Importance of documenting a crime scene
While much has been hypothesized on various activities that should be carried out in a crime scene, it is essential to note that documentation is perhaps the most significant factor that should be given an upper hand in the handling of crime scenes. Notably, documenting a crime scene is noteworthy because it offers crime scene officer’s viable avenues in which they can find crucial facts that are significant in building a solid case (Pepper, 2010). In addition, documenting a crime scene reduces the chances of jeopardizing the outcomes of court cases, which occurs in the case where crime scene evidences are not documented properly or not documented at all. Overall, documenting a crime scene substantiates evidences; hence, enhancing the worth fullness of court cases.
Legal challenges to crime scene photography
Evidently, there exist a number of legal challenges aligned with crime scene photography. More importantly, the simplicity with which digital images derived from a crime scene can be stage-managed is perhaps the most equivocal challenge. On a similar note, it is relatively difficult to save images derived from a crime scene using formats that are not rewritable as recommended. In addition, the fact that it is challenging to maintain an accurate information file containing the crime scene image’s creation poses an immense legal challenge in crime scene photography. Finally, corrupt photographic images of a crime scene pose as a legal challenge because defense attorneys may turn them to aid the acquaintance of their clients (Pepper, 2010).
How an investigator can search a crime scene properly for evidence
Working as a crime scene investigator occurs as one of the most challenging task in the field of criminal justice. Nonetheless, there are various ways in which an investigator can search a crime scene for evidence. Above all, the investigator should ensure that he/she arrives at the crime scene promptly in order to preserve evidence on the scene. Additionally, investigators should be keen enough to capture admissible images that offer an accurate capture of different crime scene fundamentals while preserving other crucial evidences (Pepper, 2010). On a similar note, the investigator should work closely with a fingerprint technician who enhances latent fingerprints before being photographed by the investigator. From this analysis, latent finger is the main pattern of choice for the investigators; hence, planning is involved to ensure attainment of the same.
What investigators search for in a crime scene?
Conclusively, the primary objective in searching a crime scene is to record the conditions of the scene before the occurrence of any alterations (Pepper, 2010). For this reason, the investigators search for evidence items such as fingerprints, the partial relationships between these items, and the potential witnesses who would substantiate the evidences derived from the scene. Other major items searched for by investigators in a crime scene include impressions such as footwear, stains, and tool marks. Questionable material such as suicide notes and diaries also occur as the items searched for by investigators.
Collection and documentation as well as the importance of maintaining a chain of custody
Definitely, collection and documentation entail all the processes involved in locating evidence from a crime scene and collating them based on their partial relationship. Arguably, lighting is a crucial requirement when carrying out collection and documentation in a crime scene. This requirement is not only essential at night but is of immense significance during the day. Overall collection and documentation seeks to find, gather and safeguard every part of physical evidences in a crime scene, which serves to restructure the crime and spot the perpetrator (s) in an approach that will stand up in court (Pepper, 2010).
Reference
Pepper, I. K. (2010). Crime scene investigation: Methods and procedures. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
