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Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

Why a Crime Scene is the Important Focus of the Investigation

Claudia Proctor
CJUS 420-B04 LUO
Professor Fox
January 19, 2015

Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

Why a Crime Scene is the Important Focus of the Investigation

This thesis will explain why a Homicide Crime Scene is the focus of the
Investigations. Also, once all evidence and information has been gather all will
know that evidence at a crime scenes doesnt lie. Finally, the audience will learn
about the methods thats used to solve and gather all evidence from beginning to
end and why its important to receive accurate information regarding the
investigation. If receive incorrect information a guilty criminal can be set free into
society.

Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

The importance of a crime scene investigator. At any crime scene is the most important scene for
an investigator is forensic science due to the supporting evidence that develops and ensure a
criminal conviction. The crime scene there are evidence and the evidence is the most important
part of a crime scene investigation the evidence at the crime scene can provide information that
help solve and relieve the society of a criminal. To solve a case the investigator observe the
scene for evidence. The investigator then collect all evidence to ensure people handling the
evidence have to be correctly documented and preserved the evident. If the evidence was poorly
collected and missed handle. If crime scenes had been poorly observed the investigation could
destroy the case along with the evident and that has been collected then the investigator start
over. If evidence is tainted this can cause a mistrial, found not guilty and the guilty allow to
enter the society or the tainted evidence can convict an innocent person.
As a crime scene investigator you have to be good at solving problems to provide answers that
need to solve a case. Solving a case isnt that easy due to unanswered questions, with unclear
supporting facts. The evidence has to be evaluated thoroughly to provide a positive verdict
during court/trial.
Knowledge is the key to solving a crime scene during an investigation. At a crime scene the goal
is the find, collect and preserve all evidence to recreate crime scene. The method that are used in
a crime scene are Scene Survey and Evidence Recognition, Scene Searchs, Documentation,
Evidence collection and Preservation and Release of the Scene.

Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

Scene Survey:
The goal for Scene Survey is establish the type of scene. To observe all physical evidence, and
get the first impression of the physical evidence. A Scene Survey cant be completed until
victims are properly cared for.
Evidence Recognition:
Determination of which physical evidence items and /or patterns are relevant to the case as
opposed to being part of the scene background.
Scene Survey:
A detailed, systematic search of a crime scene with the objective of noting every condition and
every relevant item of physical evidence.
Documentation:
Creation of a detailed, complete record of a crime scene, including notes, sketches, photographs,
and videotape (Forensic Science pg64). With documentation of evidence the investigators has to
document all evidence thats has been collected. The forms of documentation are photographs,
sketches, notes and sometimes videos.
Evidence Collection
The goal of the evidence-collection stage is to find, collect and preserve all physical evidence
that might serve to recreate the crime and identify the perpetrator in a manner that will stand up

Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

in court. Evidence can come in any form. Some typical kinds of evidence a CSI might find at a
crime scene include:

Trace evidence (gunshot residue, paint residue, broken glass, unknown chemicals, drugs)

Impressions (fingerprints, footwear, tool marks)

Body fluids (blood, semen, saliva, vomit)

Hair and fibers

Weapons and firearms evidence (knives, guns, bullet holes, cartridge casings)

Questioned documents (diaries, suicide note, phone books; also includes electronic
documents like answering machines and caller ID units)
The crime scene responsible for complex crime scene investigations; responsibility for the
evaluation of the scene; uses various types of equipment; develops, secures, and packages
physical evidence for scientific evaluation and comparison; prepares detailed reports on the
observations and activities at the scene for the law enforcement agency responsible for the
investigation of the crime; testifies in court regarding the findings and processing methods used
at the scene (Internet).

Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

You can lead jurors to the truth but you can't make them believe it. Physical evidence
cannot be intimidated. It does not forget. It doesn't get excited at the moment something is
happening--like people do. It sits there and waits to be detected, preserved, evaluated, and
explained. That is what physical evidence is all about. In the course of a trial, defense and
prosecuting attorneys may lie, witnesses my lie, the defendant certainly may lie. Even the
judge may lie. Only the evidence never lies.

Running Head: EVIDENCE DOESNT LIE

Reference

Osterburg, J. W., & Ward, R. H. (2014). Criminal investigation: A method for

reconstructing the past (7th ed.). Waltham, MA
Gaensslen, R.E., & Howard, A. Harris (2008). Introduction to Forensics Science and
Criminalistics
Retrieve from Internet; http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/collect.html
http://www.evidencemagazine.com/
science.howstuffworks.com/csi3.ht