Crime scene investigation theory is the study of how to identify, document, collect, preserve and analyze physical evidence from a crime scene. It is based on scientific reasoning and methods that aim to establish what happened and who was involved in a crime.
Crime scene investigation theory also includes the principles of crime scene reconstruction, which is the process of using the evidence and other information to infer the sequence of events and the dynamics of the crime.
Crime scene investigation theory relies on various forensic disciplines, such as fingerprint analysis, blood pattern analysis, DNA analysis, ballistics, trace evidence analysis and more.
Some of the challenges of crime scene investigation are:
- Curiosity from spectators: Crime scenes often attract a lot of attention from the public, the media and other law enforcement agencies. This can interfere with the work of the crime scene technicians and compromise the integrity of the evidence.
- Contamination or tampering of the scene: Careless handling of the crime scene can lead to contamination or alteration of the evidence by human or environmental factors. This can affect the reliability and validity of the evidence and its analysis.
- Loss of evidence: The biggest impediment to an investigation is the removal or loss of a piece of evidence from the crime scene. This can happen due to high movement of human traffic, theft, misplacement or improper storage of the evidence.
- Conflict with other departments: Crime scene investigation often involves collaboration and coordination with other departments, such as forensic laboratories, medical examiners, prosecutors and defense attorneys. However, sometimes there may be disagreements or misunderstandings among these parties regarding the procedures, priorities, expectations and outcomes of the investigation.
- Ease of access: Crime scene technicians need to have access to adequate resources, equipment, training and support to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. However, sometimes they may face challenges such as budget constraints, lack of personnel, outdated technology or insufficient facilities.
Sources:
(1) Police - Crime-scene investigation and forensic sciences. https://www.britannica.com/topic/police/Crime-scene-investigation-and-forensic-sciences.
(2) Guiding Principles for Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction - NIST. https://www.nist.gov/document/guiding-principles-crime-scene-investigation-and-reconstruction.
(3) Forensic Evidence and Crime Scene Investigation. https://www.avensonline.org/fulltextarticles/JFI-2330-0396-01-0004.html.
(4) (PDF) Principles of Crime Scene Investigation - ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331745757_Principles_of_Crime_Scene_Investigation.
(5) The 5 Biggest Problems Crime Scene Technicians Encounter - CareerAddict. https://www.careeraddict.com/the-5-biggest-problems-crime-scene-technicians-encounter.
(6) (PDF) Crime Scene Investigation Issues: Present Issues and Future .... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350787414_Crime_Scene_Investigation_Issues_Present_Issues_and_Future_Recommendations.
(7) The Biggest Legal Challenges Of Crime Scene Investigations. https://www.bartleby.com/essay/The-Biggest-Legal-Challenges-Of-Crime-Scene-PJHRMDXZMV.
(8) Challenges Encountered By Scene Of Crime Investigators: The Case Of The .... http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/11295/105525/Muthini_Challenges%20Encountered%20By%20Scene%20Of%20Crime%20Investigators%20The%20Case%20Of%20The%20Directorate%20Of%20Criminal%20Investigations%20Headquarters%2C%20Nairobi.pdf?sequence=1.
(9) Guiding Principles for Crime Scene Investigation and Reconstruction - NIST. https://www.nist.gov/document/guiding-principles-crime-scene-investigation-and-reconstruction.
(10) Image by: pixabay
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