Abstract
The ethical and technical importance of effective, efficiently performed forensic crime scene investigation combines the use of creative thinking, with well-planned assessments and collection of evidence. When law enforcement participants function together as a team, in the engagement of utilizing standardized procedures in the collection and recovery of evidence, whether on ground-surface or burial excavations, precision and integrity may be maintained as foundational to the process. Preservation using photographic, videotaping, and handwritten documentation during each step of the crime scene investigation process, provides a basis of accuracy in reporting outcomes and greatly aids in an unambiguous identification of party – or parties – so responsible for the crime. Standardization of procedures and thus following its protocols of performance, during the course of crime-scene recovery investigations, helps to mitigate situations in which deceased murdered victims are never found. Precision in adherence to following standardized operation procedures, also may substantially reduce accusation of offenders falsely name. Thus, better serving the justice protocols of legal statutes, properly precise rendering of crime scene evidence assists in positive identification of perpetrators so involved.
Introduction
Crime scene investigation continues to be a mainstay of forensic problem-solving. The performance and assemblage of investigative tasks represent a collective team effort, of multidisciplinary fashion, to methodically uncover clues to capturing perpetrators responsible for murders. Death scene evidence, properly evaluated, contributes to the ongoing standardization of procedures and guidance protocols for investigative teamwork in developing process and accurate uses of technology and collection of data. The Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) Manual herein proposes a suggested guideline of steps involved regarding surface recovery, and burial excavation outline of basic instructional tasks while on scene.
PART ONE: Surface Recovery – Mapping and Inventory
1. ARRIVING AT SCENE AND SECURING BOUNDARIES
1.1. Cautiously approach area in question, visually scan immediate proximity for body, bodies, visible bones, bloody items such as clothing/instruments, or objects.
1.2. Utilize heightened senses of smell, vision, and hearing to ascertain the presence of secondary surface-correlated evidence such as chemicals, undue amounts of gasoline, or identification of any lingering unauthorized persons in the vicinity, before proceeding.
1.3. Locate body, check for pulse, and pronounce death per requirement as properly and officially must be determined.
1.4. Visually establish parameters of crime scene, being careful not to disturb any delicate evidentiary items, by watching footing. Walk the boundary and widen scope of perimeter as needed.
1.5. Locate a single pathway for entry/exit into the scene, so as to lessen disturbance of vital physical evidence and carefully utilized available tape/apparatus to seal off crime-scene landscape, while respecting the chain of command of investigative team members, and establish command post.
1.6. Prepare for immediate photographic imagery process.
2. PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGERY AND WALK-THROUGH
2.1. Ensure medical personnel has been summoned.
2.2. Inventory the presences of all vital digital, photo, and videotaping equipment is on scene, using care to engage measureable objects – such as quarters/rulers for accuracy in scale and sizing body-parts, bone lengths, scars, or other evidence.
2.3. Identify personnel responsible for maintaining collection receptacles.
2.4. Be prepared to instruct medical personnel for minimization of contamination with any evidence, such as knife tears, bullet holes, or further disturbance of clothing. Show visuals of outdoors/indoors landscapes, trees, furniture, bathrooms, closets, roads, etc.
2.5. Document comments of other law enforcements, or witnesses on scene.
2.6. Label, verify, and document all images in manner suitable for storage in archives and which may be adequately transferred to hard drive. Preferably, ensure backup of batteries for all photographic equipment and hold employee responsible for original-image accuracy, whose duty entails image capture.
2.7. Photography deceased from all possible angles, close-up shots, mid-range, etc.
3. PROCESSING SCENE AND EVIDENCE COLLECTION
3.1. Immediately after photo-documenting evidence, collect each visible piece with gloved hands or prong-instruments, and wrap or encase in containers to preserve integrity.
3.2. Collect soil samples, carpet samples, or any other material debris around/near the processing scene of death event, for further laboratory analysis for plant/bacterial or human blood/DNA evidence.
3.3. Identify, document, and record each sample so collected. Include time, location, and identify whom was responsible for its collection at time, at the scene.
3.4. Separate, control, and identify all individuals present at the processing scene notating law enforcement, medical personnel, witnesses, potential suspects, and bystanders separating and removal from scene as necessary.
4. EVIDENCE HANDLING
4.1. Record each material collection with photographic, videotaped, and recorded description, then bag or contain accordingly.
4.2. Log each item, measurement, description into digital recorded laptop equipment, and voice description recording.
4.3. Continue to observe safety route, one-way entry/exit points to avoid disturbance of evidence during top-ground mapping and inventory collection of material.
4.5. If necessary to remove items, from original positions, take photos before-and-after during evidence-collection phase.
5. CSI VAN SUPPLIES (SURFACE OR EXCAVATION TOOLS)
5.1. First-Responder Officers’ Essentials: Biohazard bags, bindle paper, consent forms, first-aid kit, flashlight plus batteries, notebook flares, crime-scene barricade tape, markers i.e. spray, chalk, tweezers, syringe/knife, re-sealable bags different sizes, extension cords, evidence seal/tape, etc.
5.2. Personal protective equipment and light source: hair coverage apparatus, foot booties, gloves, overalls, mask, UV lamp, goggles, high-intensity light, magnifying glass.
5.3. Nail clipper and orange peelers (removal underneath fingernail debris), privacy screens, bloodstain kit, excavation kit (cones, paintbrushes, sifting screens), fingerprint kit including black-and-white film, lift card, chemical enhancements items, trace evidence kit, and trajectory kit (string, mirror, laser, protractor, dummy, calculator, canned smoke).
5.4. Tarps for weather protection, rubber mats, rubber bands, distilled water, disposable scalpels, tool kit, shoe-print lifting kit, plaster of Paris (casting materials kit/bowls), thermometer, sexual assault kit, ethanol, sterile gauze/swabs, glass containers/vials, germicide towelettes, weights, wooden stakes, super-glue packets, dental kit die stone stuff, trace evidence vacuums, gel/electrostatic dust lifter, slides, and slides mailers.
PART TWO: Burial Excavation – Mapping and Inventory
1. FIELDWORK PREPARATIONS
1.1. Take aerial photographs of crime scene and immediately surrounding proximity, if outdoors; If indoors carefully document photographic evidence before conducting excavation digging, in order to preserve evidence of conditions in the pre-excavation state.
1.2. Contact all agency officials authorized to aid in conduct of archaeological outdoors excavations; the assurance of qualified archaeologist on-site is crucial to proper homicide crime scene processing.
1.3. Ascertain any needed specialized equipment to excavate, such as concrete invasive, or bulldozer apparatus in the case of widespread crime scene burial types.
1.4. Introduce certified cadaver-trained dogs to engage on-site search for buried bodies, items, searching for underground burials, or associated underground evidence.
1.5. Enlist a qualified forensic/geophysical archaeologist and/or anthropologist for field team excavation burial recovery of victims’ procedures, and advice on appropriate earthmovers for sensitive remote/uninhabited areas.
1.6. Assess state or regulatory authorization requirements for soil removal, and clarify roles of all team members.
1.7. Obtain and secure topographical map to cross-reference accuracy in reporting, and documentation of all evidence and events.
2. MAINTENANCE, CONTROL, AND SECURING THE ZONE
2.1. Determine land size of grid to be searched, and engage law enforcement to guard perimeter.
2.2. If applicable, engage on-foot search party to walk the grid in straight lines of strips, in equi-parallel distances apart in lanes heading the same direction.
3. EXPAND ZONE-SEARCH TO MARK DETAILED GROUND COVER/EVIDENCE
3.1. Mark and measure area divisions of zone for burial evidence, including surface disturbances which imply land disturbances, such as dirt mounds, or upheavals in landforms.
3.2. Photograph and tag each zone, label, and prepare to dig using geo-tomography technology devices to scan for underground shapes or varying densities which may indicate the presence of body, bones, or items.
3.3. Once body or remains have been detected, prepare to carefully unearth remains.
3.4. After pinpointing location, conduct an outward spiral-search of target area to note any accompanying pieces of evidence and clues such as unusually torn tree limbs, unnatural piles of rocks/debris, unusual scrapes in bare surfaces of earth, or artificial items ‘left behind’ such as ignitable liquid-fluid containers or clothing.
3.5. Utilize gloves at all times to retrieve, touch, pick-up, and package any items found in proximity of burial tract, with careful documentation – written and photographic.
4. ENGAGEMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGIST AND SOIL STRATIGRAPHY VERIFICATION
4.1. Allow experienced archaeologist to utilize physical tools, in lieu of insufficient time for electronic detection sensing-devices equipment to be mobilized.
4.2. Document time, location, actions, of arrival and departure of archaeologist’s performance.
4.3. Alert medical examiner or coroner on standby, or at scene, as discovery becomes near.
4.4. Observe, photograph, videotape, and create written documentation record of soil probe activity and any knowledge gained of skeletal remains, as a result.
5. ESSENTIAL RECORDING AND DOCUMENTATION OF COLLECTED EVIDENCE
5.1. Proceed to collect, record, document, and photograph excavation artifacts with the utmost of care to preserve evidence for later court presentation.
5.2. As the occasion is befitting, take precautions to protect collected evidence according to geographical weather/location, if in dry dusty windblown environment, time-eroded circumstances, or leafy wetlands.
5.3. Specifically collect soil samples from the innermost-target area, as well as from gradual outward areas stretching approximately thirty feet in a spiral, for forensic matching of evidentiary proof associated with parties involved with the crime.
5.4. Mark gravesite/burial, notating precise body-positioning, clothing/items/bones remains, and their placement in correlation to one another using documentation types of audio/visual recording, written notes, and photographic apparatus.
5.5. Proceed and prepare for continuous visual scoping and scanning during procedure and remain flexible in enhancing further courses of action in cooperation with expert team members, including police photographer, archaeologist, and regional regulatory officials.
5.6. Collect, bag, and package all evidence in manner aimed at preservation, also noting bloodstains on garments, dirt, rocks, leaves, and other materials within proximity of the scene.
References
Forensic. (2016). Sample of Standard Operating Procedure Manuals [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.forensictv.net/Downloads/sop/sop_samples.pdf
National Institute of Justice – NIJ. (2009). Equipment needed for crime scene investigation [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.nij.gov/topics/law-enforcement/investigations/crime-scene/guides/pages/equipment-csi.aspx
National Institutes of Standards and Technology – NIST. (2013). Crime scene investigation: A guide for law enforcement [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.nist.gov/forensics/upload/Crime-Scene-Investigation.pdf
Owsley, D.W. (2001). Why the forensic anthropologist needs the archaeologist. Historical Archaeology, 35(1), 35-38. Retrieved from http://sha.org/wp-content/uploads/files/sha/Journals%201967-2005/2000-2004/Vol%2035%20(2001)/35-1/35-1-04.pdf
