Searching The Crime Scene

[Music] a crime has been committed a man beat the  first officers to arrive too late to catch the criminal have protected the crime scene  and called for Medical Aid the officer in charge of the investigation gets an initial  report from a patrolman already on the scene he then directs the officer to accompany the  victim to collect and preserve any physical evidence on his person and to make a record  of any statement he might make upon regaining Consciousness another officer is directed to  protect the outside area after finishing inside the investigative team will move out here  to continue their search for evidence but the crime was committed inside and that's where  the search began the scene of the crime who is in this room what happened the evidence found  here may provide the answers later in court the evidence will be needed to prove the truth of  these answers it is essential that one man be in in charge of the investigation he makes sure that  all areas are covered properly and completely one of the first steps is to take a photograph of the  crime scene before the search Begins the officer in charge makes a preliminary survey of the  scene to determine the objectives of the search in almost every crime the perpetrator either  take something identifiable with him or leave something at the scene to identify him success  in finding this evidence depends not only on the investigative team's thoroughness and attention to  detail but also on planning before the search is started his preliminary survey  completed the officer in charge assigns tasks to the other officers  to be effective the SE sech must be well planned according to a particular  system the system varies according to the situation in this search of a motel  room the officer in charge May assign the furniture to one officer the floor  walls and ceiling to another or he may divide the room and assign each half to  one officer assignment of specific search zones assures that each will be completely  covered that nothing will be overlooked regardless of the system used  the search team as a first step photographs and lifts fingerprints  and shoe prints from all obvious places this prevents their inadvertent  contamination during the later detailed search the room's dimensions and the location of each piece of evidence are recorded  in a crime scen sketch as the search proceeds it is important that each man  understands his assignment and what he is looking for in this case complete details  of the assault Clues to the identity of the As salent and perhaps evidence of another  crime the investigators move slowly careful not to disturb any evidence using common  sense they proceed in an orderly sequence to ensure that no piece of evidence is lost  or contaminated in the search for additional evidence after it is photographed each piece of  evidence is entered in a detailed log and properly identified and preserved identification by two  officers assures a complete and accurate record in addition to obvious objects of  evidence the investigators search for photographs bills receipts letters  notes tools clothing and additional finger and shoeprints anything that  may lead to the solution of the crime Laton prints may have been left in several  places the team collects and preserves obvious small objects which may have prints and they  don't overlook paper surfaces and cigarette butts evidence may be found in many  places the contents of a trash basket are collected the investigator  examines each item to look for some obvious clue such as a name or  phone number before wrapping up the contents phone books magazines and newspapers  May yield Clues evidence may be found under slipped between inside stuck to on top of  hanging from behind any object in the room as the search continues more  details are added to the crime scene sketch persons in the room during the crime may  have come in contact with a bed spread and left clothing fibers hair or other material on  it the bed spread is preserved as evidence for this investigators use a crime scene  kit properly prepared ahead of time with equipment such as notebooks measuring tape  fingerprint kit plaster apparis containers labels and marking pens all the materials  needed to identify and preserve physical evidence two officers identify  and Mark each piece of evidence if possible directly on the evidence later  in the courtroom successful prosecution of the case may depend heavily on  this important work at the crime scene no matter how carefully and exhaustively the  investigators conduct the search it is possible that some piece of evidence has escaped  their eyes to assure complete and thorough coverage the officer in charge switches  assignments so that each zone is searched twice if the search has been conducted properly  and thoroughly the team will have all the facts needed to reconstruct the scene of the crime  and they will take with them all the evidence at the scene that may lead to the solution  of the crime and apprehension of the Criminal [Music] crimes are committed in rooms stores  streets banks in woods on ships in the city and in the country anywhere  that people can go attention car 883 investigate possible Hit and Run 2 m North  intersection of State 116 and nor Wood Road 10 FL [Music] [Music] when the first officer reaches the  scene of the crime he gives first aid to injured persons or determines  if possible if death has occurred he keeps unauthorized persons away and  takes immediate steps to preserve the original condition of the scene traffic is  rooted either away from or around the scene when the search team arrives the officer in charge  takes immediate command and quickly assesses the situation death has been determined the body is  photographed in its original position before it is removed from the scene one officer is detailed to  interview persons present at the scene he records each person's name and address and everything  he saw heard and did at the scene the officer in charge instructs the ambulance driver to proceed  carefully so that he does not disturb any evidence on the ground the victim's clothes may contain  important evidence therefore he sends one of his men with the body to take custody of clothes  and personal effects for laboratory analysis in an outdoor search the search pattern should  fit the type of crime in the terrain the pattern also depends on what kind of evidence is being  looked for and how many men are available for the search in an open field with one main piece of  evidence like a safe a circular pattern spiraling out from the main evidence in a search for  other clothes and the direction of flight would be suitable but not in a hit and run case  the Grid or double strip pattern covers the same search area Twice first in One Direction and  then in the other this pattern is good for large Square areas but not here in this case  evidence may be stwn for quite a distance down the road the officer in charge selects a  strip pattern the strip pattern provides a close and com complete onetime search of a  large rectangular area string is laid out to Mark search Lanes again a crime scene sketch is  needed to relate the details into a composite picture during the actual search  investigators look particularly for broken glass tire and shoeprints paint chips  dirt clouds broken loose from the car and any other evidence left behind by the car and its driver the team has only one chance to  search and it is careful to find and collect everything that might be significant  what appears meaningless today may be relevant tomorrow the search team proceeds slowly  side by side until a piece of evidence is found the finder announces his Discovery and  the search halts until the evidence is cared for each piece of evidence is reported to the  officer in charge as he coordinates the search procedure it is not enough to find and photograph  evidence at the crime scene the evidence must be carefully collected and maintained  protected from damage and contamination and cared for so that the chain of evidence  is preserved only then will it stand up in court each piece of evidence is  identified and marked by at least two officers measurements are another important part of the record of evidence each measurement  is verified by one other officer 38 ft 11 in as each area is searched the officer  in charge moves ahead to plan the next step fresh tire marks indicate that the  hit and run driver knew he hit something it appears that he stopped by the roadside  came back for a look then took off but he left signs of his presence Tire prints are  as distinctive and unique as fingerprints in court a plaster cast of a tire print can  be identified with a tire that made the print and positively place the tire at the scene  shoeprints are also lifted with a plaster cap again two officers identify the evidence and  Mark it directly on the cast before it hardens two more items in the growing record of evidence  some evidence reveals its Story Only in the crime laboratory paint smears May identify the make  and year of the car finally the bicycle itself is identified so that it too becomes admissible  evidence the Search is Over using proper procedures in a well planned and coordinated  search the investigative team has found identified and preserved every bit of evidence at the crime  scene evidence which may lead to the driver of the car any successful crime scene search  assumes that the perpetrator has either taken something away or left something behind  which may lead to his identification whatever he touches wherever he steps whatever  he leaves behind can serve as a silent witness against him a carefully planned  and properly conducted crime scene search will find identify and preserve every piece  of evidence before it is removed from the scene some evidence may be sent to the FBI  laboratory to reveal its full story under the scientific examin conducted there because  it was properly handled at the crime Scene It remains uncompromised part of the chain of  evidence it is legally admissible in court and may be used to support the expert testimony  of FBI laboratory special agents these are the silent witnesses that lead to the criminal and  to his conviction gentleman of the jury have you reached a verdict we have your honor we  find the defendant guilty as charged [Music]