How Evidence Processes Came About & How It Can Make Or Break A Case
Question
Research Paper discussing:
How evidence processing came about
How if not done correctly can ruin a case
AND
What police do to insure evidence is processed correctly so it's not thrown out of a case.


Solution
How Evidence Processes Came About & How It Can Make Or
Break A Case
Processing a crime
scene for an investigation is a challenging task, and it demands that
consistent, systematic approach for every scene and could be daunting and
time-consuming. However, if a step is missed, it could lead to the evidence
being dismissed, or worse, charges against an offender may be dropped. That is
why an investigator should ensure they are competent in their job. Also, one
should have situational awareness to ensure no incidences of evidence tampering
or crime scene contamination. Evidence processing was invented during the 20th
century by Edmond Locard, who is credited as the father of modern forensic
science. However, the earliest application of forensic science dates back to
the ancient Greek and Roman societies.
Usually, if
evidence processing is not done correctly, it can ruin a case. Therefore, when
an investigator reports at a crime scene, it is crucial they pay attention to
everything by controlling and limiting any form of contamination as you
preserve the scene as it was found (Sheppard et al. 10). According to Locard’s
Exchange Principle, as an investigator, every time you initiate contact with
another person, place, or thing, it causes an exchange of physical materials,
contaminates the evidence gathered, and ruins a case (Mayuoni-Kirshenbaum 25).
Some of the materials that a criminal may leave behind include clothing, DNA
such as blood, fingernails, and another type of prints. Also, there is a high
likelihood that the offender will take items from the crime scene. Hence, investigators
must ensure they preserve it at all costs when they arrive at the crime scene.
After an
investigator is informed of a crime, they should immediately start taking
notes. Notes are vital and should be taken throughout the evidence processing
since they are utilized later in a recreation of the crime scene while
supporting evidence in court. In addition, notes taken from a crime scene
should be thorough and not miss any vital details. Also, notes should comprise
other critical pieces of information such as dates, times, addresses,
locations, and the type of call together with other parties involved
(Mayuoni-Kirshenbaum 25). Moreover, it is recommended that as an investigator,
one should take notes of anything surrounding the area, such as if there were vehicles
seen leaving the scene of crime and people who could have been around at the
time of the crime and can help as witnesses. It is important to note any senses
such as smells and what they hear at the crime scene.
Additionally,
collecting evidence at a crime scene requires that the investigator ensure that
it is safe to collect evidence before embarking on the task. Evidence
processing requires that it is contained in an area that is entirely safe for
the investigators so that incidences that could result in tampering or
distortion of evidence are avoided. However, suppose a crime scene is in a
location that poses chemical, radiological, or biological threats to the
officers. In that case, an appropriate agency clears the area before
investigators must step in. Therefore, scenes must be approached safely and
cautiously to ensure that the safety of victims, witnesses, and other people
within the surroundings are maintained. When evidence processing is done in
safe scenes, it is easier to protect it from being contaminated, and it is not
found to be misleading.
The police have a
duty to ensure that evidence is processed correctly so that it is not thrown
out of the case, and they do so by securing and controlling a crime scene.
Securing and controlling a crime scene helps uphold the integrity of a crime
scene while reducing incidences of contamination and alterations. Police
offices restrict outside persons from moving near a crime scene while
maintaining safety measures (Geberth n.p). It is possible to minimize external
influences on the crime scene and ultimately preserve it. Additionally, law
enforcement officers are responsible for securing and separating suspects and
witnesses from the scene as they clear bystanders to avoid mix up.
Even though bystanders could be relatives and
friends to the victims, they must be kept away from the crime scene while
portraying compassion and understanding of their feelings (Weber 6). Clearing
bystanders and family members are critical because it helps avoid the presence
of non-essential personnel such as the media people who, in most cases, try
getting closer to the crime scene. It is the work of law enforcement officers
to protect the location of the crime and keep such people away to preserve the
integrity of a crime scene. After ensuring that the area is clean, police
officers should establish a boundary (Pepper n.p). The boundary should
originate from the center and extend to include the suspect’s point of exit and
all the possible locations where victims or evidence to guide investigators on
how the crime occurred could be found.
Works Cited
Geberth,
Vernon J. Practical homicide investigation: Tactics, procedures, and
forensic techniques. CRC Press, 2020.
Mayuoni-Kirshenbaum,
Lina, et al. “How did the DNA of a suspect get to the crime scene? A practical
study in DNA transfer during lock-picking.” Australian Journal of
Forensic Sciences 54.1 (2022): 15-25.
Pepper,
Ian. Crime Scene Investigation: Methods And Procedures: Methods and
Procedures. McGraw-Hill Education (UK), 2010.
Sheppard,
K., S. J. Fieldhouse, and J. P. Cassella. “Experiences of evidence presentation
in court: an insight into the practice of crime scene examiners in England,
Wales and Australia.” Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences 10.1
(2020): 1-12.
Weber,
David Ollier. “Crime scene investigation: hospital violence!.” Physician
Leadership Journal 3.1 (2016): 6.




About Author
Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Essay Writers!
We have subject matter experts ready 24/7 to tackle your specific tasks and deliver them ON TIME, ready to hand in. Our writers have advanced degrees, and they know exactly what’s required to get you the best possible grade.
Find the right expert among 500+
We hire Gradewriters writers from different fields, thoroughly check their credentials, and put them through trials.
View all writers