1st Edition
First Unit Responder A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers
"Physical evidence cannot be wrong; it cannot perjure itself; it cannot be wholly absent. Only its interpretation can err. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value."
-Presiding Judge, Harris v U.S., 331 U.S. 145 (1947)
HOW TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE CRIME SCENE WHILE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION
First Unit Responder: A Guide to Physical Evidence Collection for Patrol Officers is a training guide and reference for patrol officers and criminal investigators, who conduct preliminary investigations of crime scenes, to aid in identification, collection, and booking of physical evidence. Written by a veteran of 24 years of law enforcement, the book stresses the importance of understanding the critical nature of physical evidence and preservation of the crime scene as part of the case against a criminal defendant. This book is an important tool for police academies that train recruits and veteran patrol officers, as well as for students of criminal justice who seek guidelines for proper collection and handling of physical evidence.
Defining Physical Evidence
Importance of Physical Evidence
Characteristics of Evidence
Review
Test Questions and Answers
The First Unit Responder and the Crime Scene
"The Process" of Acronym "ARISN" When Handling a Crime Scene
Maintaining the Integrity of the Scene
Major/Non-Major Scenes Defined
Indoor/Outdoor Scenes
Death Case Observations
Review
Test Questions and Answers
Identifying and Documenting the Evidence
Categories and Types of Evidence
Uses of Physical Evidence
Chain of Custody
Documenting the Evidence
Photographs
Sketches
Collecting the Evidence
Most Commonly Encountered Evidence and Packaging
Clothing, Hair, Fibers
Firearms
Bullets and Cartridge Casings
Gunshot Residue
Other Weapons
Questioned Documents
Money
Jewelry
Chemical Evidence
Suspected Drugs/Narcotics
Miscellaneous Items
Latent Fingerprints - A.F.I.S.
Blood
Vehicles
Review
Test Questions and Answers
Fingerprints and the Crime
Victim Interaction
Categories of Fingerprints
Latent
Known
Plastic
Patent
Identifiable vs. Usable Latents
A.F.I.S. Quality Latents
Determining Likelihood of the Presence of Latents
Hand Covering during the Crime
Point of Entry (POE)
Latent Fingerprint Collection
Latent Fingerprint Development Techniques
Review
Test Questions and Answers
Case Preparation/Courtroom Testimony
Case Review by Officer
Direct Examination
A.D.A. Conference
Rules of Discovery
Court Attire
Stages of Court Appearance
Introduction
Body/Introduction of Evidence
DIrect/Cross Examination
Closing/Rebuttal
Follow-Up by Officer
Biography
Mark R. Hawthorne (San Francisco Police Department (Retired), California, USA) (Author)
"Mark Hawthorne's easy writing style and use of personal anecdotes make this book a relaxed read. First Unit Responder is a good resource for recruit training or criminal justice/criminology students, or as review material for seasoned investigators."
-Cpl. Andreas K. Mendel, NCO in Charge, Forensic Identification Section, West Vancouver Police, in Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal