Crime Scene Documentation

Title: Crime scene documentation

Institution:

Student ID:

Crime scene documentation

There is a thin line between an investigation ending up successful, and another ending up in shambles. This thin line is crime scene documentation; if the crime scene is properly documented, the culprits` identities and their motives can be easily pointed out. Many culprits have walked scot free due to poor crime scene documentation, denying the victims retribution; and the culprits, justice.

        Crime scene documentation is essential since it provides detailed records of any form of evidence found at the crime scene. This documentation fortifies the accuser`s stand since the prosecution has more facts to emphasize on the guilt of the suspect. This thus means that crime scene documentation ought to never be taken too lightly.

Before the commencement of examination of the scene, the investigators gather information on the scene. A procedure which is well structured is recommended so as to ensure no minute details are overlooked. It is also recommended that the crime scene be handled with care s as to ensure that there is no tampering with the scene; that may jeopardise the investigations. The scene examination commences with a walk through the crime scene. The investigator often follows a “trail”; which can be defined as the area which the crime is speculated to have taken place. It starts with the point of entry, the path taken, any commotion and the crime itself and the point of exit. If any evidence is noticed, a marker should be placed on it, this would ensure other individuals don`t tamper with the evidence as they play their par in the scene.

There are numerous objectives of crime scene documentation. The first is to point out and record all evidence associated with the crime. This evidence can be easily utilized in pointing out the perpetrator, and also pointing out the weapon used. Another objective is to map out how the crime occurred from the point of entry, execution of the crime, method and route of escape.

Another objective of crime scene documentation is to enhance the prosecution`s arguments used in pointing out the guilt of the suspect. This is a very delicate manner since even fingerprints can prove or disprove the prosecutions` argument. It is thus necessary to ensure that all the necessary evidence, no matter how minute, is collected. An example of evidence leading to the collapse of a case against a suspect is the glove that was suspected to have been used in the murder of O.J. Simpson`s wife. O. J. Simpson was asked to put on the gloves by himself and seized the chance of trashing the allegations by making it seem the gloves didn`t fit in his hands. The case eventually fell apart.

There are two categories of evidence; fragile evidence and solid evidence ("Forensic Evidence Types", 2017). Examples of fragile evidence include; hairs, footprints, body fluids (blood, saliva, semen etc.), skin, fingerprints and gunshot residue. Examples of solid evidence include; firearms, tool marks, bullets that have been fired, drugs and paraphernalia, documents, computers and devices. As mentioned above a glove was used in trying to prove O.J. Simpson`s involvement in his wife`s murder (Guerrasio, 2017). It is thus paramount to emphasize on the importance of evidence. The right evidence can conclude a case quite early compared with when the existing evidence is shady.

There exists a variety of methods used in documenting crime scenes. The first is photography, this method entails a specialist in photography taking photos of the crime scene and of the evidence. Photography is appropriate since it can be used even after the crime scene has been tampered with; in identifying minute details that may not have been earlier noticed.\

Another method of documenting crime scenes is sketching the crime scene. A sketch is a drawing accurately showing the crime scene`s appearance (Byrd, 2017). It is used to illustrate the crime scene and the evidence. The advantage sketches have photographs is that they can cut out the clutter. The disadvantage they have is that they rarely portray the evidence and the crime scene to scale; and they may also leave out essential minute details.