1st Edition

CSI for the First Responder A Concise Guide

By Jan LeMay Copyright 2011
    168 Pages 125 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    168 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Critical to the successful apprehension and prosecution of criminals, the job of collecting evidence at a crime scene requires knowledge, technical skills, patience, and perseverance. Often this task falls on just one individual — the officer on routine patrol duties who is the first to arrive at the scene of a crime. Written by an expert with seventeen years experience in law enforcement, CSI for the First Responder is a succinct guide on how to secure, search, identify, document, collect, and preserve physical evidence essential for solving a case and making the evidence stand up in court.

    A practical, hands-on resource to all aspects of crime scene investigation, this book covers:

    • The approach to the scene
    • Securing the scene
    • Searching for and identifying evidence
    • Documenting the evidence through notes and reports
    • Photography and videotape
    • Sketches and diagrams
    • Collection and preservation
    • The investigative value of different types of evidence
    • Testimony and presenting evidence in court

    Enhanced with real-life examples, the book presents case studies implementing the described techniques. The case studies include examples of successful scene security and documentation as well as cautionary tales of erroneous practices with lessons learned. Also included with this book is a Quick Reference Guide on the downloadable resources, which can be downloaded to patrol car laptops or printed and kept in a pocket for easy access. Spanning the entire scope of a case from initial discovery of evidence to courtroom presentation, this one-stop resource enables law enforcement to nail down the evidence they need to prove the crime and get the conviction.

    Crime Scene Approach
    What Is a Crime Scene?
    Securing the Scene
    Rendering Aid
    Establishing a Perimeter
    Legal Considerations to Search and Seizure
    Scene Assessment
    Scene Search
    Crime Scene Documentation
    Photography
    Video
    Sketching
    Title box
    Legend
    Floor plan
    Elevation diagram
    Exploded diagram
    Perspective diagram
    Methods of Measurement
    Rectangular coordinates
    Triangulation
    Transecting baseline
    Azimuth or polar coordinates
    Notes and Reports
    Collecting Evidence
    Process for Latent Prints
    Chain of Custody
    Evidence
    What Is Evidence?
    Direct Evidence
    Indirect Evidence
    Class Characteristics
    Individual Characteristics
    Biological Evidence
    Scene Safety
    Inhalation
    Ingestion
    Absorption
    Injection
    Searching for Biological Evidence
    Documentation
    Collection
    Trace DNA
    General Collection Tips
    Presumptive Tests
    Sexual Assault Kits
    Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS)
    Elimination Samples
    Trace Evidence
    Hair
    Fibers
    Accelerants
    Wood
    Soil
    Glass
    Plant Material and Seeds
    Metals
    Paint
    Impression Evidence
    Two-Dimensional Impressions
    Documenting Two-Dimensional Impressions
    Collecting Two-Dimensional Impressions
    Three-Dimensional Impressions
    Documenting Three-Dimensional Impressions
    Choosing the Right Scale
    Casting Three-Dimensional Impressions
    Tire Impressions, Special Considerations
    Tool Marks
    Databases and Other Investigative Aids
    Firearms Evidence
    Safety
    Understanding Firearms
    Caliber
    Rifling
    Individual Characteristics on Bullets
    Shell Casings
    Shotguns, Shells, and Wadding
    National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN)
    Gunshot Residue
    Handling, Unloading, and Packaging Firearm Evidence
    Documents
    Handwriting
    Typewriters
    Computer Printers
    Paper and Ink Analysis
    Indented Writing
    Collection and Preservation
    Fingerprints
    Patent Impressions
    Latent Impressions
    Plastic Impressions
    Searching for Fingerprints
    Developing and Lifting Fingerprints
    Photographing Fingerprints
    Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
    Porous Items
    Controlled Substances
    Documentation
    Drug Identification
    Field Tests
    Prescription Drug Identification
    Death Scene Investigation
    Cause and Manner of Death
    Jurisdiction over the Body
    Postmortem Lividity
    Rigor Mortis
    Scene Documentation
    Law Enforcement’s Role at Autopsy
    Courtroom Presentation and Testimony
    Preparation and Pretrial Conference
    Courtroom Dress and Demeanor
    Courtroom Exhibits and Displays
    Adversarial System
    Case Studies
    Case Number 1
    Case Number 2
    Case Number 3
    Case Number 4
    Index

    Biography

    LeMay, Jan