Forensic Pocket Guide

Crime Scene

RESIDENCE/BUSINESS ROBBERY

Consider taking the following notes: 

Case number

Date/Time

Address/Location

Initial case details

Victim/Suspect info

Assigned Officer/Detective

Make/Model/Color/VIN of vehicle

Vehicle owner information

Consider the following:

What is the appropriate PPE for this scene?

Did someone start a crime scene log?

Is the scene secure and safe?

Is evidence location inside/outside the car?

Should the car be towed?

Is consent or a search warrant needed?

Overall/mid-range/close-up of scene

Intersection/street location information

Overall/mid-range/close up of exterior of vehicle to include:

Documentation of all 4 sides

License plate

VIN

Any damage

Evidence surrounding the vehicle

Evidence/damage on the vehicle

Re-take overall/ mid-range/close-up photographs of scene and exterior of vehicle with photo markers in place

Collect swabs of any apparent body fluids on the exterior of the vehicle

Process exterior of vehicle with appropriate latent print processing technique

Collect evidence around or on the exterior of the vehicle

Overall/mid-range/close-photographs of the interior of the vehicle to include the following:

Interior side of each door

Interior of trunk

Floorboards/underneath seats

Interior of center console

Interior of glove compartment

All seat surfaces

Radio

Rearview mirror

Visors 

Transponder/Transponder number

Gear shifter location

Dashboard information (if vehicle is on)

Any items of evidentiary value

Place photo markers inside vehicle for items of evidentiary value such as bullet holes, body fluids or damage possibly related to the incident

Re-take overall/mid-range/close-up photographs of interior of vehicle with photo markers in place

Collect swabs of the following from the interior of the vehicle:

Any apparent body fluids

Steering wheel

Gear shifter

Door handles

Remove the contents of the vehicle

Separate the contents of each vehicle compartment

Document the contents of each compartment with notes/photographs

Collect vehicle contents that are of evidentiary value

Process interior of vehicle with appropriate latent print processing technique

Consider processing the following areas:

Interior side of windows

Rearview mirror

Visor mirrors

Radio face

Seatbelt clips

Door jams

Any other smooth non-porous surface

Conduct a secondary walk through of the scene to ensure that all evidence was documented and collected and everything of evidentiary value was appropriately processed

REFERENCES

Dutelle, Aric (2020). An Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation.  Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Fish, Jacqueline et al (2014).  Crime Scene Investigation.  Routledge.

Fisher, Barry & Fisher, David (2012). Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation.  CRC Press.

Gardner, Ross & Krouskup, Donna (2018).  Practical Crime Scene Processing and Investigation, Third Edition.  CRC Press.

Maloney, Michael & Housman, Donald (2014).  Crime Scene Investigation Procedural Guide.  CRC Press.

Ramirez, Christine & Parish-Fisher, Casie (2011). Crime Scene Processing and Investigation. CRC Press.

Standard Guide for Crime Scene Photography. OSAC Video/Imaging Technology & Analysis Subcommittee (2020, June). Retrieved August 15, 2021 from OSAC Site.