CHAPTER 3:

PROTECTING THE
EVIDENCE
Edukop Services Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Unikop College

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION / DPI 2444

DIPLOMA IN POLICING & INVESTIGATION
LECTURERS:
NORASHIKIN OTHMAN
ABD RAHIM HAMZAH BIN OTHMAN

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI

2444)

2016

LESSON LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of the lesson the

student will be able to:

1. Explain Crime Scene
Investigation procedures.
2. Explain how to identify physical
evidence at scene of crime.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

CONTENTS
1. How to maintain a pristine crime scene.
2. Introduction to Pattern Evidence.
3. Guidelines to mapping the scene.

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

MAINTAINING A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE

The investigator has three main sources for

evidence:
1. The scene of the crime
2. The victim (if any)
3. The suspect and his or her environment

(Gardner, 2005; Worrall, 2005)

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

MAINTAINING A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE

A review of the literature (Gardner, 2005; Giard,

2007; Vince, 2005) suggests that an investigator

must consider EIGHT (8) basic procedures during the
crime scene investigation to gather and preserve
evidence:
1. Recognize or discover relevant physical evidence.
2. Examine evidence to determine that it can be
tested or compared in a crime laboratory.
3. Collect evidence with care diligence, according to
standard procedures, and in a lawful manner.
4. Carefully handle, package, and label evidence to
avoid damage, loss, contamination or questionable
links in the chain of custody.
(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)
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MAINTAINING A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE

5. Carefully

record how, where, and by whom

evidence was located to ensure that evidence has
not been tampered with or altered.
6. Carefully transport evidence to a laboratory,
maintaining the proper chain of custody and
security.
7. Maintain the integrity of the chain of custody from
the crime lab to the court after tests have been
completed.
8. Present or explain evidence in a court proceeding,
substantiate the find if necessary, and document
the chain of custody.
(Bruce L.Berg, 2008)
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MAINTAINING A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE

Crime scene are dynamic, rapidly changing

environments.
First respondents major task is to protect
the crime scene.
The crime scene is the place from which the
physical evidence associated with the
crime scene is obtained.
The crime scene provides investigator with
a starting point to determine the identities
of the suspect and the victim.
(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

MAINTAINING A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE

The first respondent must assume that the

criminal left clues or physical evidence at

the crime scene.
Information developed from the evidences
left at the crime scene will be use to
reconstruct the crime or to prove the
identity of the suspects.
The first respondent must not inadvertently
add material that may mislead the
investigators.
(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

MAINTAINING A PRISTINE CRIME SCENE

The physical evidence found at the crime scene

provides a vital role in solving the crime.

Thus, every actions or steps taken by the first
respondent will determine the success of the
investigation and perhaps, provide the
resolution for the criminal investigation.
The first respondent most important task is
to prevent the destruction or diminished
value of potential evidence that may lead to
the apprehension of the criminal and the
ultimate resolution of the crime
(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)
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2016

CRIME SCENE Dos & Donts

Crime scene Dos
1. Limit access to the crime scene by using tape and
major incident log.
2. Attempt to identify possible routes used by the
suspect.
3. Note the original conditions at the crime scene.
4. Record changes in conditions especially in regard to
the activities conducted (or performed by the
paramedics).
5. Protect evidence from adverse environmental
conditions.
6. Conduct all administrative duties outside the tape
(drinking coffee, smoking etc.)
7. Record the location of evidence before moving it.
(Ronald Linheart & Elizabeth Devine, LA County Sheriffs Crime
8. Package trace evidence (paint, glass, fiber, soil
etc)
Laboratory
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)
2016
10
into
large envelope.

CRIME SCENE Dos & Donts

Crime scene Dos
9. Keep an open mind as to what might be evidence.
10.Be aware that you are a potential source of
evidence and contamination.
11.Take photographs of items at 90 with and without
L-scales.
12.Call expert personnel to crime scenes for detailed
or difficult collection or documentation.
13.Take photographs of all aspects of crime scenes,
perspective shots, 90 photos of items and
bloodstains, and close ups.
(Ronald Linheart & Elizabeth Devine, LA County Sheriffs Crime
Laboratory
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

CRIME SCENE Dos & Donts

Crime scene Donts
1. Permit unnecessary personnel to enter the crime
scene.
2. Use routes possibly used by the suspect.
3. Assume others will note original conditions etc.
4. Fail to document any changes or contamination at
the scene.
5. Allow evidence to be compromised by nature.
6. Eat or use any facilities or the phone within the
crime scene.
7. Remove items and package without documentation.
8. Package trace evidence in a bundle.
(Ronald Linheart & Elizabeth Devine, LA County Sheriffs Crime
Laboratory
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2016

CRIME SCENE Dos & Donts

Crime scene Donts
9. Ignore items that appear out of place or are difficult
to explain.
10.Touch anything unnecessarily.
11.Photograph items without scales.
12.Assume that the expert can always answer the
questions from non-expert collection or
documentation.
13.Limit the photographs to overalls and item
locations.

(Ronald Linheart & Elizabeth Devine, LA County Sheriffs Crime

Laboratory
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

INTRODUCTION TO PATTERN
EVIDENCE

Pattern evidence is defined as any forensic

evidence that can be read and analyzed from

a specific type of pattern left by the physical
contact between:
1. Different people (such as victim and
assailant),
2. Persons and objects (such as victim and
automobile), and
3. Different objects (such as automobile and
tree).
(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

Pattern Evidence: Impression Evidence

Impression evidence is simply where several

objects are pressed or stamped against one

another allowing the objects to transfer and
retain characteristics from one another.
Examples are tire tracks, shoe prints, tool marks
and bite marks.
There are two categories or types of impressions
likely to be deposited at a crime scene:
1. Two (2D) dimensional impressions
2. Three (3D) dimensional impressions
(www.crime-scene-investigator.net)
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

Pattern Evidence: Impression

Evidence
Two (2D) dimensional
impressions

This impression evidence

would be deposited on
top of a hard surface.
2D impression provides
length and width.
This impressions are
usually found indoors on
surfaces like counter
tops, glass, paper,
cardboard, or ceramic
and waxed floors.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

Pattern Evidence: Impression

Evidence
Three (3D) dimensional
impressions
This impression

evidence would be
deposited into a softer
surface.
3D impression provides
length, width and depth.
This impressions are
usually discovered
outdoors in surfaces like
dirt, sand, clay, mud,
tar, or snow.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

Pattern Evidence: Physical Matching

Physical

matching are matches between or

among pieces of randomly fractured, torn, or cut
objects that indicate that the pieces were
originally part of the same item.

(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

GLASS PHYSICAL MATCHING EXAMINATION

K

Photography of a physical match

between a known fragment of

glass (headlamp), K and a
questioned fragment of glass, L.

L
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

(Barry A.J Fisher & David

R.Fisher,2012)
2016

Pattern Evidence: Shape & Form

Shape and form refers to pattern recognition

and matching that is performed by the human

mind with complex shapes or forms.
This type of pattern evidence describe all of the
features and characteristics which would make
the evidence uniquely recognizable by someone
else.
The examples include handwriting comparison
and human face comparisons.

(Barry A.J Fisher & David R.Fisher,2012)

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

TED BUNDY: Comparison of the original 1974 police

sketch of Ted with the actual mug shot of Ted Bundy.

21

(https://tedbundyandthemedia.wordpress.
com/)
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)
2016

A revised Ted sketch appears in a paper warning young

women to be on the lookout.
22

(https://tedbundyandthemedia.wordpress.c
om)
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)
2016

GUIDELINE TO MAPPING THE SCENE

Mapping is the term associated with crime scene

measurements.
Crime scene mapping depend upon whether the
crime scene is an interior or exterior scene.
The basic type for crime scene mapping:
Baseline mapping
Rectangular coordinates
Triangulation
Polar/grid coordinates

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

BASELINE MAPPING
A baseline is

develop or
identified from
which to conduct
measurements.
The most basic and
least accurate.
Quick and easy to
perform.

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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

RECTANGULAR COORDINATE
MAPPING
This method utilize

two baselines.
Two measurements
are taken to a
point on an item or
location at the
scene.
Useful in confined
spaces and smaller
interior scenes.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

TRIANGULAR MAPPING
Consist of two

fixed points.
From these two
fixed points
measurements
are taken to
specified points
on the item or
within the crime
scene.
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CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016

POLAR/GRID COORDINATE MAPPING

Utilize polar coordinates.
This method indicates

the location of an object

by providing the angle
and distance from the
fixed point.
Requires compass to
measure the angles and
polar direction.
This method best utilized
in large outdoor scenes
with few landmarks

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REFERENCES
1. Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation (8 th

Edition) (2012). Barry A.J Fisher & David

R.Fisher. CRC PRESS. USA
2. Criminal Investigation (4th Edition) (2008).
Bruce L.Berg. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
USA.
3. Criminal Investigation (8th Edition) (2003)
Charles R.Swanson, Neil C.Chamelin & Leonard
Territo. McGraw-Hill Higher Education. USA.
4. Criminal Investigation: Basic Perspectives (8 th
Edition) (2000). Paul B.Watson, Charles
Lushbaugh & Kenneth M.Wells. Prentice-Hall
Inc.
USA.
CRIME SCENE
INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)
2016
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TUTORIAL
1. Describe why it is important for the first

2.
3.

4.
5.
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respondent to record the times associated with

a crime scene investigation. (5m)
List FIVE (5) crime scene Dos and FIVE (5)
Donts. (10m)
You are called to the scene of a sexual assault
that took place at a park. Describe how you
would secure the scene. (10m)
What is the difference between imprint
evidence and impression evidence. (4m)
Identify the types of pattern evidence. (6m)
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (DPI 2444)

2016