How does the investigator decide which evidence is significant?

The crime scene investigator's experience, knowledge, and capabilities are critical for deciding which items at the crime scene are actual evidence, because if all physical objects at the scene were gathered for analysis, the lab would be overwhelmed with insignificant testing unrelated to the case.

How do you determine which evidence is most important to analyze from a crime scene?

To help identify the evidence that is most valuable, the crime scene personnel may conduct initial screening tests, called presumptive tests, at the scene.

What do investigators do with evidence?

They take photographs and physical measurements of the scene, identify and collect forensic evidence, and maintain the proper chain of custody of that evidence. Crime scene investigators collect evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, tire tracks, blood and other body fluids, hairs, fibers and fire debris.

What are factors that influence the way in which an investigator conducts a search at a crime scene?

Name three factors that influence how an investigator conducts a crime scene. How an investigator conducts a crime scene search depends on the locale, the size of the area, and the actions of the suspect(s) and victim(s) at the scene.

What are four examples of questions that the investigator should ask about evidence?

Bevel and Gardner (2008) defined four questions that the investigator should ask about evidence. What are they? What is it? What function did it serve?

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What are the things that investigator must remember during the investigation process?

Include the date, time, and place of each interview, the name of the witness, and whether anyone else was present. Don't just record the witnesses' conclusions; include all the important facts that the witness relates or denies, using the witness's own words whenever possible.

How do you think evidence are collected?

Most items of evidence will be collected in paper containers such as packets, envelopes, and bags. Liquid items can be transported in non-breakable, leakproof containers. Arson evidence is usually collected in air-tight, clean metal cans.

What is the best way for an investigator to handle trace evidence?

Describe the best way for an investigator to handle trace evidence found on articles collected at a crime scene. Name two exceptions to this general rule. Trace evidence should not normally be removed from articles at a crime scene. Instead, the entire object should be sent to the laboratory for processing.

How is evidence processed criminology?

Processing of Physical Evidence: Physical evidence is processed from the crime scene to be used as evidence in a courtroom by scenes of crime officers. Officers will put in place a police cordon preventing access to anyone without authorisation. A record will also be kept of those with access to the scene.

What factors can affect the choice of search method at a crime scene?

Choosing a search pattern is critical and depends on the locale, size of the area, and the apparent actions of the suspect, victim, and any others having access to the scene, that is, witnesses (Saferstein 2004).

What steps will an investigator follow to analyze and document a crime scene?

What type of evidence is most valuable?

Physical evidence is often the most important evidence.

What are the stages of investigation?

What is the importance significance of physical evidence?

Physical evidence is useful (1) to determine how a crime was committed, (2) to connect a suspect with the crime or identify the criminal, or (3) to clear an innocent person.

What is the significance of physical evidence?

Physical evidence can determine the identity of people associated with a crime; for example, fingerprints, handwriting, or DNA might prove that a certain person was present at a crime scene.

How do you ensure the integrity of the evidence you collect?

Storing Evidence

Investigators should not package moist evidence until it is thoroughly dry and or seal collection bags or envelopes prematurely. Most evidence should be stored at room temperature, unless it is liquid evidence, in which case it should be refrigerated and packaged in a sterile glass or plastic bottle.

How do you investigate a case?

How do you collect and analyze trace evidence?

Common collection methods include individual fiber collection using tweezers or vacuuming an area and sorting the materials at the laboratory. Trace evidence can also be gathered by tape lifting, however, this is not ideal due to the destructive nature of adhesives.

How reliable is trace evidence?

Because of the individualized nature of trace evidence fragments, there are often no significant statistics that would be used to determine the likelihood of accuracy, as would be found in DNA evidence. Without statistics, presentation of analysis and interpretation results can vary.

Why is trace evidence difficult?

Because trace evidence samples can look similar and the environments where they are found are often complex, identifying unique characteristics and establishing a link can be difficult. Older techniques often cannot distinguish such evidence due to these challenges.

What is the most important step in the process of collecting evidence?

COLLECTION AND PRESERVATION OF EVIDENCE, PART 1. The most important aspect of evidence collection and preservation is protecting the crime scene. This is to keep the pertinent evidence uncontaminated until it can be recorded and collected.

What determines the manner of collecting and preserving physical evidence?

The manner of collecting and preserving physical evidence at a crime scene is determined by: The nature of the evidence. Physical evidence may be obtained from: The crime scene, The victim, The suspect.

How do police investigators establish the identity of suspect?

Typically the identity of the culprit is developed in some other way and then physical evidence is used to help establish proof of guilt. Possible exceptions to this pattern are fingerprints (when analyzed through AFIS or Automated Fingerprint Identification System technology) and DNA banks.

What is investigative strategy?

An investigative strategy is needed to locate and gather this material effectively. The purpose of an investigative strategy is to: identify the most appropriate line(s) of enquiry to pursue. determine the objective of pursuing particular lines of enquiry.

What is a significant witness?

'Significant' witnesses include eye witnesses, including emergency services personnel (Ministry of Justice, 2011). In certain circumstances, video-recorded interviews with a vulnerable and intimidated witness can be played as evidence-in-chief.