because the other searches were made without consent, or with out probable
cause, the subsequent reentries to the scene were inadmissible and new trial was
granted on these circumstances. The message as explained from the Supreme
Court is clear, “When time and circumstances permit, obtain a search warrant
before investigating and retrieving physical evidence at the crime scene”
(Saferstein 50).
In conclusion, as we can see through out this report, collection and
recording of a crime scene is very important, with out proper rules and special
handling, a criminal can go free. The purpose of crime scene investigations is to
help establish what happened, and to identify the responsible person(s) or
victim(s). To figure this out, careful recording and investigations of a crime scene
must take place. Recording the crime scene details such things as place, time,
conditions, lighting, fingerprints, evidence etc. To record a crime scene such
things as videotape, still photography and sketches are used to give a “story” or
“time line” of what happened and what took place. Once the crime scene has
been recorded, actual examination for physical evidence occurs. This is where
the investigators look for clues such as fingerprints, blood stains, items or
anything which might lead them towards a suspect. When gathering evidence,
each item should be place in separate containers and certain rules for blood
stained clothes and fire investigations apply. The investigators must keep tract
and record everything in which they recover from a crime scene. Searching a
crime scene is a long and pains-taking process, however, it will yield many clues
when done properly. Once the evidence is found, recorded and packaged, it must
be sent to a crime lab for further processing. Each item when shipped should be
recorded, logged and accounted for from person to person so when used in a trial,
the evidence has been accounted for from beginning to end. The final thing
investigators must make sure is that all evidence was seized properly and with
probable cause. This is the main reason why in so many court cases evidence is
thrown out, improper searches and seizures. If any investigator is in doubt on
weather or not a place or person can be search, it is always best to obtain a
warrant for that such reason.
References
Hale, Charles D. Police Patrol. Operations and Management. Chicago:
John Wiley & Sons. 1991.
Saferstein, Richard. Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic
Science, Fifth Edition. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice
Hall Inc 1995.
Notes