Crime Scene Importance

1. CRIME SCENE - A crime scene is any physical scene, anywhere that may provide potential evidence to an investigator. It may include a person’s body, any type of building, vehicles, and places in the open air or objects found at those locations.

A Scene of occurrence of a crime is the place where a particular crime has been committed or where physical evidence of such crime is found when it is first brought to the notice of the police. It is a starting point for the investigator, which provides him with the information on the victim and the suspect, and to reconstruct the crime. This image depicts the crime scene as it includes the place where the crime has been committed. Including the dead body, blood stains, knife used for murdering.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CRIME SCENE IN THE FORENSIC SCIENCE:-

The crime scene has not always been conceptualized as part of forensic science. In the past, activities at the crime scene have been viewed as ‘police work’; processing and managing the crime scene has been viewed as a technical discipline (Crispino 2008; Millen 2000). The role of forensic science has been understood as beginning once the items collected at the crime scene arrive at a forensic laboratory. However, in both the forensic world and the policing world (if not other agencies in the criminal justice system), there has been an increased focus in recent years on what happens at the crime scene.

In short, crime scene processing has come to be recognized as a critical stage in the forensic process. Maintaining the integrity of the crime scene through the management of personnel in attendance is crucial. If the front end of a criminal investigation is not handled effectively and reliably, then there are significant flow-on effects in the forensic process and, potentially, in justice outcomes (Brown and Willis 2009; Julian et al 2011; Kelty, Julian and Robertson 2012; Porter 2008). In this article, we draw on two case studies to illustrate the critical issues that can arise at the crime scene and the factors that can influence the value of forensic evidence if the crime scene is not managed effectively

The exposure to elements such as rain, wind, or heat, as well as animal activity, contaminates the crime scene and leads to the destruction of evidence. The risk is greatest when crime scene investigators fail to secure the crime scene properly. Destruction or deterioration of evidence due to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, rain, snow and wind are problems associated with outdoor scenes. Evidence that cannot be protected under these conditions should be collected expeditiously without compromising its integrity. Investigators who encounter a combination of an indoor and outdoor scene should give priority to processing the outdoor component. Nighttime outdoor crime scenes are particularly problematic. Regardless of the quality of the light source used to illuminate the scenes, the lack of sunlight can lead to investigators inadvertently missing or destroying evidence. Whenever possible, outdoor crime scenes should be held and secured until daylight for processing .

Indoor crime scene: - Evidence at an indoor scene is generally less susceptible to loss, contamination and deleterious change. Indoor crime scenes are usually easier to secure and protect, and securing a scene can be as simple as closing a door.

Conveyance: - Conveyance is a means of transportation. Types of crimes committed in conveyances include the following:

1. Vehicle