The Crime Scene Evidence Analysis Report Paper will focus on demonstrating an awareness of the scientific methodology used to solve crimes by analyzing a virtual crime scene simulation. You will document the appropriate procedures for protecting a crime scene; how to identify and document evidence; evidence handling, testing, and standards for the admissibility of evidence; scientific testing; and expert testimony at trial. You will also describe the broad role of forensic science in contributing toward a more just society.
Sections of your assignments from Weeks 2 through 4 will apply to sections of the Crime Scene Evidence Analysis Report Paper. You may use sections from those papers verbatim in the text of the Crime Scene Evidence Analysis Report Paper if you so choose. If the assignments are used, please ensure that all instructor feedback/corrections have been applied.
Background
You are a member of the Crime Scene Response Unit (CSRU) at Metro City Police Department. The unit manager just assembled the team for a briefing about a callout and has assigned you as lead on this scene, making you responsible for documenting the appropriate procedures for protecting the crime scene; how to identify and document evidence; evidence handling, testing, and standards for the admissibility of evidence; what scientific testing should be done at the laboratory; and expert testimony at trial. The multimedia element shown below is the CSRU manager’s briefing for you and your team.
After watching the briefing, you will respond to the crime scene by entering the virtual crime scene simulation (Links to an external site.). Access the CRJ311 Basic Instructions Download CRJ311 Basic Instructionsdocument for tips on how best to navigate through this virtual crime scene. If you are unable to run the simulation, please contact your instructor. You will be able to move through the crime scene, examine items in closer detail, and determine what is evidence. You should take notes just as you would at a physical scene, as you will need to identify each piece of evidence and how it will be handled when you write the Crime Scene Evidence Analysis Report Paper. Use relevant examples from the virtual crime scene and a minimum of 10 scholarly and/or credible resources, which may include resources previously used to support your work in Weeks 2 through 4. The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.) table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types.
In your Crime Scene Evidence Analysis Report Paper,
- Summarize thoroughly the situation as it was known prior to arriving at the virtual scene in your introduction. Note that your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper. For assistance on Writing a Thesis Statement (Links to an external site.), refer to the Writing Center resources.
- Explain how the virtual crime scene will be protected.
- Describe how the virtual crime scene should be approached and why such steps are necessary.
- Identify what steps are necessary to protect the virtual crime scene from contamination or loss of evidence and why this is an important element of crime scene management.
- Determine evidence collection procedures appropriate to the virtual crime scene.
- Describe how each item of evidence will be documented.
- Identify which collection technique should be used for each piece of evidence.
- Differentiate among techniques and explain why different techniques are appropriate to these types of evidence.
- Illustrate chain of custody. As part of this element
- Describe what chain of custody means.
- Explain why it is important to protect the integrity of the evidence collected at the virtual crime scene.
- Assess the potential impact on testing and admissibility if chain of custody is not clearly established.
- Categorize evidence testing related to the virtual crime scene. As part of this element
- Distinguish what types of field testing should be used at the virtual crime scene.
- Distinguish what types of laboratory testing should be used on evidence collected at the virtual crime scene.
- Compare the possible evidentiary findings and in-court admissibility of the field and laboratory tests.
- Analyze current standards for the admissibility of the scientific evidence from your virtual crime scene at trial. As part of this element
- Explain the common standards used by the courts to evaluate the admissibility of scientific evidence.
- Determine any possible challenges to the admissibility of the collected evidence and what can be done proactively to ensure admissibility.
- Assess how following valid methodology and properly using forensic science at trial contributes to sustaining a more just society.
Resources:
https://content.bridgepointeducation.com/curriculum/file/eac86eae-5d24-4b22-8ad6-99b947199cc2/1/CRJ311_Prototype_18.zip/index.html
CSRU MANAGER BRIEFING
[MUSIC PLAYING]
You’re a member of the Crime Scene Response Unit CSRU at Metro City Police Department.
The unit manager just called the team together to brief on a callout and assigned you as lead on
the scene, which means you will be responsible for documenting the appropriate procedures for
protecting a crime scene, how to identify and document evidence, evidence handling, testing, and
standards for admissibility of evidence, scientific testing and expert testimony at trial.
Officers in neighboring Nonsuch County have reported finding a 2016 white Chevrolet Impala
apparently abandoned beside rural 77 about 10 miles north of Metro City Jurisdiction. Nonsuch
County deputies reported there were smears of blood on the steering wheel, dashboard, and both
front seats. They also reported they found a black duffel bag, blood smears, and stock certificates
and one diamond earring inside the vehicle. The name on the stock certificates matches the name
of the registered owner of the vehicle at an address in Metro City.
Your manager continues the briefing by telling you that when Metro City police officers
responded to the registered owner’s address of record, they found the house locked up and quiet.
But looking in the window, they could see a victim laying apparently unconscious in the foyer
but found no indications of forced entry to the residence.
Once inside the house, Metro City police officers found one male laying in the foyer deceased.
They also found a female in the bedroom deceased. The house appears to have been ransacked,
and an open safe was located. The vehicle will be towed into the evidence garage and handled
separately.
The officers have secured the residence, but the medical examiner is waiting for your team to
respond before entering. Pictures throughout the house and a canvas of the neighborhood by
officers revealed that the couple had a 15-year-old daughter, whose location is currently
unknown. When officers tried to call her, they located her cell phone in the residence. As the
manager is wrapping up, the officers notice a television in the corner of the briefing room, which
cuts to breaking news and shows a picture of a car surrounded by crime scene tape.
Breaking news right off the top. Police have found a vehicle that may be connected to a double
homicide that occurred early in the morning at about 3:00 AM. The vehicle was beside Road 77.
Let’s go to our correspondent on the scene.
Here we go. This is going to get a lot of press coverage. As if a double homicide isn’t bad
enough, we don’t know where the daughter is or what happened to her. Everyone is going to be
watching. We have to get this right, and we have to make sure everything will hold up in court.
