Unit 5 Forensic Science Lab Questions

Crime Scene: Processing Evidence

Imagine that you’ve been working with the CSI and Police Department in your local area as lead forensic scientist for quite a few years now. The department has recently put a young, brand new forensic scientist to work on a case with you, so they can better learn the ropes from a seasoned vet like yourself! The two of you are on your way to investigate a crime scene where a dead body was found just a few hours ago. Of course, it’s imperative that you teach the new forensic scientist the proper way to handle evidence and an investigation!

Crime Scene:

You walk up to the crime scene. A dead body is lying on the bank of the river, just a few miles outside of the city. There is a bullet wound on the victim’s chest where it appears a bullet entered the body.

There are a few bullets that have been found scattered near the body of the victim. You can see that a gun is resting on the bottom of the river in the shallow end near the shore.

Do some online research regarding what should be done first at any crime scene and how evidence should be processed. Based on your research, and what you learned in the unit, answer the questions.

1. Discuss the first things you should teach your new partner to do as you approach the crime scene.

2. Explain how you and your partner should go about handling the gun found at the bottom of the river? What are some things to keep in mind?.

3.How should you and your partner go about handling the bullets found near the body of the victim?

4. What information might you be able to find from the gun and bullets found at the crime scene?

5. As we know, it is very important to handle evidence at a crime scene properly. If clues and evidence are mishandled, it could ruin an entire investigation! Conduct some additional online research on your own. Find an article that describes a crime scene where evidence was mishandled. Share the link to the article you found and write a paragraph or two to describe how the scene was mishandled and how this impacted the case. Include advice on how the investigation could have been better managed and how the scene and evidence should have been handled.

https://www.france24.com/en/20140314-police-mishandled-evidence-pistorius-murder-case-south- africa