Question 1: What restrictions apply to a crime scene investigator with regard to a body within the crime scene? Explain.
The crime scene investigator is responsible for the recovery of evidences in a crime scene. Among the evidences that a crime scene investigator collect with regards to a body at a crime scene are bodily fluids such as blood and semen, nail scrapings, hair and the patterns in the blood stains (Byrd, n.d.). When at the crime scene, it is imperative that investigators should make determine any changes done with the body, ask who were involved with the said changes, and verify why the changes were made. Additionally, investigators should approach the body one at a time. The investigator should not alter the orientation of the body before all investigations in the crime scene is over. Appropriate observation is then to be done with the body while minimizing its movement. After taking note of all visible evidence, the investigator should ensure that the body and all of the crime scene is photographed. Only after the photographs were taken when the investigator can alter the orientation of the body and proceed to a more detailed investigation. This detailed investigation includes the determination of the eye color, presence of bodily fluids, the condition of the hidden parts of the body, such as the back, the temperature of the body, the place it is laid on and the possible mass of maggots. The identification of the body is not the investigator's priority if it is unknown. This means that the investigator cannot go through the body's pockets and such. Lastly, the crime scene investigator notifies the medical examiner of the possible cause of death and forward any relevant evidence for further examination (Ruslander, n.d.).
Question 2 and 3: What is the role of a coroner’s investigator? Explain.
What is a coroner? Explain.
A coroner is “an independent judicial office holder, appointed by a local council” (Ministry of Justice, 2014). They have a legitimate background on legal procedures and with medical terminologies which makes them eligible to take part in the investigations. Their investigation is usually called for when a death is unnatural or violent, it is unknown how a person died and if a person happened to die while in police custody, jail or detention (Ministry of Justice, 2014).
Question 4: What is a medical examiner? Explain.
A medical examiner is a personnel who is tasked” to determine the cause and manner of death” of an individual in cases where it is necessary. This is not limited to murders, but extends to suicide, unattended deaths, deaths concerning public safety, and the like. This means that medical examiners often perform post-mortems and may call on inquests for a more detailed and definitive investigation (Ruslander, n.d.).
Question 5: What is the difference between livor mortis, rigor mortis, and algor mortis?
All of which are early, but not immediate changes in a body after death. Algor mortis is the change in the temperature of the body after death. There is a cooling down with the body that does not occur at a uniform rate due to changes in the environment. The skin of the body cools down more rapidly than the body’s core, which accounts for the necessity to take the inner temperature. Livor mortis is the discoloration of the skin in the dependent regions of a dead body. The skin on the dependent regions turns red to purple since the uncoagulated blood sink down due to gravity. This is evident after one to two hours of death and becomes fixed after about 6 hours. Lastly, livor mortis is the stiffening of a body after about 2 to 4 hours of death. The onset largely varies depending on the environment and may continue for about 24 hours. A hot environment accelerates rigor mortis while a cold environment retards and prolong it (Cupero & Rensselaer, n.d.).
Question 6: Do you believe that every jurisdiction should have a coroner or a medical examiner? Why or why not?
Yes, since the death of an individual should always be a concern for the safety of the public and the persecution of those responsible for a death. The presence of a coroner and a medical examiner in a jurisdiction assures the safety of the public by making sure that any deaths will be thoroughly addressed.
References
Byrd, M. (n.d.). Duty Description for the Crime Scene Investigator. Crime Scene Investigator Network. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
Cupero, A. and Rensselaer, M.S. (n.d.). Postmortem Changes and Time of Death. University of New Orleans. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
Ministry of Justice. (2014). Coroner Investigations: A Short Guide. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
Ruslander, H.W. (n.d.). Searching and Examining a Major Case Crime Scene. Crime Scene Investigator Network. Retrieved June 16, 2016.
