Observation of a Crime Scene

What is a crime scene? The crime scene means the place or the areas where the crime such as burglary, larceny, homicide, traffic crime or motor vehicle theft, etc. takes place. The observation of a crime scene consists of direct survey of the happening, finding, collecting and protecting evidence, establishing circumstances which are significant for the investigation. To observe and examine a crime scene properly is essential for quick and accurate crime solution. It is one of the most important sources of information concerning commission of the crime which enables the officer to answer with specific details the questions: Where? Who? Why? How? When? By means of what? The process of crime scene search usually includes preliminary, general observation, detailed search and final stages.

At the preliminary stage the investigator keeps in mind the problems of ensuring crime scene protection, preparation of proper crime techniques, choosing and instructing witnesses, getting information of the happening. And of course he gives first aid to a victim if it's necessary or calls for an ambulance.

At the stage of general observation the investigator is to observe the general appearance of the situation noting everything at the scene. To conduct crime scene investigation properly the investigator must reconstruct the happening, analyze the operational conditions, make an estimate of the situation and develop and follow definite way of doing his job. He makes a plan of search and informs the participants of the search what and where to search minding not to destroy and overlook any valuable evidence. He also ensures taking pictures of the scene and its objects, making plaster casts of footprints and developing and taking fingerprints.

At the stage of detailed examination the investigator tries to answer a lot of different questions: Is it possible to identify the salient features of criminal's modus operandi? What are these features? Where was the entrance to the scene? What approaches are there to the scene? What was the criminal's way of entering it, etc?

At the final part of observation the investigator makes the conclusions taking into consideration all available information, packs the traces for a crime laboratory, makes the record of the crime scene observation and if necessary brings a criminal action.

24 Встановлення особи потерпілого та картини злочину.

Identity of the Victim in Crimes of Homicide

The first problem in relation to the victim is to determine his identity. As soon as identity is established, a history of the victim should be secured. This history, which may reveal factors leading to his death, takes up his life from the last moment he was seen alive and may go as far as his childhood or birth. His immediate past is usually the most important, especially the last moments or days.

Establishment of the victim's identity is closely related to his history. To be accurate, the victim's own peculiar history must fit into the circumstances immediately preceding the mortal injury. Identification is established easily when the victim was in company with his acquaintances at the time he received the mortal injury and the victim remained in the presence of the witnesses. Difficulties in identification increase whenever there is a space of time between the last known appearance of the victim and the time the body is found. The problem of identity is a serious difficulty when the victim is a stranger in the community or when his body has been decomposed or mutilated.

The work of identification includes taking fingerprints, photographs, masks in moulage, descriptions and measurements with attention paid to the physical characteristics that are peculiar to that person. Clothing and other items are examined for trade marks, laundry marks, or other marking that will furnish clues. If wounds are on the body, it is important to know if the clothing was or was not covering the place where the wound was inflicted. Identification is best established by fingerprints if they were taken before death and that person was accurately identified at the time the prints were taken. Identification by some person who knows the victim well and views the body is the next best. Photographs of a person made before death may be used to identify the body although identification from a photograph alone is not always accurate. Identification may be confirmed by other evidence which shows individual characteristics in facial or body formation, marks, scars, dental work, jewelry, clothing, handbags etc., provided that a living person can identify these characteristics.

25. Злочин та покарання. Види покарання

Crime is an action or activity that is against the law or illegal activity generally for which there is punishment by law. Crimes may be classified in various ways as being against people, against property, and against public order or public morality