Open Blog

This week I decided to research what a crime scene investigator does specifically at a murder crime scene. This involved the external body examination that provides the investigator the most important pieces of evidence. Some of this information includes physical characteristics, possible cause, circumstances of death, and relationship to the scene. Before bringing the decedent in, investigators must

1. Photograph the scene

2. Photograph the decedent with and without measurements

3. Document the positions of the body

4. Document physical characteristics

5. Document the personal effects that are present and not

6. Review items that should be there

7. Document markings, scars, even tattoos

8. Document injuries

9. Document if any treatment efforts were done

10. Decide if further evaluation is needed.

Before this I didn’t realized how thorough the evaluation and documentation crime scene investigators have to take. Their job is essential in what way to take the investigation.  I was surprised they didn’t do this procedure in a different chronological way. I would have thought they documented the markings, scars, and injuries right after the photographs were taken before seeing what was taken from the crime scene. It was quiet easy to find this information, so easy that I couldn’t decide on what kind of crime scene I wanted to research since each type of crime has a different procedure of doing things. I would like to further research other types of crime scenes and compare and contrast the crime scenes. 

"A Guide to Death Scene Investigation." National Institute of Justice. USA Government, 16 June 2011. Web.