Conducting an Investigation, Essay Example

The Law enforcement agencies tend to adopt a fairly standard approach when conducting a crime scene investigation.  The steps are briefly as follows:-

• Arrival – Early assessment is made of the site by conducting interview with all of those at the crime scene. This normally includes the conducting police officer together with any witnesses.  An early determination is made on the need for searches and whether a warrant is required.  A safety plan is put into place for any potential health and safety risks at the site
• Walk-through – A thorough review of the site is made and an exclusion zone put into force. All potential evidence is noted prior to collection. An inventory of required forensic equipment is made.
• Forensic Tests – The Forensic team collect any evidence and samples required from the site. This may include such items as Blood Splatter samples, DNA tests, fingerprints, footprints, clothing materials or other identified materials.  These are returned to the forensic laboratory for processing. Also at this time photographs and sketches of the crime scene are made for future exhibits in court.
• Collecting of Evidence – The Forensic team records the type, location, description and place of all evidence collected. In addition all evidence is photo-graphed and cross referenced. This is repeated at the Forensic laboratory for test results. The Police investigating team maintain custody of the notes, photographs and forensic team reports.

The Forensic tests are perhaps the most significant as items like DNA testing may protect the innocent in addition to help finding the guilty party.  It is important to rule out potential suspects in addition to building the case for locating the person who has carried out the crime. The crime scene also offers a limited window of opportunity for completing this exercise. (Saferstein, R. 2007)

Works Cited

Saferstein, R. (2007). Criminalistics. An introductionto Forensic Science. New York: Prentice Hall.