police station operation center , upon directive of the COP, shall
make the request for the SOCO team through the Provincial operations
center.
6. The OIC shall brief the SOCO team upon their arrival at the crime scene
and shall jointly conduct the preliminary crime scene survey.
Method of search

Is define as the systematic procedure employed by the investigating team in order to recognize,
collect and preserve the evidence or any objects/found in the crime scene that has a logical connection to
the case. In the conduct of crime search, the following methods may be employed base on the physical
characteristics of the place such as:

1. Strip method. Is done through the following a straight path in an area. Upon reaching the end, the
searcher turn and follow again a straight path but parallel to the first path he take. This process
continues until the search of the entire area is done.
2. Double strip method. Is almost similar with strip method. As the term suggested, “double” meaning
after the entire area is done searching using strip method, the searcher will again start another
process but this time at the other side at right angle from where you started.
3. Spiral method. Is done when the area to be search is circular in nature. The searcher may start
either from the center or outside although commonly searcher starts from the outside following a
circular shape until they finish searching the entire area.

4. Wheel Method. Is also applicable in circular areas similar with the spiral method. Howver, the
searcher starts in the center and is best applicable only when there are plenty of searchers. From
the center, they follow a straight path towards outside unlike in radial that they follow a circular
patter.
 5. Zone method. Is best applicable in crime scene covering wide range. In this method, the crime
scene is divided into four quadrants and the searcher may select what type of search should be
done in each quadrant. It could either be strip, double strip, radial, wheel or zone method.

Marking, tagging and collection of evidence

 Marking of evidence refers to the process of identifying and recognizing any objects in the crime
scene by way of placing letter, symbol or number.

Tagging of evidence is the process of labelling the physical evidence by way of placing the
appropriate evidence tag containing the (1) description of the item, the (2) date and the (3)initial of the
collecting officer.

Collection of evidence refers to the actual gathering and lifting of evidence from the crime scene to the
custody of appropriate office.

Photographing the crime scene

 In processing the crime scene, investigating team must consider the proper taking of photographs
and the making of sketch. Photographs should depict the actual scenario of the crime scene and portray
the proper placement of the individual evidence. Moreover, all individual evidence must be shown in the
sketch with precise measurement. All these procedure must be written in the investigator’s notebook. An
investigator’s notebook refers to the pad of paper such as work pad, tickler, or notepad and the like which is
use to remember the details regarding the commission of the crime and in any manner aids the investigator
in refreshing his memory to recall matters related to the case under investigation.

In taking of photograph, investigating team must consider the following angle/ views to properly
appreciate the crime scene such as:

1. General view- these are taken outside of the crime scene purposely to show location, direction and
the place of the crime incident.

2. Medium view- these shots are taken to show the different divisions of the crime scene as this view
will allow investigators to clearly see the nature of the crime committed;

3. Close-up view- these shots are done to individual evidence to show what constitutes the crime and
how it was committed.
 Further gradual shots of an individual evidence may be taken from a standard position in
order to show the relationship of one evidence to another or how individual evidences is close or
far from one another. Technically, this is referred to as progressive photography. Which include
shots taken in long-range, mid-range and/or close range distance.

Sketching the Crime Scene

In line with sketch, the artist should be able to draw and portray the crime scene. The same must
remember the elements of the sketch includes the following:

1. Title- this includes the basic information regarding the case such as the nature of the crime, the
time and date of crime incident, the location of the crime
2. Measurement- this pertains to the dimension and distance of the relative object to one another.
3. Essential items- these refers to the pieces of physical evidence found at the crime scene.
4. Compass direction- refers to the north direction from which the sketch was drawn.
5. Scale of proportion- is the presentation of the sketch to the actual size of the scene.
In addition, the artist must also prepare a rough sketch and finished sketch. Rough sketched is drawn by
the artist at the crime scene containing all the necessary details regarding the crime.
 Finished sketch on the other hand is drawn by the artist for court presentation and is commonly done in the
office. Remember to keep the rough sketch even after the preparation of the finished sketch.

Sketcher must take note the type of sketch that should be drawn such as:

1. Floor plan or birds eye view- a type of sketch drawn from above
2. Elevation sketch- a type of sketch drawn to show the given side of area

3. Exploded view sketch- a type of sketch drawn to show the relationship or order of the whole
parts

4. Cross- projection sketch- a type of sketch wherein the ceiling and/ or walls are flattened all out
in the ground.
In drawing a crime scene, floor plan or birds eye view sketch is commonly used. However, in cases where
some evidence were place in the walls or ceiling ( example dress thrown and hang on the ceiling fan) cross
projection sketch is better.

Additional guidelines in drawing the sketch includes the following:

1. Don’t forget to indicate the nature of the crime and the place of incident as well as the name of the
person who prepare and drew it. For better understanding, use a capital letters and numbers are
highly suggested such that;
a. Capital letters- for basic parts or accessories of the place
b. Numbers- for individual evidence.
2. Indicate the position, location and how objects relates to one another.
3. Use standard symbol while sketching
4. Use arrow to show direction and stairways;
5. Be consistent with the units of measurements such as centimetres, inches, yard, meters, feet, etc.

To aid the investigators in measuring individual evidence with respect to any other objects in the crime
scene, the following methods should be considered and must be use base on the physical characteristics of
the crime scene:

1. Rectangular method- find fix post at a right angle to serve as the base;
2. Triangulation method- find two fix points to the evidence that must be plotted or located.
Lesson 3. Evaluation, preservation and releasing of the evidence.

Evaluation of evidence refers to the process of assessing the significance of individual evidence
that should be subjected for further examination such as transmittal of firearm to crime laboratory for
ballistics examination or transmittal of electronic devices such as cellphones or laptops to anti- cybercrime
group (ACG) for digital examination

Preservation of evidence refers to the measures employed in order to maintain, protect and
safeguard the original state of physical evidence from the time it was collected up until the time that it will
ne released to appropriate personnel. It must be noted that it is the primary responsibility of the investigator
to preserve the evidence until it will be transferred to the hands of the evidence custodian. Take not that
evidence custodian is the person who take charge the responsibility and control in handling and disposal of
evidence.

Releasing of evidence on the other hand refers to the discharge of individual evidence upon the
order of the court and/or prosecutor.

Chain of custody and transmittal to crime laboratory

Chain custody in every crime investigation should be maintain at all costs as any inconsistencies
in the handling of evidence may result to the incompetency of the same resulting to its inadmissibility during
court presentation. Chain of custody again is defined as the transfer of evidence from one person who
holds supervision or care of such evidence to another person from the time it was gathered at the crime
scene up to the time it will be presented in court. It includes the list of all personnel who handled the
evidence from collection until court presentation. Safekeeping simply refers to the security or protection of
physical evidence.

In addition, the following should be noted in adherence to the standard procedures in maintaining
the chain of custody such as:

1. Proper recording of areas or location from which the evidence was gathered.
2. Proper marking of evidence for accurate identification; and
3. Completing the evidence submission from the laboratory analysis.

For proper documentation, an evidence log should be maintain. Evidence log is any material upon
which the writing or note taking is done to keep and maintain the record and disposal of evidence.
This will guide investigators as to who are the person who handle and possess whatever physical
evidence are transmitted.

Release of the crime scene

Release of the crime scene is define as the discharge of the crime scene from the custody of
authorized law enforcement officer to the lawful occupant, owner or any person who is charge with the
responsibility and management of the place where the crime happened.
In releasing the crime scene, the following should be observed, to wit;

1. All physical evidence must be properly marked, tagged and labelled.

2. Ensure the proper inventory of all item is done;
3. Error should not be entertained as there is only one chance to processed the crime scene;and
4. Release the crime scene only after final survey and proper documentation. Final survey refers to
the action taken by the investigating team to ensure that all items have been gathered which
includes the proper documentation of all circumstances under which the physical evidence was
collected.

Lesson 4. Reconstructing the crime

Crime scene reconstruction is define as the scientific ability of investigators to make useful
observation of physical evidence in the crime scene through logical approach in theorizing as to show
the crime was committed. This also involves systematic methodology in incorporating all available
information gathered as well as the arrangement of physical evidence in the crime scene to provide a
rational, reasonable and acceptable explaination as to how the crime was committees.

Reconstruction

To properly reconstruct the crime, the following stages should be observed to arrive at a more
convincing explaination as to how the crime was committed, to wit;

1. Appreciation- is the process of recognizing potential physical evidence that has or may have
evidential value and separate if trom those items which are not significant in the progress of
investigation.
2. Comparison- is the process of comparing group standards from the one collected in the crime
scene to establish its identity.
3. Individualization- this involves the process of establishing the uniqueness of the physical evidence
taken from the crime scene; and
4. Reconstruction- is the final stage undertaken in order to fully reconstruct the crime considering all
related factors such as crime scene evaluation, laboratory results, individually of physical evidence
and other independent information from various sources to provide better understanding and
explanation as to how the crimes was committed.

Crime scene re- enactment is the process of re-enacting and portraying the crime incident base on
their previous knowledge regarding the event by having a would be offender, victim or witness to
play such role while crime scene re- creation is the process of substituting all necessary items or
actions at the crime scene through the use of what is documented or with the aid of investigation
log.

Modus operandi and profiling of suspect

 Modus operandi refers to the manner and methods employed or use as well as the
sequence of various actions taken by the perpetrator in committing the crime. It is otherwise known
as the method of operation.

On the other hand, profiling of suspects can be very useful in determining the identity of
possible individual who may have committed the crime. Profiling is define as the psychological
process of establishing the characteristics of the most likely individual who might have committed
the crime based on the evaluation of the crime scene and the placement of physical evidence.

In identifying the suspects, rogues gallery can also be very help. Rogues gallery refers to
the compilations of photographs of known criminals. If someone had witness or seen the suspect
face, cartographic sketch can be done. Cartographic sketch refers to the composite drawing of a
suspects face done by an artist to assist police investigation in establishing the identity of the
person who might have committed the crime.

Crime scene processing equipment

Investigating team and/or crime laboratory must have the following basic equipment when
responding to area calling for crime scene processing. These includes but not limited to the
following:

1. Camera
2. Marker
3. Evidence tag
4. Evidence seal
5. First aid kit
6. Graph paper and pencil
7. Evidence bag
8. Crime scene barricade
9. Measuring device
10. Protective box for basic paraphernalia