A GUIDE TO CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
This book is a practical and informative introduction to the complexities of a crime scene investigation (CSI).
The reader is given an introduction to the protocol and procedures of a crime scene investigation, including how to prepare a tool kit, how to secure and protect a crime scene, how to collect, preserve and transport evidence, how to recognize important evidence, and how to release the crime scene when the investigation is fully concluded.
It further offers a comprehensive overview of how the elements of a crime scene investigation fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, from the discovery of the crime to the submission of evidence in court. Finally the book introduces the latest developments in the world of CSI with topics like virtual autopsies and the collecting of electronic evidence.
Upon completion of this book, the reader will:
- Understand terminology relative to crime scene investigation
- Acquire knowledge of law enforcement codes of ethics and standards of integrity
- Have an understanding of the history of modern forensic science
- Understand general precautions to exercise when participating in a crime scene investigation
- Know about some types of equipment used in a crime scene investigation
- Understand how to discover and recognize a crime scene
- Comprehend the protocol of a crime scene investigation
- Understand proper methods for collecting and handling evidence
- Understand how to document evidence as it is collected including accurately recording a crime scene through photography, sketches and notes in order to later reconstruct details for analysis
- Have a comprehensive understanding of the types evidence
- Have an understanding of the process of discovery of evidence
- Know how to properly protect physical evidence from contamination when it has been discovered
- Develop a deeper understanding of biological evidence, including fingerprints, blood, other body fluids and hair
- Understand the importance of wound identification in investigative procedure
- Grasp the importance of impressions left at the scene of a crime, including footwear, tire tread, tool marks and teeth marks
- Have a working knowledge of the importance of the potential information contained in such evidence as pollen, fibers, cigarettes, controlled substances and medicines
- Understand the importance of evidence from animals and other biological non-human sources
- Grasp the importance of fracture matching techniques
- Understand the complexities of firearm issues and gunshot residue
- Comprehend the importance of paper documents and electronic data as physical evidence
- Understand the basics of a fire investigation
- Know how to clean up and release a crime scene after a completed investigation
- Understand the importance of a chain of custody
- Understand the basics of what happens when evidence is investigated in a laboratory
- Have a working understanding of both a physical and a virtual autopsy
- Have an idea of what to expect in crime scene investigations in the future
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: Definitions of Terms
Chapter 2: A History of Forensic Science Before 1900
Chapter 3: A History of Forensic Science After 1900
Chapter 4: Investigative Ethics
Chapter 5: Purposes for an Investigation
Chapter 6: Tools and Equipment for the Investigation
Chapter 7: Crime Scene Precautions
Chapter 8: Crime Scene Protocol
Chapter 9: Crime Scene Discovery
Chapter 10: Collecting Evidence
Chapter 11: Maintaining Chain of Custody
Chapter 12: Types of Evidence
Chapter 13: Finding Evidence
Chapter 14: Control Samples
Chapter 15: Handling Evidence
Chapter 16: Protecting Evidence
Chapter 17: Documenting Evidence
Chapter 18: Blood Evidence Part 1
Chapter 19: Blood Evidence Part 2
Chapter 20: Blood Evidence Part 3
Chapter 21: Blood Evidence Part 4
Chapter 22: Other Body Fluids
Chapter 23: DNA
Chapter 24: Touch DNA
Chapter 25: Interpretation of Wounds
Chapter 26: Impressions: Human Bite Marks
Chapter 27: Impressions: Fingerprints
Chapter 28: Impressions: Footwear
Chapter 29: Impressions: Tires and Tool Marks
Chapter 30: Trace Evidence
Chapter 31: Hair and Fiber as Evidence
Chapter 32: Pollen as Evidence
Chapter 33: Cigarettes as Evidence
Chapter 34: Cigarettes and Other Contamination Issues
Chapter 35: Controlled Substances and Medicines
Chapter 36: Animal (non-human) Evidence
Chapter 37: Fracture Matching
Chapter 38: Firearms
Chapter 39: Gunshot Residue
Chapter 40: Paper Documents
Chapter 41: Computer and Other Electronic Evidence
Chapter 42: Fire Debris and Accelerant Evidence
Chapter 43: Releasing the Crime Scene
Chapter 44: Crime Scene Cleanup
Chapter 44: Analyzing Forensic Evidence
Chapter 46: Physical Autopsy
Chapter 47: Virtual Autopsy
Chapter 48: The Future of CSI
Conclusion
Appendix I
Sources Consulted
Appendix II
20 Common Fire Accelerants
About the Author
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